Sri Lanka - News and Discussion

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 12 Mar 2013 10:28

“The best thing about him is that even if he ends up reading up a Portuguese speech on the resolution, no one will notice it.”

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 12 Mar 2013 21:25

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/teso-strike-in-tamil-nadu-evokes-partial-response/article4500985.ece

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 13 Mar 2013 12:51

http://www.niticentral.com/2013/03/13/c ... 54708.html

Tamil Nadu parties unmoved by plight of Tamils in Malaysia

Tamil Nadu parties are quick to hyperventilate over issues favoured by the Church, such as the alleged atrocities towards Tamils in Sri Lanka, wherein they are trying to force the Government of India to support a UN resolution censuring the island nation on the issue of human rights. The Church hand is visible in the fast by students of the missionary institution, Loyola College, over the issue.

To this day, no politician or political party has questioned why the leadership of the LTTE was Christian unless Tamil Eelam was a Church agenda. Nor have they wondered why Sri Lanka’s Tamil Hindus have not voiced dissatisfaction with their Government after the end of the war. Yet the Dravidian parties obediently follow the Church and assorted Western and West-funded NGOs.

Last year, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa benignly indulged Church backing of the agitation against the Russian-built nuclear plant at Kudankulam, until the crippling power crisis in the State forced a rethink, especially after the Prime Minister personally intervened in the matter. That the agitators were not opposing nuclear power, but only the Russian venture was evident from the posters erected at the site. Now, funding to the tune of Rs 30 lakhs has come from London, to a female activist with a bank balance of Rs 550! Would a woman with a near-zero bank balance have the savvy for internet banking? Obviously someone savvy gave the bank and account details and facilitated the transaction.

The ‘international consciousness’ of our expansive Tamil politicians crumbles and disappears in the face of the Himalayan problems of the Tamil diaspora that went to Malaysia as indentured labour in the colonial era and has since suffered crippling discrimination. Some years ago, the humiliated and persecuted community organised under the banner of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and waged such a valiant struggle that it may change the face of Malaysian politics.

Hindraf was banned in October 2008 for holding a 30,000-strong rally in Kuala Lumpur in November 2007 to protest the marginalisation of Indian Malaysians. The ban was lifted only in January 2013, and the party is now seriously trying to make a debut in Parliament in the forthcoming 13th general elections. Strange that there is not even a whisper of excitement or encouragement in India, especially in Tamil Nadu, their natal land.

It would be relevant to mention that this could be because the Malaysian diaspora is mainly Hindu, and devotedly loyal to the clan gods and Hindu deities and faith that their forefathers took with them to the new land. Hindraf, in fact, garnered much of its initial following for opposing the destruction of clan temples by the regime. Obviously, the Church will have no truck with such a body.

........

The big issue Hindraf is fighting for is the stateless Indians, a cause that brought the leaders to India for the Pravasi Bharat annual jamboree for a couple of years before they realised that their mother country had neither love nor empathy for their sufferings. There are around 450,000 Indians denied legal documents, who are thus rendered stateless and denied admission to schools, and thus deprived of the avenues of decent living and employment.
.

So much so for the Elamites fraudsters.

Aditya_V · Post by **Aditya_V** » 13 Mar 2013 13:34

Well I understood, DMK cadres shut down shops yesterday especially those of small time shop keepers, how none of thier own business Ventures were shut yesterday.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 13 Mar 2013 13:36

Sanku wrote:http://www.niticentral.com/2013/03/13/c ... 54708.html

Tamil Nadu parties unmoved by plight of Tamils in Malaysia
Tamil Nadu parties are quick to hyperventilate over issues favoured by the Church, such as the alleged atrocities towards Tamils in Sri Lanka, wherein they are trying to force the Government of India to support a UN resolution censuring the island nation on the issue of human rights. The Church hand is visible in the fast by students of the missionary institution, Loyola College, over the issue.

To this day, no politician or political party has questioned why the leadership of the LTTE was Christian unless Tamil Eelam was a Church agenda. Nor have they wondered why Sri Lanka’s Tamil Hindus have not voiced dissatisfaction with their Government after the end of the war. Yet the Dravidian parties obediently follow the Church and assorted Western and West-funded NGOs.

Last year, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa benignly indulged Church backing of the agitation against the Russian-built nuclear plant at Kudankulam, until the crippling power crisis in the State forced a rethink, especially after the Prime Minister personally intervened in the matter. That the agitators were not opposing nuclear power, but only the Russian venture was evident from the posters erected at the site. Now, funding to the tune of Rs 30 lakhs has come from London, to a female activist with a bank balance of Rs 550! Would a woman with a near-zero bank balance have the savvy for internet banking? Obviously someone savvy gave the bank and account details and facilitated the transaction.

The ‘international consciousness’ of our expansive Tamil politicians crumbles and disappears in the face of the Himalayan problems of the Tamil diaspora that went to Malaysia as indentured labour in the colonial era and has since suffered crippling discrimination. Some years ago, the humiliated and persecuted community organised under the banner of the Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) and waged such a valiant struggle that it may change the face of Malaysian politics.

Hindraf was banned in October 2008 for holding a 30,000-strong rally in Kuala Lumpur in November 2007 to protest the marginalisation of Indian Malaysians. The ban was lifted only in January 2013, and the party is now seriously trying to make a debut in Parliament in the forthcoming 13th general elections. Strange that there is not even a whisper of excitement or encouragement in India, especially in Tamil Nadu, their natal land.

It would be relevant to mention that this could be because the Malaysian diaspora is mainly Hindu, and devotedly loyal to the clan gods and Hindu deities and faith that their forefathers took with them to the new land. Hindraf, in fact, garnered much of its initial following for opposing the destruction of clan temples by the regime. Obviously, the Church will have no truck with such a body.

........

The big issue Hindraf is fighting for is the stateless Indians, a cause that brought the leaders to India for the Pravasi Bharat annual jamboree for a couple of years before they realised that their mother country had neither love nor empathy for their sufferings. There are around 450,000 Indians denied legal documents, who are thus rendered stateless and denied admission to schools, and thus deprived of the avenues of decent living and employment.
.
So much so for the Elamites fraudsters.

Javee, saab.

Coincidence??

Javee · Post by **Javee** » 13 Mar 2013 15:55

It's not coincidence but paranoia. Are you saying these students are fasting so they can achieve "greater" tamil eelam encompassing TN? Are you saying that Vatican is so powerful that it forced students from 25 colleges across the length and breadth of TN to take part in the protest??

Meanwhile, student protests demanding justice for war crimes in Sri Lanka gathered momentum across Tamil Nadu on Monday, with class boycotts, fasts and demonstrations being reported from various cities and towns.

Students in about 25 colleges in the State abstained from classes, accusing Sri Lanka of targeting innocent Tamils during the war against the LTTE. There were reports of relay fasts in at least 14 places.

Demonstrations or processions were held to demand that India vote against Sri Lanka in the ongoing UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva. Some students belonging to government arts and law colleges burnt effigies of Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa at some places.

Police said they had scaled up security arrangements for Sri Lankan establishments in Chennai.

Groups of students also protested in Presidency College, while 15 students of Ambedkar Government Arts College started a fast on Monday evening with 200 supporters. Students from St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchi, St. Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai, Government Law College, Tirunelveli, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Government Arts College, Coimbatore and two youths in Tirupur began indefinite fasts. Class boycotts and other forms of protest were reported from Coimbatore, Erode, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and Mannargudi.

Now before you come back and say that these are Christian institutions, let me clarify a bit. St.Xavier's and St.Joseph are decorated institutions in South and Central TN, they have a history of educating TN masses. And most of the students in these institutions are hindus.

Javee · Post by **Javee** » 13 Mar 2013 16:21

Special Media Release On the UN Human Rights Council Sessions in Geneva Issued by General Secretary of the UNP, Hon. Tissa Attanayake MP

If at the 22nd sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Council a situation which is prejudicial to Sri Lanka arises, the entire responsibility should be borne by the government led by the President, especially Ministers Prof. G.L.Peiris and Mahinda Samarasinghe who participated at last year's UN General Assembly and the UNHRC sessions promising the international community the sun, moon and stars.
According to reports at the current Geneva sessions, a Resolution against Sri Lanka is will be presented by a group of countries headed by the U.SA. India too will be extending its support, However, cabinet spokesman, Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, says,
'…according to the whims of the international community, as a country we are not prepared to go down on our knees before them'.

Thus the government is continuing to hide the truth from the masses and marking time with mere verbal bravado. We believe that the people have a right to know the real situation that prevails today. At the 2012 UNHRC sessions in Geneva, a Resolution under US auspices was passed, urging Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) Report. These recommendations were compiled by a Commission appointed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa himself, and it was the belief of the entire government, including the President, that these recommendations should be duly implemented. Moreover, at the 2012 Geneva UNHRC sessions, Minister Samarasinghe assured the international community that they would indeed be implemented, and Professor G.L. Peiris participating at last year's UN General Assembly sessions, too confirmed this idea.

Regarding the position of India, what must be remembered is that in May 2009, at the UNHRC sessions, when the Resolution was brought against Sri Lanka, She supported Sri Lanka by voting against the Resolution. However, subsequently, Sri Lankan representatives led by Professor Peiris were still meting unfulfilled promises to India, saying that the 13th Amendment would be fully implemented, and that the Provincial Council elections in the North would be expeditiously held. However, since nothing positive has thus far been achieved, inter state trust between the two nations are frayed. If India this time votes against Sri Lanka, it would not be any surprise or wonder and that responsibility should be borne by this government for having promised the sun, moon and stars to the Indian government, leaving them only with yet unfulfilled and false promises.

Presently at the UNHRC, an unfavourable situation has arisen for Sri Lanka, not for any other reason, but solely because of the unfulfilled promises given to the international community by the government and its Ministers, has boomeranged on the government itself. In this situation, the government is intent on just expressing empty rhetoric and bravado against the international community and attempts to please the people of this country, and when this is not possible, the responsibility is then heaped on one or two ministers and thereby President Rajapaksa saves his own skin. Yet, we must not forget that without the knowledge of the President, not a single hair of any Minister can fall to the ground. The entire government led by the President is accountable for the sorry situation that is prevailing in Geneva. Finally, what is regrettable is that, those who finally have to bear the consequences of all this, are the innocent people who have no idea whatsoever what all this is about.

Tissa Attanayake, MP
General Secretary,
United National Party
February 26, 2013.

http://tissaattanayake.lk/index.php?opt ... 9&Itemid=1

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 17 Mar 2013 23:20

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/dmk-chief-m-karunanidhi-threatens-to-pull-out-of-upa/articleshow/19020432.cms

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sri-lankan-monk-assaulted/article4516524.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/law-students-continue-fast-in-madurai/article4511924.ece

Some of the students climbed atop the Tallakulam Head Post Office building and tried to erase the Hindi letters of the name board,to put pressure on the Centre on the Srilanka issue

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/sri-lanka-issue-colleges-closed-hostels-vacated/article4515399.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/college-students-step-up-protests-in-city-over-sri-lankan-issue/article4515279.ece?textsize=small&test=2

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Tiruchirapalli/students-protest-on-lankan-issue-continues/article4513093.ece

Over 30 members were held after they indulged in picketing in front of the Head Post Office

In Pudukottai, the students of the Rajah’s College staged a demonstration in front of the district Congress party office and burnt the effigies of Mahinda Rajapaksa and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. They also raised slogans against Manmohan Singh government. Later they marched towards the head post office and staged a sit-in demonstration.

They attempted to gatecrash the post-office, but police foiled their attempt.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/students-protest-spreads-to-central-districts/article4509394.ece

The students marched towards the Head Post OFfice,their attempt to lock the gates was foiled by a strong posse of police personnel.

Later,they gate-crashed the main branch of SBI,and forced the ATMs on the premise to down the shutters

From there,they marched towards the Tiruchi junction.They managed to break the police cordon and squatted in front of the Tirucchi-Palakkad Passenger.

Subsequently,the police also thwarted the attempt made by a group of 40 slogan-shouting students to enter the Tiruchi airport.

However there were no arrests in the region

The tensions between Indian nationalism and tamizh nationalism to the fore on the approach to SL.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 18 Mar 2013 09:37

The "tick on the hair of the tail of a dog",the Eelamists,are now trying to usurp Indian diplomacy!

Enough evidence is there for all to see how the politics of TNadu is being manipulated by the LTTE diaspora and fellow travellers on the Eelam bandwagon,like Vaiko and co.I waned two years ago that TN would become the next battlefield of Eelam politics and so it has happened.Both Dravidian parties are now trying to outdo each other in crocodile tears for their Lankan Tamil brethren,but with both eyes on the coming elections,where the DMK has no agenda with which to fight the election,hence the threat to leave the UPA-2,the characteristic of a good rat leaving a sinking ship!

Roping in impressionable college students in the state,including those in the Madras IIT and even school children into such deplorable, venal politics,shows the bankruptcy of the parties involved.Like Nazi brownshirts,these thugs even beat up Buddhist monks in temples of all places.The regime of superwoman JJ is loth to come down too hard on the protesters because she doesn't want tpo be left behind in the "Eelam stakes" as a major poll issue.However,the dereliction of duty by the GOI in not cracking down on the LTTE brigade,a movement banned by the nation for its acts of terror,has led to the upsurge of anti-Indian pro-separatist Tamil protests now involving the Tamil youth.With the leadership we now have,the demand for Tamil Eelam might eventually engulf Tamil Nadu in a separatist movement right here in India.

Javee · Post by **Javee** » 18 Mar 2013 11:55

It is so sad that Seeman & co stooped so low to hit a visiting tourist to a Hindu temple.He has been living in India (Delhi) for the last year and half in India with out any incident. JJ who usually takes no nonsense approach on issue like these is silent. She is trying to make a point to the UPA2 govt and now Mu.Ka is on the TESO bandwagon, she is matching his actions. Either way, by hook or crook, they are forcing UPA2 to give some concessions.

Seeman and his cohorts will need to be arrested or JJ has to do wring his balls to keep him quiet. She also has to take care of TMMK, these 2 parties are following PMK's model to gain traction among mainstream.

chetak · Post by **chetak** » 18 Mar 2013 13:38

Javee wrote:It's not coincidence but paranoia. Are you saying these students are fasting so they can achieve "greater" tamil eelam encompassing TN? Are you saying that Vatican is so powerful that it forced students from 25 colleges across the length and breadth of TN to take part in the protest??

Meanwhile, student protests demanding justice for war crimes in Sri Lanka gathered momentum across Tamil Nadu on Monday, with class boycotts, fasts and demonstrations being reported from various cities and towns.

Students in about 25 colleges in the State abstained from classes, accusing Sri Lanka of targeting innocent Tamils during the war against the LTTE. There were reports of relay fasts in at least 14 places.

Demonstrations or processions were held to demand that India vote against Sri Lanka in the ongoing UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva. Some students belonging to government arts and law colleges burnt effigies of Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa at some places.

Police said they had scaled up security arrangements for Sri Lankan establishments in Chennai.

Groups of students also protested in Presidency College, while 15 students of Ambedkar Government Arts College started a fast on Monday evening with 200 supporters. Students from St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchi, St. Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai, Government Law College, Tirunelveli, Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Tirunelveli, Government Arts College, Coimbatore and two youths in Tirupur began indefinite fasts. Class boycotts and other forms of protest were reported from Coimbatore, Erode, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and Mannargudi.
Now before you come back and say that these are Christian institutions, let me clarify a bit. St.Xavier's and St.Joseph are decorated institutions in South and Central TN, they have a history of educating TN masses. And most of the students in these institutions are hindus.

Students are gullible but the managements of these institutions are certainly not and their motivation or source of "inspiration" in certainly not in doubt.

Why do none of these morons define "eelam".......... The answer is certain to surprise many.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 18 Mar 2013 14:01

The timing is so insincere.What were these worthy champions of human rights and democracy doing all this time about the plight of Malaysian Tamils? Every time an international discussion,etc. where SL is on the agenda,the Eelamists roar into life.The rest of the time they continue with their illegal activities worldwide.

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 18 Mar 2013 14:18

IIT-M students have also joined the protests

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 18 Mar 2013 14:20

IIT,"Indian Institute of TESO?"

krishnan · Post by **krishnan** » 18 Mar 2013 14:27

technology

Chennai, Mar 17 (TruthDive): IIT Madras techies have marked a new chapter in the history of the premier tech institute by joining the anti-Sri Lanka protest that is raging in Tamil Nadu among the student community across various districts of the State.

Javee · Post by **Javee** » 18 Mar 2013 14:30

Hardly the case. Per Chindu more than 40% of the protesting students are from out of state.

The IIT-M campus, usually known to be politically inactive, was bustling on Sunday, as 69 students began a fast under a shamiana. In the evening, the students joined with over 100 others and held a rally and gave talks to create awareness about the war crimes and atrocities committed against Sri Lankan Tamils recently.

Som Prakash Singh, an MLA from Bihar addressed the students, telling them that it was only recently during Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to Bihar that the people there began hearing about the killings and atrocities committed.

“At least 40 of the fasting students are from north India. We are fasting to say that this is not a Sri Lankan or a Tamil issue alone,” said Eeveera, an engineering student.

“IIT-M has students from many states. We are trying to scale up the State-wide protest to the national level in the hope that the Central government will take note and break its silence on this issue,” said Raj Mohan, a researcher at the institute.

Students from Presidency College as well as social activists also arrived at the college. The students said said it was entirely their initiative, free of influences from political parties. The students had been given the go-ahead by the IIT-M administration.

“It is just a day-long fast and we are sure classes will not be disrupted tomorrow. This will help awaken the political consciousness of the student population in IIT. We are sure the other IITs will soon follow suit,” said A. Srinivasan, another student.

Political analysts say it has been quite a while since students in Tamil Nadu took to the streets to register their dissent.

V. Krishna Ananth, a political historian, said, “In the 1980s, students protested against the Sri Lankan genocide. But those protests were different from what is happening now. This time, the students represent a cross-section of academia. Students from almost all colleges are involved.”

More protests are anticipated. While officials at Anna University have been issuing notices to students to stay away, members of the Student Movement Against Genocide and Student Struggle Committee for Tamil Eelam say their ranks are swelling.

“Students from nearly 17 city colleges are coming together to protest against Sri Lankan war crimes outside the Governor’s house on Monday. College managements and police officers have been trying to break the movement but we won’t let that happen,” said Dhiviya, coordinator, Student Struggle Committee for Tamil Eelam.

Nityanand Jayaraman, a city-based activist, added: “Students are harbingers of change. Governments have been mortally scared of people voicing their opinions, so they have always taken pre-emptive measures such as closing colleges. The students have asserted their rights, and shown that they are here to lead.”

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/che ... 519497.ece

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 18 Mar 2013 23:27

Wonderful

http://www.niticentral.com/2013/03/18/a ... 56568.html

Another Sri Lankan Buddhist monk assaulted in Chennai

The incident happened in Chennai, days after the assault on a priest by suspected pro-Tamil men in Thanjavur. The incident happened at the Central Railway Station in Chennai.

The Elamites have always been cowards and thugs ; their entire set of sympathizers are of the same caliber.

SwamyG · Post by **SwamyG** » 18 Mar 2013 23:33

Sanku wrote:
SwamyG wrote:Your earlier post where you want me to give you points so that you could refute them is not the way I would have phrased it.
You only asked me to give you "how things have improved for SL Tamils" in response to your point of "things have not improved for Sri Lankan Tamils and there is institutionalization discrimination"

First you ask me to refute you, then you critize me for not looking for common ground. What is this saar, not fair I say. I only replied in good faith that you are looking for contra-indications, I do not think you should extended it to make the accusation that you did.

I never asked you to refute me, I requested some evidence/information. In fact I thank you for lending clarity. It is I who started with a good faith; I start with some common ground so that the information can be analyzed: http://forums.bharat-rakshak.com/viewto ... 8#p1421158 It is well accepted reality that tamilians have faced the wrath under GoSL for decades, if someone claims things have improved, then there is nothing unreasonable to expect some information, no?

Since both of us claim we are discussing under a good faith; ignoring the recent posts; I can see both of us agree on several points I stated, right? It remains a question of if the conditions have improved. Right? So both of us should seek the evidence, no?

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 19 Mar 2013 10:51

SwamyG wrote: It is well accepted reality that tamilians have faced the wrath under GoSL for decades, if someone claims things have improved, then there is nothing unreasonable to expect some information, no?

Right? So both of us should seek the evidence, no?

Let it be swamy, you are taking a exception where none was meant.

All I was saying was if you could point the ways in which Tamils felt hardships in the past, I will compare it with the current picture to see if the matter still holds.

I provided three examples of cessation of discrimination on three very important bases.

Javee · Post by **Javee** » 19 Mar 2013 12:39

chetak wrote:Students are gullible but the managements of these institutions are certainly not and their motivation or source of "inspiration" in certainly not in doubt.

What would be the motivation for IIT-M? Somehow the church did a houdini and changed all their minds, so even after universities and their affiliated colleges along with their hostels were closed down by govt order, the students are still protesting?

Why do none of these morons define "eelam".......... The answer is certain to surprise many.

They have clearly defined what they are looking for, you seem to be convinced that they are looking for something else.So, you tell me boss, what is their definition of "eelam"??

At this stage all these protests and drama is silly and is making life difficult for the babus in south block. But UPA2 will reap what it sow along with Mu.Ka. Not sure if JJ is really orchestrating it, if so, it is qucikly gonna go out of control. If they would've done this when bombs were raining on the innocent civilians, it would've mattered, but then we were all silent spectators masked by our hatred for the megalomaniac and his ilk, unknowingly supported the killing of innocent civilians. We will remain silent on the way side and look on as Rajapakse and his family cronies will control GoSL and run it to the ground and will justify our action by the saying that China/Pak will take a foothold if we dont help "R". Unlike before, we do not have any hold over Sri lanka any more and our inactions will come and bite us in the musharaff, just like the other deal (Rajiv's deal with "J").

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 19 Mar 2013 12:53

Rediff

12:48 BJP: Resolution against SL should avoid 'genocide': BJP says it is not favour of a country-specific resolution. And terms like 'genocide' must be avoided. This is exactly what the DMK demands of the resolution. So, who will blink first?

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 19 Mar 2013 13:15

DMK withdraws support for UPA !!!
DMK quits UPA, government says it's stable
'Continuing in this government will be an injustice to the Sri Lankan Tamils,' the former Tamil Nadu chief minister told the media. The DMK has 18 members in the Lok Sabha and five ministers in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's council of ministers.

Karunanidhi said the UPA government had not only refused to consider the DMK's views on the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC but had quietly watered it down.

He also ruled out extending outside legislative support to the UPA, in which the DMK was the largest constituent after the Congress.

Javee · Post by **Javee** » 19 Mar 2013 13:32

Mu.Ka trying the best he can. Unfortunately, voters are intelligent these days and they have not forgotten the half a day stunt he did when the war was on. Pretty interesting that he is ready to sacrifice his daughter for the sake of voter brownie points, but then knowing him, this does not come as a surprise.

Edit: Thatha has said they will not get in to a coalition with congress ever again. Mu.Ka is looking more like Aiyya Ramadoss

Javee · Post by **Javee** » 19 Mar 2013 13:41

“The pictures revealing Balachandran’s death have heightened people’s emotions,” said Ashik Bonofer, a research fellow with the Center for Asia Studies in Chennai, who has traveled to Sri Lankan Tamil refugee camps in India and Sri Lanka. “The students have taken up the issue at various institutes and many students are coming together.”

M. Sakkariyas, a Sri Lankan Tamil refugee living in Chennai and an official at the Organization for Eelam Refugees Rehabilitation, which represents 69,000 Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in 111 camps in India, said the widespread protests may backfire on the very people the students are trying to help.

“People have decided on their own and are conducting protests, but our fear is that sometimes it may lead to unwanted problems for those refugees returning” to Sri Lanka, he said.

“Sri Lankan Tamils living in refugee camps want to return, but they don’t see anything promising as far as the political solution for the Tamils,” Mr. Sakkariyas said. “And then there is the issue of finding suitable jobs, a home and even education for their children, all of which are currently tough to get back home.”

http://india.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/ ... -protests/

Channel 4 has successfully channeled the pent up anger in public minds. It is a bonanza for all the political parties

nvishal · Post by **nvishal** » 19 Mar 2013 14:13

The indian congress could do the right thing and ditch the sinhalas but it won't do that. It could have done the right thing by jailing the italian marines but it didn't do that.

Undoubtedly, the INC is the rightful heir to the british raj. "Divide and rule" is inherited. BJP has yet to learn it and IMO, they never will.

On another note, I see people here are still yapping "xtian, xtian...".

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 19 Mar 2013 14:58

Virupaksha wrote:

Images via kanchan gupta who attributes them to AP.
https://twitter.com/KanchanGupta/status ... 68/photo/1
https://twitter.com/KanchanGupta/status ... 44/photo/1

Seems like these protests are the usual eelam protests, more than anything about srilankan tamil rights.

Protests are about the rajiv gandhi killer Prabhakaran, his son and about a seperate eelam in sri lanka.

Sachin · Post by **Sachin** » 19 Mar 2013 14:58

nvishal wrote:The indian congress could do the right thing and ditch the sinhalas but it won't do that.

Really, is it that simple? We can ditch all and sundry, the problem is that they can very well join hands with our enemies and become a problem later. Sri Lanka would not be too worried to join hands with China or Pakistan if India ignores them. GoI does have to think from various angles before ditching any one.

Sanku · Post by **Sanku** » 19 Mar 2013 14:59

I am not even sure why ditching Sinhala's is remotely the right thing to do even if there were no Paki's and Chinese to worry about.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 19 Mar 2013 15:05

If India wants to get some control over the situation in Sri Lanka, India should start developing constituencies within the Sinhala society. Some powerful families, the Buddhist clergy and the media in Sri Lanka (among Sinhalas) should be in Indian hands.

We need the Sinhalas to purge all the Evanjihadi, Paki and Chicom inroads into their society, not very differently from how they removed LTTE.

If one has the Sinhalas onboard, then one can get a handle on the Tamil problem there as well.

But we need powerful partners among the Sinhala and we need to nurture them.

SSridhar · Post by **SSridhar** » 19 Mar 2013 15:46

Trespassing Fishermen held Captive at Tuticorin - The Hindu

First, I thought that the Indian fishermen caught Sri Lankans. Then, it turned out that Tamilinadu fishermen of Tuticorin caught Tamilandu fishermen from Colachel.

for crossing boundaries,

and violating fishing conditions etc. Sixty-one fishermen, along with their five mechanised boats, from Colachel in Kanyakumari district, were held captive by local fishermen off the Tuticorin coast on Monday.

The captive fishermen have been handed over to the Tuticorin Fisheries Department.

Local fishermen alleged that the detained fishermen habitually violated the Tamil Nadu Marine Fishing Regulation Act, 1983.

According to the Act, fishing activities by mechanised boats should be executed from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day.

"On the contrary, the fishermen of neighbouring districts have been engaging in round-the-clock fishing, mostly along the Tuticorin coast," they alleged.

The enforcement agencies ignored the violation, said S. Xavier Vas, president, Tuticorin Mechanised Boat Owners Association.

Local fishermen complained of a depletion of fisheries, which has affected their livelihood, he said.

The government authorities should stop this illegal practice immediately, he demanded.

Why is this posted here ? For obvious reasons.

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 19 Mar 2013 17:33

If India wants to get some control over the situation in Sri Lanka, India should start developing constituencies within the Sinhala society. Some powerful families, the Buddhist clergy and the media in Sri Lanka (among Sinhalas) should be in Indian hands.

I think this is the last thing India should try to do. In the past we weren't that aware about what is happening around the world. That has changed quite a bit now. Sri Lankan's are smarter. Only thing you should try to do is allow us to develop. I believe Sri lanka would become a multicultural society. Indian’s should learn to live with Chinese, the same way as U.S. lives with Russia. Need to stop thinking with the Cold war era mind set. If Chinese, Indians and Malays can work together in Singapore, so can you work in Sri Lanka. I think you are overly worried about Sri Lanka-China connection. We are trying to build a nation here. So we take help from where ever we can. I am sure Sri Lanka would not be a partisan nation, either to India or China

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 19 Mar 2013 17:40

thusitha ji,

Sri Lanka should develop. Indians are certainly not going to stop that. But world is not nations! That is a mirage. World is civilizations and world is transnational elite interests, and both pull and push!

So even though Sri Lanka would enjoy its independence and sovereignty from India's side, that would be challenged by the above forces nevertheless, whether Sri Lankans or Indians want it or not! That is just life!

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 19 Mar 2013 17:41

Couple of years back when I mentioned that you have a Tamil problem (Tamil Eelam), people in the forum totally reject that Idea. The Sri Lankan Tamils have perfected the art of Propaganda, and are far ahead than Tamil Nadu Tamilians. By being silent in the Sri Lankan situation and allowing for so much protest and media coverage, what you are doing is making a huge problem for the Indian nation. You are giving the hope of an Tamil nation (Either in Sri lanka or in India), and making the young generation want a an Independent nation. Not sure where this will end now. These days with social media thinks can get out of hand very quickly.

RajeshA · Post by **RajeshA** » 19 Mar 2013 17:44

thusitha ji,

It is not only an Indian problem. If Sri Lankan Sinhalese do not try and heal the aftermath of the war, problems can start again in Sri Lanka.

thusitha · Post by **thusitha** » 19 Mar 2013 17:49

RajeshA
It is not only an Indian problem. If Sri Lankan Sinhalese do not try and heal the aftermath of the war, problems can start again in Sri Lanka.

Never ever suggested that it is only an Indian problem. We paid for it over 30 years, with lot of interest. Not only that we are still paying for it. Clearly your fedaralism is quite shaky, and Sri Lankan's aren't willing to accept it. The only thing LTTE wants is a separate state. If we end up giving 1/3 to 12% of people, we would need to give another 1/3 for Muslims. Then there would be another 1/3 for 75% of Sinhalese.

Philip · Post by **Philip** » 19 Mar 2013 18:35

The orchestrated demos in TN and goonda attacks against innocent Lankan pilgrims and monks ,illustrate the depths to which TN politics has plummeted.But these are the actions of the fringe and not the mainstream,who truly care a fig about Eelam or the diaspora.There is a desperate attempt by a disgraced DMK to find a cause that will propel it to victory in the coming hustings and they have plumped fro Eelam,with the help of the Eelamists,who will provide during the election ,enough "massacre material" to stir the hearts of sentimental Tamilians in TNadu.The fishing fleet has also been told to go out into Lankan waters,get arrested,and that all their expenses incurred will be paid for just as was done with the KKM agitations,where we have been hilariously told that all expenses came out of the donations of the fishermen!

If the GOI of the day allows the entrenchment of the Eelamites in TNadu,already impressionable students-even school students are being roped in just like the LTTE's child soldiers for the "cause".and the repercussions will be catastrophic to the Indian union.A time may come when martial law may have to be imposed to save the situ.The sooner the Eelamites are dealt with-with extreme prejudice,the better.Handling the GOSL is the responsibility of Delhi not Chennai.

svenkat · Post by **svenkat** » 19 Mar 2013 19:06

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/techies-swayed-by-antisri-lanka-stir/article4523008.ece

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/students-protest-hits-vehicular-traffic/article4524283.ece

In coimbatore,1200 students sat in front of the 93 Regiment of the army in madukkarai

http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/mindless-solidarity/article4522740.ece

Also, the very same people claiming to champion the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils have sought to paint the troubles of Indian fishermen venturing into Sri Lankan waters in the colours of a Sinhalese-Tamil conflict, though the conflict is essentially between Indian Tamil and Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen over fishing rights and livelihood concerns.

India’s approach toward Sri Lanka cannot hinge entirely or even primarily on domestic politics in Tamil Nadu. Those in Tamil Nadu talking of a separate Tamil Eelam as a solution seem to have no clue about the human costs that would be involved in partitioning a country and a people. India must look beyond Tamil Nadu while bringing to bear diplomatic pressure on Sri Lanka and working in coordination with other countries to ensure full and equal rights for Tamils as citizens of a united Sri Lanka.

habal · Post by **habal** » 19 Mar 2013 19:21

thusitha wrote:
RajeshA
It is not only an Indian problem. If Sri Lankan Sinhalese do not try and heal the aftermath of the war, problems can start again in Sri Lanka.
Never ever suggested that it is only an Indian problem. We paid for it over 30 years, with lot of interest. Not only that we are still paying for it. Clearly your fedaralism is quite shaky, and Sri Lankan's aren't willing to accept it. The only thing LTTE wants is a separate state. If we end up giving 1/3 to 12% of people, we would need to give another 1/3 for Muslims. Then there would be another 1/3 for 75% of Sinhalese.

At the very least Sri Lanka can use it's immense foreign exchange earned out of tourism for constructing habitat's for displaced tamils and making them feel wanted. Nobody is asking you to give 1/3rd or 2/3rd but because of this obstinate behaviour of 'we can yield no quarter to those tamils', you people are creating space for international community to step in.

Not only must you do something but you must be seen to be doing something. Arrange a lot of publicity around whatever you do so.

Javee · Post by **Javee** » 19 Mar 2013 20:12

thusitha wrote:Couple of years back when I mentioned that you have a Tamil problem (Tamil Eelam), people in the forum totally reject that Idea. The Sri Lankan Tamils have perfected the art of Propaganda, and are far ahead than Tamil Nadu Tamilians. By being silent in the Sri Lankan situation and allowing for so much protest and media coverage, what you are doing is making a huge problem for the Indian nation. You are giving the hope of an Tamil nation (Either in Sri lanka or in India), and making the young generation want a an Independent nation. Not sure where this will end now. These days with social media thinks can get out of hand very quickly.

Ugh, Srilankans are not the only spin masters in the world. How ever the way you spin it, there are no takers for Indian Eelam or what ever that wet dream is in Tamil Nadu. Show me one mainstream politician in TN that wants a separate state from India? Pure hogwash by Sri Lankan media to divert our attention. Rather you should look inwards and see why students in Jaffna lit lamps during "Maveerar Thinam"

Shanmukh · Post by **Shanmukh** » 19 Mar 2013 20:59

thusitha wrote:
RajeshA
It is not only an Indian problem. If Sri Lankan Sinhalese do not try and heal the aftermath of the war, problems can start again in Sri Lanka.
Never ever suggested that it is only an Indian problem. We paid for it over 30 years, with lot of interest. Not only that we are still paying for it. Clearly your fedaralism is quite shaky, and Sri Lankan's aren't willing to accept it. The only thing LTTE wants is a separate state. If we end up giving 1/3 to 12% of people, we would need to give another 1/3 for Muslims. Then there would be another 1/3 for 75% of Sinhalese.

What do you propose doing with the Tamilians in your country? Many have been displaced by the conflict with the LTTE. What is your suggestion to them? What are you (your country) willing to do for them and what do you want them to do? And how would you like India to help (if at all)? And we have our concerns since what you do with the Tamils in the north of your country has implications for us.

Sri Lanka and India have lived in peace (for the most part) for the last 2500 years. Whether you like it or not, India is your neighbour and is a huge country. We are aware that having a huge neighbour is always worrisome for smaller countries. And India has its own strategic compulsions. What do you want India to do to assuage your concerns? What are your goals in your moves with China? And what are you willing to do to assuage Indian concerns about Chinese influence in Sri Lanka? Let us be frank, and try to understand each other.