Sri Lankan military intimidation has for the second time led to prayers that were going to be held for the displaced people of Valikamam North being cancelled, reports Uthayan.

Military intelligence once again threatened the organisers with “consequences” if the prayers, organised for those displaced in Valikaamam North, went ahead.

The Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) held a protest on Wednesday, calling on the United Nations not to allow Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to address the General Assembly in New York later this month.

The protest, led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), a political party in Tamil Nadu, was addressed by the DMK President Karunanidhi, who said,

"If all the Tamils cooperate and struggle, we can ensure true freedom for Eelam Tamils and give them a life of self- respect."

Last updated: 0800 GMT

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has criticised remarks made by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy over the arrest of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy this week, as the BJP’s State Chief distanced the party from his comments.

Swamy, who recently attended a defence seminar in Sri Lanka, said the Sri Lankan government should not release the boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen that they were holding in their custody.

His comments were slammed by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, who also heads the third largest party in India, who said,

“It is particularly distressing that a senior member of the BJP has, in a televised media interview, stated it was he who advised the Sri Lankan government not to release the boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen. This statement of Swamy has given rise to resentment and angst not only among the fishing community but also among people of Tamil Nadu."

“The Sri Lankan government's inhumane and cruel strategy of not releasing the boats is causing loss of livelihood to fishermen and their families. The desperate fishermen are resorting to protests and strikes."

Swamy’s remarks led to a rebuke by the BJP’s State Chief Tamilisai Soundararajan, who said his comments were not the official line of the BJP party and that she has “reported the matter to the party high command."

Soundararajan went on to say Swamy was “spoiling the efforts” of the Indian government to resolve the issue of repeated arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy, adding,

“We have made progress in the fishermen's issue as meetings have been held and the PMO has also stepped in to facilitate talks between officials from both countries." 

Swamy though dismissed the Chief Minister’s criticism saying “she is being a cinema star, she basically speaks according to a script… she is not a BJP member”.

At least 60 Pakistani asylum seekers have been released from detention in Boosa camp, and may now face deportation, reports the Press Trust of India.

The asylum seekers have been released to temporary accommodation, with a Sri Lankan court ruling on Monday lifting the ban on the deportation of asylum seekers from Pakistan.

The ban was lifted after Sri Lanka’s Deputy Solicitor General warned the refugees were a threat to national security and were at risk of bringing malaria into the island.

Over 3,000 fishermen gathered in Ramneswaram, shouting slogans condemning Swamy and burning an effigy of the senior BJP leader. Effigies were also burnt in Salem, Nagapattinam, and Panruti as activists from parties such as the Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi and Mukkulathu Pulikal held protests.

Swamy, who recently attended a defence seminar in Sri Lanka, said the Sri Lankan government should not release the boats of Tamil Nadu fishermen that they were holding in their custody.

The BJP’s State Chief distanced the party from Swamy’s remarks and noted the matter had been reported to the “party high command”.

Speaking to the Tamil Guardian, Tamil Nadu based activist Saravana Kumar from the Ilanthamizhagam Movement said,

 “Swamy has been intervening on the Sri Lankan issue since the 1980’s, saying there is no support for the Eelam Tamils in Tamil Nadu. But the current situation clearly shows that if he tries to play any role against the Tamils and Tamil sentiments, the people will never let him.”

Businesses in Jaffna are suffering as traders from the South are setting up stalls and shops across the North without having to obtain any government permission, said the Valikamam South Traders Union leader Layan C Hariharan.

Speaking at the Valikamam South Chamber of Commerce’s General meeting, Hariharan said that whilst businesses in Jaffna are required to obtain permission to set up from the regional council every year, traders from the South are coming into the North and setting up businesses and stalls without any such requirements.