Stop Indian military aid to Sri Lanka: Tamil Nadu leaders

India & the Struggle for Tamil Eelam

Stop Indian military aid to Sri Lanka: Tamil Nadu leaders
TamilNet, 13 March 2008

[see also India risks indictment in war crimes, cautions LTTE,
10 March 2008 and Need for Increased Alertness against LTTE
B.Raman, Director, Institute For Topical Studies, Chennai, 13 August 2008 together with Comment by tamilnation.org ]

New Delhi unabashedly rolling the red carpet to Sri Lankan military chief Lt Gen Sarath Fonseka has caused a furore among Tamil Nadu politicians who have urged the Indian Central Government to "stop all military aid to the genocidal government of Sri Lanka." Paddali Makkal Kadchi (PMK, Toilers' Party) founder-leader S Ramadoss and Viduthalai Chiruththaikal Kadchi (VCK, Liberation Panthers Party) President Thol Thirumavalavan accused the Central Government of sabotaging Tamil aspirations on the Sri Lankan issue by lending support to the military-backed genocide of the Eelam Tamils.

In a joint statement issued on Thursday following three-hour consultations on the Sri Lankan issue at a hotel in Chennai, Ramadoss and Thirumavalavan demanded "an immediate halt to all Indian military aid to the Sinhalese chauvinist regime in Sri Lanka which has directed its entire strength in a barbaric manner against the Tamil people". They have also planned to stage a demonstration against the Indian support to Sri Lankan military.

The leaders demanded a referendum among the people of Tamil Nadu about the ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and support to Sri Lankan Tamils.

[R-L] Director Seeman, S Ramadoss, Thol Thirumaavalavan, PMK President GK Mani.

They pointed out that while the people of Tamil Nadu wanted their Tamil-speaking brethren to live in peace in Sri Lanka, the activities of the Indian Government were totally in violation of these expectations. Both the leaders urged an immediate change in New Delhi's external affairs policy and asked the Tamil Nadu Government to lead the Centre in the right direction in order to protect the lives of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka.

Ramadoss said that both the parties would raise this issue in the forthcoming budget session of the Legislative Assembly.

Thirumavalavan pointed out that the Lankan navy was mercilessly killing innocent Indian Tamil fishermen and in order to effectively combat this menace, he urged the Central Government to immediately reclaim Kachchatheevu. The VCK leader also demanded that the Sri Lankan High Commission office should not remain in Tamil Nadu any longer.

The leaders maintained that they were prepared to sacrifice for the sake of this issue and called for the consolidation of all Eelam supporters in Tamil Nadu under an umbrella organization.

Demonstrations have been taking place against the Indian Army's plans to train six high-level officers of the Sri Lanka Army at the Wellingdon Army Training institute near Conoor. On Tuesday, March 11, members of the VCK and the Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (PDK) had staged a protest in Coimbatore condemning the Indian Government's support to Sri Lanka. Several Tamil nationalist organizations and student movements took part in this demonstration which was presided over by PDK General Secretary Kovai Ramakirudinan.

Likewise, on March 8, Dravidar Kazhagam President Veeramani had led an agitation at Chennai urging the Central Government to stop training Sri Lankan armed forces who were unleashing a genocide on the Tamil people in the island nation.

India should not collaborate in genocide of Tamils: Tamil Protection Movement - [TamilNet, Friday, 14 March 2008]

The Tamil Protection Movement (TPM), an umbrella organization consisting of pro-Eelam political parties, NGOs, members of the film fraternity and Tamil associations, condemned the Indian state for extending military support to the genocidal Sri Lankan Government. In a joint statement issued on behalf of the TPM, Paaddaa'li Makka'l Kadchi (PMK, Toilers' Party) founder-leader S Ramadoss and Viduthalai Chi'ruththaika'l Kadchi (VCK, Liberation Panthers Party) President Thol Thirumavalavan, demanded the "Indian Government to radically change its approach and actions in the Sri Lankan Tamils issue" and warned the union government not to be seen as collaborating in Sri Lanka's genocide of Tamils.

Underlining the fact that the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka was an emotive issue for Indian Tamils, the Thamizh Paathukaappu Iyakkam (TPM) pointed out that it was the duty of the Tamil Nadu government to spearhead the movement to bring together the "entire Tamil Nadu people to speak in unison in support of the Tamils of Eelam."

The TPM sought the reclamation of Kachchatheevu in view of the Sri Lanka Navy's attacks on Indian fishermen, and urged the Indian Government "to be cognizant of Sri Lanka's past diplomatic record."

According to informed sources, a TPM demonstration is planned on March 28 with a plethora of demands: to protest against Indian military aid to Sri Lanka; to urge the Indian Government to take back Kachchatheevu from Sri Lanka; to request the Indian Government to modify its external affairs approach in order to safeguard the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils and recognize their struggle for survival, self-determination, and self-defence against state genocide.

Full text of the TamilNet translation of their joint statement:

Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict remains unsolved for the past quarter century. The Tamil people become everyday victims of the cruel face of racism. Sinhala ruling class has denied education and employment to almost four generations of Eelam Tamils, and many are leading unsettled lives as immigrants in foreign countries. The institutions that fight against racial, religious and linguistic discrimination too are staying away from asserting their moral stand on Tamil issue, causing surprise and bitterness to those seeking relief.
In this climate, Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has launched a three-pronged attack on the Tamil people. The SLA and security forces have jettisoned basic ethics of warfare and are dropping bombs on schools, orphanages and residential areas. The international community has condemned these incidents and have threatened to stop aid to Sri Lanka.
The people of Tamil Eelam are a part of the Tamil-speaking world. They have a special place in the heart of Indian Tamils. If any harm befalls them, Tamils in Tamil Nadu will not stay silent; no one can hide this truth.
In recent days, several acts which hurt the sentiments of the Indian Tamils have taken place. The Tamils here expect an amicable solution to the problems of the Sri Lankan Tamils. But, the Indian Government has not lived up to the expectations of our people.
The Sri Lankan Government, which unilaterally withdrew from the Norway mediated Cease Fire Agreement, has been pressing for a military solution to the ethnic crisis, and has unleashed brutal attacks on the Tamil people of Eelam. In this circumstances, Indian Tamils expect India to not support the Sri Lankan Government, but to take initiatives to find a just solution to the problems faced by Eelam Tamils.
Recently, India has given training to the Sri Lankan military, and this has encouraged the Sri Lankan Government to intensify the war on the Tamil people. We urge the Indian Government to stop all military aid to the Sri Lanka.
Unlike in many other conflicts, in Sri Lanka, a group has taken up arms to defend its people from genocide. Sri Lankan state has embarked on a focused effort to crush the struggle and to erase the Tamil people from the map of Sri Lanka. The Indian Government should recognize this and work towards saving the Tamil people. It should not be seen as collaborating in Sri Lanka's genocide of Tamils.
We demand that the Indian Government radically change its approach and actions in the Sri Lankan Tamils issue. We request the Indian Government to modify its strategies in order to safeguard the just rights of the Lankan Tamils. The role of the Tamil Nadu Government in this regard is extremely important.
We wish to point out that in the past, State government has spearheaded several initiatives which brought together entire Tamil Nadu people to speak in unison in support of the Tamils of Eelam. Tamil Nadu government without remaining silent must assert its influence in the Centre and shape its policy towards protecting Tamils in Tamileelam. We also request the people of Tamil Nadu to set aside their individual differences and to unite for this cause.
The belligerence of Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) is not confined to Tamileelam. SLN attacks on the Tamil Nadu fishermen have been escalating at an alarming rate. They abduct our fishermen, they torture them, they arrest them. Our fisher families affected by SLN aggression are undergoing severe hardships. Kachchatheevu which was gifted to Sri Lanka by India, is central to the travails faced by Tamil Nadu fishermen. We urge the Central Government to take steps to take control of Kachchatheevu which traditionally belonged to the Tamil Nadu fishermen.
India should assert its supremacy as a regional super power by confronting any challenge from the Sri Lanka Navy in the Indian ocean and Palk straits. India cannot remain mute.
We would also like to point out that Sri Lanka has never taken a pro-India stance in issues important to India in international arena. The Indian Government, advisors and diplomatic staff must be cognizant of Sri Lanka's past diplomatic record. Past behavior is an accurate predictor of future behavior of the Sri Lanka Government. India can ignore this lesson only at its own peril.

India risks indictment in war crimes, cautions LTTE
[TamilNet, Monday, 10 March 2008, 20:05 GMT]

Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) from its Head Quarters in Vanni on Monday released a statement condemning the Indian 'State welcome' extended to Sri Lanka Army Chief Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka and the statements made by Indian military chiefs in this context.

"The Indian State must take the responsibility for the ethnic genocide of the Tamils that will be carried out by the Sinhala military, re-invigorated by such moves of the Indian State," the statement said. "LTTE wishes to point out to the Indian State that by this historic blunder, it will continue to subject the Eelam Tamils to misery and put them in the dangerous situation of having to face ethnic genocide on a massive scale."

The view expressed by the Indian military chiefs, "India wants to ensure that the Sri Lankan Army maintains its upperhand over the LTTE", just illustrates the efforts of the Indian State to prop up the Sinhala war machine, the LTTE statement said. The Indian State�s move of "propping up the politically-militarily-economically weakened SriLankan State has upset Eelam Tamils."

"We did not leave the ceasefire agreement and we did not start the war. We are only undertaking a defensive war against the war of ethnic genocide of the Sri Lankan State."

"We still have not abandoned the Norway sponsored peace efforts and we are ready to take part in such efforts."

Full text of the LTTE statement follows:
Head Quarters
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Tamil Eelam
10 March 2008

Is the Indian State attempting yet another historic blunder?
The State welcome given by the Indian State to the Sri Lanka military chief Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka, who is heading the Sri Lankan State�s war of ethnic genocide against the Eelam Tamils, has deeply hurt them.
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) strongly condemns the Indian State action of extending a State welcome to the military chief of the Sinhala State which has unilaterally abrogated the ceasefire agreement and has launched widespread military offensives in the Tamil homeland.
The Sri Lankan State is facing many warnings and condemnations for its attempt to seek a military solution and for its enormous human rights violations.
Despite this, the Sinhala State ignores these warnings and condemnations and continues with its abductions, killings, and arrests of Tamils.
The Sinhala State, keen to cover up this truth, is blaming the freedom movement of the Tamils, the LTTE, for the continuation of the war and is seeking assistance from the world for its war of ethnic genocide.
Many of the European countries, understanding this hidden motive of the Sinhala State, have halted all assistance that could support the ethnic genocide of the Tamils.
The Indian State also knows this truth. Yet, while pronouncing that a solution to the Tamil problem must be found through peaceful means, it is giving encouragement to the military approach of the Sinhala State. This can only lead to the intensification of the genocide of the Tamils.
LTTE wishes to point out to the Indian State that by this historic blunder it will continue to subject the Eelam Tamils to misery and put them in the dangerous situation of having to face ethnic genocide on a massive scale. On behalf of the Eelam Tamils, LTTE kindly requests the Tamils of Tamil Nadu to understand this anti-Tamil move of the Indian State and express their condemnation.
We did not leave the ceasefire agreement and we did not start the war. We are only undertaking a defensive war against the war of ethnic genocide of the Sri Lankan State.
We still have not abandoned the Norway sponsored peace efforts and we are ready to take part in such efforts.
In this context, the Indian State�s move of propping up the politically-militarily-economically weakened SriLankan State has upset Eelam Tamils.
The view expressed by the Indian military chiefs, "India wants to ensure that the Sri Lankan Army maintains its upperhand over the LTTE", just illustrates the efforts of the Indian State to prop up the Sinhala war machine.
The Indian State must take the responsibility for the ethnic genocide of the Tamils that will be carried out by the Sinhala military re-invigorated by such moves of the Indian State.