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…

Jeyakumari, Vipoosika arrests restrict them from UNHRC - Vanni MP Sivasakthi Ananthan

Mar 16, 2014
The arrest and detention of the disappearances campaigner, Balendran Jeyakumari and her 13 year old daughter, Vipoosika, was to prevent them from giving evidence at the UN HRC, the Uthayan quoted Sivasakthi Ananthan, the MP for Vanni as saying.

Speaking on Saturday, Mr. Ananthan called on the international community to call for their release, and refuted the government's claims that a LTTE fighter had fired on troops.
"It's been five years since the war ended. There weren't any shootings anywhere since then, or any attacks. This incident has been conjured up."

"There is a need for the government to highlight the LTTE and the armed struggle, in order to do its own politics in the South."

Wanted posters seen across Kilinochchi, residents fearful

Mar 16, 2014
Photographs Tamilwin

Wanted posters featuring the photographs of two youths including that of a man who the Sri Lankan Army claims is an LTTE fighter called Gopi, have been spotted today across Kilinochchi, reports Tamilwin.

According to the Uthayan, the Army has announced a 5 lakh rupees prize for information about the two alleged suspects.

The posters, which come amidst a spate of arrests of activists and house to house search operations by Sri Lankan soldiers over the weekend, have added to a heightened climate of fear among residents.

Indian civil rights organisations call for international investigation

Mar 16, 2014
Over  150 activists from various Indian civil rights organisations and political movements convened at a demonstration to call on India to sponsor a United Nations Human Rights Council mechanism calling for an independent international investigation mechanism into Sir Lanka’s crimes against Tamils.

Speaking at the event, Senthil, from Save Tamils Movement, condemned the Indian government for its silence on the issue whilst it worked to weaken the current resolution against Sri Lanka.

Hugo Swire: 'arrests underline why the Council must continue its focus on Sri Lanka'

Mar 16, 2014
The arrests of activists over recent days "underline why the Council must continue its focus on Sri Lanka", Channel 4 News quoted the British Foreign Office Minister Hugo Swire as saying.

Stating that he was "deeply concerned" to hear of the arrests, Mr. Swire urged the Sri Lankan government to allow "immediate access to lawyers and their families", adding,

Navi Pillay reiterates OHCHR mandate to establish international investigation

Mar 16, 2014

The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, reiterated her office's mandate for establishing and conducting international investigations during a meeting on Monday between the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) and NGOs on the sidelines of the 25th session of the Council.

Asked to clarify the remit of the OHCHR mandate, Ms. Pillay stressed that the OHCHR "has the power to establish an international mechanism" to investigate crimes, as it falls under the human rights protection mandate of her office. 

"Now apart from calling for an international investigation, we have interpreted our mandate to say that the High Commissioner herself has power to investigate a situation," said Ms. Pillay.

TNA - 'pleased by revisions to draft resolution'

Mar 15, 2014
As the second draft of the UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka was circulated amongst diplomatic missions, international NGOs and Tamil activists on Friday, the TNA said it was "pleased by the revisions".

Commenting via twitter, the TNA said,
"TNA pleased by revisions to draft resolution, esp re intl inquiry on SL at #HRC25."

"Revised draft clarifies and strengthens envisaged investigation. Provides basis for robust intl inquiry by experts"

MoD orders 18 day detention, Jeyakumari makes statement to judge

Mar 15, 2014
The Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence has ordered for the disappearances campaigner Balendran Jeyakumari, who is currently reported to be detained at Boosa camp, to be detained for 18 days, reports Uthayan.

Ms Jeyakumari made the following statement to the judge:
"On the day of the incident, about 3.30 pm, I was feeding food to my child. At that time a tall person wearing a black jacket jumped over the wall and ran into our house.

Text of second draft UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka

Mar 15, 2014
The second draft of the UN Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka, tabled by the US, UK, Montenegro, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Mauritius, was circulated late on Friday night.

See here for full text.

Commenting on the draft, the TNA said it was "pleased" by the changes.



Troops, police ransack homes in massive search operation in Kilinochchi district - residents

Mar 15, 2014
Sivakami Rajamanoharan
Published 12:36 GMT

Sri Lankan army troops and police are conducting an aggressive house to house search operation in Kanakampikaikilam, in Kilinochchi district, residents say.
 
Large numbers of heavily armed police and soldiers arrived unannounced early Sunday morning and cordoned off the village, restricting access in and out of the area, before ransacking houses and seizing all personal documents, digital devices and computers.
 
No reason was given for the search, which has spread panic amongst people, sources in Vanni told Tamil Guardian.
 
The new search operations come amid prevailing anxiety amongst the populace caused by the heightened presence of the military in several parts of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts in recent weeks, they added.

Vanni fearful amid further arrests and intensified militarisation

Mar 15, 2014
Vanni is gripped with fear amidst intensified militarisation and arrests, including two incidents of a pregnant mother in Trincomalee and a 28 year old woman in Vasvamaadu, Mullaitheevu district being arrested, reports JDS.

One senior citizen from Vanni told the JDS of increased mobile and permanent check posts along Paranthan-Mullaithivu road and Puthukudiyiruppu-Mankulam road since the arrest of the the disappearances campaigner Balendran Jeyakumari and her 13 year old daughter Vipoosika on Thursday.

Wanted posters seen across Kilinochchi, residents fearful
Indian civil rights organisations call for international investigation
Hugo Swire: 'arrests underline why the Council must continue its focus on Sri Lanka'
Navi Pillay reiterates OHCHR mandate to establish international investigation
TNA - 'pleased by revisions to draft resolution'
MoD orders 18 day detention, Jeyakumari makes statement to judge
Text of second draft UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka
Troops, police ransack homes in massive search operation in Kilinochchi district - residents
Vanni fearful amid further arrests and intensified militarisation
President Rajapaksa defends government's foreign policy
Wanted posters seen across Kilinochchi, residents fearful
Indian civil rights organisations call for international investigation
Hugo Swire: 'arrests underline why the Council must continue its focus on Sri Lanka'
Navi Pillay reiterates OHCHR mandate to establish international investigation
TNA - 'pleased by revisions to draft resolution'
MoD orders 18 day detention, Jeyakumari makes statement to judge
Text of second draft UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka
Troops, police ransack homes in massive search operation in Kilinochchi district - residents
Vanni fearful amid further arrests and intensified militarisation
President Rajapaksa defends government's foreign policy