The UN peacekeepers’ capacity to commit rape with impunity undermines prospects for sustainable peace around the world. by Nimmi Gowrinathan & Kate Cronin-Furman, Al Jazeera, May 2, 2017 In 2007, more than 100 Sri Lankan peacekeeping troops were sent back to their home country from Haiti in disgrace as a result of sexual abuse allegations,… Read more »
Posts Categorized: Diaspora
European Union, GSP+ and Sri Lanka
Promoting or Demoting Human Rights? by Kumarathasan Rasingam, May 7, 2017 The European Parliament in its session on 26th April, 2017 has voted in favour of Sri Lanka rejecting a motion tabled by 52 European Union members to deny the additional tariff concessions approximately 66% on several products including textiles and fisheries imported by European… Read more »
Sri Lanka’s Crumbling Credibility
By: Kumarathasan Rasingam, April 29, 2017 — The credibility of Sri Lanka in relation to the settlement of the 60 year old ethnic problem of Tamils can be judged from the fate of several pacts, agreements and undertakings which were made from 1956 to 2009 and the Sri Lankan Governments unwillingness to comply with the… Read more »
‘The Tamil Nadu factor’
Demanding justice for genocide in Sri Lanka by Ana Pararajasingham, ‘Open Democracy,’ April 13, 2017 From politicians to protestors, the people of Tamil Nadu are making waves in Indian politics, rallying around the need for justice for the war crimes committed against Sri Lanka’s Tamils. Protests began in Tamil Nadu in January 2017 against the… Read more »
Is There a Future for the Tamils?
by M.K. Eelaventhan, April 4, 2017 Is there a future for the Tamils? It is a difficult and problematical question to answer. This question is not a question of today. This has been haunting the Tamils for a long period. Poet Bharathi was vexed over somebody saying that Tamil will gradually die. He added by… Read more »
No Time to Spare
Tamil Community Calls for Concrete Action on Accountability, Reconciliation and End to Human Rights Abuses in Sri Lanka by British Tamil Forum, US Tamil Political Action Council, Canadian Tamil Congress, March 23, 2017 Press Release on HRC 34 Resolution on SriLanka_USTPAC_BTF_CTC_170323 A FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: No Time to Spare: Tamil Community Calls for Concrete… Read more »
Members of President’s Commission on Asian Americans Resign
by Jesse J. Holland for AP in The Washington Post, February 16, 2017 WASHINGTON — Ten members of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have resigned to protest the Trump administration’s policies and positions on repealing the Affordable Care Act, building a wall between the United States and Mexico and punishing… Read more »
Sri Lanka & March 2017 UNHRC Session
Will Justice for Tamils be Delayed for Denial? by Thambu Kanagasabai, LLM, February 11, 2017 The UNHRC’S session in March 2017 is going to be crucial for the Tamils concerning the following matters:- 1. Fate of its Resolution passed on October 01, 2015 sponsored and endorsed by USA & Sri Lanka. 2. Sri Lanka’s track… Read more »
Governance On The “Advice Of The Mahasangha”
by H.L. Seveviratne, ‘Colombo Telegraph,’ January 30, 2016 Prof. H.L. Seneviratne We frequently hear politicians declaring that they will follow the steps of the ancient kings who always ruled according to the advice of the Mahasangha. This is a vague generalization that has no historical or scientific validity. When we look at our history we… Read more »
TNA’s Directionless and Docile Leadership
The simple and stark truth is that the issues of Tamils will continue to be dragged on due to political compulsions and necessity of the ruling Government or any Government, exploiting the opposition of monks to their advantage. by M.K. Eelaventhan, February 7, 2017 Tamil National Alliance – composing EPRLF, TELO, Ilankai Thamil Arasu… Read more »
GTF Calls on the SLG to Implement Recommendations of the CTF
by Global Tamil Forum, January 11, 2017 PRESS STATEMENT 11 January 2017, London Global Tamil Forum calls on the Sri Lankan Government to faithfully implement the recommendations of the Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) welcomes the recommendations of the Consultation Task Force on Reconciliation Mechanisms (CTF) released on January… Read more »
How To Enjoy Your Vacation To A Country
By Gowri Koneswaran, Split this Rock, Washington, DC, December 14, 2016 ★ While planning your journey, accept that ethics are not included in the price of your ticket; ★ Tell yourself your currency is helping the country; ★ Do not question government control of the tourism industry; ★ When researching… Read more »
Remembering and Rebuilding
by Tamil Guardian, London, November 27, 2016 Today, Tamils across the globe will collectively light candles, lay flowers and bow heads in memory of those who gave their lives resisting state oppression. Marking the legacy of these heroes has become an integral moment of solidarity for the entire nation. In the Tamil homeland, commemorations have… Read more »
Jayalalitha Tribute
by M.K. Eelaventhan, Toronto, December 7, 2016 Jayalalitha, the voice of the voiceless Eelam Tamils, have been prematurely muted. We feel politically orphaned, but her name is etched deeply in the hearts of Eelam Tamils. The untimely demise of Jayalalitha, the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu at age 68 is an irrepairable loss not only to… Read more »
US Supreme Court Weighs Jailed Immigrants’ Right to Periodic Hearings
by Adam Liptak, ‘The New York Times,’ November 30, 2016 WASHINGTON — With the nation on the cusp of a more assertive immigration policy under the administration of President-elect Donald J. Trump, the Supreme Court on Wednesday considered the rights of people held in immigration detention. Their numbers are likely to swell if Mr. Trump… Read more »
On the Death of Dr. Winston Panchacharam
by M.K Eelaventhan, November 20, 2016 On the death of Dr Winston Panchacharam, MD President, International Tamil Center USA We have lost a devoted ardent Nationalist and Activist Dr Winston Panchacharam who spent most of his life in Nanuet, New York, USA, expired on 19.11. 2016 in Florida at the age of seventy-seven peacefully… Read more »
Business Is As Usual
by Thambu Kanagasabai LLM [Lond.], November 14, 2016 Former Lecturer in Law University of Colombo With the support of 6.2 millions, the present Sri Lankan Government swept into victories at the both Presidential and general elections on the slogan of ‘Good Governance’ to remove the ‘Bad Governance’ of former President Mahinda Rajapaksha who was hailed… Read more »
Call for Autonomous Unit in North-East Renewed
By Shamindra Ferdinando, ‘The Island,’ Colombo, November 6, 2016 The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) on behalf of the Sri Lankan Tamils resident overseas has called for the creation of an ‘Autonomous Tamil Region’ (ATR) in a re-merged Northern and Eastern Province to address their grievances. The two provinces comprise eight administrative districts. The GTF has… Read more »
Erasing the Past: Memorialization
by People for Equality and Relief in Lanka, November 2, 2016 Erasing the Past: New Report Documents Repression of Memorialization in North-East Sri Lanka PEARL’s latest report examines government obstruction of memorialization among Tamils in the North-East (Washington, DC; November 1, 2016) PEARL’s new report, “Erasing the Past: Repression of Memorialization in North-East Sri Lanka,” documents… Read more »
Sri Lanka Confirms Existence of Illegal Torture Cells
by Kasun Yapa Karunaratne, Journalists for a Democratic Society, Europe, November 1, 2016 In a damning report to the UN, Sri Lanka’s top human rights body has confirmed that the country’s police force maintain secret detention centers as exposed by local and international rights activists. The much feared Terrorist Investigation Department (TID) runs these illegal… Read more »