Tamil independence, a universal issue going beyond state reformation in Sri Lanka

[TamilNet, Sunday, 29 May 2011, 09:36 GMT]
India could do much better by acknowledging the right to independence of Eezham Tamils, by working for international consensus towards it, by structuring an IC-facilitated transition arrangement for it, and by creating an environment for the diaspora to freely interact through Palaali and Trincomalee, for India’s own reconciliation with Tamils and for relieving the island from endangering the entire region, rather than covertly waging ‘counterinsurgency’ and psy-op wars with people of Tamil Nadu and the diaspora through intelligence operatives to save establishments indicted, writes TamilNet commentator in Colombo. The Frankenstein Monster in Colombo is now difficult for its creators and the UN to handle, but Sinhalese alone may able to bring it down and strike true reconciliation if there is an IC decision that Tamil Eelam is inevitable. That is the only way out now, he further said.
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Challenge Delhi, Convince Paris on investigations: Tamil Nadu journalist

[TamilNet, Saturday, 28 May 2011, 11:01 GMT]
With its influence on UN Security Council and as an elected member of the 47-member UN Human Rights Council, the current Indian establishment will secretly put its weight behind Colombo's efforts to block international investigations, K. Aiyanathan, a senior journalist in Tamil Nadu told TamilNet Saturday. Urging the political forces in Tamil Nadu to checkmate New Delhi by calling for war crimes investigations against key Indian personalities if they continue to abet the Rajapaksa regime, the journalist told TamilNet that Diaspora Tamils should convince France, a permanent member in the Security Council and a member state of the Human Rights Council to stay the course of justice as the Council is scheduled to hold its 17th session from 30 May to 17 June at the Palais des Nations in Geneva.
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Point Pedro to Mullaiththeevu coast encroached by Sinhala fishermen

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 24 May 2011, 10:39 GMT]
The northeast coast of the Jaffna and Mullaiththeevu districts of the country of Eezham Tamils, from Kat-koava’lam in Point Pedro to Mullaiththeevu is encroached in recent days by hundreds of Sinhala fishermen supported by occupying Sri Lanka’s Army and fisheries officials. Exploitation of the catch of sea cucumber for the season is said to be the reason and many more Sinhala encroachers are expected soon, news sources in Jaffna said with concern that the encroachment coupled with the use of advanced fishing technology triggers off tension and confrontation between the native and poaching fishing communities. Sea cucumber is a valuable export item. But the real interest of the encroachers is Chank (conch shells), an export item more valuable than the sea cucumber, the news sources further said.
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Eezham Tamil poet gets India’s National Film Award for acting

[TamilNet, Monday, 23 May 2011, 07:26 GMT]
Well known Eezham Tamil poet VIS Jayapalan received Special Jury Award (national level) at the 58th National Film Awards of India, held on Thursday, for his performance in the Tamil film Aaduka’lam. The 67-year-old poet and writer acted the role of a cockfight ringleader in the film. The achievement is extraordinary for a debut actor, film critics said. “With a face carved out of teak and leather the patriarch of a cock-fighting clan stands like a colossus, even when he feels his power and authority ebbing through his fingers,” reads the citation he received at the film award. Born in Uduvil, Jaffna, to a Delft family of Uduvil connections, and graduated from the University of Jaffna, Shanmugampillai Jayapalan presently lives in Norway as a member of the Eezham Tamil diaspora.
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Early Eazham-Tamil diaspora novel published in Malaysia in 1927

[TamilNet, Saturday, 21 May 2011, 09:59 GMT]
A Tamil novel, Sampasivam–Gnanamirtham, set in the background of migration from Jaffna to British Malaya and Singapore, and was published in 1927 in Kuala Lumpur, is one of the earliest pieces of Eezham Tamil diaspora literature, writes a student of History who brings out an electronic copy of the publication for the benefit of research and documentation. The author of the novel Mr. A. Nagalingam (1901-1979) himself was a migrant to British Malaya from the Island of Kaarainakar, Jaffna. He was working in the Treasury of Kuala Pilah at the time of the publication. The 360-page novel was printed by S. Lazar & Sons, 13, Scott Road, Kuala Lumpur. The author records his intention of renovating a tank in his native village from the sales of the book and the support he received in this respect from the Sultan of the Negri Sembilan State of Malaya, Sir Mohamed Shah.
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Tamils become key ministers in Singapore

[TamilNet, Friday, 20 May 2011, 05:28 GMT]
In the new cabinet of Singapore, headed by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that will be sworn in on Saturday, Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam of Jaffna origin becomes Deputy Prime Minister holding Finance, Manpower and Monetary Authority portfolios, Mr. K. Shanmugam takes over Foreign Affairs and Law, Mr Vivian Balakrishnan becomes Minister for Environment and Water Resources and Mr. S. Iswaran holding the rank of a full cabinet minister will function in the Prime Minister’s Office as Second Minister for Home, Trade and Industry. The new cabinet has two Deputy Prime Ministers, Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Mr. Teo Chee Hean. General Elections took place in Singapore on 7 May.
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Press USA, UK and France to talk to China, Russia: Vidar Helgesen

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 May 2011, 05:40 GMT]
“I'm not the best-placed person to suggest how China and Russia could be convinced and how one could pass a resolution at the UN Security Council. One should pose this question to the governments of USA, United Kingdom and France, those who negotiate with China and Russia in New York,” said Vidar Helgesen, the highest-ranking diplomat who headed the Norwegian facilitated peace process, in a video documentary released by the Norwegian Council of Eezham Tamils Wednesday, hinting that if the USA, UK and France are really determined China and Russia could always be negotiated to bring in a political solution to the question of Eezham Tamils. “There was a conflict before the LTTE was established; still there is a conflict even after the LTTE has been vanquished; you will not get a solution without a political solution,” Helgesen further said.
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International probe into Sri Lanka’s war crimes urged at British rally

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 May 2011, 02:56 GMT]
A vigil in London commemorating the tens of thousands of Tamils massacred two years ago by Sri Lanka’s forces in the final months of the island’s war was addressed Wednesday by parliamentarians from all three major political parties and representatives of leading UK trade unions, rights and peace campaigns, as well as representatives of several Tamil Diaspora organisations, with many speakers calling for an international investigation into the atrocities and recognition of Tamil self-determination and Tamil Eelam. The British Tamil Forum (BTF), with the support of other diaspora groups has organised the Mu'l'livaaykkaal Remembrance event. Braving rains, over twelve thousand people attended the Trafalgar Square event in the course of the evening, the organizers said, citing police liaison officers.
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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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Tamil Studies academics meet in Canada

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 17 May 2011, 06:58 GMT]
For the sixth year, the Tamil Studies Conference that attracts academics and research students mainly from the academic institutions of the North American continent was held at the New College of the University of Toronto, between May 14 and 15. Prof. Daud Ali, Chair of the Department of South Asia Studies of the University of Pennsylvania and Feminist theorist and historian Ms. V. Geetha from Tamil Nadu delivered the keynote addresses of the two-day conference in which over 30 academics presented papers. A highlight of the conference was two panel discussions on Eezham Tamil refugees, one on structural violence against them and the other on the first arrival of Tamil boat refugees to Newfoundland, 25 years ago.
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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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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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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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Colombo fakes autopsy of Tamil Nadu fisherman

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 May 2011, 15:58 GMT]
Four Tamil Nadu fishermen were reported missing in the seas off Neduntheevu (Delft) islet in Jaffna in late April. Later, a decapitated body bearing a tattoo mark of The Cross on one of the arms was washed ashore and was identified as that of one of the missing Tamil Nadu fishermen. The family of the victim came to Jaffna, received the remains and conducted the burial at Naavaanthu'rai Church. Meanwhile, the Judicial Medical Officer (JMO) from Jaffna Teaching Hospital, Dr. Sivarupan, who conducted the autopsy report in Jaffna was summoned to Colombo on Tuesday this week to sign a forged autopsy report by medical authorities in Colombo, informed sources in Colombo said.
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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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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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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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Sinhalese stage anti-UN demonstration in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Monday, 09 May 2011, 01:31 GMT]
In a comic show of events, Sinhalese thugs bought from the south staged a demonstration in Jaffna Sunday, against the UN panel report calling for war crimes investigation. In several places in the Jaffna city they were seen forcing passing by people to sign petitions and those who refused were chased and manhandled by the military intelligence accompanying the ‘demonstrators.’ Even a reputed Catholic priest was not an exception, news sources from Jaffna said. While Tamils have to build up their own democratic polity for ‘reconciliation’ within a ‘united’ island is the reiteration of the US Asst Secretary of State Robert Blake, the Indian National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon’s position is that why should there be any qualms in Tamil Nadu when Eezham Tamils and Sinhalese make ‘home-made solutions’ in the island.
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