Sinhala nation justifies the human rights abuses by electing Mahinda for second term (Opinion)
[Feb 6, 2010, 03:08], [TNS]
When the Tamil nation was at the height of facing military onslaught by Sri Lanka on the final phase of Eelam War - IV, the world community at least shed a crocodile tear. But the neighbouring Sinhala nation celebrated the deaths of thousands of Tamils with fireworks and worshipped the Gautama Buddha preaching victory for Sinhala soldiers who trespassed into once-flourishing Tamil kingdoms who became voiceless after they fell into the hands of the European powers in the 1500s A.D. Yet, the Eelam Tamils are facing untold sufferings with their plights kept secret inside Sri Lanka.
However, when the Tamil Tigers were seriously committed to the ceasefire agreement brokered by the Norwegian government and even when the Tamil Tiger fighters captured the areas controlled by the Sri Lankan armed forces in Trincomalee, they were asked by the international community to return to their barracks, as it was in violation of the ceasefire agreement.
When the Sri Lankan armed forces took control of the LTTE-held areas in the East, the international community maintained silence. The LTTE fighters tactically withdrew from the region to safer places without showing their military prowess.
Looking for the Pony in 2010 (Opinion)
[Feb 1, 2010, 20:28], [TNS]
There is an old story about a young boy who bounds down the steps on Christmas morning only to find the living room brimming over with horse manure. Ever the optimist, the boy finds a shovel and starts digging with enthusiasm. When asked why he seems to be so excited, the boy cheerfully replies, “With all this manure, there must be a pony in here somewhere!”
In a world full of geopolitics and national interests, thinking or commenting about the future of Tamils is challenging. With the moribund political climate in Sri Lanka – almost everyone in Tamil Diaspora is confused by what’s in store for Tamils in Sri Lanka. I would argue that if you’re not confused, you probably haven’t been paying attention.
I believe, more than money we need unity – which we lack. The events of this year in Sri Lanka should have certainly increased our ability to unite together – but it hasn’t. Unity will always be a magical commodity that is difficult to attain and easy to lose, and its badly needed at this juncture of our history to help us avoid getting conned, because Sri Lanka is always prone to deceive others.
Similar to financial markets, the political arena sometimes rewards contrary thinkers handsomely. It seems this very strategy by Tamils needs to be explored – at least for now. "The world," as philosopher Wittgenstein once noted, "is non-stationary.
Over 64,000 British Tamils say yes to Tamil Eelam
[Feb 1, 2010, 19:06], [TNS]
The British Tamil Diaspora overwhelmingly endorsed the principle of Tamil Eelam in two days of polling this weekend. With over 64,000 votes cast, over 99% voted in favour of an independent and separate state of Tamil Eelam.
British Tamils were asked if they endorsed the principles contained in the Vadukkoddai Resolution that was first put to a democratic mandate in 1977. In that historic election the Tamil polity in Sri Lanka voted overwhelmingly for an independent and sovereign state of Tamil Eelam in the traditional Tamil homelands.
At the final count on Sunday night 64,692 votes were cast with 64,256 (99.33%) endorsing the Resolution and 185 (0.29%) against. 251 (0.39%) votes were spoilt.
Polling took place in sixty five booths across London and in major towns and cities throughout the UK.
Brisk early voting in UK referendum; Thousands Votes in first hour
[Jan 30, 2010, 23:56], [TNS]
A Referendum among the British Tamils is taking place upholding the values of transparency, authenticity and democratic principles on January 30th and 31st, in all the major U.K. cities. Initial reports indicate close to a thousand votes have been cast in the first hour of voting in the referendum. British Politicians crossing the part lines strogly supports the referendum on Tamil Eelam by the British Tamils and they urged the British Tamils to voice through this referendum for the voiceless Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Tamils are holding the referendum to re-mandate the Vaddukoddai Resolution passed in 1976, demanding an independent state of Tamil Eelam for the Tamils living in the island of Sri Lanka. The question on the ballot would be whether the overwhelming mandate obtained through the 1977 General elections is still valid and the future security of the Tamils in Sri Lanka could be realized from that foundation.
Tamils of Britain, it is our turn on the Tamil Eelam Referendum - TYO-U.K.
[Jan 30, 2010, 23:55], [TNS]
After three decades of futile efforts to negotiate with Sinhala leaders an end to the relentlessly deepening state discrimination, the venerated Tamil leader, SJV Chelvanayagam, turned the 1977 election into a referendum on an independent state. When the Tamil people overwhelmingly backed the demand for Tamil Eelam, many believed our collective wish was seen to be now beyond doubt.
Yet our democratic voice was first ignored, then violently stifled. Another three decades and over a hundred thousand lives later, the Tamil nation is once again uniting to reaffirm our commitment to political independence. This time however our nation’s voice is being heard clearly around the world. A global chorus of referendums that started in Norway and gained momentum in France and Canada, is now upon the UK.
Unabated persecution means that Tamil Eelam is our only guaranteed protection against a state that is obsessed with Sinhala supremacy. Yet the Tamil nation is not against the existence of a Sinhala nation or people. A referendum on Eelam is not a vote against tolerance or liberal values, but a vote for freedom, equality and self-governance said Ms Rajamanoharan of TYO-UK.
Journalists in Sri Lanka face intimidation, censorship
[Jan 30, 2010, 00:54], [CPJ (D)]
New York, January 29, 2010—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by reports that journalists in Sri Lanka have been subjected to government intimidation, arrests, censorship, and harassment in the aftermath of this week’s presidential election.
“We are receiving reports of government retribution against journalists who sided with the opposition in the election. Given the ugly history of attacks on journalists in Sri Lanka, we call on President Mahina Rajapaksa to ensure the safety of all journalists in Sri Lanka, and to use his new mandate to reverse the repressive trends of the past several years,” said Bob Dietz, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator.
At least 10 security agents were deployed outside the Colombo offices of Lanka eNews, a Web site critical of Rajapaksa’s government, on Thursday night, according to CPJ sources. One source reported that authorities padlocked the gate to the premises before leaving late Thursday.
Prageeth Ekneligoda, a political reporter for Lanka eNews, remained missing today after disappearing on the night of January 24.
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Independent Tamil Eelam - Referendum on Saturday 30th & Sunday 31st January 2010 in U.K. (Opinion)
[Jan 30, 2010, 00:12], [TNS]
A Referendum among the British Tamils is to take place upholding the values of transparency, authenticity and democratic principles on January 30th and 31st, in all the major U.K. cities.
The question on the ballot would be whether the overwhelming mandate obtained through the 1977 General elections is still valid and the future security of the Tamils in Sri Lanka could be realized from that foundation. This referendum is a golden opportunity to voice your opinion – the least that could be done by the Diaspora. Your identity in this country and your life line in the homeland depend on your willingness to stand united at this time of desperation. Our people have gone though the atrocities of brimstone in hellfire. A safe and flourishing homeland is still possible. Are you ready to do your historic duty?
ACT NOW Calls its supporters to help to observe the Tamil Referendum in UK
[Jan 27, 2010, 00:20], [TNS]
Act Now have been asked to help supply Election Observers, particularly by non-Tamils as this will help with the credibility of the event. Next weekend the 30th and 31st January there is a referendum organised by the Tamil National Council being held for the Tamil Diaspora in the U.K. Similar votes have already taken place in France, Norway, Switzerland, Holland, Germany and Canada.
ACT NOW is a campaign group set up by a number of former British Humanitarian Aid workers and the general public. The group was founded after aid workers in northern Sri Lanka, where the conflict has been taking place, witnessed the suffering first hand.
ACT NOW have set up campaign groups all across the UK and have thousands of members across the globe. We work with these groups in the UK to raise awareness and lobby MPs to pressure the British government to act before its too late.
Resounding 99.49 % Switzerland Tamils Mandate Tamil Eelam
[Jan 26, 2010, 00:47], [TNS]
More than 99.49 % people who have voted in the referendum polls in Switzerland Saturday and Sunday gave the mandate that they support the independent Tamil Nation and reaffirmed the Vaddukkoaddai Resolution of 1976, which was mandated by Tamils in the north and east of the island of Sri Lanka in the 1977 general election.
The referendum was organised by a coalition of 2nd generation Eezham Tamils in Switzerland and the task of conducting the ballot process was undertaken by an independent election commission that was headed by M. Pagani, ex-Mayor of the city of Biel and participated by journalists, politicians and members of Young Socialist Party (JUSO) of Switzerland. Well-covered by the Swiss media, Pia Holenstein, a member of the federal parliament, described the process as something neatly organised and is exemplary.
99.2 percent voters consent Tamil Eelam in Holland
[Jan 26, 2010, 00:36], [TNS]
More than 99.2 % people who have voted in the referendum polls in Holland gave the mandate that they support the independent Tamil Nation and reaffirmed the Vaddukkoaddai Resolution of 1976, which was mandated by Tamils in the north and east of the island of Sri Lanka in the 1977 general election.
The Vaddukkoddai Resolution states, "I aspire for the formation of the independent and sovereign state of Tamil Eelam in the north and east territory of the island of Sri Lanka on the basis that the Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka make a distinct nation, have a traditional homeland and have the right to self-determination."
The organisers estimated roughly 4,000 eligible Eezham Tamil voters in the country and the turnout was 68.7 percent.
THE 2010 SRI LANKAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, AND BEYOND (OPINION)
[Jan 25, 2010, 17:02], [TNS]
I have been asked to chose between two mass murderers guilty of Genocide of the Tamil people, crimes against Humanity and the Violation of International Law and Sri Lanka’s own Constitution and Laws[1], is a manifestation of the widespread confusion and despondency among the expatriate Tamil community, which I, as a Sinhalese, find difficult to comprehend. These two men (and their associates) should be on their way to an International Criminal Court, not to the Presidency.
Let us be clear about the choice - not only for the Tamils, but for the majority Sinhalese of my ethnic group. The choice is not between Mahinda Rajapaksa and Sarath Fonseka. It is a choice between the entire Rajapaksa clan (at the last count some 35 members of his family holding positions in Sri Lanka and abroad, for no reason other than that they are relatives of Rajapaksa), and Sarath Fonseka and his military clan. Fonseka does not belong to any political party, and can do as he likes. His entry into politics is a most dangerous development, since it is the first time in the history of Sri Lanka that a military man is trying to take over the country. We know from Pakistan, Burma, Indonesia, Libya, and numerous countries in Africa and South America, that have gone down this path, how dangerous this can be. A ‘democracy’ (or what is left of it), might, yes, it just might, become a ‘militocracy’ if Fonseka becomes President.
Overwhelming turnout of voters in Germany, 99% mandate Tamil Eelam
[Jan 25, 2010, 13:04], [TNS]
99.2 percent of voters said yes to Tamil Eelam in an impressive turn out of more than 90% of eligible Eezham Tamil voters for the referendum in Germany on Sunday. International Human Rights Association in Bremen conducted the referendum on the question of forming an independent and sovereign state of Tamil Eelam in the North and East of the island of Sri Lanka. 23,089 voters participated in the poll in 110 centres across the country and 22,904 of them said yes. 136 voters said no and 49 votes were invalid.
Imag(in)ing 'Home', Memories and Histories of a lost homeland, display at Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver
[Jan 25, 2010, 02:00], [TNS]
With the help of Vancouver Tamil community at large and Canadian Tamil Congress, Vancouver chapter, Shanaathanan Thamotharampillai, a Tamil artist from Sri Lanka who is currently completing his PhD in art history at Jawaharlal Nerhu University, New Delhi started a project in September of 2009.
The Project was designed to unpack the complexities and liminality of the Tamil Community by weaving together 300 individual stories about the idea of "home." Each personal story or memory is represented by a mundane or everyday object. The resulting installation is a collage of diverse and contested identities, of memories and histories of a lost homeland, and of different mechanisms of home making.
The finished project is now on display at Museum of Anthropology, Vancouver‚ under the title Imag(in)ing 'Home.
Sri Lanka releases TNA MP frpm detention
[Jan 16, 2010, 04:52], [TNS]
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP for Vanni district Sathasivam Kanagaratnam was released on condition after being produced before Vavuniyaa Magistrate Alex Raja Wednesday night. Mr. Kanagaratnam was taken into custody while he was staying with his people in one of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) internment camps in Vavuniyaa, for displaced civilians from Mullaiththeevu. He was detained by the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID) since May 2009.He was asked to surrender his passport to the courts.
Father of LTTE Leader funeral to take place in Valvettiturai on Sunday
[Jan 10, 2010, 02:56], [TNS]
Father of the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, Thiruvengadam Velupillai’s funeral will be taking place in Valveddiththu'rai on Sunday. The mother of LTTE leader Mr. V. Pirapaharan, Vallipuram Parvathy, 80 years old, was Friday released from Sri Lanka Army custody and handed over to Tamil National Alliance Parliamentarian and Presidential candidate M. K. Sivajilingam, SLA officials in Colombo said. Mr. Velupillai’s remains will be kept at his daughter’s residence for the public to pay their last respects. Cremation will take place on Sunday at 11:00 a.m. in Valveddiththurai.
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