Sri-Lanka Sinister Symbol at Buddha Gaya (Opinion)
[Jul 30, 2010, 17:13], [TNS]
An Indian news reported that a Stupa (a dome) made of empty cartridge shells and remnants of weaponry left behind from Sri Lanka's long civil war had become a major tourist attraction in Mahabodhi Temple at Bodhgaya, in India’s Bihar State. This monumental piece of work by Sri-Lankan was donated this February by a military group from Sri Lanka, apparently to spread a message of peace among world citizens.
A Buddhist monk at the Mahabodhi Temple it appears had explained the significance of erecting the symbol that was made of shells that caused the genocide of 40000 Tamil civilians in May 2009 in the last war between the Government of Sri-Lanka (GSL) and the LTTE or Tigers. The monk Bhante Sivali Thero had said that they pray that no war like the 30 years war that was concluded in May 2009 never takes place, not only in our country but also anywhere in the world and peace prevails in the society.
Tarnishing image of refugees as terrorists is an injustice to humanity (Opinion)
[Jul 28, 2010, 00:31], [TNS]
Tarnishing the image of genuine asylum seekers, with the same brush used to expose terrorists, is just a ploy to reject them, with no consideration of their dire situation as persecuted persons. After spending weeks on the high seas, facing the dangers of such perilous travel on the oceans, in search of protection to try to escape persecution and oppression in their own states, the Tamils flee Sri Lanka. However, the host countries tend to reject these genuine refugees, branding them as terrorists. This is a shame to humanity.
In this paper, we are, in no way, holding a brief for international people, smugglers both from Sri Lanka and of other nationalities, who prey on the desperation of the refugees. They should be dealt with in the severest manner possible. The question, we appreciate, is how they can do this, but that is not to say that genuine refugees should be denied access. There is the recent case of the people smuggler, called Alex, having jumped ship and escaped. This makes it difficult for genuine refugees.
The so-called defeat of the LTTE in May 2009 has created an exodus of refugees from the shores of Sri Lanka. The Tamils, who have been held in detention centers with fist-tight security of the Sri Lankan armed forces with daily tortures and denial of fundamental rights, have been escaping the centers to seek protection.
British Tamils held a Midnight Vigil and "Walk for Justice" to the UN
[Jul 25, 2010, 11:24], [TNS]
British Tamils held a "midnight vigil" in London, on July 23rd , Friday, London: British Tamils Forum (BTF) in a press statement stated that, Tamils want justice from an independent international war crimes investigation in Sri Lanka but our voices have been silenced by the murderous Rajapakshe regime that will join the list of Rwanda, Srebrenitsa and many others. It is events like these that keep the memory of many innocent people who perished in the hands of the murderous Rajapakshe regime. This is why the Sri Lankan Government does not want to see us Tamils to be united in the call for freedom. It is our duty to ensure that the true face of the Terror State of Sri Lanka is exposed - First to the international community and eventually at the international war crimes tribunal in the Hague
Sri-Lanka-Housing the Sinhala Victors and the Vanquished Tamils (Opinion)
[Jul 24, 2010, 05:37], [TNS]
After the genocide of nearly 40000 Tamil civilians in the war in May 2009, the Sri-Lnakan racist Sinhala government of Mahinda Rajapakse (MR) is fetish in providing grandiose housing schemes to the members of the Sinhala army composed 99% of ethic Sinhalese but drags the vanquished Tamil through the mud in rebuilding their homes destroyed in its military onslaught.
As reported in the press, MR government had spent four billion rupees for a housing project in Ipalogama in the Anuradhapura district called the Ranajayapura housing scheme. It is located near the Kekirawa-Thalawa main road. Please see the aerial photograph of the housing complex below. There are 1,509 houses in the scheme. The whole area spans 180 acres and each house is on a block of 10 perches of land. It is the largest project ever built for war heroes in Sri Lanka. Each house is worth 2.5 million rupees and has all modern facilities. The houses are given to members of the three armed forces at a concessionary/subsidised rate. The housing scheme also includes super markets, banking facilities, school, day care unit, gymnasium, telephone and all other facilities including a well equipped hospital.
Tamil Canadians Remember the Victims of Black July
[Jul 23, 2010, 23:33], [CTC]
On July 23, 2010, Tamil Canadians will mark the 27th anniversary of Black July, a dark period in the history of Tamils, in remembrance of the victims. Black July references the July 1983 riots in which Sri Lankan anti-Tamil pogroms claimed thousands of lives, as mobs, with voting lists and weapons in hand, identified, disgraced and killed Tamils while state authorities stood by. Surviving Tamils of the pogroms also lost their livelihoods as their homes and businesses were burned and looted.
"I look at my family, my life now, and am especially grateful to Canada for welcoming us here." says Raj Thavaratnasingham, a Tamil Canadian Black July survivor, "We were looking for peace and safety, to build our lives back again, and Canada opened its arms."
Following the disheartening events of Black July, thousands of fortunate Tamils fleeing Sri Lanka were welcomed by compassionate Canadians and the Government of Canada, providing them with safe refuge in their time of need. Over the years, in part to thank Canada, Tamil Canadians have established successful businesses, donated their time and money to several worthy causes and contributed in many other valuable ways.
WHY NATIONAL RECONCILIATION IN SRI LANKA IS NOT POSSIBLE [PAPER]
[Jul 21, 2010, 21:08], [TNS]
There is much talk of “National Reconciliation” in Sri Lanka – essentially between the Sinhalese-dominated Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Tamil people. As a Sinhalese who has supported the struggle of the Tamil people to live with equality, dignity and without discrimination, and now, to live at all, in the country of their birth, I simply do not think that ‘national reconciliation’ is possible.
I have been closely involved with the problems faced by the Tamil people since 1948. This was when a million Plantation ‘Indian’ Tamils, (one seventh of the total population of Ceylon at that time), were disenfranchised and decitizenised in one of the most outrageous acts of political barbarism anywhere in the world. It was followed by a series of highly discriminatory measures adopted since 1956 by a succession of Sinhalese governments against the Sri Lankan Tamils. These included numerous Government organized pogroms of the Tamils. I have been witness to all these and other major human rights violations of the Tamil people, and am convinced that ‘national reconciliation’ is totally unrealistic.
Mahinda Rajapaksa in a Quandary after the UN Advisory Panel (Opinion)
[Jul 13, 2010, 00:27], [TNS]
The setting up of a panel by UN secretary general Ban Ki Mun to look into alleged human rights abuses during the final stages of Sri Lanka's civil war in 2009, has caused paranoid reaction in the Sri-Lankan government. This is evident from the panic reactions of the government to stave off the AP. These had thrown the government in a quandary.
The Sri-Lankan government was confident after the war that it had played a diplomatic coup at the UN when it got the Human Rights Council (HRC) to pass a resolution congratulating it on the successful war against terrorism during May 2009 at Puthumathalan/Mullivaikal and condemning the rebels for using civilians as human shields. Twenty nine developing countries of the 47-member council formed in 2006 to deal quickly with urgent humanitarian situations backed the Sri Lankan-proposed resolution describing the conflict as a “domestic matter that doesn’t warrant outside interference”. The 12 co-sponsors of the Sri Lankan resolution include China, India, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Cuba, Nicaragua and Bolivia.
Sinhalese Rowdyism Against UN move to Investigate War Crimes (opinion)
[Jul 9, 2010, 04:14], [TNS]
Associated Press reported on 6 July Tuesday, 2010 along with many other news papers that hundreds of protesters, led by Sri-Lankan government minister Wimal Weerawanse, laid siege to the U.N. compound in Colombo on Tuesday. They shouted that they would not let the UN workers out until the world body responsible for maintaining peace in the world canceled its Advisory Panel (AP) on Sri-Lanka. The AP would find out if there were good reasons to recommend a war crime and HR violation investigation against Sri-Lanka for alleged abuses committed during Sri Lanka’s civil war. The war between the LTTE and Government of Sri-Lanka (GSL) ended on 19 May 2009 with, according to Gordon Weise former UN resident representative in Sri-Lanka, the genocide of nearly 40000 Tamil civilians in the government declared ‘Safe Zone’. The demonstrators burned effigies of United Nations chief Ban Ki-Mun to show their protest.
TGTE strongly condemns the siege of the United Nations office in Sri Lanka
[Jul 8, 2010, 00:50], [TNS]
The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) strongly condemns the siege of the United Nations office in Sri Lanka led by a senior cabinet member who is also a close ally of the Sri Lankan President. The Sri Lankan police response to this aggressive demonstration is in stark contrast to the brutal force it used against peaceful anti -government demonstrations in the past. Sri Lankan security forces are engaged in holding tens of thousands of Tamil civilians in internment camps, while the UN staff that cared about those in the camps are being threatened in this manner.
Three Strong Personalities in the UN (Opinion)
[Jul 1, 2010, 18:51], [TNS]
Three high ranking people in the UN helped the Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon to appoint an advisory panel of experts on Jun 22 2010 to advise him on accountability issues relating to alleged violations of international human rights and humanitarian law during the final stages of the conflict in Sri Lanka that ended in May last year. They were Dr (Mrs) Navaneethan Pillai, Mr Philip Alston and Mr Lynn Pascoe.
The advisory Panel members are:- Indonesia’s Mr Marzuki Darusman will serve as the chair of the expert panel, and the other two members are Ms Yasmin Sooka of South Africa and Mr Steven Ratner of the United States. The three-member panel will advise Mr. Ban on implementing the commitment on human rights accountability made in the Joint Statement issued by him and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa (MR) after the UN chief visited the island in May 09. The panel is expected to wrap up its responsibilities within four months of starting work.
"Wish all Canadians enjoyable celebrations for Canada’s 143rd birthday" - Canadian M.P.
[Jul 1, 2010, 11:37], [TNS]
On behalf of Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Government of Canada, Patrick Brown, Member of Parliament, Barrie, Ontario Province, Canada wish all the Canadian including Canadian Tamils enjoyable celebrations for Canada’s 143rd birthday on July 1st. The M.P. in his Canada day message to Tamils said, The Tamil community in Canada has demonstrated that they are law-abiding, hard working and contributors to our democratic civic society. Canadian Tamils greatly value education and have become both socially and politically active throughout Canada’s communities.
The Government of Canada celebrates the fact that Tamils have become one of the largest visible minority groups within the Greater Toronto Area. Canadian Tamils have become major contributors to sports and literature and contributed to our communities in many significant ways.
Sri Lanka celebrates victory anniversary with foreign VIPs: Tamils still victims of State terrorism (Opinion)
[Jun 25, 2010, 23:49], [TNS]
Last week was a remarkable one for the Sri Lankan government. They celebrated the first year of victory over the Tamils, what Sri Lanka is calling peace and reconciliation celebrations. The envoys from the U.S. and Japan, as well as the UN, made a surprise visit to the island last week. Although Sri Lanka announced its victory in the war against the LTTE in May last year, the government was not able to hold the event as earlier scheduled on May 18 due to inclement weather. Torrential rain that caused flooding made hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes.
After the Sri Lankan president’s first visit to neighbouring India, where several agreements including monetary aid from that country were signed with Indian leaders, Rajapaksa returned home just few weeks ago. On his return home, he met with the Chinese deputy prime minister in Sri Lanka. Both leaders signed six agreements.
The Sri Lankan government seemed to be very excited over the last few weeks, especially at a time when international pressure was mounting on Sri Lanka to conduct an impartial third party investigation into last year’s war abuses, as it is getting widespread support unlike in the past few years. In the outset, the Sri Lankan president was doubly happy last week with the diplomats’ visits and the victory celebrations which took place on Friday, June 18, 2010 at the Galle Face green in Colombo.
Burying the ghost on Father's Day
[Jun 23, 2010, 13:18], [TNS]
Sunday June 20th, 2010 was just another day for me. Like many others, no frantic last minute-trip to get a cheesy Father's Day card. No elation at hunting down the perfect gift he wanted.
It was just me and painful and joyful memories. I am a grown up, but a scared 18-year-old all over again. Wanting, wishing and waiting that Father's Day passed quickly.
My father died unexpectedly and suddenly at the age of 53 - thanks to a single bullet. A piece of me gone, my flesh and blood, my father, myself.
A faithful Sri Lankan, proud Tamil, who enjoyed fine food, literature, and biking. Whenever he visited, my dad and I would be on our respective bicycles. I truly enjoyed biking around with him -so did he. It was 'The Dad Thing.' Northern coastal city was ideal place for such activity, roads nestled by serene Indian Ocean, vibrant commercial activity and it was a good place for him to get away.
The Delhi- Chennai Drama Continues (Opinion)
[Jun 22, 2010, 12:20], [TNS]
“Those families and who have been rehabilitated and settled elsewhere need to be provided with economic development and justice-based reconciliation to work towards a permanent political settlement,’’ Karunanidhi wrote in his letter to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. This was written in the context of the impending President Rajapaksa meeting with the Indian prime minister on June 8 in Delhi.
In his reply to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, dated June 10, Singh said that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, during his recent visit to India, had promised to resettle the 47,000 Tamils still living in camps by the end of this year.
"I have also urged upon the Sri Lankan President the need for reconciliation among communities in Sri Lanka and for practical arrangements, including devolution of powers, to enable all minorities in Sri Lanka, particularly the Tamil minority, to lead lives of dignity," he said.
Singh said he had raised these issues with Rajapaksa and also mentioned the joint initiatives, such as constructing 50,000 houses for Internally Displaced Persons in Northern and Eastern provinces. The Government of India is separately also working on projects and programmes for resettled families so that they are in a position to earn their own livelihood, he said.
Meanwhile,Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had also deputed DMK MPs to ask President Rajapaksa to speed up rehabilitation of Tamils displaced by the war with the LTTE. Karunanidhi had also written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying nearly 80,000 Tamils were still living in transit camps in the island nation awaiting rehabilitation. He had reminded New Delhi that the Rajapaksa government had promised to rehabilitate all Tamils by December 2009.
Tamil circles are of the view that Karunanidhi is not taking chances in the run-up to the state polls due in May next year. Accused by Opposition parties of remaining silent when the Tamils were subject to “humiliating war”, Karunanidhi wishes to show that he and his party were doing everything they could to help the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam calls to ensure the right to home
[Jun 21, 2010, 08:58], [TNS]
World Refugee Day: Tamils remember more than 50 years of refugee life
Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam calls to ensure the right to home
As the World marks the World Refugee Day on June 20, The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) pledges to continue to work for the tens of thousands of Tamil civilians languishing in Sri Lankan military run internment camps and for the welfare of those that have departed the camps but continue to face the likelihood of arbitrary arrest, detention and torture.
It also pledges to work towards overcoming the economic and social challenges faced by these Internally displaced Persons (IDP) and
stopping the colonization schemes planned by the military to permanently keep these people out of their homes. As a body representing and unifying the Tamils around the world, we will keep alive the memories of Tamil refugee life throughout the past five decades in all our endeavors.
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