Lifting the lid on Sri Lanka's war crimes

Callum Macrae
Monday 13 June 2011

The Sri Lankan government stands accused of targeting civilians in 2009. Photograph: Ishara S.Kodikara/AFP/Getty Images

It is a moment that speaks volumes. While the Kfir combat jets of the Sri Lankan airforce scream overhead and the heavy artillery of the Sri Lankan army maintains a remorseless barrage on the ground below, a family of terrified Tamil civilians huddle in a shallow trench    Full Stoery>>>
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Tamil Diaspora hails Jaya move on Lanka

Monday, Jun 13, 2011

Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa calls on chief justice of Madras high court M.Y. Eqbal at the latter’s residence, accepting an earlier invitation for tea in Chennai on Sunday — DC

Chief minister J. Jayalalithaa has emerged as the darling of the Tamil Diaspora after she piloted the unanimous resolution in the Tamil Nadu Assembly demanding that India should impose economic sanctions against Sri Lanka and also pressure the UN to investigate war crime allegations against the island nation. 

Bitter with the Indian leaders for not doing enough to halt the large-scale deaths of the civilians during the final phase of the Eelam war, the Diaspora has now found a messiah in the AIADMK leader.
“Madam Jayalalithaa’s initiative in this tough resolution in the Assembly has lifted our morale. We are writing to her requesting for an audience to personally thank her,” said Charles Antonidas of the Global Tamil Forum, London, an influential body representing the Diaspora spread across the world.
Another important Diaspora outfit, the Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations based in New South Wales has sent a letter to Jayalalithaa “bowing our heads in gratitude” for her initiative aimed at securing political rights and improved living conditions for the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Needless to say, DMK chief M. Karunanidhi could be fuming as his claim to be the “leader of World Tamils” now appears hollow - in fact, the Diaspora has long been critical of his Lanka stand, even calling it deceitful.
Not just the Diaspora, even the Tamil outfits in Tamil Nadu are singing paeans to Jayalalithaa for her Lanka resolution. The Naam Thamizhar of actor-director Seeman is holding a rally in Chennai on June 18 to thank the chief minister.
The Periyar DK, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi and several others are having a meeting for the same purpose in the city on Monday.
“We are holding a massive rally in Rameswaram on June 26 to thank the CM,” said Hindu Makkal Katchi leader Arjun Sampath.