Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Sri Lankan police arrest Tamil farmers in Kurunthurmalai
Mullaitivu police arrested Tamil farmers who were cultivating farmland at the foothills of Kurunthurmalai, where a Buddhist temple has been illegally constructed.  The farmers were cultivating the privately owned land when they were obstructed by a Buddhist monk, Galgamuwa Shantha Bodhi, police and Department of Archaeology officials before they were arrested.  Bodhi, the head…

Fonseka: I was in charge

May 21, 2012

Speaking to Charles Haviland of the BBC, General Sarath Fonseka, asserted that he was in charge of the military in 2009, and not the political leadership.

See BBC report here.

Criticising "some people", for "trying to hide their face when it comes to war crimes and other issues", as "it give the impression to the rest of the world, that these people are guilty of something,"  General Fonseka said that he would "not be scared".

Worldwide coalition of diaspora youth groups condemn Jaffna uni attack

May 21, 2012

In statement released on Monday, a coalition of Tamil diaspora youth organisations across the world, the Global Taml Youth League (T-League), condemned the attack on Paramalingam Tharsananth, the secretary of Jaffna University Student Union (JUSU).

Describing it as an "act of intimidation and violence", T-League said it was "an attempt to instill fear in students and silence their voices for justice", adding that the targeting remembrance events was "an attempt to extinguish the memory of the victims, and deny the ongoing genocide that is apparent today".

Standing in solidarity with Tamil youth in the North-East, the global coalition of youth organisations, pledged,

"We will never forget the victims of Mu'l'livaaykkaal, and must work tirelessly to bring justice to our brothers and sisters who have suffered, and continue to fall prey to violence at the hands of the Sri-Lankan Government."

The Global Tamil Youth League's member organisations include:  Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance, Canada (CTYA); Tamil Youth Network, Germany; Giovani Tamil, Italy; Tamil Youth Organisation, Norway (TYO-Norge); Tamil Youth Organisation, Switzerland (TYO-Swiss) and Tamil Youth Organisation, UK (TYO-UK); Voice of Tamils, Australia; Tamil Youth Organisation New Zealand (TYO-NZ), Tamil Youth Organisation Sweden (TYO-Sweden) and  Tamil Youth Organization USA (TYO-USA).

See also: UK Tamil university societies condemn Jaffna student attack (19 May 2012)

Government plans to seize assets “linked to terrorism”

May 20, 2012
The Sri Lankan government has declared that the assets of those linked to “terrorist” activity will be frozen and seized, both inside and outside of the country, as part of new regulations put in place by the External Affairs Ministry.

A “Competent Authority” will be created to oversee the seizures, appointed by the Foreign Minister G L Peiris and Defence Minister Gotabaya Rajapaksa. The body, once commissioned, will have the authority to freeze and seize all funds, assets and resources of any group deemed to be linked to “terrorists”.

‘This is precisely what we mean’

May 20, 2012
The US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke to Sri Lanka’s GL Peiris on issues of accountability, free media, human rights and demilitarising the North, according the spokesperson Victoria Nuland, a move that was rejected just hours later by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Asked if prosecuting war crimes and responsibility for the estimated 40,000 civilian deaths in the final phase of the armed conflict was discussed, Ms. Nuland replied,

Mahinda and Basil decide to expand fertiliser subsidies

May 20, 2012
Sri Lanka has announced that a new subsidy for fertilisers would be granted to farmers with supplementary crop cultivations, expanding a scheme currently only available for paddy farmers.

Minister S.M. Chandrasena stated that the new subsidy was decided by President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his brother Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapksa, after discussions with farmers. He announced that the new subsidy was a means of tackling a surplus of paddy cultivation.

Marina Beach candlelight vigil held for Mullivaikal

May 20, 2012

Thousands of people gathered on Marina Beach in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, to remember those that perished in Mullivaikal, shouting slogans of grievance and calling in international independent investigation into war crimes.

Organised by the Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam and the May 17th Movement, the crowd also called for a referendum in establishing a separate state and were heard to shout slogans such as, “We will never forget India’s betrayal” and “We will never condone”.

An organisation called Youth Against War Crimes and Genocide also took part in the event, collecting signatures for their campaign.

See below for more photos.

Over 200 Tamil prisoners on hunger strike

May 20, 2012
A total of 234 Tamil detainees are now on hunger strike at prisons across the country, which has stretched into its fifth day, with more detainees joining the protest.

The detainees, some who have been held without charge for several years, have asked to be either charged or released.

Row over lending of Buddha's relics

May 20, 2012

India’s plans to lend ancient fragments of the Buddha’s bones to Sri Lanka have been slammed by Tamil Nadu activists.

Sri Lanka signed an agreement with India on Friday, permitting the transfer of the relics for the celebrations marking the 2,600th anniversary of Buddha’s enlightenment.

The request was made by President Rajapakse to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a visit last year.

Tamil Nadu politician Vaiko criticised India’s decision in a letter to the Prime Minister.

Media organisations criticise Supreme Court decision

May 20, 2012
The Committee to Protect Journalists has slammed the Sri Lankan Supreme Court’s decision to rejection a petition on the government’s website censorship earlier this week, filed by members of the Free Media Movement.

Bob Dietz, coordinator of CPJ’s Asia Program stated,

Rajapaksa pardons General Fonseka

May 20, 2012
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has used a presidential pardon to grant the former army General Sarath Fonseka release from prison, after he was jailed in 2010.

Around 2,000 supporters greeted Fonseka at his release, waving the Sri Lankan flag and chanting,
"Victory to our war hero! Victory to our leader!"
Worldwide coalition of diaspora youth groups condemn Jaffna uni attack
Government plans to seize assets “linked to terrorism”
‘This is precisely what we mean’
Mahinda and Basil decide to expand fertiliser subsidies
Marina Beach candlelight vigil held for Mullivaikal
Over 200 Tamil prisoners on hunger strike
Row over lending of Buddha's relics
Media organisations criticise Supreme Court decision
Rajapaksa pardons General Fonseka
Honouring our symbols of strength and courage
Worldwide coalition of diaspora youth groups condemn Jaffna uni attack
Government plans to seize assets “linked to terrorism”
‘This is precisely what we mean’
Mahinda and Basil decide to expand fertiliser subsidies
Marina Beach candlelight vigil held for Mullivaikal
Over 200 Tamil prisoners on hunger strike
Row over lending of Buddha's relics
Media organisations criticise Supreme Court decision
Rajapaksa pardons General Fonseka
Honouring our symbols of strength and courage