Tamil Nadu activists protesting Manmohan Singh Trichy visit detained

[TamilNet, Friday, 02 August 2013, 23:48 GMT]

Hundreds of activists who protested Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Trichy were detained by the Tamil Nadu police on Friday. The protestors, who gathered near the Trichy airport with black flags, sought to express their dissent to the Dr. Singh over India’s continued complicity in the genocide of the Eezham Tamil nation and its endorsement of the CHOGM meeting in Sri Lanka. The detained include MDMK leader Vaiko, Tamizh Desiya Pothuvudamai Katchi leader Maniarasan, Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam leader Ramakrishnan and Thirumurugan Gandhi from the May 17 Movement. Separately, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha had sent another letter to Dr. Singh on Thursday condemning India’s ignoring of repeated assaults on Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lanka Navy.

"I am sorry to note that despite my repeatedly writing to you with regard to these incidents of unprovoked assault on Tamil Nadu fishermen and their detention in Sri Lankan jails, there appears to be no concerted effort by the Government of India to secure the release of these fishermen," Ms. Jayalalitha had said in a letter on Thursday.

PTI reported on Thursday that a total of 139 fishermen have been arrested by the Sri Lanka navy between 31 July and 1 August.

In the Trichy protest on Friday, Mr. Vaiko had alleged that the Indian government was a “co-accused” in the genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka, The Hindu reported.

The protest saw participation of grassroots activists cutting across party lines.

Manmohan Singh was visiting Pudukottai district to inaugurate a unit of the Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited.

Eezham Tamil refugees arrested in Trichy

[TamilNet, Monday, 01 July 2013, 22:09 GMT]

Five Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka were arrested in Trichy on Sunday for allegedly planning to migrate to Australia through brokers, the PTI reported on Sunday. Citing police sources, the report said that the arrest was made by the Q Branch “who kept an eye on them” and that the police were on a hunt for the brokers. The Indian establishment which engages with the Sri Lankan government in facilitating and legitimizing genocidal conditions in the occupied homeland of the Eezham Tamils, is particularly cruel towards such refugees who are only seeking a chance for living, commented a Tamil Nadu activist working for the rights of the Eezham Tamil refugees.

Several Eezham Tamil refugees choose to flee to other countries from camps in Tamil Nadu not only owing to the sub-standard conditions of the camps, but also due frequent harassments by security forces.

Several protests have been made both by refugees in camps and by Tamil Nadu activists to improve living conditions in the camps and to stop criminalization of those forced to flee genocide.

Trichy gathering condemns “US–Indian betrayal” of Eezham Tamils

[TamilNet, Monday, 08 April 2013, 02:05 GMT]
Addressing a mass gathering of students and common people in Trichy (Thiruchchi) district, Tamil Nadu, student leaders, youth activists, and veteran political activists condemned the betrayal of the Eezham Tamil nation by the US-Indian axis, further accusing them of abetting the genocidal Sri Lankan state, on Sunday. Not only India, but the entire world has turned its attention on the mass struggle waged by our students in Tamil Nadu over the last month, said the organisers of the gathering. If the Indian government does not pay heed to the just demands put forth by the student protestors across Tamil Nadu, the students will begin and intensify civil disobedience campaigns, student activists from Thiruchchi told TamilNet.

The students would begin by handing over their voter IDs, ration card to district collectors, sources said, adding that they widen protests to exert moral pressure on the Indian government.

Student leaders across Tamil Nadu are also considering intensifying protests against the policies of the International Community of Establishments.

As a result of the student protests, a historic resolution was passed in Tamil Nadu State Assembly demanding UN referendum for the independence of Tamil Eelam. Now, this resolution should be also passed in the Indian Parliament and proceed with the same in the UN Assembly, declared the student leaders vowing that the fire set ablaze by the student upsurge in Tamil Nadu will not go away till the formation of Tamil Eelam in a release.

The student leaders had invited veteran leaders Pazha Nedumaran and R. Nallakannu as special guests to their gathering to celebrate the struggle.

“Mr Nedumaran as a honest and committed Tamil nationalist leader beyond politics and Mr Nallakannu, as a veteran leader who took part in the peoples struggle against British colonialism are invited to address the event,” a note by the Students Federation for Liberation of Tamil Eelam said.

“We have invited these two leaders in their capacity as personalities beyond politics to address in our gathering,” the note said.

The resolution tabled by the USA at the UN Human Rights Council is a hollow one. India further watered it down, the students observed. Only an independent international investigation on the genocide-accused Sri Lankan state and a comprehensive economic boycott would bring any justice to the Eezham Tamils, they said.

They also condemned the Congress politicians in Tamil Nadu for having launched violence against the peaceful protests of the students.

The event celebrated the Tamil Eelam liberation struggle with Tamil cultural events, including Therukoothu, mimes, and street plays.