- The sin of silence when they should protest makes cowards of men.
- Abraham Lincoln
No IPR RESTRICTIONS. RAJESH SUNDARAM IS NOT THE COPYRIGHTS HOLDER FOR THESE VIDEOS
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Sri Lankan Army Continues its Air and Heavy Gun Attacks in the NFZ
No IPR RESTRICTIONS. RAJESH SUNDARAM IS NOT THE COPYRIGHTS HOLDER FOR THESE VIDEOS
Sunday, April 26, 2009
It Does Not Take A Majority to Prevail
It does not take a majority to prevail... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.
Samuel Adams
Samuel Adams
Friday, April 24, 2009
The Great Indian Diplomatic Farce
On a day when the UN confirmed that over 6,500 Tamil civilians have died in just the last three months, in the conflict zone of North Sri Lanka, the Indian foreign Office had this gem to offer about the Indian foreign Secretary and NSA's visit to Colombo.
=======================================================
Statement by NSA upon return from Sri Lanka
24/04/2009
Foreign Secretary and I visited Colombo today on the instructions of the Prime Minister. We were received by H.E. the President of Sri Lanka. We conveyed the concerns of the Government of India on the evolving situation in Northern Sri Lanka, especially at the casualties caused among Tamil civilians as a result of ongoing operations. We also expressed the Government of India’s concerns about the humanitarian situation as a result of nearly hundred thousand Tamil civilians coming out of the conflict zone since early this week. The President of Sri Lanka was receptive to our concerns. We are hopeful of a positive outcome.
New DelhiApril 24, 2009
Another self-immolation in Tamil Nadu
I begin todays post with some tragic news. A 35 year old Tamil man who set himself ablaze in Tirupur earlyThursday evening, to protest against the killing of Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka and calling for an immediate ceasefire on the Island nation.
Subramani was rushed to a hospital in Tirupur with over 70 percent burns. He succumbed to his injuries in a matter of hours.
In a very political suicide note Subramani, a self confessed AIADMK supporter reportedly said that he was not happy with the DMK's handling of the Sri Lankan Tamil issue.
He is the 15th person to commit self-immolation in the state over the last few months.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
INDIA'S SHAMELESS SILENCE
It has been months of the military offensive in Sri Lanka, the Tamil Tigers have lost almost all the territory they held...down we are told to the last handful of fighters.
The Military operation has seen thousands of soldiers die, thousands of rebel fighters are reported dead too.
However, the most distressing aspect of the ongoing military action is the killing and wounding of thousands of Tamil civilians who are stranded in the rebel held areas.
The UN estimates that 4500 civilians have dies in just the last three months, over 12,000 have been injured...the numbers are growing at an alarming rate every day. Yet the international community and more so India are silent.
The Indian foreign minister called for an extended ceasefire and said civilian casualties in the "so called no-fire zone" are "unacceptable."
But even as the Sri Lankan army ignores this appeal and goes in for a final assault into a 7 sq kilometer area filled with at least 50,000 civilians...the Indian government is shamelessly silent. A silence that has emboldened the Sri Lankan government and given legitimacy to its actions.
Governments of the UK, USA, Australia and Canada seem to be doing more...a shame again considering that India is home to over 6.6 crore Tamils.
A shame considering that Tamils hold key positions in the current Congress led government in the center.
Even the prospect of a crushing defeat in the upcoming polls does not seem to sway them into action.
Human Rights groups have called the reckless military action a war crime. When the facts of these dark days come to light India will regret its inaction.
This is the time for India to rise above petty considerations of diplomacy and strategic interest. This is the time for India to stand up and be heard.
Time for it to force a stop to the mindless killing of thousands of Tamil men, women and children
Time for India to tell President Rajapakse that the first priority for any responsible government should be towards its citizens.
A delay in its military offensive against the LTTE by a few weeks will cost much less than the killing of hundreds of its own Tamil civilians.
Any military offensive should start only after all Tamil civilians in the area are evacuated to safety.
The Sri Lankan government says it wants to push ahead with its final assault on the Tamil tigers despite the apparent human cost. It says it will ensure that there are no civilian casualty.
But can the world trust the Sri Lankan army ? 4500 civilians have died already in just the last three months, despite assurances that civilian casualties will be kept at a minimum.
The army blames the LTTE for civilian death, they say the rebels are firing at and killing fleeing civilians. They allege the rebels are using suicide bombers to scare civilians into staying on in territory held by them...for use as human shields.
The rebels deny any hand in the death of civilians...but can a state absolve itself of the responsibility it has towards the safety of its civilians in a conflict zone.
India's silence is a direct signal to the Sri Lankan government to push ahead with the carnage. History will never forgive India for its silence at this crucial hour, too many precious lives have been lost already.
The Military operation has seen thousands of soldiers die, thousands of rebel fighters are reported dead too.
However, the most distressing aspect of the ongoing military action is the killing and wounding of thousands of Tamil civilians who are stranded in the rebel held areas.
The UN estimates that 4500 civilians have dies in just the last three months, over 12,000 have been injured...the numbers are growing at an alarming rate every day. Yet the international community and more so India are silent.
The Indian foreign minister called for an extended ceasefire and said civilian casualties in the "so called no-fire zone" are "unacceptable."
But even as the Sri Lankan army ignores this appeal and goes in for a final assault into a 7 sq kilometer area filled with at least 50,000 civilians...the Indian government is shamelessly silent. A silence that has emboldened the Sri Lankan government and given legitimacy to its actions.
Governments of the UK, USA, Australia and Canada seem to be doing more...a shame again considering that India is home to over 6.6 crore Tamils.
A shame considering that Tamils hold key positions in the current Congress led government in the center.
Even the prospect of a crushing defeat in the upcoming polls does not seem to sway them into action.
Human Rights groups have called the reckless military action a war crime. When the facts of these dark days come to light India will regret its inaction.
This is the time for India to rise above petty considerations of diplomacy and strategic interest. This is the time for India to stand up and be heard.
Time for it to force a stop to the mindless killing of thousands of Tamil men, women and children
Time for India to tell President Rajapakse that the first priority for any responsible government should be towards its citizens.
A delay in its military offensive against the LTTE by a few weeks will cost much less than the killing of hundreds of its own Tamil civilians.
Any military offensive should start only after all Tamil civilians in the area are evacuated to safety.
The Sri Lankan government says it wants to push ahead with its final assault on the Tamil tigers despite the apparent human cost. It says it will ensure that there are no civilian casualty.
But can the world trust the Sri Lankan army ? 4500 civilians have died already in just the last three months, despite assurances that civilian casualties will be kept at a minimum.
The army blames the LTTE for civilian death, they say the rebels are firing at and killing fleeing civilians. They allege the rebels are using suicide bombers to scare civilians into staying on in territory held by them...for use as human shields.
The rebels deny any hand in the death of civilians...but can a state absolve itself of the responsibility it has towards the safety of its civilians in a conflict zone.
India's silence is a direct signal to the Sri Lankan government to push ahead with the carnage. History will never forgive India for its silence at this crucial hour, too many precious lives have been lost already.
Sunday, April 19, 2009
The UN and India must act NOW, to save Tamil Civilians in the Vanni
WAKE UP UNITED NATIONS, INDIA AND TAMIL NADU
These are some distressing videos from the so called " No Fire Zone" in the rebel held areas of the Mullaithivu district of north east Sri Lanka.
Women, children and men battling for their lives in an open air, make shift, fly infested medical facility.
Medicines...even bandages, food and water are in desperate short supply.
The UN says over 4,500 Tamil civilians have dies so far this year ( Over 900 of these are children), and over 9000 have been injured. The numbers of dead and injured are creeping up by the dozen every day.
Weeping mothers, traumatised children and men with an expression of helplessness on their faces.
Should the UN and India just keep quite when it is told that the Sri Lankan government can't consider an extended ceasefire at this time ?
Is the fear of the decimated LTTE regrouping so overwhelming that the lives of Tamil civilians should be put to risk ?
Is it really fair to allow the Sri Lankan army and the rebels to gamble away the lives of over 1,00,000 Tamil civilians ?
Is this not genocide, regardless of who is to blame ?
Should the International media not be doing more to pressure the Sri Lankan government to ease curbs on international journalists visiting the so called "No Fire Zone" ?
Should the UN not take immediate charge of the so called " No Fire Zone" ?
Should the politicians in Tamil Nadu not stand united for this cause and pressure the Union government to snap diplomatic ties with Sri Lanka if it does not end hostilities ?
Should the Indian mainstream media not do more to bring this issue to focus ?
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Eelam Politics in Tamil Nadu
The Sad story of Sivanandan
Even as I write this post 48 year old Sivanandan from Karur is battling for his life at the burns ward of the Kilpauk Hospital in Chennai. He has suffered 70 percent burns and doctors say chances of his survival are not very bright.
He was reportedly upset at the the worsening condition of the thousands of Tamil civilians in the conflict ridden North eastern coastal district of Mullaithivu in Sri Lanka.
He reportedly shouted slogans protesting the worsening humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka and the killing of thousands of innocent civilians there before setting himself ablaze.
He is the 14th person in the state to attempt self immolation in the last few months.
The helpless angst in Tamil Nadu
It is reported that over 3500 Tamil civilians have dies and nearly three times the number injured in just the last four months in conflict hit areas of North Sri Lanka. Dozens continue to die and suffer injuries every day.
Food, drinking water and medicines are reportedly in short supply and so are trained doctors and support staff.
It is reported that Children are dying of undernourishment , dead bodies pile up on the road side after each air raid and round of mortar/ artillery shelling.
Independent journalists are not allowed free access to the conflict zone by either side.
The Sri Lankan government blames the Tamil Tiger Rebels for the plight of the civilians, accusing them of holding the civilians as "human shields" and firing at civilians fleeing areas under their control. They promising to "liberate" the civilians and wipe out the last remaining rebel fighters.
The rebels blame the army fire for the civilian deaths. They say the civilians are staying put in areas held by them out of choice...because of fear that they will be beaten and tortured if they fall in Sri Lankan army hands.
And as the two sides dig in for the "final battle" more and more civilians are dying each day.
The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, made an official trip to the fallen rebel capital of Killinochi this week. He seemed in no mood to stop his war against the rebels...regardless of the high costs.
Election season in India
All this comes bang in the middle of election season in India.
Tamil Nadu's 6.6 crore Tamils have a deep cultural and historic relationship with the much smaller Tamil community in Sri Lanka. The number of Tamil civilians trapped in the conflict zone is variously estimated between 80,000 and 3,50000.
It is no wonder then that this has become an emotive pre-poll issue. Hundreds have turned up for rallies across the state calling for an end to the war in Sri Lanka and relief for the trapped civilians.
Every political party wants to milk the sentiment.
The ruling DMK led Democratic Progressive Alliance has been accused by the opposition AIADMK led alliance of not doing much to force the central government to end the war in Sri Lanka.
The DMK is a key ally of the Federal government. It's support is crucial for survival of the UPA government at the center.
The opposition says the DMK could have done more to influence and change India's Sri Lankan policy and end the war and suffering of Tamil civilians on the island nation.
The Dynamics of Change
In a surprise move the AIADMK, at one time a bitter critic of the LTTE, has in its manifesto said that Eelam, or a separate state for Tamils in Sri Lanka was inevitable if their genuine aspirations of the Tamil people were not met and if they were not treated with dignity and honour.
This is seen as a radical shift in its stand. Some experts say the party has calibrated its policy in keeping with popular sentiment in the state ahead of the elections. They say allies like MDMK's Vaiko and PMK's Dr Ramadoss have played a big role in bringing about this change.
Vaiko is perhaps the only Tamil politician to have been consistently committed to the Eelam cause over the last two decades. He has even been jailed on many occasions for his support to the Tamil Tiger rebels, a banned organisation in India.
The AIADMK hopes to play a big role in the formation of the next government in New Delhi. The change in its stance at this point is very significant.
The writing on the wall for the DMK is clear.
It has failed to get any significant tangible benefits or relief for the suffering Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka and has failed to convince the central government to cajole the Sri Lankan government to halt the war.
The only option with the DMK government now is to shift the blame on to the Union government.
The wily DMK chief M Karunanidhi has sent the Indian prime minister a late night telegram, asking him to snap diplomatic ties with Sri Lankan if it does not immediately agree to a permanent ceasefire.
Ahead of the elections, the Congress finds itself between a rock and a hard place.
Too Little, Too Late
Karunanidhi's desperate telegram comes just hours after Indian foreign minister Pranab Mukharjee took time out of his hectic election campaign to issue India's toughest statement yet on the issue.
Observers say the timing of the statement is significant. The language used in the statement unlike the ones issued in the past is not guarded and nuanced.
It has clear political undertones and is largely seen as a statement issued to minimise damage for the congress and its allies in the upcoming general elections.
'The Government of Sri Lanka must extend this pause in hostilities to prevent further casualties and enable trapped civilians to leave the area to secure locations. Continuation of precipitate military actions leading to further civilian casualties at this time would be totally unacceptable. While it is incumbent on the LTTE to release all civilians and IDPs under their control, the Government of Sri Lanka cannot be oblivious to the evolving human tragedy and the fate of the Tamil civilian population caught up in the so-called No Fire Zone. There is no reason not to continue with the pause in military actions in the NFZ."
The Sri Lankan government has not responded to the statement so far and is unlikely to end hostilities. Ahead of the polls this leaves the DMK led government in Tamil Nadu particularly vulnerable.
The Indian government can do little to walk its talk on the issue. It is unlikely to heed Karunanidhi's advise to snap diplomatic ties with Sri Lanka.
And as for the civilians in the Vanni, India's latest statement may have come a little too late in the day...and it is also perhaps too little to bring any tangible relief.
Even as I write this post 48 year old Sivanandan from Karur is battling for his life at the burns ward of the Kilpauk Hospital in Chennai. He has suffered 70 percent burns and doctors say chances of his survival are not very bright.
He was reportedly upset at the the worsening condition of the thousands of Tamil civilians in the conflict ridden North eastern coastal district of Mullaithivu in Sri Lanka.
He reportedly shouted slogans protesting the worsening humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka and the killing of thousands of innocent civilians there before setting himself ablaze.
He is the 14th person in the state to attempt self immolation in the last few months.
The helpless angst in Tamil Nadu
It is reported that over 3500 Tamil civilians have dies and nearly three times the number injured in just the last four months in conflict hit areas of North Sri Lanka. Dozens continue to die and suffer injuries every day.
Food, drinking water and medicines are reportedly in short supply and so are trained doctors and support staff.
It is reported that Children are dying of undernourishment , dead bodies pile up on the road side after each air raid and round of mortar/ artillery shelling.
Independent journalists are not allowed free access to the conflict zone by either side.
The Sri Lankan government blames the Tamil Tiger Rebels for the plight of the civilians, accusing them of holding the civilians as "human shields" and firing at civilians fleeing areas under their control. They promising to "liberate" the civilians and wipe out the last remaining rebel fighters.
The rebels blame the army fire for the civilian deaths. They say the civilians are staying put in areas held by them out of choice...because of fear that they will be beaten and tortured if they fall in Sri Lankan army hands.
And as the two sides dig in for the "final battle" more and more civilians are dying each day.
The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse, made an official trip to the fallen rebel capital of Killinochi this week. He seemed in no mood to stop his war against the rebels...regardless of the high costs.
Election season in India
All this comes bang in the middle of election season in India.
Tamil Nadu's 6.6 crore Tamils have a deep cultural and historic relationship with the much smaller Tamil community in Sri Lanka. The number of Tamil civilians trapped in the conflict zone is variously estimated between 80,000 and 3,50000.
It is no wonder then that this has become an emotive pre-poll issue. Hundreds have turned up for rallies across the state calling for an end to the war in Sri Lanka and relief for the trapped civilians.
Every political party wants to milk the sentiment.
The ruling DMK led Democratic Progressive Alliance has been accused by the opposition AIADMK led alliance of not doing much to force the central government to end the war in Sri Lanka.
The DMK is a key ally of the Federal government. It's support is crucial for survival of the UPA government at the center.
The opposition says the DMK could have done more to influence and change India's Sri Lankan policy and end the war and suffering of Tamil civilians on the island nation.
The Dynamics of Change
In a surprise move the AIADMK, at one time a bitter critic of the LTTE, has in its manifesto said that Eelam, or a separate state for Tamils in Sri Lanka was inevitable if their genuine aspirations of the Tamil people were not met and if they were not treated with dignity and honour.
This is seen as a radical shift in its stand. Some experts say the party has calibrated its policy in keeping with popular sentiment in the state ahead of the elections. They say allies like MDMK's Vaiko and PMK's Dr Ramadoss have played a big role in bringing about this change.
Vaiko is perhaps the only Tamil politician to have been consistently committed to the Eelam cause over the last two decades. He has even been jailed on many occasions for his support to the Tamil Tiger rebels, a banned organisation in India.
The AIADMK hopes to play a big role in the formation of the next government in New Delhi. The change in its stance at this point is very significant.
The writing on the wall for the DMK is clear.
It has failed to get any significant tangible benefits or relief for the suffering Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka and has failed to convince the central government to cajole the Sri Lankan government to halt the war.
The only option with the DMK government now is to shift the blame on to the Union government.
The wily DMK chief M Karunanidhi has sent the Indian prime minister a late night telegram, asking him to snap diplomatic ties with Sri Lankan if it does not immediately agree to a permanent ceasefire.
Ahead of the elections, the Congress finds itself between a rock and a hard place.
Too Little, Too Late
Karunanidhi's desperate telegram comes just hours after Indian foreign minister Pranab Mukharjee took time out of his hectic election campaign to issue India's toughest statement yet on the issue.
Observers say the timing of the statement is significant. The language used in the statement unlike the ones issued in the past is not guarded and nuanced.
It has clear political undertones and is largely seen as a statement issued to minimise damage for the congress and its allies in the upcoming general elections.
The Sri Lankan government has not responded to the statement so far and is unlikely to end hostilities. Ahead of the polls this leaves the DMK led government in Tamil Nadu particularly vulnerable.
The Indian government can do little to walk its talk on the issue. It is unlikely to heed Karunanidhi's advise to snap diplomatic ties with Sri Lanka.
And as for the civilians in the Vanni, India's latest statement may have come a little too late in the day...and it is also perhaps too little to bring any tangible relief.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
