A prominent Sri Lankan Tamil MP wants India to tell President Mahinda Rajapakse to take urgent steps to end the ethnic conflict which he says lies at the root of galloping human rights abuses in the country. Mano Ganesan, a Tamil National Alliance (TNA) member of Indian origin, said the international community must realise that human rights would continue to get violated as long as fighting rages between the government and the Tamil Tigers.

And Ganesan says India needs to act despite its antipathy towards the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). India outlawed the LTTE in 1992.

'India and Indian political parties hate the LTTE,' Ganesan told IANS in a telephonic interview from Colombo as Rajapakse began a three-day visit to India. 'But it is the ethnic issue that is the mother of LTTE. The LTTE did not create the ethnic issue, the ethnic issue created LTTE.

'It is also in the interest of India that there should be a reasonable solution to the ethnic conflict. This can be done only if the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people are met. This is the truth.'

Rajapakse, who will be accompanied by Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogallagama, is to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi during his trip, his fourth since taking power two years ago. He is expected to discuss the situation in his country with the Indian leaders.

Ganesan, 47, whose parents hail from Tamil Nadu, is a leading rights activist in Sri Lanka. On Thursday, he led groups of Tamils whose family members have disappeared or have been killed in recent times to meet UN xxxxxx.

'For the first time in the history of Sri Lanka, human rights violations have been institutionalized,' he said, alleging that around 1,500 people had disappeared after being taken away by armed men with apparent links to the government.

Most victims have been Tamils, and most disappearances have taken place in Colombo. According to Ganesan, some 1,000 people have also been killed 'outside of the war'.

'Of course there were worse conditions in Sri Lanka in the 1980s. The irony is the same president (Rajapakse) was then a champion of human rights. But the young victims then were Sinhalese.

'Why are human rights violations of various kinds taking place? The reason for this is war. As long as the ethnic conflict continues, as long as no political solution is found, this will be the situation. The government is not honest and sincere in respect of a political solution.'

Ganesan said Tamils were disappointed with India's mostly hands off approach to the Sri Lankan problem.

'Obviously we are very much disappointed. I have full faith in the Indian high commission. Still I feel I have more support from other diplomatic missions in Colombo (on rights issues).

'India can support us to arrive at a reasonable solution. India is always talking about the unity and integrity of Sri Lanka. But there has to be parallel efforts to seek a reasonable power sharing arrangement.'

Ganesan went on: 'Let India tell Rajapakse about the concept of linguistic states, as they exist in India. We want a (Tamil) linguistic state in the northeast.

'The Sinhalese in the northeast should be given minority rights, just as Tamils elsewhere in Sri Lanka should get minority rights.'

Ganesan also cautioned India about the dangers of a prolonged ethnic conflict.

'If the conflict goes on and on, it will amount to giving open visa to forces inimical to India to intervene in Sri Lanka. Tomorrow, Pakistan can turn around and help establish a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka if that can cause problems for Tamil Nadu.

'I am not saying Pakistan is doing it or LTTE will take such support. But there is always a possibility.'

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