Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Hundreds march in Kilinochchi against limestone, sand mining and wind turbines
A protest march was held last month opposing limestone excavation, mineral sand mining and a proposed wind power project across the villages of Veravil, Valaipadu, Ponnaveli and Kiranchi, in the Poonakary Divisional Secretariat division of Kilinochchi. The demonstration was organised against plans to establish wind power stations and to carry out mineral sand and limestone extraction in the…

Remembering Sivakumaran 40 years on

Jun 4, 2014

Four decades on, the sacrifice of Ponnuthurai Sivakumaran on 5th June 1974- the first Tamil student to take his own life in the Tamil struggle against oppression by the Sri Lankan state - remains as relevant now as ever before.

In 1974, years of discrimination and oppression of the Tamil nation reached a new stage when the World Tamil Research Conference of 1974, an acclaimed event that appreciated and furthered Tamil culture, was marred by the brutality of Sri Lankan security forces. The Sri Lankan state was angered after organisers defied Sri Lankan government calls to hold the event in Colombo, and held it in Jaffna between the 3rd - 6th January instead. The violence unleashed by the state’s forces at the event, left nine people dead.

Sápmi defeats Tamil Eelam in closely contested match

Jun 4, 2014

The Tamil Eelam football team managed to net their first goals of the 2014 World Football Cup tournament, but succumbed to a 4-2 defeat to hosts Sápmi.

A minute of silence was held before the match, in remembrance of the death of Pon Sivakumaran 40 years ago, while he was detained by Sri Lankan security sources.

Taking on the host nation in a placement match this morning, the Leopards came in searching for their first goal of the tournament. The highly rated Sápmi team, which has the distinction of having had former Norwegian internationals play on their squad , were clear favourites and were always going to be tough to score against.

Families of the disappeared protest in Mullaitivu

Jun 4, 2014
Photographs @GGPonnambalam

Jayalalithaa's use of the word genocide 'very wrong' says SL Cabinet

Jun 4, 2014
Sri Lanka's Cabinet spokesperson, Keheliya Rambukwella condemned the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa's use of the word 'genocide' to describe the end of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka as "very wrong", reports ColomboPage.

"She has used the word genocide. This is very wrong. We believe that it is creating a wrong image of us in the democratic world," Minister Rambukwella told a press briefing today, stating that Sri Lanka will be making a formal objection to New Delhi over her remark.

"It is very much in keeping with the character of this politician to make wild allegations against Sri Lanka," he added.

Sri Lanka releases Tamil Nadu fishermen amidst condemnation from Jayalalithaa

Jun 4, 2014
The 29 Tamil Nadu fishermen, arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy last week, were released today, amidst strong condemnation from Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, reports ColomboPage.

In a letter to the Indian Prime Minister, Jayalalithaa called for a "strong and robust" response.

Struggling farmers in North neglected by state - TNA MP

Jun 4, 2014

The Sri Lankan government is not providing help for disadvantaged farmers in the North, TNA MP Selvam Adaikalanathan said in Parliament on Tuesday.

In addition to being affected by natural disasters, farmers in the North face several difficulties, including loan burdens and inflated resource costs.

No case for closing Achuveli and Thikkam army camps - SL army

Jun 4, 2014

An army camp in Achuveli will not be closed under any circumstances, due to its importance in preventing the return of the LTTE, military spokesperson Ruwan Wanigasooriya told press on Thursday.

Wanigasooriya claimed that although the lands of nine families had been 'appropriated' to build the camp in 1995, the government was making arrangements to compensate those families.

Sri Lankan police arrest 13 asylum seekers

Jun 4, 2014

Sri Lankan police have arrested a group of 13 asylum seekers who were attempting to flee to Australia, including those from the North-East of the island, in a raid reported ColomboPage.

The group, which included people from Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Vavuniya, had each paid a smuggler in Jaffna Rs. 10,000, in order to make the perilous journey over to Australia. The police, acting after receiving a tip-off, have held all of them in custody.

Sexual Violence in Conflict: Sri Lanka - systematic, deliberate and intended to destroy

Jun 4, 2014
Photograph Salem News


Next week, the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict is due to take place in London, co-hosted by the UK's Foreign Secretary, William Hague and the Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Angelina Jolie.

In the run up to the ESVC summit, we revisit the mounting evidence which documents the widespread, systematic and on-going use of sexual violence by Sri Lanka's military against Tamils, that occurs with absolute impunity.

See our full feature: 'Sexual Violence in Conflict: Sri Lanka'

Testimonies collected from victims and from those within the Sri Lankan military suggest sexual violence against Tamils, far from being confined to one rogue detention centre or regiment, was widespread and systematic.

A former UN field officer, present during the final months of the armed conflict, told Human Rights Watch:
“A large number of women fleeing from the conflict areas during the peak of fighting were sexually assaulted. The abuse was extensive, causing a large number of civilians to flee back to the theater of conflict to escape the abuse”
Examining 40 cases of sexual violence and torture in detention facilities across the North-East and in Colombo, authors of the 'An Unfinished War: Torture and Sexual Violence in Sri Lanka 2009—2014', which includes Yasmin Sooka, co-author of the UN Panel of Experts report on mass atrocities in Sri Lanka, concluded:
“The similarity of the torture, rape and sexual violence perpetrated against the witnesses confirms a well-organised pattern of systematic abuse on the part of the Government of Sri Lanka security forces.”
Many analysts have described a deliberate policy of sexual violence, not only as a means of torture on individuals, but to terrorise the Tamil population as a whole.

Examining the on-going use of sexual violence against Tamils in detention facilities in Sri Lanka since the armed conflict ended, Human Rights Watch, in its report published in February 2013, 'We Will Teach You a Lesson' - Sexual Violence against Tamils by Sri Lankan Security Forces’, said sexual violence was intended “to instill terror in the broader Tamil population”.

The group's UK director, David Mepham, said,
"There is method in this. It is coercive. It is a deliberate policy. People throughout the security forces in Sri Lanka are involved. This is deeply entrenched and systematic."

Campaigners discuss 'Sexual Violence in Conflict' ahead of global summit

Jun 3, 2014

The Frontline journalists club in London held a discussion on 'Preventing and Responding to Sexual Violence in Conflict' on Tuesday, in the run up to Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict next week.

The panel, chaired by Liz Ford, deputy editor of the Guardian's Global Development website, consisted of Doctor Juliet Cohen, head of doctors at Freedom From Torture; award winning film maker Fiona Lloyd-Davies; Serge Eric, co-founder of  Survivors Speak OUT! network and Sarah Cotton the public affairs and communications advisor for the International Committee of the Red Cross UK and Ireland.

The discussion with a focus on the Democratic Republic of Congo, also included Sri Lanka and Syria, exploring measures that can be taken to protect victims and respond to sexual violence in conflicts around the globe.

Sápmi defeats Tamil Eelam in closely contested match
Families of the disappeared protest in Mullaitivu
Jayalalithaa's use of the word genocide 'very wrong' says SL Cabinet
Sri Lanka releases Tamil Nadu fishermen amidst condemnation from Jayalalithaa
Struggling farmers in North neglected by state - TNA MP
No case for closing Achuveli and Thikkam army camps - SL army
Sri Lankan police arrest 13 asylum seekers
Sexual Violence in Conflict: Sri Lanka - systematic, deliberate and intended to destroy
Campaigners discuss 'Sexual Violence in Conflict' ahead of global summit
Sri Lanka apologist Naseby must withdraw allegations' – Telegraph
Sápmi defeats Tamil Eelam in closely contested match
Families of the disappeared protest in Mullaitivu
Jayalalithaa's use of the word genocide 'very wrong' says SL Cabinet
Sri Lanka releases Tamil Nadu fishermen amidst condemnation from Jayalalithaa
Struggling farmers in North neglected by state - TNA MP
No case for closing Achuveli and Thikkam army camps - SL army
Sri Lankan police arrest 13 asylum seekers
Sexual Violence in Conflict: Sri Lanka - systematic, deliberate and intended to destroy
Campaigners discuss 'Sexual Violence in Conflict' ahead of global summit
Sri Lanka apologist Naseby must withdraw allegations' – Telegraph