MPs back,TN says Lanka rehab starts today

Sri Lanka has agreed to begin the phased return of internally-displaced Tamils from Thursday,Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi....

Sri Lanka has agreed to begin the phased return of internally-displaced Tamils from Thursday,Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi said here on Wednesday after receiving the delegation of ruling alliance MPs who toured the island nation to take stock of the post-war situation there.

In the first phase,to be completed in the next 15 days,58,000 Tamil refugees will return to their native places from the IDP camps. This is roughly one-fifth of the total number of persons in camps across the region. The rest,added Karunanidhi,will be resettled in the subsequent phases.

Yesterday,the MPs delegation urged Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and other officials to send back the 2,53,000 refugees from the camps before the onset of the monsoon. They have accepted this, Karunanidhi said.

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There are over 3,000 pregnant women in various camps who will be given preference,provided there are hosts to receive them,said members of the delegation.

The Government there will allow the landowners to return in the first phase,and they can then host landless workers,the second major group in the camps. There is a third group,of disabled,orphans,and elders,who needs the active support from the government.

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree said the designation gives law enforcement “enhanced powers to combat a group that has instilled fear through violence and intimidation”.

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