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…

Army steps up recruitment in Jaffna district, reports of coercion

Mar 17, 2014
The Sri Lankan Army has stepped up its recruitment of Tamil men in Jaffna district over recent days, in what has been described as coercion, reported the Uthayan.

Whilst the Army claims all recruitment was voluntary, according to the Uthayan, a number of Tamils youths reported being forced to sign forms or being offered significant financial incentives.

The Army was seen in Columbuththurai, Maniyanthottam, Gurunagar, Pasaiyoor and Naavaanthurai attempting to recruit Tamil children who had just finished their GCE exams.

Army: will not allow reemergence of LTTE as Tamil diaspora wants

Mar 17, 2014
Sri Lanka's Army Commander in Jaffna, Major General Udaya Perera, said that the government and its security forces would not allow the reemergence of the LTTE as the Tamil diaspora wants, reports Daily Mirror.

Making these comments to the Canadian High Commissioner Shelley Whiting, Major General Perera added,
“Defence forces are on alert about several groups who are trying to destroy peace in the Northern Province, including Jaffna,”

Navi Pillay, UNHRC, other foreign ministers 'biased' - Sri Lanka's GL. Peiris

Mar 17, 2014
Sri Lanka's Minister for External Affairs, GL Peiris accused the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights of being "biased", and that she "will not approach the inquiry with an open mind", reports the Daily Mirror.

Speaking at an event organised by the National Intellectual Council, Mr. Peiris accused 'powerful nations' of 'behaving as if there were two governments in Sri Lanka'.

“One government of Sri Lanka convenes at the parliament in Jayawardenapura while the other operates in Geneva," he explained, adding, "these forced interventions into Sri Lanka’s internal processes are a violation of the constitution as well."

34y man abducted by white van in Puthukudiyiruppu - Uthayan

Mar 17, 2014
13:32 GMT

A man has been abducted in Puthukudiyirippu, Mullaitivu district, in a 'white van' incident, reports Uthayan.

According to the Jaffna based daily, Mayilvakanam Yaseekaran, a 34 year old disabled man who worked in a bakery, was abducted at 12:30pm on Tuesday.

The abduction comes amidst a number of arrests of prominent activists in Kilinochchi over recent days and house to house search operations by armed Sri Lankan troops.

Sri Lanka rejects international concerns over activists arrests, accuses Ananthy Sasitharan of 'affinity to LTTE cause'

Mar 17, 2014
13:52 GMT, last updated 14:05 GMT

In a statement issued yesterday by the Sri Lanka's Permanent Mission to the UN in Geneva, the government rejected international concerns over the detention of three activists - Balendran Jeyakumari, Ruki Fernando and Father Praveen, as well as Ms. Jeyakumari's 13 year old daughter, Vipoosika.

Reiterating its claims that the detained activists were detained over suspicions that they were working with individuals allegedly associated with the LTTE, the Sri Lankan government drew particular attention to the statements made by the NPC Councillor Ananthy Sasitharan, at the UN Human Rights Council.

Accusing Ms. Sasitharan of "misrepresenting" fact, the government alleged that her statements made to the UNHRC "demonstrate affinity with the cause of the LTTE".

NGOs slam Sri Lanka over arrests, impunity and genocide at UNHRC General Debate

Mar 17, 2014
16:16 CET, second lead 19:28 CET - further details

Addressing the UN Human Rights Council's General Debate currently underway, an unprecedented number of NGOs condemned what they described as the past and on-going genocide of Tamils by the Sri Lankan state, which included disappearances, sexual violence and murder.

Pointing to the recent arrests of activists, NGOs called for the immediate release of  Balendran Jeyakumari, Ruki Fernando, and Father Praveen Mahesan detained in Kilinochchi by Sri Lankan security forces.

Follow @TamilGuardian for live coverage.

Sri Lanka is a genocidal state, it cannot conduct an inquiry itself - Ananthy Sasitharan tells UNHRC

Mar 17, 2014
17:29 CET

Photograph Tamil Guardian


The Northern Province Councillor, Ananthy Sasitharan, addressed the UNHRC General Debate, under two NGOs today, calling for an international investigation into the past, and on-going genocide taking place against the Tamil people, by the Sri Lankan state.

"The Sri Lankan state is incapable of investigating itself, it's a genocidal state, it cannot conduct an inquiry itself. " said Ms. Sasitharan.

International NGOs demand release of human rights activists

Mar 17, 2014

Amnesty International, Forum Asia, Human Rights Watch, the International Crisis Group, and the International Commission of Jurists have released a joint statement calling for the release of human rights activists detained by the Sri Lankan government and urged the international community to “stand up for human rights in Sri Lanka.”

David Griffiths, Amnesty International’s deputy director for Asia Pacific, said,

“The Sri Lankan authorities need to release Fernando and Father Praveen, and end the ongoing state harassment of human rights defenders… How can the international community take Sri Lanka’s claims to respect rights seriously when rights defenders continue to face intimidation and criminal charges for demanding accountability and human rights protection?”

Sri Lanka rejects NGO statements, accuses Ananthy Sasitharan of violating constitution

Mar 17, 2014
19:09 CET

Using its right of reply as a member state of the UN Human Rights Council, Sri Lanka rejected concerns raised by an array of NGOs during the Council's General Debate today on the past and on-going violations of human rights, as well as genocide.

Drawing particular attention to the NPC Councillor Ananthy Sasitharan, who made two addresses to the Council today, the Sri Lankan representative to the Council said,
"I note that Ms. Sasitharan in referring in her statements to the council to quote unquote Tamil Eelam, has failed to adhere to agreed language of the United Nations, and is in violation of the constitution of she has pledged to uphold."
In a written statement issued yesterday, Sri Lanka's Permanent Mission in Geneva accused Ms. Sasitharan of demonstrating "affinity with the cause of the LTTE".

The Sri Lankan government's repeated statements focusing on Ms. Sasitharan have led to concern amongst activists and NGOs in Geneva over her safety on her return to the island, amidst a spate of recent arrests of activists by the military.

Canadian Foreign Ministry condemns detention of activists

Mar 17, 2014
Joining the US and the UK, the Canadian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deepak Obhrai, condemned the recent detention of human rights activists by the Sri Lankan government, and called for the international community to continue monitoring the situation.

Hugo Swire: 'arrests underline why the Council must continue its focus on Sri Lanka' (18 March 2014)

US: Arrests show that 'continued scrutiny' by HRC 'necessary' (17 March 2014)

Full statement reproduced below.
Army: will not allow reemergence of LTTE as Tamil diaspora wants
Navi Pillay, UNHRC, other foreign ministers 'biased' - Sri Lanka's GL. Peiris
34y man abducted by white van in Puthukudiyiruppu - Uthayan
Sri Lanka rejects international concerns over activists arrests, accuses Ananthy Sasitharan of 'affinity to LTTE cause'
NGOs slam Sri Lanka over arrests, impunity and genocide at UNHRC General Debate
Sri Lanka is a genocidal state, it cannot conduct an inquiry itself - Ananthy Sasitharan tells UNHRC
International NGOs demand release of human rights activists
Sri Lanka rejects NGO statements, accuses Ananthy Sasitharan of violating constitution
Canadian Foreign Ministry condemns detention of activists
‘Stand up for human rights in Sri Lanka’
Army: will not allow reemergence of LTTE as Tamil diaspora wants
Navi Pillay, UNHRC, other foreign ministers 'biased' - Sri Lanka's GL. Peiris
34y man abducted by white van in Puthukudiyiruppu - Uthayan
Sri Lanka rejects international concerns over activists arrests, accuses Ananthy Sasitharan of 'affinity to LTTE cause'
NGOs slam Sri Lanka over arrests, impunity and genocide at UNHRC General Debate
Sri Lanka is a genocidal state, it cannot conduct an inquiry itself - Ananthy Sasitharan tells UNHRC
International NGOs demand release of human rights activists
Sri Lanka rejects NGO statements, accuses Ananthy Sasitharan of violating constitution
Canadian Foreign Ministry condemns detention of activists
‘Stand up for human rights in Sri Lanka’