It is clear that domestic mechanisms have failed – British MPs demand Tamil genocide recognition and sanctions

by Viruben
Sep 23, 2022

Amidst the ongoing 51st session of the UN Human Rights Council session, leader of the British Liberal Democrats, Ed Davey, and MP for Richmond Park, Sarah Olney have written to newly appointed Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, stressing the failures of Sri Lanka’s domestic institutions to deliver on accountability; the need to recognise the Tamil genocide; and, the need for sanctions on senior Sri Lankan officials implicated in war crimes.

“It is clear that domestic mechanisms for accountability in Sri Lanka have eroded and failed over the past few years. We are concerned that the Sri Lankan government will only continue as it has – to deny, to delay, and to evade,” write the MPs.

It follows a damning report by the former UN High Commissioner for human rights which highlighted the active reversal of progress with the pardoning of alleged war criminals and promotion of those implicated in serious human rights abuses to the government posts. The latest draft resolution by the UN Human Rights Council recognising this failing but calls for the “effective and independent” function of domestic institutions such as the Office of Missing Persons (OMP).

Read more here: ‘The OMP is an inactive mechanism’ - Tamil families of the disappeared speak to Tamil Guardian at the UNHRC

The MPs go on to stress the need to deliver on accountability stating:

“It is vitally important that you make clear to President Wickremesinghe that those who committed war crimes must be properly investigated and held to account for what they have done”.

“Where there is evidence that atrocities have been committed by an individual, it is vital that the UK Government takes action, including the use of Magnitsky sanctions”, they add.

The British government has routinely faced criticism over its failure to heed the recommendation of the UN High Commissioner and has yet to impose any sanctions on Sri Lankan official implicated in war crimes or human rights abuses.

The letter further calls for the recognition of the Tamil genocide, a step which the Canadian parliament and the Italian city of Palermo has already taken.

The letter also notes that the MPs are “deeply disappointed in the leadership of new President Ranil Wickremesinghe”. Since his appointment, Wickremesinghe has led a brutal crackdown on peaceful demonstrators and utilised Sri Lanka’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) to silence government dissidents.

Read the full letter here.

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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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