Tamil film-styled gang fight in Oslo

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 14 August 2007, 02:25 GMT]
At least two persons were seriously injured, one of them struggling for life, as a result of a gang fight that took place in Kalbakken, a suburb of Norway's capital Oslo, on Sunday. Confrontation between local Tamil youth and a few who intruded into Norway in recent months is said to have caused the formation of gangs that fought to settle scores, using handguns and Samurai swords.

According to Norwegian press reports, a few Tamils who have recently come from Germany and France with a criminal record were engaged in creating a gang in Oslo, by enticing youth with narcotics and alcohol.

There was a chain of skirmishes between them and a local group of Tamil youth which culminated with the episode on Sunday.

The gangs first picked up the quarrel at the Murukan temple site where around 3000 Tamils had gathered for the annual car festival on Saturday.

On the following day, the shoot-out took place a few kilometers away from the temple, to the full view of the public including children.

“A tiny group mars the reputation of the entire Tamil community,” Police Officer Roy Cato Einarsen from Stovner Police Station said to VG news paper on Monday.

The Police was aware of the gang activities, but didn't pay special attention.

“Tamils are generally known for their community cooperation and occupying their youth with homework, sports and other positive activities," the Police officer said.

The use of Samurai swords in Tamil gang fights has already been reported from UK, France and Germany.

As a matter of culture and identity, the Tamil youth of the diaspora largely prefer to view film and television in Tamil. It is also encouraged by the parents. What is available to them are the commercial Tamil films that come from India. These films are also screened in the TV-channels.

Uncensored viewing of culturally insensitive Tamil media is said to have an influence on the diaspora youth.

“Responsible community control and strengthening institutions and media of sensible culture and ideology are needed to counter the social de-generation of the diaspora Tamil youth,” a Norwegian Tamil social worker, S. Kumarasamy, told TamilNet.