The Indian National Congress has stated that the sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu should be taken care of, over the increasingly controversial issue of Indian Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi inviting Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to his swearing-in ceremony later this month. The Times of India quoted Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed telling reporters in New Delhi, "Who has to be invited is a decision that has been taken by Modi. But we are of the view that the Tamil sentiments should be taken care of". The invitation extended to Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa...
The Australian government reassured Tamil diaspora groups based in the country that Sri Lanka's listings of Tamil diaspora groups as terrorists "do not constrain the freedom of these groups and individuals to express their views and to operate in the Australia in accordance with Australian law" and criticised the move as not conducive towards reconciliation. "I can assure you the Australian government strongly supports the right to freedom of expression and we do not consider targeting these Tamil diaspora organisations and individuals is conducive to reconciliation in Sri Lanka," Australia's Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Senator Brett Mason said in a letter addressed to one of the groups proscribed, Australian Tamil Congress (ATC). Noting also the proscription of the Tamil Youth Organisation and individuals residing in Australia, Senator Mason, went on to say: "Senior Australian officials have directly registered with the Sri Lankan government Australia's concerns on this issue and sought clarification from Sri Lankan counterparts, including on practical implications of the listings."
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said it ‘unequivocally condemns’ the Sri Lankan government's proscription of several Tamil diaspora groups as terrorist organisations, in a statement signed by party leader, R. Sampanthan. “We note with serious concern that this regressive step taken by the government is consistent with many other measures that it continues to take in the North and the East that are against the spirit of reconciliation. These measures include the military occupation of private lands, and the arbitrary arrest, detention and ‘rehabilitation’ of Tamil youth under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA),” the TNA said.
The Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) have said that their Kilinochchi organiser was arrested on Friday to prevent the party from holding a demonstration it had planned for Monday, to demand the resettlement of displaced Tamils in their own homes. “The government tried to use intimidation to stop a democratic demonstration that had been organised according to the law. The arrest took place since the party and affected people stood firm in going ahead with the demonstration legally. This arrest was undertaken with the intention of halting the democratic demonstration planned by our party, and of crippling our activities in Kilinochchi," the TNPF said in a statement on Saturday.
Photo: Tamil Youths & Students Federation Students in Chennai protested against the the invitation of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to the swearing-in ceremony of Indian Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi, earlier on Saturday. Gathering outside the BJP office in Chennai, students from the Tamil Youths and Students Federation, the Tamil Nadu Students Movement, the Balachandran Students Movement and Progressive Students Front chanted slogans against Rajapaksa's visit to Delhi. Speaking to the Tamil Guardian, V Prabhakaran of the Tamil Youths and Students Federation stated, “We started this agitation in contempt of the Modi government's decision to invite the genocidal criminal Mahinda Rajapaksa for the Prime Minister's swearing in ceremony”.
Illustration Keera Rat nam The following account written by Paul M.M. Cooper is based on survivor interviews to Tamils Against Genocide (TAG). Personal details of Mayuran (not his real name), place names and dates have been changed to protect his identity. Mayuran was in his mid-30s when the Sri Lankan army advanced into the LTTE-controlled North-East of Sri Lanka in its final assault. He first joined the LTTE when he was sixteen, and had been part of a team that laid claymore mines along enemy positions and also taught combat to new recruits. In Mayuran's own words, here is what he saw. In...
Amnesty International has called upon the newly elected Indian government to heed the voice of its citizens and back an international investigation into violations of international law in Sri Lanka. Shashikumar Velath, programmes director at Amnesty International India, “It has been five years, since the war ended, but Sri Lankan authorities have failed to bring those responsible for serious violations and abuses to justice" Speaking on India’s role in Sri Lanka, Velath went on to add, "India abdicated its human rights responsibilities when it decided to abstain from the UN resolution this...
The Chief Minister of the Northern Provincial Council CV Wigneswaran has rejected an offer from Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to “accompany” him to the swearing-in ceremony of India’s Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi later this month. The Twitter account of the Tamil National Alliance tweeted on Friday that Wigneswaran “rejected the President's invitation to 'accompany' him to the swearing in of the PM of India in a strongly worded letter”. (See letter below). The statement came as Rajapaksa confirmed his attendance at the ceremony due to take place on the 26th of May.
19:45 BST The Tamil National People's Front's (TNPF) regional organiser in Kilinochchi has been detained by military intelligence officers said party leader, after officers arrived at the organiser's house this evening, instructing him to accompany them for questioning. "Kilinochchi Organiser Jega is currently being forced by military [intelligence] to leave his house with them for inquiry," TNPF leader, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam had tweeted earlier this evening stating that they feared he had been detained after he was not answering any calls to his mobile phone. "TNPF Kilinochchi Organiser Jega has texted party [General Secretary] S Kajendran saying he is currently being taken to Vavuniya by TID [Terrorism Investigation Division]" Mr. Ponnambalam tweeted moments earlier.
The no-confidence motion, brought by the main opposition party, the United National Party (UNP), together with the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) and the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), has been defeated by 94 votes yesterday. The Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) and National Freedom Front (NFF), both partners within the ruling coalition, were absent during the vote.