Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

This week, the number of skeletal remains uncovered at Chemmani reached a stark record of 387. With that figure, a patch of earth on the edge of Jaffna town became the largest mass grave ever uncovered on the island, surpassing the 376 remains recovered at Mannar. Recent days alone have seen the bodies of several children exhumed, alongside beads and bangles. These are the contents of the…

Teacher arrested for preparing ‘pro-LTTE’ posters

An IT teacher in Jaffna was arrested by the Terrorist Investigation Department on Saturday, accused of “preparing posters, leaflets and documents for reviving the LTTE”, Hiru News reported.

The man, said to be a former member of the LTTE, worked in Maanipay and his computers and laptops have been taken for investigation, said police spokesperson Ajith Rohana.

Australia grateful for Sri Lanka’s efforts to curb boat-arrivals

Four months after the last boat from Sri Lanka carrying potential refugees arrived in Australia, the country’s Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has expressed Australia’s gratitude to Sri Lanka for acting to curb “illegal” boat arrivals, reported The Australian.

Speaking at a joint Sri Lanka-Australia security conference on transnational crime in Canberra, attended by representatives of the Defence, army, navy and customs of both countries, Morrison said that the relationship between the countries could be broadened.

“[I]n just over six months, we have ensured that we are stopping the boats and we are being true to our promises, we are doing exactly what we said we would do and it is having exactly the effect we said it would have.”

“We must apply the same focus and co-operation that we have achieved on people-smuggling to the broader challenge of transnational crime,” the minister said.

South Korea commends 'tremendous' post-conflict progress in Sri Lanka

A South Korean envoy, after visiting Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa, noted ‘tremendous’ post-conflict progress , reports ColomboPage.

The South-Korean envoy further commended the Sri Lankan government on establishing a Presidential Commission on Missing Persons, and emphasised its commitment to maintain strong bilateral relations with Sri Lanka.

“We will do our best to help your government develop,” said the South Korean special envoy.

Tamils do not enjoy same rights as Sinhalese – EPC councillor

Tamil people in Sri Lanka do not enjoy the same rights and benefits that the Sinhalese people on the island have, said Eastern Provincial Councillor M Rajeswaran, according to the Uthayan.

Speaking at an event marking Chiththirai Thirunaal, the TNA councillor said that his party will not “mortgage” out Tamils for minimal concessions and [the government’s] development “illusion”, but will continue to tirelessly fight for the political rights of the Tamil people.

Canadian Tamils outline consensus position on Eelam Tamil issues

Over 80 Canadian Tamil organisations have come together to create a common position on Eelam Tamil activism, while rejecting the proscription of diaspora organisations and individuals by the Sri Lankan government.

The Tamil Community General Assembly, made up of community and political organisations, unanimously adopted a document, outlining 34 key points regarding Eelam Tamil political activism.

The document called on the international community to recognise Eelam Tamil nationhood, saying that the Sri Lankan government was continuing a “systematic and accelerated process of genocide” in the Tamil homeland and that an internationally supported transitional administration should be implemented to halt the genocide.

‘Breaking the Silence’ held at Kingston University

;

(Pictures: KUTS)

Kingston University Tamil Society held the first ‘Breaking the Silence’ event of 2014 earlier this month.

Army rounds up former LTTE cadres, warns against terrorist activities

Former LTTE cadres in Kokkillai, Kokkuthoduvaai and Karunaaddukeni in Mullaitivu district were rounded up by soldiers and warned against taking part in terrorist activities, the Uthayan reported.

Many parents of former cadres demanded to stay with their children, when military vehicles arrived at 9am on Sunday to take the former cadres away.

The day before, soldiers had visited houses of former LTTE cadre, instructing them to attend the meeting.

The former cadre were subsequently released in the afternoon along with their parents after being handed a saaram (sarong), however the incident has left local residents in fear.

Farmers in Iranaimadu protest against water diversion plans

Photograph @tamilvan


Farmers from Iraniamadu protested on Sunday against plans to divert water from the Iranaimadu Tank, towards Jaffna at Kilinochchi.

Breaking The Silence Journal: Kingston University

;

(Pictures: KUTS)

Kingston University Tamil Society held the first ‘Breaking the Silence’ event of 2014 earlier this month.

EPDP backs TNA resolution opposing Jaffna land grabs

Photograph @Hamsanan


A resolution demanding an immediate end to the Sri Lankan government’s forcible acquisition of private lands in Valikamam, Jaffna, and the return of seized lands to their owners was passed unanimously at a meeting of the Jaffna District Coordinating Committee meeting on Monday.

Reflecting the intense public anger over the land seizures, the resolution tabled by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was supported by the Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP, a key pro-government paramilitary group-cum-political party). However, the EPDP defended the government on other seizures also discussed, prompting criticism from those who attended the meeting.

"There was agreement on the issue of land acquisition at the meeting today, with the resolution I moved being unanimously adopted, after being seconded by Chandrakumar MP [of the EPDP]," TNA parliamentarian, M.A. Sumanthiran told Tamil Guardian shortly after the meeting ended.

"The resolution called for the acquisition process be abandoned, Section 2 Notices be withdrawn and the lands be handed back to the owners," he added, referring to the legal ordnance under which the government is seizing private land.