Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

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Amnesty International demands immediate release of detained Tamil artist
Amnesty International has called for the release of detained Tamil rapper Sangeethan Ganeshkumar and renewed demands for the repeal of Sri Lanka's Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), warning that the legislation continues to facilitate arbitrary detention and human rights abuses. In a statement issued this week, the international rights organisation expressed concern over the continued use of…

MoD orders 18 day detention, Jeyakumari makes statement to judge

Mar 15, 2014
The Sri Lankan Ministry of Defence has ordered for the disappearances campaigner Balendran Jeyakumari, who is currently reported to be detained at Boosa camp, to be detained for 18 days, reports Uthayan.

Ms Jeyakumari made the following statement to the judge:
"On the day of the incident, about 3.30 pm, I was feeding food to my child. At that time a tall person wearing a black jacket jumped over the wall and ran into our house.

Text of second draft UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka

Mar 15, 2014
The second draft of the UN Human Rights Council resolution on Sri Lanka, tabled by the US, UK, Montenegro, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Mauritius, was circulated late on Friday night.

See here for full text.

Commenting on the draft, the TNA said it was "pleased" by the changes.



Troops, police ransack homes in massive search operation in Kilinochchi district - residents

Mar 15, 2014
Sivakami Rajamanoharan
Published 12:36 GMT

Sri Lankan army troops and police are conducting an aggressive house to house search operation in Kanakampikaikilam, in Kilinochchi district, residents say.
 
Large numbers of heavily armed police and soldiers arrived unannounced early Sunday morning and cordoned off the village, restricting access in and out of the area, before ransacking houses and seizing all personal documents, digital devices and computers.
 
No reason was given for the search, which has spread panic amongst people, sources in Vanni told Tamil Guardian.
 
The new search operations come amid prevailing anxiety amongst the populace caused by the heightened presence of the military in several parts of Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts in recent weeks, they added.

Vanni fearful amid further arrests and intensified militarisation

Mar 15, 2014
Vanni is gripped with fear amidst intensified militarisation and arrests, including two incidents of a pregnant mother in Trincomalee and a 28 year old woman in Vasvamaadu, Mullaitheevu district being arrested, reports JDS.

One senior citizen from Vanni told the JDS of increased mobile and permanent check posts along Paranthan-Mullaithivu road and Puthukudiyiruppu-Mankulam road since the arrest of the the disappearances campaigner Balendran Jeyakumari and her 13 year old daughter Vipoosika on Thursday.

President Rajapaksa defends government's foreign policy

Mar 15, 2014
The Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa defended the government's foreign policy yesterday at the opening ceremony of the Galle-Matara Southern Expressway, reports Sri Lanka's Sunday Times.

Making reference to criticisms from the opposition party, UNP that the government's poor foreign policy had resulted in the latest UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka, President Rajapaksa said “it is their foreign policy which divided the country,” adding,

Excellency - 'we'll protect you with our last drop of blood'

Mar 15, 2014
A poster spotted in Galle this weekend, featuring a large smiling President Rajapaksa,  reads:

"TO INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY / HRC GENEVA
Avoid meddling in Our Motherland
Do not Touch Out Leader

Dear Leader,
Excellency MAHINDA RAJAPAKSHA,
You Will also Take Our Country to Prosperity
You are Our Great Leader,
You are Our President,
We'll Protect You With Our Last Drop of Blood,
We are Prepared to Fight on Your Behalf!"

NPC to protest against limestone quarrying in Kilinochchi

Mar 15, 2014
The Northern Provincial Council has said it will be lodging a formal protest with the Environment Ministry against the government's approval of a limestone quarrying project in Kilinochchi, reports the Sunday Times.

“Our Chief Minister [CV Wigneswaran] will be taking it up with the central government and at the district level as even the local officials had not been consulted about the environmental impact of the project,” said the NPC's Environment Minister Ponnuthurai Ayngaranesan.

Video of Sri Lankan soldier describing use of chemical weapons - India's News X

Mar 15, 2014
2nd lead (updated 18:58 GMT) comments from Maga Tamizh Prabhagaran

The Indian news channel 'News X' broadcast today footage of a Sri Lankan army officer reportedly boasting of the use of chemical weapons against Tamil fighters and civilians during the final stages of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka.



The footage, from the documentary 'This land belongs to the army' by the Indian journalist Thamizh Prabhakar, shows a Sri Lankan soldier pointing to a chemical weapon and describing in detail how it works.

Two more activists detained - Kilinochchi

Mar 15, 2014
Published 17:24 GMT, last updated 19:42 GMT


Two rights campaigners, Father Praveen the Director of the Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, and the Sri Lankan human rights campaigner, Ruki Fernando, have been detained by security forces in Kilinochchi, local sources said. 

The sources said the activists were detained by officials from the Terrorism Investigation Department (TID), however Kilinochchi police gave contradicting reports. 

BTF: Arrest of disappearances campaigners underscores need for strong UNHRC resolution

Mar 14, 2014
The arrest and detention of the disappearances campaigner Ms. Jeyakumari and her 13 year old daughter Vipoosika on Thursday, "underscores the need for a strong resolution at the UNHRC" said the British Tamils Forum on Friday.

Calling on the UN Human Rights Council member states to ensure an international investigation with "real authority and clout" is established, the BTF said,
"The actions of the Sri Lankan state are all the more brazen given their timing. Sri Lanka is currently coming under intense scrutiny at the 25th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, and yet these arrests show it no longer has any concern over its international image and, more worryingly, indicate that Sri Lanka does not expect the international community to take any concrete action to arrest its ongoing persecution of Tamils."
Text of second draft UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka
Troops, police ransack homes in massive search operation in Kilinochchi district - residents
Vanni fearful amid further arrests and intensified militarisation
President Rajapaksa defends government's foreign policy
Excellency - 'we'll protect you with our last drop of blood'
NPC to protest against limestone quarrying in Kilinochchi
Video of Sri Lankan soldier describing use of chemical weapons - India's News X
Two more activists detained - Kilinochchi
BTF: Arrest of disappearances campaigners underscores need for strong UNHRC resolution
Tamils protest in Vavuniya against detention of Jeyakumari and Vipoosika
Text of second draft UNHRC resolution on Sri Lanka
Troops, police ransack homes in massive search operation in Kilinochchi district - residents
Vanni fearful amid further arrests and intensified militarisation
President Rajapaksa defends government's foreign policy
Excellency - 'we'll protect you with our last drop of blood'
NPC to protest against limestone quarrying in Kilinochchi
Video of Sri Lankan soldier describing use of chemical weapons - India's News X
Two more activists detained - Kilinochchi
BTF: Arrest of disappearances campaigners underscores need for strong UNHRC resolution
Tamils protest in Vavuniya against detention of Jeyakumari and Vipoosika