The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) hailed the sweeping victories of the Jayalalithaa in Tamil Nadu and BJP leader Narenda Modi in India as historic, congratulating both on their appointment, and expressing hope that the new government " will stand firmly against the past and present injustices faced by the Tamils and deal decisively with the Rajapaksa government in bringing just peace in the island of Sri Lanka." “GTF is delighted that the determined voice of support that has echoed consistently from across the Palk Strait has been strengthened by a historic democratic vote [and] send our humble congratulations in celebrating Madam Jayalalithaa and her party being re-elected with an overwhelming historic majority to lead the people of Tamil Nadu and be the leader of Tamils all over the world including the Tamil nation in the island of Sri Lanka,” GTF spokesperson Suren Surendiran told Tamil Guardian. Highlighting the vocal positions Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had taken over recent years against the mass atrocities inflicted on the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, Mr. Surendiran expressed hope that she would be able to exert her influence on the new BJP led government. Jayalalithaa's party, AIADMK, winning 37 out of 39 seats in Tamil Nadu, has emerged the third largest party in India. "Madam Jayalalithaa and her party have stood firm against the injustices levelled upon the Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka. Madam Jayalalithaa is the first elected international leader who has formally referred to what is happening to the Tamil nation in the island as genocide, called for an international investigation in Sri Lanka to establish whether war crimes and crimes against humanity were committed, demanded for economic sanctions against the Colombo government and referred to President Rajapaksa as a war criminal." "GTF sincerely hopes that Madam Jayalalithaa will be able to influence the new BJP led government under Prime Minister Elect, Hon. Narendra Modi to stand firm and be decisive when dealing with the historic and continued injustices served upon our people in the island of Sri Lanka."
Illustration by Keera Ratnam The following account written by Paul M.M. Cooper is based on a survivor interview to Tamils Against Genocide (TAG). Personal details of Ahalya (*not her real name) and her family members, place names and dates have been changed to protect their identities. Ahalya was in her late twenties when the war in the Northeast of Sri Lanka came to an end. She was the sister of an LTTE fighter who was killed fighting in the war, and since his death had been determined to do what she could to alleviate the suffering of the Tamil-majority population of the LTTE-controlled zone. During the war, Ahalya assisted in the hospital in Oru Kiraamam, while her mother and father stayed at home and looked after her little son. It was hard work, and at first dealing with the wounded and the sick made her heart tremble. She grew tougher, though, and before long her work at the hospital, along with caring for her child, became the focus of her life.
UK politicians, rights activists and campaigners condemned the structural violence taking place against Tamil women in the North-East of Sri Lanka, at a conference held in the House of Commons in Westminster, on Tuesday. The event, highlighting the extensive sexual violence, torture and abuses still being inflicted on Tamil women and the societal structures that lead to these atrocities and perpetuate impunity, was organised by a cross party group of UK MPs, the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPGT) in collaboration with the British Tamils Forum (BTF). The societal structures present within Sri Lanka that lead to the injustices and atrocities Tamil women faced were discussed by a panel of activists, campaigners and journalists. The panel comprised Dr Frank Arnold from the medical campaign group MEDACT , Charu Lata Hogg from Chatham House and Child Soldiers International , Dr Juliet Cohen from Freedom From Torture ; and Sujatha Moorthy from the telephone counseling service Jothy Helpline . The panel was moderated by Dr Sivakami Rajamanoharan, Tamil Guardian editor.
The Sri Lankan army has issued a ban on temple events and public gatherings in Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts, intended to commemorate those that died in Mullivaikkal, the Uthayan reported. Disrupting the annual temple festival taking place at Vairavar temple near Koppai teaching school yesterday, the Sri Lankan army entered yesterday, and ordered the temple officials to stop the festival. The army declared that no prayers should take place on May 17 or 18.
The Sri Lankan army has arrested a man in Jaffna for possession of a Mullivaikkal remembrance flyer, reported the Thinakkural . The army made the arrest on Thursday after entering the man's house on Sunnakam Street in the Nilavari region of Jaffna district. The man has been handed over to Achchuveli police and remains in custody. Denying any involvement with the event or the printing of the flyers, the detained individual reportedly said he had only picked up what he had found on the ground outside his house.
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has telephoned the Indian prime minister-designate Narendra Modi and congratulated him for the “decisive verdict” he received from the people, reported The Hindu. Rajapaksa extended a personal invitation to Modi to visit Sri Lanka, the president’s spokesman Mohan Samaranayake was quoted as saying. “I take this opportunity to congratulate the Indian people on the conclusion of a successful and peaceful general election,” he said, in a statement released to The Hindu by his office on Friday. Calling the Indian elections “a great example of the traditions...
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Ms Jayalalithaa congratulated Narendra Modi for his “magnificent victory” in the Indian elections, reported The Hindu . “I congratulate you on the magnificent victory in the 16th Lok Sabha Elections. I wish you and the Government under your stewardship the very best...,” she said in a letter to Modi, adding, that she looked forward “to an era of meaningful co-operation” between the government of Tamil Nadu and Delhi. Jayalalithaa's party, AIADMK, also secured a sweeping victory, winning 37 of the 39 seats and emerging as third largest party in the Lok Sabha...
Pictures: news.lk The most senior military delegation from China to have ever visited Sri Lanka called on President Mahinda Rajapaksa earlier today. Vice Chairman of China’s Central Military Commission Air Chief Marshal Xu Qiliang said that the purpose of the visit was to further enhance the “strategic mutual trust” between China and Sri Lanka and to elevate “relations between the two countries and the armed forces to a new level.” Mr Xu said Sri Lanka’s military was “well-trained and well-managed,” and that the military relationship between the two countries was “a priority”. “We all know that Your Excellency is a legendary statesman with outstanding leadership,” Mr. Xu said. “You’re a great hero for defeating terrorism. We admire your success of defeating the LTTE and the rapid (post-war) reconstruction. Within a short period of five years after the war [ended], people are now living a peaceful life. People are enjoying their peaceful lives, the stability and development. It is a great achievement.” President Rajapaksa said that that Sri Lanka’s support of China in matters such as the One-China Policy and the South China Sea issue will remain the same. “I assure you our policies towards China have never changed and won’t change. Our position is very clear,” he said. “We must thank your Government and your people for supporting us at the UN Human Rights Council,” the President said.
New photograph of Isaipriya published in report. A new report details cases, testimonies and new photograph evidence of LTTE cadres who surrendered at the end of the armed conflict, and were later found dead or remain missing. The report, "5 years on: The White Flag Incident 2009-2014 ", published by 'STOP' part of the International Truth and Justice Project - Sri Lanka, includes new photographic evidence of the LTTE news anchor, Isaipriya, alive in Army custody, as well as the LTTE commander, Col. Vasanthan. See here for full report, extract follows: "Eyewitnesses say it was not just the LTTE political wing leaders who were targeted, but at least 102 administrative, financial, political, humanitarian leaders of the LTTE, in addition to unarmed military wing cadres and non-combatants such as children who also surrendered later the same day. There were also other LTTE figures who surrendered in the days before and after 18 May who have disappeared or been killed in the custody of the Sri Lankan security forces It appears to have been part of a coldblooded plan to wipe out any future Tamil representatives.
May 18th is a day that marks the genocide of the Tamil people, said the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF), criticising the government's ban on remembrance events. "We have the right to remember our people who were killed in their masses," said the TNPF, declaring the day as a Genocide Day. "May 18th when the war came to an end through a genocide is a black day in a the Tamil people’s history. It cannot be forgotten." The Sri Lankan military ordered that no public events to commemorate the dead should take place, and those that defied the ban would be arrested.