Tamil Affairs

Tamil News

Latest news from and about the homeland

As Modi eyes trade deals in Sri Lanka, Tamils demand justice
Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, is set to sign a number of landmark agreements with Sri Lankan president, Anura Kumara Dissanayake (AKD) during his three-day visit to Sri Lanka beginning Friday, 4th April. In Colombo’s eyes, his visit signals the possibility to upscale both energy and communications capabilities of the island. This renewed Indo-Lanka trading partnership, championed by…

Military personnel enter TNPF office and collect details

Jun 3, 2014
Military personnel entered the TNPF head office in Jaffna, to collect details of individuals that worked there, reports GlobalTamilNews.

The military personnel entered the office in civilian clothes to collect information said someone from the TNPF office.

Sexual Violence in Conflict: Sri Lanka – detention and torture 2009-2014

Jun 3, 2014
Photograph HRW


Next week, the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict is due to take place in London, co-hosted by the UK's Foreign Secretary, William Hague and the Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Angelina Jolie.

In the run up to the ESVC summit, we revisit the mounting evidence which documents the widespread, systematic and on-going use of sexual violence by Sri Lanka's military against Tamils, that occurs with absolute impunity.

See our full feature: 'Sexual Violence in Conflict: Sri Lanka'
 
Despite the end of the armed conflict, the use of sexual violence by Sri Lanka's military against Tamil women and men continued, with Tamils routinely arrested and detained indefinitely using the country's draconian anti-terror laws.

There are on-going reports of sexual violence against Tamils in detention to the present day, with many victims recounting sexual violence used as a means of torture to extract confessions.

In 2012, Tamils Against Genocide (TAG), examined witness testimonies of Tamils deported back to Sri Lanka. In its report 'Returnees at Risk: Detention And Torture in Sri Lanka', TAG noted:
“The majority of the cases that reported abuse reported similar forms of physical torture, with 6 verified as having experienced additional forms of sexual torture. In all of the cases reviewed, judges found legitimate claims of severe torture to be “supported by photographic evidence and the medical reports” as well as through “psychological assessment”. Several of the applicants suffer from continued physical pain as well as forms of mental illness caused by severe trauma.”

Deceased Tamil asylum seeker had application frozen

Jun 2, 2014
The Australian government had frozen the application of a Tamil asylum seeker, who tragically self immolated and died this week, stated refugee advocates.

29-year-old Leorsin Seemanpillai had been living in Geelong waiting for his protection visa application to be processed by the Australian government. He had arrived in Australia by boat in January 2013. He passed away on Saturday night, after suffering burns to 90 percent of his body.

Australian minister denies asylum policy implication in suicide

Jun 2, 2014
Australia's Immigration Minister Scott Morrison has denied that the government's asylum policy was the reason behind why a Tamil asylum seeker committed suicide earlier this week.

Leorsin Seemanpillai, a Tami asylum seeker who fled Sri Lanka self immolated and died from his injuries on Saturday night. He had spent 18 months in Australia, but was yet to be granted refugee status.

Heavy defeat for Tamil Eelam against current world champions Kurdistan

Jun 2, 2014

The Tamil Eelam football team suffered a heavy 9-0 defeat today, at the hands of VIVA World Cup holders Kurdistan, at the 2014 World Football Cup in Sweden.

The match was always going to be tough for the Leopards, with the highly rated Kurdistan team coming into the match as clear favourites. In a setback for the Tamils, regular starter Ronsan Valli was not able to play due to illness.

Jayalalitha calls on Indian centre to condemn genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka and set up UN referendum on separate Tamil state

Jun 2, 2014
The Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa, called on the Indian government to table a resolution at the UN that condemned the genocide in Sri Lanka and looked to hold those responsible accountable for their actions whilst facilitating a referendum for Tamils to decide on the formation of a separate state in Sri Lanka, reports the Times of India.

Sri Lanka refuses to assist international inquiry

Jun 2, 2014
The Sri Lankan government will not assist the United Nations investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during Sri Lanka’s ethnic conflict, reports the Daily FT.

A government spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, speaking at a press conference over the weekend, said that the Sri Lankan government rejected the UN resolution that mandated such an investigation and would not cooperate with any proceedings related to the resolution.

ConIFA annuls Kurdistan victory, Tamil Eelam through to quarterfinal

Jun 2, 2014
Kurdistan’s 9:0 victory against Tamil Eelam has been annulled and the match awarded as a 3:0 win to Tamil Eelam, after Kurdistan included too many players in their squad, the Tamil Guardian has learned.

The Kurdish team had 26 players in their squad, although only 21 are allowed to be included by the governing body, said sources close to TEFA.

This means that Tamil Eelam finishes second in Group A and will play Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man) in the quarterfinal on Wednesday at 19:00 CET.

All matches can be watched live here.

Sexual Violence in Conflict: Sri Lanka - rape, sexual assault and forced prostitution of Tamils in military-run IDP camps

Jun 2, 2014
Photograph HRW
Arunachalam Camp, Menik Farm 19 Aug 2009

Next week, the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict is due to take place in London, co-hosted by the UK's Foreign Secretary, William Hague and the Special Envoy for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Angelina Jolie.

In the run up to the ESVC summit, we revisit the mounting evidence which documents the widespread, systematic and on-going use of sexual violence by Sri Lanka's military against Tamils, that occurs with absolute impunity.

See our full feature: 'Sexual Violence in Conflict: Sri Lanka'

As the armed conflict drew to an end in May 2009, an estimated 300,000 Tamils, who had faced repeated displacement, shelling and a severe lack of humanitarian aid, were forced into IDP camps run by the military and detained there for several months on end.

Reports of rape, sexual assault and forced prostitution rings run by the military soon began to emerge from the camps.

A Tamil medic, based in the UK who had been working as an aid worker in the Vanni during the armed conflict before being detained in the notorious Menik Farm camp, Damilvany Kumar, told The Observer:
"Sexual abuse is something that was a common thing, that I personally saw. In the visitor area relatives would be the other side of the fence and we would be in the camp. Girls came to wait for their relatives and military officers would come and touch them, and that's something I saw.

"The girls usually didn't talk back to them, because they knew that in the camp if they talked anything could happen to them. It was quite open, everyone could see the military officers touching the girls,"

Tamil Eelam at World Football Cup 2014

Jun 1, 2014

The Tamil Eelam Football Association will play their first match of the 2014 ConIFA World Football Cup today against Arameans Suryoye.

The players trained for the first time since their arrival from their training camp in Norway on Sunday, with all the players fit for the big match.
Sexual Violence in Conflict: Sri Lanka – detention and torture 2009-2014
Deceased Tamil asylum seeker had application frozen
Australian minister denies asylum policy implication in suicide
Heavy defeat for Tamil Eelam against current world champions Kurdistan
Jayalalitha calls on Indian centre to condemn genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka and set up UN referendum on separate Tamil state
Sri Lanka refuses to assist international inquiry
ConIFA annuls Kurdistan victory, Tamil Eelam through to quarterfinal
Sexual Violence in Conflict: Sri Lanka - rape, sexual assault and forced prostitution of Tamils in military-run IDP camps
Tamil Eelam at World Football Cup 2014
Sri Lankan Minister warns against Modi
Sexual Violence in Conflict: Sri Lanka – detention and torture 2009-2014
Deceased Tamil asylum seeker had application frozen
Australian minister denies asylum policy implication in suicide
Heavy defeat for Tamil Eelam against current world champions Kurdistan
Jayalalitha calls on Indian centre to condemn genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka and set up UN referendum on separate Tamil state
Sri Lanka refuses to assist international inquiry
ConIFA annuls Kurdistan victory, Tamil Eelam through to quarterfinal
Sexual Violence in Conflict: Sri Lanka - rape, sexual assault and forced prostitution of Tamils in military-run IDP camps
Tamil Eelam at World Football Cup 2014
Sri Lankan Minister warns against Modi