Following the capture of Kilinochchi and Elephant Pass Sri Lankan defence establishment started psychological operations targeting the Tamil Diaspora spread across the globe, according to informed sources.
But the result has been the opposite of what the Sri Lankan government hoped, with an increasing number of Tamils taking to the streets in support of the liberation struggle and those dying in the Tamil homelands.
Expecting the Tamil Diaspora to be demoralised by the Sri Lankan military’s territorial gains, and in an attempt to further demoralise the Tamils living in North America, Europe and Australia, the Sri Lankan military has been portraying a bleak picture of the fortunes of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam’s (LTTE).
Whilst political leaders and the military chiefs are claiming the end of LTTE and projecting total victory within weeks, the defence establishment has been leaking stories of disarray, defection and discontent within LTTE ranks, hoping these messages would alienate the Tamil Diaspora and the LTTE, say informed sources.
Sri Lankan military spread rumours include LTTE leader Velupillai Puirapaharan escaping Mullaitheevu, LTTE Commanders Bhanu and Theepan defecting and LTTE Intelligence wing head Pottu Amman being imprisoned by the LTTE.
However, Tamil sources say that Sri Lanka efforts have not had the anticipated impact on the Tamil Diaspora.
Instead of being demoralised by false stories being propagated by Sri Lanka, Tamil communities across the globe are actively engaged in highlighting the plight of fellow Tamils in Sri Lanka.
They have also stepped up shows of solidarity with the liberation struggle through protests and vigils, with younger Tamils at the forefront of organising events.
In London, more than 9000 Tamils gathered in front of the Prime Minister’s residence on January 17, urging British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to exert pressure on the governments of Sri Lanka and India to call for an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka.
‘Stop the war!’, ‘Stop Tamil genocide!’, ‘Mahinda! Stop the war!’ and ‘We want Tamil Eelam!’ were some of the slogans shouted during the protest, along with the beat of drums.
"The worsening humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Vanni where Tamil civilians are pounded with indiscriminate artillery barrage and aerial strikes killing even infants and children has energized the Tamil Youths in UK to rise in protest," protestors said.
This was the third of a series of events organised by the the Tamil Youth Organization (TYO) in United Kingdom as part of an ‘Awareness Campaign’.
The protesters said they hoped the campaign would grow into force that will bring British Tamils to act in unison to find a just and honourable solution to the Tamil struggle.
In a similar series of events, nearly 300 Norwegian Tamils, along with Norwegian Members of Parliament and political leaders, gathered in the premises of the Norway Parliament on January 16, appealing to the Norwegian government to save Tamils in the Vanni.
The demonstrators urged Norway and the International Community to immediately act to bring about a ceasefire in Sri Lanka.
Separately, on January 20, around 400 Norwegian Tamils gathered in front of United States Embassy in Oslo, urging the U.S. Government to help stop the genocidal war on the Tamils in Vanni in Sri Lanka.
They also urged the US to exert pressure on the Sri Lanka government to bring about an immediate cease fire. A memorandum submitted by the demonstrators was accepted by a representative of the American Embassy.
‘Bring about a ceasefire in Sri Lanka!’, ‘Urge the Lankan govt. to stop the genocide!’, ‘Help us Obama!’. ‘Work for paradigm shift in Sri Lanka!’, ‘Focus on Tamils’ plights!’, ‘Act promptly!’ and ‘End Tamils’ sufferings!’ were the slogans the participants kept shouting throughout the demonstration, which was timed to coincide with the swearing in of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States
Meanwhile, in Sydney, the TYO there organised a token fast in support of those starving in the Vanni, and to highlight the facts of occurrences in the Vanni for the local population.
