Tamil Nadu State to be "paralysed" until Colombo declares ceasefire
By Mrinalini Ramachandra
All work and transport in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu will be paralysed indefinitely until the Sri Lankan Government of President Mahinda Rajapakse declares a ceasefire.
Two regional political party leaders from the pre-dominantly Tamil state have decided to launch a massive state – wide hartal or Bandh (stoppage of work) in the state until Colombo calls off the war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The joint decision to this effect was made by Pattaligal Makkal Katchi (PMK) led by Dr. Ramadoss and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchy (VCK) led by T. Thirumaavalavan.
Consequent to the decision the VCK leader called off his four day protest fast
The hartal is expected to paralyse all activity in the state for an indefinite period till the ceasefire demand is met.
Transport will cease except for Ambulances and vehicles carrying milk for children
The hardline decision comes in the wake of Indian Foreign secretary Shiv Shanker Menon’s visit to Sri Lanka where the issue of a ceasefire was not discussed
This was contrary to the pledge given by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that he would send his foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee to Sri Lanka and negotiate a ceasefire when a delegation of political parties led by Chief Minister Muttuvel Karunanindhi met him in New Delhi.
Menon’s visit was regarded as a preliminary move in that direction but the foreign secretary went on record that discussing a ceasefire was not his “brief”.
The foreign secy also dodged media persons at the Chennai Airport and boarded a New Delhi bound plane using a backdoor entrance
Presspersons were waiting to quiz Menon while returning to India from Sri Lanka
The PMK and VCK will meet chief minister Karunanidhi to canvass support
The support and solidarity of likeminded parties will be solicited
22 Comments
This is not a decision taken by Kalaignar - who I suspect will not support this. Hence, this can not go too far.
They got abloody long wait.
Politicians in Tamilnadu should understand;
1. Sri lanka is a sovereign country dealing with their internal problem.
2. Majority of Tamil people live in harmony with other nationalities of Sri lanka incl. Sinhalese, Muslims, Burgers etc. all over the country.
3. Sri lanka's fight is to save the Tamil people & give them their democretic rights by eradicating terrorism.
4. Tiger's are not liberators for Tamils but world recognized ruthless terrorist outfit.
5. See by example ; in East former child soldier Tamil terrorist became cheaf minister & people are happy with the fast development there.
6. Who you are trying to save ? Tamil people or murderers of Tamil people.
PLEASE MIND YOUR OWN BUSSINESS, TAMILS IN SRI LANKA ARE SRILANKANS & THEY ARE OUR BROTHERS & SISTERS NOT YOURS.
What kind of fools are these Tamil Nadu politicians? Let them be paralyzed! Sri Lanka is not a state of India and therefore, it cannot be influenced by LTTE supporting hartals! The sooner they understand it the better.
Whats worng with this indian idiots. Do they really care about sri lankan tamil people? Where have those people been all thsese years. You do want you want to do but sri lankan people will laugh at you all idiots.
Tamil Nadu and its few LTTE suport wil naver stop are troops from going for the kill, we as Peace Loving Sri Lankans have had enoughf Missery with this blood thurst Hundral enoughf is enoughf.
If ever India Gets Involved the LTTE will bite them all just like the Mubai Attack.
Karunanidhi and the others should not interfere with the Sri Lankan government's effort to eradicate the LTTE menance in the country. TN can have it's own stikes but they should not be carried out to force a foreign soureign government to dance according to their tunes!
No LTTE terrorism has to completely destroyed from Sri Lanka if that country is going have a future for all the people living their. Up to now LTTE has not done anyting for Tamil people but they were gradually destroying its own kind through this nasty war on the Sri Lankan government and the rest of the people living there.
I will believe it when I see it.
The onus is now on TN leaders to proof that they are not "Political Jokers" as Sri Lankan army commender said. Also, it is time for CM Karunanithi to stand for Lankan Tamils and not for power and money. Tamils all over the world will not forgive Karunanithi,if he doesn't. TN should show their political power to Delhi by resigning their parliament seats.
THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT IN DELHI WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED BY A BUNCH OF CLOWS IN TAMIL NADU (WHO ARE IN THE LTTE PAY),TO CONSIDER PRESSING SRI LANKA A SOVERIGN COUNTRY TO STOP A WAR AGAINST TERRORISTS DUE TO A WORK STOPPAGE
The Sri Lankan government has killed
- school children (example, sencholoai bombing in which 55 school children died),
- Aid workers (example, Norwegian peace monitors blamed the Sri lankan goverment for the killing of 17 aid workers in the East (16 tamils and a muslim))
- Children killed and injured children randing from 5 months old babies to teenagers
- disabled people (even a disabled man was abducted by the dread "white van")
- women (the worst case scenarios are for the Tamil women detained as "suspects" under Prevention of Terrorism act)
Tamil Eelam is the answer to this Singhalese brutality. I am glad to see that Tamil Nadu is slowing rising from the sadness after Rajivs killings.
I was in Jaffna in 1987 when the Indian Army bombed Chavakachcheri market and 86 people died including my uncle. This is just one incident, I can go on and on about what the Sri Lankan soilders and Indian soilders have done to the North East Tamil population. Why should I hate the Tigers?
Janani
Very good. also you will stop it in 3 to 4 days like "VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan's four day hunger strike, that ended Sunday" after having no result.
LTTE Massacre Timeline is too long to list in this comments page!
Madam Jayalalitha is the only one intelligent politician in Tamil Nadu, who exactly understands the war between the SL Army and LTTE Terrorists.
I have a doubt that, how come all these foolish politicians rule the Tamil Nadu? Are these people also the same ...???
Dear Janani
What you have listed out is perfectly correct. If you are accusing the SL Government of doing all these things, just do a calculation of what LTTE did to the normal civilians then you will know who tops the list. They killed more than 1000 civilians on the central bank bomb. They use child soldiers in the war destroying the future of the children and ultimately killing them. They use women in the war front and kill them. For your information the SL government do not use women and children as their war-front forces. Dont you know that the Tamils are living peacefully in the other parts of Sri Lanka which inclues YOU as well (if you are in SL). If you are supporting the LTTE then you should support then commanders Karuna and Pilliyan who were hardcore LTTE and now hate them and joined SL government. Did the SL government punish them? No, instead they sheltered them. So just think twice before you write anything.
Dear Janani,
Have u ever heard that sinhalees killed tamils before LTTE activate?
Janani
INDIA PAYED A HEAVY PRICE FOR THE KILLING NOT ONLY THE 86 PEOPLE OF CHAVAKACHCHERI BUT OVER 5000 INNOCENT TAMIL CIVILIANS OF THE NORTH AND EAST DURING THE SO-CALLED PEACE KEEPING PERIOD BY THE RUTHLESS INDIAN ARMY.
TODAY, IT IS THE INDIAN GOVT. ENCOURAGING THE GOVT. OF SRI LANKA TO CONTINUE THE WAR BY GRANTING OVER 1 MILLION INTEREST FREE LOAN AND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, INCLUDING CLUSTER BOMBS.
Dimuthu, without India, Sri lanka would not have achieved nthing.e war front. This trend has been continuing from the beginning of Sinhalese history. History tells us of several times sinhalese kings have got help from India to settle their internal problems. Sinhalese cannot do anything on their own. Whether it is a minor flood, or JVP uprising or Tamil problem. If Indians mind their own business, Sri Lanka will not even exist!!
Palitha:
I don't like the killings of Tamils by Sinhalese and vice-versa.
No Tamils will. Since you appear to believe these unfortunate things took place only after the LTTE (1983?) and since you appear
interested in knowing the genesis of the crisis please try to get
a copy of Tarzie Vittachi's "Emergency '58" which is a major story of multiple killings of innocent Tamil civilians when there was no LTTE. Smaller numbers of Tamils were killed in the Gal Oya Valley in the early 1950s - the beginning of this dangerous wound. Let me say, as a Tamil none of us condone tit-for-tat killings of Sinhalese at
Arantalawa, A'pura, Colombo CTO/Central bank and other. Remember also in all bombing incidents in Cbo many Tamils perished too.
ISS
Palitha and RK, Thank you for your ignorant comments, because you have acknowledged the fact that "Sinhalese kill Tamil people".
If these killing didn't take place before the LTTE, how do you explain the 1956 riots and the 1977 riots. In 1983, over 3000 Tamils were killed during the riots. All because 13 soldiers were ambushed by the LTTE. What did the tamil people in Colombo has to do with the LTTE ambush in Jaffna?
I was a little boy during the 1983 riots (in Colombo). Our house was not attacked because it was sourround by Muslim homes. I still remember peeping from a hole in the wall to see BUDDHIST MONKS leading thugs, rampaging Tamil houses.
APP
Dear RK,
I am not denying what you are saying about the Tigers.
My logic is this -> Group A kills 100000 of Group B. Group B kills 5000 of Group A. Why is everybody blaming Group B? Independent sources even estimate the number killed in Sri Lanka as 200,000 (of which, I can safely assume that 90% are Tamils) judging by the untold stories about North East that I knew - from Kumudini boat massacre to batticola massacres to chemmani mass grave.
But those who live in the south are continuosly brainwashed by the Government.
Tamils live in the South because they can't live in the North that has been continuosly bombarded since 1985.
In a 1986 aerial bombing a friend died, the followed by a cousin etc. You have no idea how many bombs the SL Government would have dropped in Tamil areas! Look at interesting definition of "Tamil Eelam" in page 47 of the below link
http://www.pagegangster.com/p/2Lweq/
Also have look at the last page...
I knew Krishanthy Kumarasamy as a childhood acquaintance - she was gang raped and killed by SL soldiers. Since she came from a relatively wealthy family....the case became known. Think of all the untold victims?
I have seen the behaviour of SL Army and Indian Army first hand in Jaffna. And during those times, I felt safe with the Tigers. They don't have a reputation for rape!
Dear Palitha,
Tamils were butchered and burnt alive in 1956/58, 1977, 1983 before most Tiger cadres were even born!
If you want to see more videos of the work of the SL Army
http://jananibarathy.wordpress.com/2009/01/26/untold-suffering-in-vanni-when-will-this-misery-end/
Janani
LTTE prevents ICRC & UN from taking 300 patients. Is this the way LTTE helping innocent Sri Lankan Tamil civitlants?
The Sinhalese are the true murderers of Tamil people; that is why the LTTE formed in the first place. So to divert attention and propaganda stating the Sinhalese State is here to help the Tamils is quite frankly a complete lie to keep the Sinhalese agenda hidden. The Sinhalese agenda is this: they want ALL of Sri Lanka for themselves, and to do so means getting rid of SL Tamils.
In the long term, the Sinhalese need to understand that treating the ethnic minorities as equal citizens is a must in any democratic climate. That has NOT been done so far and that is precisely the reason the LTTE formed. The LTTE was formed because we Tamils of Lanka had no other choice.
If you are reading this, understand that the term 'terrorism' is used as propaganda against the LTTE. The Sri Lanka Gov't are the true terrorists, just do your research and you'll see how many thousands of Tamils have been slaughtered by the Sinhalese and you'll realize who the true terrorists are..