Mannaar villagers protest against SL Navy occupying church lands

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 September 2013, 15:35 GMT]
Tamil villagers of Chi’ruth-thoappu on Thursday staged a peaceful protest against the Sri Lanka Navy occupation of 17 acres of land belonging to their church. The villagers demanded the Sri Lanka Navy base Gajaba to vacate the land. The protest comes as the SL State has recently taken a move to legally appropriate the lands after having it occupied for 10 years. The SL military occupying the land has also exploited the natural resources of the church the villagers complained. The church is situated along Mannaar – Thalaimannaar Road.

More than 2,000 coconut palms and more than 300 palmyra trees were in the lands that belongs to the church. Earlier, the income from these resources went to the villagers of Chu'ruththoappu.

Hundreds of these valuable trees have been cut and exploited by the SL Navy, the villagers complain.

Fr Anthony Victor Sosai, the vicar general of the Mannar diocese, Mr Martin Dias, the head of the Mannaar Piratheasa Chapai (PS), deputy head, TNA politicians and a large number of the public took part in the protest.

TNA parliamentarian Selvam Adaikkalanthan has sent an appeal on behalf of the villagers to SL Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, urging the SL defence establishment to release the lands belonging to the church.

Pulmoaddai Muslims protest against Colombo's land survey

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 20 August 2013, 22:30 GMT]

Stating that 500 acres of lands were being taken over for archaeological research, the lands were being seized from Muslims at 14th Mile Post in Pulmoaddai in Kuchchave'li division in Trincomalee district, said protesting Muslims who opposed the move by the Sri Lankan government on Monday. The residents of predominantly Muslim village took to the streets when SL survey department officials attempted to survey the lands despite repeated objections by the Muslims.

150 houses that had been given to Tsunami affected civilians at Ponmalaik-kudaa were also being appropriated within the said 500 acres of lands.

Muslim residents have land deeds for several lands that were being surveyed for seizure under the cover of so-called archaeological research.

Following the protest by Muslims, the surveying has been put off, civil officials in Pulmoaddai told media.

Related Articles:
03.08.13   Sinhala military takes over Muslim cemetery at Pulmoaddai
27.07.13   Sinhala archaeology focuses operation in North-East corridor

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.

Affiliating Trinco university campus with Anuradhapura: civil society calls for protest

[TamilNet, Thursday, 18 July 2013, 12:33 GMT]
In one of the worst moves of educational genocide of Eezham Tamils, efforts are now being undertaken to affiliate the Trincomalee Campus of the Eastern University with the Rajarata University of Anuradhapura, informed sources in Trincomalee told TamilNet on Thursday. The university-level educational institutions of Tamils in Jaffna and Batticaloa, started by the missionaries in the 19th century, became secondary schools when the British rule transferring power to the Sinhalese towards its closing days, encouraged only a Colombo-centric education. Later, when the Tamils demanded a university after the so-called independence, they wanted it to be based in Trincomalee. Affiliating the Trincomalee Campus with the Sinhala University at Anuradhapura is the height of educational genocide, said, Tamil academic and civil circles in the East.

Will the powers that are interested in conducting ‘military exercises’ in Trincomalee in partnership with the genocidal Sinhala military will at least stop the educational genocide, asked the civil and academic circles in the East, who have called for intense agitation in unison by all Tamil-speaking people in the island and outside.

In the post-Mu’l’livaaykkaal years, Colombo was systematically conspiring to Sinhalicise the Trincomalee Campus of the Eastern University. First it started sending more number of Sinhala students to the Trincomalee Campus. Even Tamil students from Trincomalee were sent to Batticaloa. Later, the fellow Sinhala students with the backing of the occupying Sinhala military often intimidated the Tamil students who became ‘minorities’ in the university of their own land. Now Colombo wants to affiliate the campus with the university in Anuradhapura.

The Trincomalee Campus should evolve into Trincomalee University. It cannot be snatched away from Batticaloa and be affiliated with Anuradhapura, the civil-academic circles in the East said.

The long educational traditions of Trincomalee will totally lose their identity if the university campus goes affiliated with Anuradhapura. The Eastern University in Batticaloa has a responsibility in waging the struggle and in developing the Trinco campus into a full-fledged university. The struggle has to be waged by all the Tamils concerned in the island and outside, the civil-academic circles urged.

Trincomalee was long been a centre for Tamil scholarship and education. In the 19th century, when the Tamil classics in the palm leaves were brought to the light of print in Tamil Nadu, many of the manuscripts, including the manuscript of Chilappathikaaram, have gone from Trincomalee.

Some years ago, catering to the requirements of Tamil-speaking Muslims, Colombo was agreeable to create the South Eastern University in the Ampaa’rai district of the East. When it comes to the Trincomalee Campus, rather than making it Trincomalee University, why Colombo wants to affiliate it with Anuradhapura that too by delinking it from the Tamil university in Batticaloa, ask the civil-academic circles in the East.

This is a struggle that has to be waged at international level, especially addressed against Washington and New Delhi, whose competitive interest on Trincomalee is prepared to abet genocide to any extent, commented diaspora activists calling for responses in Tamil Nadu and in the diaspora.

Chronology:

18.07.13  Affiliating Trinco university campus with Anuradha..

01.11.12  Colombo plans to appropriate Trincomalee campus of..

Related Articles:
06.12.12   Sri Lanka intensifies terror campaign against Tamil students
20.10.11   Siddha Medical Faculty in Trincomalee to come under Colombo ..
23.03.05   Foundation laid for Trinco campus new building complex
12.12.04   Trinco Campus launches first external degree programme
31.08.04   Plan afoot to build new Trinco Campus
20.03.04   Lack of funds threatens Trinco campus survival
12.02.03   Bar Association demands new Law Faculty at Trinco campus

UK Tamils gather at Cardiff protesting Sri Lankan cricket

[TamilNet, Thursday, 20 June 2013, 16:12 GMT]
Hundreds of Eezham Tamils from the UK gathered near the cricket stadium in Cardiff on Thursday to protest the presence of the Sri Lankan cricket team on British soil, urging the UK for a complete boycott of sporting and cultural ties with the genocide-accused Sri Lankan state. This mass protest follows on the heels of a violent incident near the Oval stadium on Monday, where dozens of Tamil activists protesting on the occasion of the Sri Lanka-Australia cricket match were brutally attacked by Sinhala mobs.

[Photo courtesy: Philip Brown / Reuters]

In the protest in Cardiff, British Tamil youth also reportedly ran through the cricket grounds holding the Tamil Eelam national flag. Owing to Tamils joining the Cardiff protest in large numbers, the British police maintained a large presence.

[Photo: TamilNet]

The Cardiff protests in wake of the India-Sri Lanka cricket match also saw some minor clashes between Tamils and Sinhalese on Thursday. Sources said that this was largely owing to the latter provoking the Tamils with vulgar abuses.

The earlier protest in Oval stadium saw the elderly, women and children being attacked and harassed by Sinhala cricket fans who were leaving the match.

The attacks on peaceful protestors on Monday was strongly condemned by several Tamil student, youth and grassroots organizations.

Sources from Cardiff say that the crowds in the Tamil side, which was around 500 when the protest started, have been swelling over time.

[Photo courtesy: Adrian Dennis / AFP]

[Photo: TamilNet]

protest against erection of Buddha statue

TNA MPs, EPC councilors hold protest against erection of Buddha statue in Batticaloa

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 29 May 2013, 10:11 GMT]
Batticaloa district parliamentarians of the Tamil National Alliance and the councilors of the Eastern Provincial Council (EPC) and members of the public held a demonstration on Wednesday morning against the construction of the statue of Lord Buddha at the entrance to the city in front of the Batticaloa Pi'l'laiyaar Koayil.

Protestors went in procession to Koayiladi holding placards and shouting slogans against the move to erect the Buddha statue.

They shouted slogans and carried placards stating ‚“What is the need for a Buddha statue where no Buddhist living in the city. Do not make Lord Buddha a symbol of anarchy”.

Members of the Batticaloa Pi'l'laiyaaradi Sri Pulavi Pillaiyar Koayil committee, Koththuk-ku'lam Sri Muthtumaraiamman Koayil committee and Pi'l'laiayaaradi Rural Development Society committee handed over a memorandum to the Batticaloa district TNA parliamentarian Mr.P.Selvarajah to be submitted to the Sri Lankan Government Agent of Batticaloa District.

Thereafter a delegation of TNA district parliamentarians and EPC councilors handed over the memorandum to the SL Government Agent and the ‘District Brigadier’ of the occupying Sri Lanka Army.

Batticaloa District TNA parliamentarians Messrs P.Selkvarajah P.Ariyanethran and C.Yogeswaran and EPC councilors K.Thurairajasingham, R.Thurairatnam, Jana Karunakaran, Prasanna Indrakumar, Nadarajah and Krishnapillai Vellimalai were in the delegation that met the SLGA and the ‘District Brigadier’ of the SLA.

Chronology:

29.05.13  TNA MPs, EPC councilors hold protest against erect..

26.05.13  Buddha statue to be erected at the entrance of Bat..

Protest against SL military seizure of lands gains

Protest against SL military seizure of lands gains momentum in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 29 April 2013, 16:16 GMT]
More than 800 uprooted people gathered Monday morning in front of the Divisional Secretariat at Thellippazhai, situated near the entrance to the former High Security Zone (HSZ), which is now being permanently seized by the occupying Colombo aiming a permanent Sinhala Military Zone (SMZ) in Jaffna. Despite the refusal by the SL Police to stage any protest march on the KKS Road, the people who rallied peacefully from 8:30 to 11:30 in front of the DS office, started to block the entrance of the DS office and embarked upon a spontaneous march towards the entrance of the HSZ. The riot control police commandos and the SL military men blocked them in front of the SL Police Station located on KKS Road.



The SL police had delayed to give permission to the protest till Sunday night. The organisers were told not to allow the people to stage any protest march. They were also told that the rally should not disturb the work of the employees at the divisional secretariat and that the traffic should not be disturbed.

In the meantime, the SL military and its intelligence operatives were deployed in threatening the uprooted people not to attend the rally. The SLA was restricting the movement of uprooted people who are staying in so-called welfare camps. Private bus owners were warned not to provide their buses to the organisers of the protest.

However, the people braved the hurdles to attend the rally, which also saw the participation of Tamil National Alliance, Tamil National Peoples' Front, Democratic Peoples Front politicians, civil society activists and religious dignitaries.

The uprooted people of Mayiliddi, who were on their way to the protest from Tho'ndaimaanaa'ru and Inparuddi in Vadamaraadchi were blocked from proceeding further. However, a section of them managed to attend the rally in vehicles arranged from Thellippazhai, news sources from the area said.

Severe arguments ensued between the protestors and the SL police when the uprooted people, who were on a march towards the HSZ were confronted by the riot police.

Colombo has stepped up its genocidal militarisation as India and the USA, locked in a geopolitical competition with China, continue to sustain the necessary ‘time and space’ for Colombo through a carefully ‘balanced’ carrot-and-stick policy designed to win their interests using the plight of the Eezham Tamils, said alternative Tamil political activists in Jaffna, citing the ‘legal’ appropriation of 6400 acres of Tamil civilian lands at Jaffna HSZ and another 6000 acres in Vavuniyaa, openly for Sinhala military cantonment purposes, within one month of passing the Geneva resolution.

Chronology:

29.04.13  Protest against SL military seizure of lands gains..

26.04.13  SL Military turns back Ranil visiting Valikaamam

25.04.13  TN responded, diaspora should come forward: Gajend..

25.04.13  People rise up against SL military seizure of Vali..

23.04.13  Geneva resolution responsible for genocidal milita..

23.04.13  6,400 acres of civilian land to be seized for mili..

22.04.13  Colombo begins legal appropriation of former HSZ l..

26.03.13  Colombo's land appropriation to be accelerated in ..

15.02.13  SL military operatives attack peaceful protest aga..

12.02.13  SL commander admits converting HSZ into permanent ..

11.02.13  SL military demolishes Hundreds of Tamil houses in..

08.02.13  Poonakari becomes another major hub of Sinhala mil..

03.02.13  Colombo converts Jaffna ‘HSZ’ into zone of Sinhala..

14.01.13  Sinhala military opens ‘holiday resorts’ in occupi..

30.07.12  SLA restricts access to temples, churches in Jaffn..

15.07.12  SLA appropriates more lands for militarisation of ..

14.07.12  SL military grabs more lands in Maathakal

4TH LEAD (Adds photos, PDF statements)

Diaspora youth join Tamil Nadu students in protest

[TamilNet, Thursday, 21 March 2013, 03:46 GMT]
In a demonstration of solidarity with the demands of the Tamil Nadu students’ uprising, Eezham Tamil diaspora youth across several western countries have come out in protest against the pro-LLRC US resolution tabled at Geneva and pushing for a just political solution for the Eezham Tamil nation facing genocidal oppression in its occupied homeland. The protestors were unanimous in rejecting any resolution that binds the Eezham Tamil nation to unitary Sri Lanka. A copy of the US resolution was also burnt in Toronto, where solidarity groups had also participated in protests. While student protests occurred in London, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Toronto, Copenhagen and Oslo on Wednesday, further protests are scheduled in the coming days in major cities in western countries.

Toronto, Canada

Toronto, Canada

Toronto, Canada

Eezham Tamil youth in Copenhagen, Denmark took out a massive rally from the Indian Embassy to the Denmark parliament via the American Embassy. However, the police prevented the protestors from demonstrating outside the US embassy.

The protestors raised slogans against the US for bringing a hollow resolution and to India to bring a stronger resolution to bring justice to the Eezham Tamil nation.

Eezham Tamil youth in Canada initiated a solidarity campaign to support the student uprising underway in Tamil Nadu. A community protest at the US Consulate in Toronto denouncing the LLRC-Based resolution saw the burning of the copy of the resolution by protesters

The York University Tamil Students’ Association initiated the first wave of hunger strikes expected to occur throughout University campuses in Canada according to the media release by the Canada TYO.

The protests in Toronto also saw the participation of activists from several solidarity groups.

"The massive student uprising in Tamil Nadu should be a clear sign to the international community that the national question for Tamils cannot be ignored. Calls for 'reconciliation' and a 'united Sri Lanka' are meaningless unless the legitimate national aspirations of the Tamil people are recognized. Otherwise, the so-called 'peace process' ends up preserving the status quo, and the Sri Lankan state's protracted genocide of Tamils within the island," James Clark, Toronto Coalition to Stop the War, told TamilNet.

• TYO Canada statement, 19 March 2013

“The opinion of students is clear. We reject the LLRC-Based US Resolution. We reject any resolution that doesn’t recognize the Eezham Tamil nation that has faced genocide and whom are entitled to a state of their own. We stand in complete solidarity with the demands of the Tamil Nadu students,” stated Jessica Thyriar, President of the York Federation of Students, the central undergraduate students’ union representing over 55000 students at York University.

“It has been four years since the war has been declared over in the island of Sri Lanka yet the genocide of Tamils continues. It is unbelievable that the international community continues to present meaningless motions that help the Sri Lankan government complete its policy of structural genocide against the Tamil nation. Within the context of the international community repeatedly betraying Tamils, civil society worldwide should take note of the student uprising in Tamil Nadu and offer their complete solidarity to them and the Tamil nation.” Carolyn Hibbs, the President of the York University Graduate Students’ Association representing over 6000 students, told TamilNet.

• GTYL statement, 19 March 2013

Speaking to TamilNet, Priyanth Nallaratnam, spokesperson for TYO-Canada, said “Since 2009 the international community has based its approach on the domestic approach of the Sri Lankan government. Historically, time and time again the international community has failed the Tamil nation and it is time that they learn from their mistakes. In light of yet another failure of the IC to provide justice to the Eezham Tamils, it should be noted that any solution that is limited within the unitary state structure of Sri Lanka will not provide any meaningful solution to the Eezham Tamils.”

London, UK

London, UK

Protest organized by independent youth activists in front of the US Embassy in London was joined by hundreds of second generation Eezham Tamil youth.

This protest was executed successfully despite the attempts of certain pro-US sectarian groups to dissuade youngsters from participating.

Speaking to TamilNet from the site of the protest, Sathapalan Kanesalingam, an independent student activist at Westminster University and an organizer of the demonstration, opined that it is high time diaspora activists should realize that any resolution based on the LLRC will not be of any use to the Tamils.

• Statement by TYO and student unions in Australia

“Over here, some people are of the opinion that the US resolution should be supported. But this resolution, both the first draft and the amended version, legitimizing LLRC, can provide no just solution to the Eezham Tamils. We cannot support it meekly this year and go to Geneva the next year and say that it didn’t work. It is against the interests of our nation, and it should be opposed now,” Mr. Kanesalingam said.

Sanju Ganesan of the TYO-UK was of the opinion that “Tamils have waited too long for the international community to take action and it is still failing to find us justice and this is evident through the pro-LLRC resolution that has been passed.”

Adding that the pro-LLRC resolution was supportive to a farce created by a genocidal state, she further said “We will not accept any form of move that compels us to find justice or a political solution within the mechanisms of unitary Sri Lanka. Tamil Eelam is the only solution. Therefore we stand is solidarity with students of Tamil Nadu and show our support. An independent international investigation into all crimes including genocide needs to be done. An independent UN referendum needs to be taken to facilitate the creation of our homeland Tamil Eelam.”

In a separate protest outside the Indian High Commission in London, three Tamil youth are entering the third day of their hunger-strike in solidarity with the demands of the hunger-strikers in Tamil Nadu.

In Oslo, Eezham Tamil youth are on hunger-strike outside the Norway parliament for Wednesday and Thursday.

Eezham Tamil youth in Germany demonstrated outside the Indian Embassy in Berlin and outside the North Rhine-Westphalia Parliament in Dusseldorf.

The protestors in Dusseldorf pinned the LLRC and the Sri Lankan constitution to a coffin to symbolically affirm the pointlessness of any solution within the unitary Sri Lankan state, protesters told TamilNet.

York University Students, Canada

Copenhagen, Denmark

Dusseldorf, Germany

Berlin, Germany

Chronology:

21.03.13  Diaspora youth join Tamil Nadu students in protest

21.03.13  Unprecedented demonstration in Tamil Nadu denounce..

21.03.13  Adopting draft resolution will violate Genocide Co..

20.03.13  German Left youth group conveys solidarity with Ta..

19.03.13  Confusion prevails among pro-Establishment lobbyis..

19.03.13  Karunanidhi pulls out from New Delhi Establishment

18.03.13  Jayalalithaa urging international investigation cu..

17.03.13  TN readies biers for US resolution, demands genoci..

16.03.13  Karunanidhi indicates quitting GOI if internationa..

16.03.13  US resolution burnt in front of US Embassy in Lond..

15.03.13  Gajendrakumar at UN calls for transitional adminis..

15.03.13  USA continues to harp on implementing Sri Lanka's ..

15.03.13  Colombo executing structural genocide, not reconci..

15.03.13  Tamil Nadu student upsurge gains momentum overcomi..

14.03.13  Kurdish leadership accuses imperialist powers for ..

14.03.13  UNHRC, CHOGM, Regime Change: people’s power has no..

14.03.13  Protest in Australia rejects LLRC-based US resolut..

13.03.13  Tamil Nadu students burn US draft resolution

11.03.13  Student protests across Tamil Nadu intensify again..

11.03.13  Fasting Loyola students arrested by police, protes..

08.03.13  Chennai college students on indefinite hunger-stri..

07.03.13  Learn Lesson and Respond Concretely: ‘LLRC’ for Ta..

07.03.13  USA releases draft resolution for discussion in Ge..

07.03.13  ‘US resolution will not give Tamils justice’: Vaik..

07.03.13  Colombo reaches ‘understanding’ with USA, claims S..

26.02.13  UNHRC heads for structural genocide if Tamil natio..

25.02.13  NZ Tamils raise question on applying SA model to E..

20.02.13  NZ Tamils accuse Obama for doing nothing to check ..

20.02.13  Host CHOGM in New Zealand: Tamil Action Front

05.02.13  TESO urges New Delhi to move for referendum at Gen..

04.02.13  Tamils will lose land forever by failing to addres..

03.02.13  Canadian minister fails to address genocide, annih..

02.02.13  Vanni visit ‘pleases’ British Under Secretary

01.02.13  ‘Slap on the face reception’ to UK Under Secretary..

28.01.13  Visiting US team continues ‘counting trees’ in Jaf..

27.01.13  TESO misrepresents Tamil cause by harping on UNHRC..

25.01.13  Soul searching in India, Obama wipes out tears

06.11.12  UNHRC resolution has failed to exert pressure on C..

14.09.12  ‘UN approach counts trees, conceals sight of fores..

24.04.12  The court of international public opinion

30.03.12  Post-UNHRC needs show of Fourth World solidarity

28.03.12  Norway plays with words on investigation, sees fai..

27.03.12  Eezham Tamil youth in Canada challenge connivance ..

26.03.12  LLRC centered resolution, an albatross around Tami..

25.03.12  Indian ‘cooperation’ stalls OHCHR acting on UNHRC ..

25.03.12  India placates Sri Lanka, claims it had ‘balanced’..

24.03.12  ICG acknowledges crisis but turns out cock-eyed on..

23.03.12  TNPF cautions ‘first step’ myth of UN resolution

22.03.12  Watered-down resolution passes in UNHRC, stops sho..

21.03.12  US-led World Bank loans to Rajapaksa, fortifies Co..

21.03.12  China card misleads Indian public

20.03.12  Centre for Peace and Reconciliation attacked in Ja..

19.03.12  Jayalalithaa blasts New Delhi supporting US-bailou..

19.03.12  India inclined to vote in favour of US resolution:..

19.03.12  Begin next stage of struggle by burning Sri Lankan..

18.03.12  Tamil civil society warned US officials on LLRC da..

18.03.12  ‘LLRC hollow, India must use pressure to secure ju..

16.03.12  Eezham Tamils demonstrate outside US Embassy in Lo..

15.03.12  US resolution offers bailout to Rajapaksa: Brian S..

14.03.12  New Delhi’s ‘historical’ Lanka relations outweigh ..

14.03.12  Onus focuses on India

13.03.12  Boyle warns Tamil diaspora against "Stall and Dela..

12.03.12  LLRC will only legitimise Sinhala occupation of Ta..

12.03.12  Win TV discussion sets Tamil perspective straight ..

11.03.12  Without international investigation accused will b..

11.03.12  We always requested international investigation: T..

11.03.12  LLRC-based resolution extremely disappointing: Gaj..

10.03.12  Tamil Nadu activists caution diaspora of the US-re..

09.03.12  US-resolution inadequate, India should seize oppor..

08.03.12  US-resolution binds Tamils to less than the 13th A..

07.03.12  World socialists reject both US-backed resolution ..

06.03.12  Thousands gather in Geneva denouncing deceptive de..

06.03.12  Tamil Nadu demands India to declare Rajapaksa guil..

06.03.12  Sumanthiran, Sritharan contradict reasoning Geneva..

05.03.12  West has to concede to Tamils its failure of ‘war ..

02.03.12  US demand on Sri Lanka is not enough: UNSG Panel o..

01.03.12  US, Sri Lanka squabble whether hang or slaughter E..

29.02.12  Enragement over US-India stand results in Sumanthi..

27.02.12  SL colonial governor coordinates anti-UN demonstra..

26.02.12  Peace academic denounces US-LLRC formula, urges al..

25.02.12  TNA plans boycotting UNHRC, requests people to rem..

25.02.12  US ‘tables’ Rajapaksa formula while pretending pre..

24.02.12  UNHRC sessions open on Monday amidst US–Sri Lanka ..

18.02.12  TNA tries to sell Indo-US pre-emption to Eezham Ta..

16.02.12  Sumanthiran comes forward to save Rajapaksa from i..

22.01.12  TNA should use its Tamil national mandate: Bishop ..

01.01.12  Majority ITAK members welcome civil society report..

13.12.11  TNA leadership faces admonition from civil society..

Protest in Australia rejects US resolution, demands Tamil Eelam

[TamilNet, Thursday, 14 March 2013, 05:32 GMT]

Hundreds of Tamils and several non-Tamil protesters gathered at Canberra, Australia in front of the Parliament House, denouncing a LLRC based political solution as a farce and demanding the creation of Tamil Eelam. The Eezham Tamil protesters, who conveyed their admiration for and solidarity with the students’ upsurge in Tamil Nadu, were also of the opinion that the impact of the Tamil Nadu protests had reached Australia, a representative of the Campaign for Tamil Justice told TamilNet. The demonstrators marched to the embassies of the US, India, UK and the EU and submitted their demands to the respective embassies. Speaking to TamilNet, Trevor Grant, former chief sports writer at the Age opined that the proposed US resolution at Geneva would only encourage “the Rajapaksa regime to continue its carefully-planned genocide of Tamils.”

Trevor Grant told TamilNet, "There is a growing worldwide protest movement against the persecution of Tamils by the brutal Rajapaksa dictatorship. We are part of it here in Australia and the latest step is our rally in Canberra on Wednesday. Our aim is to bring home to Australian politicans that they cannot keep dancing with this dictator, and expect the electoral support of the vast majority of Australians, who believe in basic human rights for all.”

“Australia is supporting the current US resolution on Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. We believe this resolution will do little except encourage the Rajapaksa regime to continue its carefully-planned genocide of Tamils. We will keep agitating for the Australian Government to stop its policy of engagement with Sri Lanka until it sees the light," he added.

Senator Lee Rhiannaon, of the Greens party and the leader of the Greens party Senator Christine Milne both called for the urgent need of an independent investigation into war crimes as well as the need for commonwealth nations to think twice before travelling to Sri Lanka for CHOGM 2013.

A number of MP's from both the Labour Party and the Liberal party also attended, including MP John Murphy & MP Michelle Rowland from the Labour Party and MP Philip Ruddock from the Liberal Party.

The participants of several non-Tamils showed that the Tamil issue was affecting the larger Australian public, sources told.

"The Australian Government has continually been telling us that their strategy towards Sri lanka is engagement, this has not had any effect for the last 4 years. It is high time that Australia, especially as a member of the Security Council, took a much stronger and righteous stand. It is high time they called for an independent investigation in to war crimes, crimes against humanity and the ongoing persecution of Tamils in Tamil Eelam," youth activist Seran Sribalan told TamilNet.

He further said that the protestors in Australia stood in solidarity with the demands placed by the Tamil Nadu students.

Chronology:

14.03.13  Protest in Australia rejects US resolution, demand..

13.03.13  Tamil Nadu students burn US draft resolution

11.03.13  Student protests across Tamil Nadu intensify again..

11.03.13  Fasting Loyola students arrested by police, protes..

09.03.13  U.S. judges, Fein in oral legal battle over war-cr..

08.03.13  Chennai college students on indefinite hunger-stri..

08.03.13  US UNHRC inaction not inconsistent with saving Raj..

07.03.13  Learn Lesson and Respond Concretely: ‘LLRC’ for Ta..

07.03.13  USA releases draft resolution for discussion in Ge..

07.03.13  ‘US resolution will not give Tamils justice’: Vaik..

07.03.13  Colombo reaches ‘understanding’ with USA, claims S..

26.02.13  UNHRC heads for structural genocide if Tamil natio..

25.02.13  NZ Tamils raise question on applying SA model to E..

20.02.13  NZ Tamils accuse Obama for doing nothing to check ..

20.02.13  Host CHOGM in New Zealand: Tamil Action Front

05.02.13  TESO urges New Delhi to move for referendum at Gen..

04.02.13  Tamils will lose land forever by failing to addres..

03.02.13  Canadian minister fails to address genocide, annih..

02.02.13  Vanni visit ‘pleases’ British Under Secretary

01.02.13  ‘Slap on the face reception’ to UK Under Secretary..

28.01.13  Visiting US team continues ‘counting trees’ in Jaf..

27.01.13  TESO misrepresents Tamil cause by harping on UNHRC..

25.01.13  Soul searching in India, Obama wipes out tears

19.01.13  US Court to hear oral argument on war-crime case a..

08.12.12  Fein: U.S.'s immunity determinations flout due pro..

22.11.12  Appellants granted time extention in Rajapakse war..

09.11.12  U.S. reasserts immunity to Rajapakse from war crim..

06.11.12  UNHRC resolution has failed to exert pressure on C..

02.11.12  Rajapakse depends on U.S. to defend War Crimes cha..

04.10.12  Opening brief filed in US war-crimes appeal agains..

14.09.12  ‘UN approach counts trees, conceals sight of fores..

24.08.12  US Court of Appeals to hear Rajapakse war-crimes c..

24.04.12  The court of international public opinion

03.04.12  Plaintiffs file appeal on war-crimes case against ..

30.03.12  Post-UNHRC needs show of Fourth World solidarity

28.03.12  Norway plays with words on investigation, sees fai..

27.03.12  Eezham Tamil youth in Canada challenge connivance ..

26.03.12  LLRC centered resolution, an albatross around Tami..

25.03.12  Indian ‘cooperation’ stalls OHCHR acting on UNHRC ..

25.03.12  India placates Sri Lanka, claims it had ‘balanced’..

24.03.12  ICG acknowledges crisis but turns out cock-eyed on..

23.03.12  TNPF cautions ‘first step’ myth of UN resolution

22.03.12  Watered-down resolution passes in UNHRC, stops sho..

21.03.12  US-led World Bank loans to Rajapaksa, fortifies Co..

21.03.12  China card misleads Indian public

20.03.12  Centre for Peace and Reconciliation attacked in Ja..

19.03.12  Jayalalithaa blasts New Delhi supporting US-bailou..

19.03.12  India inclined to vote in favour of US resolution:..

19.03.12  Begin next stage of struggle by burning Sri Lankan..

18.03.12  Tamil civil society warned US officials on LLRC da..

18.03.12  ‘LLRC hollow, India must use pressure to secure ju..

16.03.12  Eezham Tamils demonstrate outside US Embassy in Lo..

15.03.12  US resolution offers bailout to Rajapaksa: Brian S..

14.03.12  New Delhi’s ‘historical’ Lanka relations outweigh ..

14.03.12  Onus focuses on India

13.03.12  Boyle warns Tamil diaspora against "Stall and Dela..

12.03.12  LLRC will only legitimise Sinhala occupation of Ta..

12.03.12  Win TV discussion sets Tamil perspective straight ..

11.03.12  Without international investigation accused will b..

11.03.12  We always requested international investigation: T..

11.03.12  LLRC-based resolution extremely disappointing: Gaj..

10.03.12  Tamil plaintiffs to appeal ruling on war crimes ca..

10.03.12  Tamil Nadu activists caution diaspora of the US-re..

09.03.12  US-resolution inadequate, India should seize oppor..

08.03.12  US-resolution binds Tamils to less than the 13th A..

07.03.12  World socialists reject both US-backed resolution ..

06.03.12  Thousands gather in Geneva denouncing deceptive de..

06.03.12  Tamil Nadu demands India to declare Rajapaksa guil..

06.03.12  Sumanthiran, Sritharan contradict reasoning Geneva..

05.03.12  West has to concede to Tamils its failure of ‘war ..

04.03.12  Worried Colombo consulted top D.C. law firm for ad..

02.03.12  US demand on Sri Lanka is not enough: UNSG Panel o..

02.03.12  Supreme Court's June ruling can undermine Rajapaks..

01.03.12  US, Sri Lanka squabble whether hang or slaughter E..

01.03.12  Head of State immunity saves Rajapakse from war-cr..

29.02.12  Enragement over US-India stand results in Sumanthi..

27.02.12  SL colonial governor coordinates anti-UN demonstra..

26.02.12  Peace academic denounces US-LLRC formula, urges al..

25.02.12  TNA plans boycotting UNHRC, requests people to rem..

25.02.12  US ‘tables’ Rajapaksa formula while pretending pre..

24.02.12  UNHRC sessions open on Monday amidst US–Sri Lanka ..

19.02.12  Court to decide if US can save Rajapakse from war-..

18.02.12  TNA tries to sell Indo-US pre-emption to Eezham Ta..

16.02.12  Sumanthiran comes forward to save Rajapaksa from i..

05.02.12  Fein: TVPA's plain language interpretation negates..

22.01.12  TNA should use its Tamil national mandate: Bishop ..

20.01.12  Tamil plaintiffs oppose US Government's stand on R..

15.01.12  Executive overreach to provide immunity to Univers..

14.01.12  US "suggests" immunity to Rajapakse from suit

01.01.12  Majority ITAK members welcome civil society report..

18.12.11  Rajapakse case, a legal pioneer, reaches historic ..

17.12.11  Rajapakse accepts Court summons, asks US to confer..

13.12.11  TNA leadership faces admonition from civil society..

04.12.11  War crime litigations reach crucial phase in US co..

23.11.11  Judge Kotelly to decide Rajapakse's legal fate in ..

19.10.11  Rajapakse says will defy Court Order, Shavendra hi..

14.10.11  US Court authorizes use of TamilNet to serve Rajap..

01.10.11  Rajapakse, an enemy of all mankind, filed U.S. Cou..

20.09.11  Rajapakse has no immunity against war crimes prose..

06.08.11  US Court rules Rumsfeld can be sued for torture

27.06.11  Colombo fears judgment against Rajapakse in US Cou..

18.06.11  Hague summons reaches Rajapakse for US Court case

02.06.11  U.S. case: Rajapakse ducks service, Court order so..

09.02.11  DC Court to serve summons to Rajapakse

29.01.11  Ambassador, an honest man sent to lie for Sri Lank..

28.01.11  Rajapaksa sued in US Courts over war-crimes, plain..

23.01.11  TAG to file civil case against Rajapakse in Texas ..

Student protests across Tamil Nadu intensify

Student protests across Tamil Nadu intensify against US resolution

[TamilNet, Monday, 11 March 2013, 20:41 GMT]
While the students of Loyola have been coerced to end their hunger-strike after their arrest in early hours of Monday, their three day fast has sparked off protests across Tamil Nadu. Students from colleges and universities in Chennai, Chidambaram, Chengalpet, Coimbatore, Kumbakonam, Trichy, Tanjore and Tirunelveli have begun mass protests condemning the pro-LLRC US resolution and urging for a referendum among the Eezham Tamils for a sovereign Tamil Eelam as the only just political solution. Grassroots mobilization that is not affiliated to any political party but based on correct concepts is credited to the success of these protests, sources from Tamil Nadu told TamilNet.

Students from Pachaiyappas and Ambedkar Law College in Chennai are organizing a sit-in within their campus grounds. They are expected to be joined by Nandanam Arts College and Presidency College tomorrow.

Law College students in Chengalpet, St. Joseph’s students in Trichy and students of Annamalai University in Chidambaram are spearheading the protests in their respective places.

Despite pressure from a large posse of policemen to the protesting students in Chidambaram, the students have not stepped down. Following this, electricity to the venue of the protests was cut off.

Speaking to TamilNet, Thirumurugan Gandhi from the May 17 Movement, said "This protest has effectively challenged the general misconceptions in some political circles about the US resolution by stating clearly that the pro-LLRC US resolution is a humbug. Likewise, those debating only on "war crimes" have been challenged to accept what happened to the Eezham Tamils as genocide. This is definitely a milestone in Tamil Nadu students' protests for Tamil Eelam."

Chronology:

11.03.13  Student protests across Tamil Nadu intensify again..

11.03.13  Fasting Loyola students arrested by police, protes..

09.03.13  U.S. judges, Fein in oral legal battle over war-cr..

08.03.13  Chennai college students on indefinite hunger-stri..

08.03.13  US UNHRC inaction not inconsistent with saving Raj..

07.03.13  Learn Lesson and Respond Concretely: ‘LLRC’ for Ta..

19.01.13  US Court to hear oral argument on war-crime case a..

08.12.12  Fein: U.S.'s immunity determinations flout due pro..

22.11.12  Appellants granted time extention in Rajapakse war..

09.11.12  U.S. reasserts immunity to Rajapakse from war crim..

02.11.12  Rajapakse depends on U.S. to defend War Crimes cha..

04.10.12  Opening brief filed in US war-crimes appeal agains..

24.08.12  US Court of Appeals to hear Rajapakse war-crimes c..

03.04.12  Plaintiffs file appeal on war-crimes case against ..

10.03.12  Tamil plaintiffs to appeal ruling on war crimes ca..

04.03.12  Worried Colombo consulted top D.C. law firm for ad..

02.03.12  Supreme Court's June ruling can undermine Rajapaks..

01.03.12  Head of State immunity saves Rajapakse from war-cr..

19.02.12  Court to decide if US can save Rajapakse from war-..

05.02.12  Fein: TVPA's plain language interpretation negates..

20.01.12  Tamil plaintiffs oppose US Government's stand on R..

15.01.12  Executive overreach to provide immunity to Univers..

14.01.12  US "suggests" immunity to Rajapakse from suit

18.12.11  Rajapakse case, a legal pioneer, reaches historic ..

17.12.11  Rajapakse accepts Court summons, asks US to confer..

04.12.11  War crime litigations reach crucial phase in US co..

23.11.11  Judge Kotelly to decide Rajapakse's legal fate in ..

19.10.11  Rajapakse says will defy Court Order, Shavendra hi..

14.10.11  US Court authorizes use of TamilNet to serve Rajap..

01.10.11  Rajapakse, an enemy of all mankind, filed U.S. Cou..

20.09.11  Rajapakse has no immunity against war crimes prose..

06.08.11  US Court rules Rumsfeld can be sued for torture

27.06.11  Colombo fears judgment against Rajapakse in US Cou..

18.06.11  Hague summons reaches Rajapakse for US Court case

02.06.11  U.S. case: Rajapakse ducks service, Court order so..

09.02.11  DC Court to serve summons to Rajapakse

29.01.11  Ambassador, an honest man sent to lie for Sri Lank..

28.01.11  Rajapaksa sued in US Courts over war-crimes, plain..

23.01.11  TAG to file civil case against Rajapakse in Texas ..

SLA threatens Mannaar farmers not to protest against discrimination

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 February 2013, 06:51 GMT]
The demonstration and fasting campaign organized by farmers organizations in Mannaar district earlier this week to protest against the discrimination by the SL government in Colombo in providing relief to affected farmers following the recent floods, was put off due to the threat issued by the intelligence Unit of the occupying Sri Lanka Army that those participating would be dealt severely under the ‘Sri Lankan Law’. Due to the threat and intimidation exerted by the SL intelligence, the demonstration was now put off for February 26, the organisers said.

The demonstration was to take place on Monday at Uyilang-ku'lam in Mannaar district according to a decision arrived at a meeting held at Uyilang-ku'lam District Agricultural Training Centre on 9th February.

Several hundred farmers in Mannaar district are finding it difficult to repay their cultivation loans. They are also unable to redeem their jewellery pawned in banks.

While all the assistances are provided to Sinhala farmers in South by the SL government, nothing has been provided to Tamil farmers in North, they say.

As a last resort they submitted a memorandum to the SL Government Agent that they have decided to hold a fasting campaign on Monday 18 demanding that they also should be provided with necessary relief.

Chronology:

22.02.13  SLA threatens Mannaar farmers not to protest again..

13.02.13  Colombo discriminates Tamil farmers in disaster re..

Protests across India against UN complicity in Tamil genocide

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 13 February 2013, 00:10 GMT]
Criticizing the United Nations, especially the Ban Ki Moon, Vijay Nambiar and Sir John Holmes trio for their complicity in the genocide of the Eezham Tamils owing to their calculated inaction, protests took place across different parts of India on Tuesday calling for punitive action to be taken against the three UN officials, besides pressing for a referendum among the Eezham Tamils and an independent international investigation to probe the charges of genocide against the Sri Lankan state. Demonstrations took place at Chennai, Koodangku'lam, Mumbai, Bangalore and New Delhi. Over 600 protestors outside the UNICEF office in Adayar, Chennai were taken into custody by the police and released later in the day.

The protests were timed on the fourth anniversary of the demise of Murugathasan Varnakulasingham, an Eezham Tamil youth who had immolated himself in front of the United Nations Office at Geneva.

Protests were organized outside the UNICEF office located at Adayar, Chennai by the May 17th Movement. The protest was joined by over 30 political parties, including both Indian and Tamil Nadu based parties.

Shouting slogans against the three UN officials who watched over the genocide of the Eezham Tamils, the protestors demanded a referendum among the Eezham Tamils to arrive at a just political solution for the genocide affected nation. Likewise, they also emphasized that only an independent international investigation would suffice to probe Sri Lanka’s crimes.

The protestors burnt a UN flag and over 600 of them were later taken into custody after attempting to enter the UNICEF office. They were released later in the day, sources from Chennai told TamilNet.

MDMK chief Vaiko, veteran Tamil activist Pazha Nedumaran, Jawahirullah, MLA from the TMMK and other leaders went to meet officials in the UNICEF to explain the demands of the protestors.

Later in the evening, a light was lit by the MDMK in Chennai in the memory of Murugathasan Varnakulasingham.

In Koodangku'lam, where people have been on a continuous protest against the Indian government’s nuclear project, hundreds of activists and common people staged a protest demanding action against the erring UN officials.

The protestors there also took to the sea in boats to symbolically drown a cardboard “United Nothings”, to criticize the impotence of the UN as it exists now.

Writing from Koodangku'lam, S.P. Udayakumar, who is leading the People’s Movement Against Nuclear Energy, said of the UN trio, “These men should be held accountable for all the various crimes and tried in an international tribune along with the Rajapakse brothers and their accomplices. It is high time we, the peoples of the United Nations, retook the important organization and made it effective for the poor, weak and marginalized.”

Tamils and solidarity groups also protested outside UN offices in Mumbai, Bangalore and New Delhi.

Tamil diaspora protests Sri Lanka’s freedom committing genocide

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 05 February 2013, 07:13 GMT]
Tamil diaspora activists in Europe, Canada and Australia staged protests on Monday coinciding with the Sri Lanka’s official 65th ‘independence day’, with activists alleging that this so-called ‘independence’ was only a freedom given to the Sinhala nation to commit a protracted genocide of the Eezham Tamil nation. Speaking to TamilNet from a solidarity gathering in Geelong in the state of Victoria, Australia, labour union leader Tim Gooden said that there was a need to recognize the sovereignty of the Eezham Tamil nation. “Unless the aspirations of people are met then there is no peace. One side will always have to suppress people if they are not going to recognise their sovereignty. People on both sides cannot develop culturally, economically or morally until the national question is resolved,” he said.

“Unless we recognise all people and their aspirations then we are helping to fuel and prolong the national struggle to the determent of the oppressed and ultimately ourselves,” Mr. Gooden further said.

Tim Gooden, the secretary of the Geelong Traders Hall Council, hoisted the Tamil Eelam national flag over the Geelong Traders Hall on Monday as a mark of solidarity with the Eezham Tamil nation and as a symbolic protest against Sri Lanka that prevents the use of any symbol associated with Tamils’ sovereignty in the militarily occupied homeland of the Eezham Tamils.

He further emphasised the need to take the information about the cause of the Eezham Tamils to the labour movement and the trade unions.

“Even a simple thing like raising a flag can create debate and discussion that leads to better education around and issue and the more people that are educated then the more chance there is to reaching a resolution of the dispute. At the end of the day the majority of workers don’t want to see the atrocities and human suffering we have witnessed in Sri Lanka to last few years. Governments rely on ignorance to hide behind – it is our job to break that ignorance to begin real solidarity in all struggles against repression,” he said.

Eezham Tamil activists participating in these protests asserted the sovereignty of the Eezham Tamil nation that was left unrecognized by the colonial powers as they the handed ‘independence’ in the island of Ceylon in the form of a unitary state that favoured Sinhala majoritarianism, laying the foundation for the genocide.

A copy of the unitary constitution of Sri Lanka was burned in Berlin, Germany, in front of the Sri Lankan embassy by Tamil protestors. Sources from Berlin told TamilNet that personnel within the embassy were taking photographs of the protestors.

In a novel manner of protest on Multicultural week at York University, Canada, an image of the Sri Lankan constitution was carried same was carried on a coffin by Tamil students. Organizers of the protest said that this was to symbolically convey the end of the attempts to seek a political solution within Sri Lanka’s constitution.

Speaking to TamilNet, Prynth Nallaratnam from York University Tamil Students Association (YUTSA), told TamilNet that "beyond talking over and over again about reconciliation and accountability which are little more than hollow terms now, Canada, as the host to the largest Tamil diaspora, should take concrete steps towards a political solution based on the nationhood and territorial sovereignty of the Eezham Tamils."

Complementing him Praventh Jegatheesh, Vice president of events in YUTSA said "In this crucial time we have to remember that we shouldn't settle down for a toothless solution or be instrumented by global imperialists and water down our liberation movement, we are a huge diaspora and we have to learn from our history to facilitate our own path to a permanent solution that represents the political aspirations of Eezham Tamils."

Protesting outside the Commonwealth Office in London, Eezham Tamils from the UK submitted a petition to the Commonwealth Secretariat demanding removal of Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth.