An attempt to ward off international pressure? Clandestine meeting between Buddhist monks and Shiv Sena in Kurunthurmalai

by Ephraim
Jan 18, 2024

A private meeting was held at Kurunthurmalai, involving members of the illegally constructed Buddhist vihara and alleged members of Shiv Sena, in what locals fear may be an attempt to ward off international condemnation of Sinhalisation in the Tamil homeland.

The discussion, purportedly centred on “ethnic and religious harmony”, also touched upon the contentious issue of the Buddhist temple illegally constructed in the Kurunthurmalai archaeological site.

Situated in the Thannimurippu area of the Mullaitivu district, the unauthorized Buddhist vihara has been a source of tension since 2018, sparking protests from local Tamils in the region.

Galgamuwa Shantha Bodhi, the head monk who spearheaded the construction of the illegal vihara with Sri Lankan military support, has persistently defied court orders. Despite international discussions and legal battles, the construction continued and was fuelled by military backing and support from members of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) party.

The situation escalated when Judge T Saravanaraja, overseeing legal cases related to the vihara’s unlawful construction, fled the island due to death threats.

Read more:

MP Weerasekara lashes out at Mullaitivu judge

Mullaitivu District Judge flees country amidst death threats

Since then, Siyambalagaswewa Wimalasara has been appointed as the Chief Sanganayaka of Northern & Eastern Provinces, and reportedly led the secretive discussion.

An attendee who wished to remain anonymous spoke to Tamil Guardian, and expressed skepticism over whether this meeting would resolve the ongoing issues in the region. Instead, they suggested the meeting may be used an attempt to convey the impression that the Sri Lankan government is actively addressing the vihara dispute. The move comes as Sri Lanka faces ongoing international scrutiny in the run up to UN Human Rights Council sessions in Geneva, the attendee added.

They also noted potential concerns that the Sri Lankan government might co-opt Shiv Sena members into accepting the presence of the vihara and attempt to smear Tamil activists who have been highlighting the issue of Sinhalisation in the region.

Read more on the issue below:

Tamils protest ongoing illegal construction of Buddhist shrine at Kurunthurmalai

Sinhala mob attempts to block Pongal celebrations in Mullaitivu

Sinhala Buddhist monks disrupt Tamil Pongal worship at Kurunthurmalai yet again

Contempt of Court in Kurunthurmalai incident: Archaeological Department official held accountable

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Tamil asylum seekers in Australia mark 100 days of continuous protests for permanent visas

Over 200 refugees and supporters marked a significant milestone by marching 10 kilometers from Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s office to the Immigration Minister’s office this week, commemorating 100 days of continuous protest.

This demonstration, which culminated in a rally and speeches in Punchbowl, highlighted the plight of refugees denied permanent visas for over 12 years. Speakers at the event shed light on the profound impact of the current system, including barriers to higher education, employment, and access to essential services.

The protest has now entered its 100th day, with Tamil asylum seekers and their supporters continuing their relentless demand for permanent protection. For 38 days, they camped outside Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke’s office in Sydney, calling on the government to end the visa limbo that has left many without basic rights and stability. Tamil asylum seekers have been in Australia for over a decade, living on short-term visas that must be renewed regularly. Without permanent residency, they are excluded from Medicare—Australia’s universal health insurance scheme—and are denied the right to work, study, travel, or access essential services. Many are also required to report to visa offices weekly.

The crisis is compounded by the controversial 'Fast Track' system introduced in 2014 by the Abbott government. According to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, this system has resulted in the rejection of around 8,500 asylum seekers' cases. It specifically targets individuals who sought asylum by sea and arrived in Australia between August 13, 2012, and December 31, 2013. Tamil asylum seekers, stuck in visa limbo for years, have launched protests nationwide, with 24-hour encampments in Melbourne, Perth, and Brisbane.

Amaran - Problematic propaganda

amaran

The genre of war epic makes its grand re-entry to Tamil cinema with director Rajkumar Periasamy’s sophomore feature film, ‘Amaran.’ As is often the case with this genre, one cannot help but feel the events of the ‘true story’ onscreen have been heavily modified for easy consumption.

 

 

 

The patriotic military films of Tamil cinema had taken a back seat for a while. The subject matter is now seldom a prominent theme of a film, instead lurking in the shadows peeking through such as via the heroes in the works of Nelson Dilipkumar. The genre of war epic makes its grand re-entry to Tamil cinema with director Rajkumar Periasamy’s sophomore feature film, ‘Amaran.’ As is often the case with this genre, one cannot help but feel the events of the ‘true story’ onscreen have been heavily modified for easy consumption.

The film follows the tale of Major Mukund Varadarajan (Sivakarthikeyan) and his partner Indhu Rebecca Varghese (Sai Pallavi), who meet at college and soon become lovers. Indhu grapples with her lover’s life ambition of becoming a soldier for the Indian army, admiring his courage and more than willing to become his doting wife at home. We then watch as Mukund is stationed in Kashmir and follow along with his various missions in the volatile area. The film’s depiction of the Indian army is one solely made up of heroes rescuing civilians and looking out for the public’s interests. It is not necessary to delve too much into why this is an oversimplified and problematic portrayal.

The central performances by Sivakarthikeyan and Sai Pallavi carry the almost three hour film adequately. Despite moments where Sivakarthikeyan lacks the intensity to land highly emotional scenes, the pair deftly share the screen between them, with Pallavi picking up any slack. Another notable performance comes from Geetha Kailasam, a character actor who has featured in many films recently in the role of ‘the mother.’ ‘Amaran’ gives her another opportunity to showcase her own humorous brand of motherhood.

Technically, the film runs smoothly. The film is decently shot and edited. Other than a few overly melodramatic moments, the screenplay is solid, albeit a little superficial. GV Prakash Kumar continues his trend of matching the quality of the film with the quality of his music. The track ‘Hey Minnale’ is an earworm, but the rest of the score and soundtrack does not shine through.

Overall, ‘Amaran’ is a straightforward piece of propaganda. A shot in ‘Amaran’ depicts a soldier of the Indian army blocking a closing door with his rifle. On the other side of the door is a Kashmiri child. To appease the child, the soldier sneaks a chocolate bar through the gap in the doorway. The reverse of this tactic is what director Rajkumar Periasamy employs to hook his audience in: the sweetness of the Penelope-Odysseus relationship between Mukund and Indhu hides the intrusion of the weapon of jingoist ideology. 

Krishna's rating: 2.5 stars

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Official trailer for film below.

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