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.
Tamil hunger striker wins damages over burger claims
[Jul 29, 2010, 19:03], [BBC]
A Tamil refugee hunger striker has accepted £77,500 in damages over newspaper reports he secretly ate burgers during his protest.
The articles in the Daily Mail and The Sun struck at the heart of Parameswaran Subramanyam's integrity and achievement, the High Court was told.
He began his 23-day protest outside the Houses of Parliament on 7 April 2009, in a bid to raise awareness of the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils.
The newspapers have apologised.
Mr Subramanyam was treated in hospital for five nights after ending his hunger strike.
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RIGHTS OF TAMILS ON BOAT NEED TO BE RESPECTED
[Jul 29, 2010, 00:31], [Canadian Council for Refugees ]
The Canadian Council for Refugees, Amnesty International Canada and the Canadian Tamil Congress today called on Canadians to be mindful of the need to honour international human rights obligations, in responding to the Tamils believed to be on board a boat approaching North America.
“Over the years Canada has saved the lives of thousands of Tamils fleeing persecution, by providing access to a fair and independent refugee system,” said Wanda Yamamoto, CCR President. “Whether they arrive by plane, foot or boat, people seeking refuge from human rights abuses have a right to an individual hearing on the reasons why they fled – a right recently reaffirmed by Parliament. In respecting this right we take a stand against the persecutors and the human rights violators.”
In recently published guidelines on Sri Lankan refugee claims, the UN Refugee Agency notes that groups potentially at risk of persecution in Sri Lanka include journalists, human rights activists, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals and persons suspected of having links with the LTTE (Tamil Tigers).
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.
Former Sri Lankan MP M.K. Eelaventhan on politics in Sri Lanka Special
[Jul 28, 2010, 00:02], [Digital Journal]
Toronto - At each rally, demonstration, political event and memorial, elderly Tamils provide their insights, experiences and analysis into the history of Sri Lanka. DigitalJournal.com caught up with former Sri Lankan Member of Parliament M.K. Eeleaventhan.
At the Black July commemoration at Queen’s Park in downtown Toronto, Digital Journal had the opportunity to speak with former Sri Lankan Tamil National Alliance Member of Parliament M.K. Eelaventhan, who describes himself as a “wise, traveled old man.”
In the interview, Eelaventhan discussed the political situation in Sri Lanka, a historical recount between Sri Lanka and other nations in the region, his personal experiences with the government and his encounters with numerous public officials in Canada, Sri Lanka, South Africa, India and elsewhere.
“All these people do sympathize with us but their final conclusion is that they’re thinking of their own geopolitical interests, each country. No country’s foreign policy is based on morality, there’s only permanent interests.”
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Tamil Transnational officials speak out about crisis in Sri Lanka Special
[Jul 27, 2010, 17:03], [Digital Journal]
Toronto - Representatives of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam spoke about the crisis and political situation in Sri Lanka and what the Canadian federal government and international community's response should be.
Digital Journal reported in May of the international Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) election, which took place in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway and other nations. The purpose of the organization is to achieve independence for Tamil Eelam.
There are ten national representatives in each country.
On Sunday, during the Black July commemoration at Queen’s Park in Toronto, Digital Journal caught up with three democratically elected representatives of TGTE: Executive community member Sam Sangakasivam, transnational member Anjalo Yogendraw and TGTE member Suren Mahgndran.
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Toronto Tamils commemorate Black July at Queen's Park (video) Special
[Jul 27, 2010, 16:54], [Digital Journal]
Toronto - It has been 27 years since that fateful July week where approximately 3,000 Tamils were killed and hundreds of thousands more were displaced after Singhalese mobs burned down their homes, vandalized their businesses and killed Tamils in the streets.
Tamils have been politically active in Toronto and other parts of the world since the 25-year civil war came to an end in May 2009, which saw the deaths of tens of thousands of people and thousands more injured.
On Sunday, hundreds of Canadian Tamils remembered the tragic events of Black July in 1983 and last year’s alleged genocide against the Tamil people in Sri Lanka by the government security forces. The commemoration was held at Queen’s Park in front of the Ontario Legislature in downtown Toronto.
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Elected Tamil Representative discusses Black July, NCCT (video) Special
[Jul 27, 2010, 15:56], [Digital Journal]
Toronto - National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT) National Youth Representative Siva Viamalachandran spoke to DigitalJournal.com about the significance of Black July, the purpose of the NCCT and the goals of Tamils everywhere.
Digital Journal reported about the historic National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT) election that was held one month ago where a large number of community members and leaders were voted to represent the interests of Tamils across Canada.
During the Black July commemoration ceremony at Queen’s Park in Toronto on Sunday, Digital Journal had the opportunity to speak with NCCT National Youth Representative Siva Viamalachandran about Sunday’s remembrance event, what happened in that fateful month and the significance of the NCCT.
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Sri Lanka opposition man in self-immolation
[Jul 27, 2010, 14:00], [globaltimes.cn]
60-year-old activist of Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) has died in self-immolation, party and medical officials said here Tuesday.
Rienzie Algama set himself in fire opposite the UNP headquarters at the Colombo suburbs of Pitakotte around 5:30 p.m. local time (1200 GMT) on Monday.
He was rushed to the local Kalubowila hospital with severe burn injuries and was later transferred to the General Hospital in the capital.
"He passed away around 1:30 a.m. (2000 GMT) this morning," Dr. Hector Weerasinghe of the General Hospital said.
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British Tamil embarks on Sri Lanka justice walk
[Jul 27, 2010, 01:07], [Guardian, UK]
A British Tamil has embarked on a two-week walk from London to Geneva to ask the UN to initiate an independent investigation into allegations that war crimes were committed when the Sri Lankan government crushed the Tamil Tigers last year.
Gobi Sivanthan, 29, a businessman from Hayes, west London, left Downing Street at midnight on Saturday morning. As part of his "walk for justice", which is due to end outside the offices of the UN human rights council on 6 August, Sivanthan is also calling for a boycott of Sri Lankan goods, for internally displaced persons to be allowed to return home, and for access to be granted to prisoners of war.
The UN estimates that about 7,000 people died in the final months of fighting that culminated in the defeat of the Tamil Tigers and the end of the island's 25-year civil war.
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Thousands of student orphans from Sri Lanka's civil war
[Jul 26, 2010, 16:34], [Asian News]
More than 8 thousand children are without parents due to civil war between government and LTTE. In one school alone in a village, more than 200 students have lost their parents. Members of the People's Freedom party visit villages in the area of Gaudarimunai in the north to understand the situation, and charge "the government is trying to undermine our work." Bimal Rathnayake, former MP and member of the group, said yesterday in Colombo: "We visited a school where 102 students lost their mother, 97 their father and 15 both. It is a tragedy. Several NGOs have estimated that there are about 8 thousand students in similar conditions, but the government has still no official figures".
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Tamils rally at Queen's Park
[Jul 26, 2010, 08:42], [Toronto Sun]
Hundreds of Tamil-Canadians gathered at Queen’s Park Sunday afternoon to remember countrymen who were killed 27 years ago during Black July — a time when a wave of violence swept through Sri Lanka.
“During the riots that took place in July 1983, nearly 3,000 Tamils lost their lives, hundreds of thousands had to flee the country or became displaced, and millions of dollars worth of property was destroyed,” said Siva Vimal, of the National Council of Canadian Tamils.
He said the council was formed in the wake of the protests that swept through Toronto last year in an effort to unite Tamils across the Canada.
“To date, there have been no reparations ... no apologies and no justice,” Vimal said.
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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
Former Sri Lankan president denounces the government
[Jul 24, 2010, 12:40], [BBC]
Former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has launched one of her most outspoken attacks against the government.
She accused it of "completely forgetting the legacy" of her mother, Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the world's first woman prime minister.
She said it was also wrong to ignore her accession to power 60 years ago.
No-one from the government was available to respond to her allegations.
Ms Kumaratunga said the government have an "obsession against" the Bandaranaike family.
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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.
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