Tamils denied extra power
Tuesday 05 February 2013
Printable
EmailSri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa ruled out giving Tamils greater political autonomy on Monday, reneging on a long-delayed promise to empower the ethnic minorty.
President Rajapaksa made the U-turn despite growing international demands to compromise with Tamils and investigate crimes during the bloody 26-year civil war.
He insisted: "When the people live together in unity there are no racial or religious differences."
The main ethnic Tamil political party said the UN human rights council must take "stern action" against the government, which has not been sincere in investigating abuses.
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