Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

Tamil residents intervene to block Sri Lankan military land grab in Maruthankerni
Tamil residents, landowners and activists in Maruthankerni have halted a land survey linked to an attempted acquisition reportedly for Sri Lankan military purposes in Vadamaradchi East. The move, which took place in the Maruthankerni area of the Jaffna district, drew strong opposition from the landowner and local residents, who warned that handing land to the Sri Lankan military could lead to…

16 out of 19 army divisions deployed to NE

Sep 19, 2012

Sixteen out of 19 army divisions are deployed within the North-East, reports The Hindu. Quoting the retired Colonel R. Hariharan, the newspaper stated the deployment was more suggestive of "operational readiness" than a post-conflict scenario.

 

The army deployment, excludes the STF (Special Task Force) in the Eastern province, and the Airforce and the Navy.

Vijayaraj's final words

Sep 19, 2012

Speaking on his death bed, T.P. Vijayaraj, the twenty-six year old Indian Tamil auto driver who self-immolated on Monday in Salem in protest against Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse’s visit to India, urged Tamils to protest against the visit.

Vijayraj, who succumbed to his burns on Tuesday at 11:45 am at the Government Medical College Hospital, spoke to journalists before his death:

Self-immolation of 70m Tamils brings a smile to SL's face

Sep 19, 2012

As Vijayaraj - the 26-year-old who self-immolated in protest against the visit by Rajapaksa to India - was dying from 95% burns, the Sri Lankan president's spokesperson, Bandula Jayasekara, exemplified Sri Lanka's response to the deaths of Tamils who protest.

A Twitter conversation that took place on Wednesday between Jayasekara and an opposition supporter who goes by the alias 'Fonseka2010' has been reproduced below:

Paramilitary leader appointed presidential advisor

Sep 18, 2012

The leader of the TMVP (Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal), Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, known as Pillayan, has been appointed as Presidential Advisor, reports the Daily Mirror.

SLFP's Najeeb Majeed sworn in as Eastern CM

Sep 18, 2012

The former SLFP organiser for the Trincomalee district, Najeeb A. Majeed, was sworn in as the Chief Minister of the Eastern Province on Tuesday, by President Rajapaksa.

The appointment is believed to confirm a UPFA (united Peoples Freedom Alliance) and SLMC (Sri Lankan Muslim Congress) coalition agreement.

TAG applies for injunction against deportation

Sep 18, 2012

The rights group, Tamils Against Genocide [TAG] applied on Wednesday morning to the UK Administrative Court for an injunction against the UK government proceeding with the charter flight  of forced returns to Sri Lanka scheduled for 15.30 pm on the same day.

See here for court order.

Prostesters halt bus carrying Tamil refugees due to be deported

Sep 18, 2012
The bus carrying Tamil refugees due to be deported by UK Border Agency at 15:30 on Wednesday, has been halted by protesters, with one protester under the front of the bus. Photograph sent by protester to Tamil Guardian. Published 14:18 BST

Freedom House report says Sri Lanka worsening

Sep 18, 2012
In their latest report on Sri Lanka, Freedom House has declared that Sri Lanka has slid down their scale for accountability, civil liberties, rule of law and transparency.

The “Countries at the Crossroads” report by the NGO, found that Sri Lanka fell down their rankings in all four areas from 2010

Extracts from the report have been reproduced below. See the full report here.

Accountability and Public Voice

"In addition, Tamils in both the national and parliamentary elections experienced problems exercising their right to vote. Many internally displaced Tamils did not have national ID cards, could not obtain them, or could not travel to their home village and were therefore unable to vote. During the war, government security forces used the confiscation of national ID cards as a way to control the travel of Tamils."

"President Rajapakse has increasingly tried to centralize power, especially judicial power in the executive branch, and has refused to obey several related Supreme Court rulings."

"Basil is believed to be the president’s most trusted advisor, while Gotabaya, who was the chief architect of the defeat of the LTTE, is in charge of the nation’s security and intelligence apparatus. He has been accused of allegedly ordering the murder of opposition politicians and journalists as well as Tamil civilians during the war."

China and Sri Lanka sign sixteen bilateral agreements

Sep 17, 2012

On Monday, Wu Bangguo Chairman of China’s National People’s Congress (NPC) met with President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo on his four-day official visit to the country. Wu praised Sri Lanka for its post-war achievements, and asserted that it will continue to support economic growth in the country and provide aid for its development projects.

Wu said, "China-Sri Lanka relations are now at the best period of development in history." 

Currently, China is the largest development partner to Sri Lanka, providing development assistance over 5 billion dollars.

60 Tamils to be deported by UK on Wednesday

Sep 17, 2012
Up to 60 Tamil asylum seekers are set to be forced to return back to Sri Lanka by UK authorities on Wednesday, despite evidence from human rights groups that even Tamils who have returned to the island voluntarily, have faced torture.

Channel 4 spoke to one asylum seeker due to be deported on Wednesday, who had already cut his neck in an attempted suicide last week. He said,
“Definitely, the government, they’ll harass and detain me. I won’t go tomorrow. I want to die here, in this place better. I want to die.”
Vijayaraj's final words
Self-immolation of 70m Tamils brings a smile to SL's face
Paramilitary leader appointed presidential advisor
SLFP's Najeeb Majeed sworn in as Eastern CM
TAG applies for injunction against deportation
Prostesters halt bus carrying Tamil refugees due to be deported
Freedom House report says Sri Lanka worsening
China and Sri Lanka sign sixteen bilateral agreements
60 Tamils to be deported by UK on Wednesday
Returnees at risk' says TAG
Vijayaraj's final words
Self-immolation of 70m Tamils brings a smile to SL's face
Paramilitary leader appointed presidential advisor
SLFP's Najeeb Majeed sworn in as Eastern CM
TAG applies for injunction against deportation
Prostesters halt bus carrying Tamil refugees due to be deported
Freedom House report says Sri Lanka worsening
China and Sri Lanka sign sixteen bilateral agreements
60 Tamils to be deported by UK on Wednesday
Returnees at risk' says TAG