Sinhalese students irk Jaffna on Mu’l’livaaykkaal Day

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 May 2011, 00:15 GMT]
A few Sinhala students recently admitted to Jaffna University chose the Mu’l’livaaykkaal Day to erect a decorated pandal at Thirunelveali Junction to ‘celebrate’ the birth of Buddha and to distribute eatables to passers by, while the Eezham Tamils subjugated to the extent of not being able to even openly observe the remembrance of their dead were silently mourning on Wednesday. While activities of Colombo in the occupied country of Eezham Tamils clearly show ‘reconciliation’ means subjugation and genocide, the US State Department that coined the paradigm ‘post-war reconciliation’ instead of post-war justice, and the supporting institutions of the West, are either once again outwitted by Sinhala diplomacy, or they wanted things to happen in this way, commented students of the Jaffna university.
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Calls for war-crimes probe escalate as Tamils commemorate massacre

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 18 May 2011, 02:49 GMT]
Amid increasing calls by world's premier human rights NGOs, newly elected Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for independent international investigations into alleged accusations of war-crimes committed by Sri Lanka on Tamils, Tamil expatriates in several countries in the West are preparing to commemorate the massacre of Tamil civilians during the final phase of Sri Lanka war. In the United Kingdom, youth groups are organizing a vigil in Trafalgar Square and planning protest campaigns against visiting Sri Lanka cricket team, while in the U.S. in a show of unity, multiple Tamil organizations are participating in a protest and vigil in front of the United Nations building. Organizers of both events said they are expecting a large turnout.
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Gatherings of different nature in foreign lands

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 May 2011, 22:58 GMT]
While the Eezham Tamil diaspora with a heavy heart gather this week in foreign capitals, remembering powers-abetted genocide committed on them and demanding liberation of their land, prevention of further genocide as well as penal and political justice, the occupying soldiers of the genocidal Army of Sri Lanka celebrated 2600 years of the birth of Buddha in the military colony at Palaali in the country of Eezham Tamils. Around 1400 SL soldiers, clad in white, observed the Buddhist ritual Sil at Palaali on Sunday, the occupying military’s website in Jaffna said. As nations and peoples of the island are emotionally divided in entirely different directions, Washington and New Delhi that engineered the genocide will only contribute to further crisis if realities are not met with in political terms, commented political observers in the island.
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Marking Mu'l'livaaykkaal, Canadian Tamils observe Genocide Month

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 May 2011, 17:02 GMT]
Eezham Tamils in Canada, declaring the entire month of May as Genocide Month, have been focusing their efforts at grassroots and towards the diplomatic missions in bringing the Tamil concerns to the global community, according to the organisors of the National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT), the democratically elected country council of Eezham Tamils in Canada. Meanwhile, Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO) launched an awareness campaign through social media on Tamil genocide and was conducting signature campaign urging the International Criminal Court to investigate the Sri Lankan state. Democrats of Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam, have focused their efforts by engaging with the foreign missions in Canada and met with the Embassy of Mexico and the Embassy of South Africa.
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Aftenposten-Wikileaks shows shallow understanding of US diplomats

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 May 2011, 19:18 GMT]
Classified cables of US diplomats sent between February 2009 and January 2010, made available by Wikileaks and released in the Norwegian media Aftenposten earlier this month, show how shallow and wanting the understanding of the US diplomats in dealing with the decades-old and still continuing national question and genocide in the island of Sri Lanka, writes TamilNet political commentator in Colombo. The primary responsibility of the diaspora, rather than being ‘guided’ by such diplomacy, is the edification of the neo-Orientalist thinking in the Western capitals, especially in Washington, London and Paris for the replacement of this kind of diplomacy, he further writes, citing what the public opinion has achieved in Tamil Nadu and pointing to where the public opinion has to be directed to in the world by the diaspora.
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University students in Jaffna defy subjugation, observe Mu'l'livaaykkaal Remembrance

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 May 2011, 18:05 GMT]
More than 600 students from all the faculties of Jaffna University, came together Monday to observe Mu'l'livaaykkaal Remembrance, defying the threatening presence of Sri Lankan riot police commandos, Sri Lanka Army soldiers and intelligence operatives at the University premises between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The Jaffna University Students Union urged the Tamils to excel in knowledge by continuing to focus on education and resolved that any effort to find a political solution should be founded on ‘historical realities’ and that those who claim to conduct ‘negotiations’ with the government should be mindful that their mandate is vested with people and all sections of the Tamil Nation should be consulted before finalising any model. Sinhala and Muslim students also took part in the remembrance event.
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Ron Ridenour writes on the dilemma of socialist leaning governments on Tamil Genocide

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 May 2011, 13:36 GMT]
The countries in the United Nations are divided in two blocs when it comes to the plight of Eezham Tamils. Those who tag themselves behind a world order promoted by the USA, and those who are in the opposing camp, many of them from the non-alignment movement (NAMs) and Cuba, Venuzela led ALBA countries of Latin America. These countries supported the Sri Lankan state in the previous UN Human Rights Council sessions. “However, ALBA partners now have a chance, whether on the UN Human Rights Council or not, to help the Tamil people in some way, also by calling for an investigation,” writes Ron Ridenour, a veteran US born but now Denmark-based leftist and anti-imperialist, who voiced against the US aggression on Cuba in 1961, jailed in the US for his views on several occasions and contributed extensively to the study of Latin America.
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Daily Mirror editorial: “TNA kindles violence”

[TamilNet, Monday, 16 May 2011, 10:51 GMT]
“A senile TNA member’s descendants are in the West. With one foot in the West and one in the grave this member thrive on the sufferings of the innocent Tamil civilians. And he likes kindling violence. And obviously TNA welcomed the findings of the Experts’ Panel,” was the editorial opinion of a “noteworthy” newspaper, Daily Mirror, published in Colombo on Monday. The editorial titled “Irresponsible politics,” by the pro-opposition newspaper, projecting itself belonging to a ‘liberal world’, show only the basic feelings of Sinhala polity, whether ruling or opposition, when it comes to delivery of justice to Tamils within Sri Lankan State that is upheld by powers in the island, commented Tamil political circles in the island, adding that the editorial in fact was a response to the stand of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalitha.
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Occupying Army adds insult to injury in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 May 2011, 22:32 GMT]
The commander of the occupying genocidal Army of Sri Lanka, Maj. Gen. Mahinda Hathurusinghe accompanied by large number of troops on Saturday visited the Changkaanai Murugamoorthi temple where the chief priest was killed and his two sons were fatally injured in a vicious firing, during a time when the occupiers were terrorising the people of Jaffna after the Heroes Day last November. “A special Pooja to invoke blessing on Commander Security Forces - Jaffna (SF-J) Major General Mahinda Hathurusinghe and the troops serving in Jaffna was held,” said the website of the genocidal Army, adding that the Army prayed to stay more and more in Jaffna. Besides adding insult to injury, it was a subtle show of intimidation aimed at silencing or twisting evidence, observers said.
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Eezham Tamil media in the island highlight Jayalalitha victory

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 May 2011, 11:44 GMT]
The media of Eezham Tamils, both in Jaffna and Colombo, highlighted AIADMK victory in the headlines, with a specific note of Ms. Jayalalitha's concern to Eezham Tamils, especially her stand on genocide, war crimes and international justice against SL President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
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Eezham Tamils encouraged by Jayalalitha's stand: TNA

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 May 2011, 11:17 GMT]
Suresh K. Premachandran, the official spokesman of Tamil National Alliance (TNA) on Saturday sent TNA's congratulations to Ms. J. Jayalalitha, the newly elected chief minister of Tamil Nadu state in India, saying that Eezham Tamils have become hopeful and are encouraged by the stand Ms. Jayalalitha has expressed to the media on the plight of Eezham Tamils. “Eezham Tamils seek your immense support to gain their full self-rule with self-dignity to lead a life in their own soil,” Mr. Premachandran said in the message.
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Sri Lanka cricket tour raises genocide awareness in UK

[TamilNet, Sunday, 15 May 2011, 08:44 GMT]
Sri Lanka’s cricket team began their tour of England Saturday with a match against Middlesex that was accompanied by the din of a lively protest at the Uxbridge ground by Tamil expatriates and others. A changing group of several dozen protestors holding banners, placards, and Tamil Eelam flags chanted slogans through megaphones and played drums, as some passing cars blew their horns in support. The protest, organized by the Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO), was supported by other Tamil organisations and campaign group Act Now, representatives of which joined the protestors.
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Nobody can suppress Tamil psyche: M K Sivajilingam

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 May 2011, 21:00 GMT]
Eezham Tamils in NorthEast would mourn thousands of their slain kith and kin on 18 May, said M K Sivajilingam, a former TNA parliamentarian and the general secretary of Tamil National Liberation Front. “No one can suppress the memories of a people remembering the sacrifices of thousands of their loved ones,” the former Tamil parliamentarian said urging the Tamils in North and East to mark the day with courage in silence under the prevailing conditions of subjugation.
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Tamil Nadu needs to play cohesive international role

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 May 2011, 00:56 GMT]
Given her background and qualities, Ms. Jayalalitha has a chance of becoming an all India leader of international reputation, provided she fills in the vacuum created by the failure of New Delhi led by Sonia Congress and plays the card of the national question of Eezham Tamils and the geopolitical importance of Tamil Nadu, at an international trend-setting level, commented an Eezham Tamil diaspora studies academic in Europe. Meanwhile, Mr. Karunanidhi and his political family of long Tamil national heritage, now being in the opposition and free from bondage to New Delhi, have a more articulating but cohesive and historic role to play in setting the record right for their coming back, and all new front aspirants have to concentrate on genuine and progressive civil society movements, the academic further said.
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Kohona admits to sending "Killer SMS"

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 May 2011, 20:26 GMT]
Dr Palitha Kohona, Sri Lanka's Permanent Representative to the UN, admitted to sending an SMS message through a European intermediary giving instructions to leaders of the Libertation Tigers to surrender, Sydney Morning Herald reported in an investigative story in its Friday edition. In this "white flag" incident Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers is alleged to have gunned down all the LTTE members who surrendered. The Journalist Ben Doherty appeared to have visited Sri Lanka and gathered the pertinent evidentiary information, including a statement from an eye-witness to the incident.
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Jayalalitha’s victory speech focuses on Eezham Tamils

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 May 2011, 19:34 GMT]
While most of the media in India don’t want to recognize the heart of the matter behind the unprecedented way in which Tamil Nadu voters turned out to teach a lesson to the regimes in New Delhi and Chennai, grasping the significance behind her historic victory, Ms. J. Jayalalitha on her victory speech in Jaya TV Friday, recognizing genocide and war crimes against Eezham Tamils said: "I will exert pressure on the central government, after I take over as the CM, to take action against Sri Lankan president before international court for genocide and war crimes. India should take the initiative for this." The general mood among Eezham Tamils in the island and in the diaspora over the TN election results was one that of vindication and jubilation. It has generated fresh hopes on the strength of public opinion in Tamil Nadu.
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Congress-DMK coalition routed out in Tamil Nadu

[TamilNet, Friday, 13 May 2011, 11:35 GMT]
Leading in 193 constituencies of the 234-seat house, the AIADMK coalition led by J. Jayalalitha sweeps through the Tamil Nadu State Assembly elections in which an unprecedented 80 percent of the voters cast their votes. The DMK-Congress alliance trails behind with a lead only in 39 electorates. Ms. Jayalalitha’s party, leading in more than 130 seats, could comfortably form a government even without the participation of any alliance parties. Jayalalitha, who is generally considered to be honest to her words taking a positive stand towards the struggle of Eezham Tamils in recent times, and Mr. Karunanidhi being in the opposition are helpful for the cause of Eezham Tamils provided the civil society in Tamil Nadu is assertive and vigilant, political observers in Tamil Nadu said.
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'EU parliament leaves justice to the indicted'

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 May 2011, 19:44 GMT]
“The EP urges the Sri Lankan government to implement the recommendations suggested by the UN panel of experts and conduct a genuine investigation,” said the European Parliament press release Thursday, leaving the delivery of justice with the genocidal state of Sri Lanka indicted for war crimes by the UN panel report. Eezham Tamils also noted with a feeling of insult added to injury, the statement of the EU parliament that said that the war “ended with the surrender of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)”, where as to their knowledge the war ended with massacre and genocide abetted by many establishments including some of the member states of the EU tagged behind the USA.
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Tamils may have lost the battle but will win the war: Delhi convention on UN report

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 May 2011, 00:39 GMT]
While the Sri Lankan media view that the UN panel report has provided the Indian establishment with new bargaining power and facilitates the ‘shopping list’ of the officials from the Indian establishment visiting Sri Lanka soon to go beyond KKS harbour in Jaffna and Champoor power station in Trincomalee, a convention organized in New Delhi by the Delhi Tamil Students Union Thursday, resolved that action should come out of the report at the international level, genocide in the island should be recognized, Indian government should come out with a white paper of its own dealings and all democratic forces in India should raise concern over the happenings in the island. The participation of the convention by progressive forces of India generates hopes that the situation will not be hijacked, commented Eezham Tamil political circles.
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SLA in Vanni alleged of using forced labour

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 11 May 2011, 23:24 GMT]
Sri Lanka Army in Vanni is forcing the Tamil civilians, who visit Vanni to see their kith and kin in Mullaiththeevu district from other parts of the island, to work in the SLA-run projects. Failing to do so they are warned and their relatives in Mullaiththeevu are being interrogated by the SLA intelligence unit, according to affected victims.
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