Photograph TamilNet

Tamil diaspora organisations have been voicing shock at the death of French TCC (Tamil Coordination Committee) co-ordinator and ex-LTTE commander, Colonel Parithi, who was shot dead in Paris on Thursday night.

50-year-old Nadarajah Mathinthiran, more commonly known by his noms de guerre Reagan and later Parithi, left the LTTE in the early 90s and took responsibility for mobilising the French Tamil diaspora in the early 2000s. Mathinthiran had been targeted in police crackdowns on LTTE fundraising activities in 2007 and had served a three year prison term until 2010.

Expressing outrage, TCC’s UK branch who accuse Sri Lanka of perpetrating the assassination, said in a statement:

“[Sri Lanka’s] genocidal program is now being calculated directly into the Tamil diaspora.”

“Sri Lanka is trying to break the unrelenting desire for freedom and spirit of the people and it is time for us Tamils to come together as one to put an end to this.”

“TCC-UK joins with the British Tamil community in conveying our condolences to those family members mourning the loss of Parithi and to TCC France.”

Mario Arulthas from the TYO-UK said:

“We are very shocked and saddened by the death of Eelam Tamil activist Nadarajah Mathinthiran, who was murdered in Paris last night.

Tamil activists and the wider community are yet to come to terms with his death. We are in disbelief and are outraged by this appalling crime.

Mr Mathinthiran was a prominent figure in the Tamil national struggle and a widely respected leader within the community.

We are in no doubt that this crime is one of a political nature, and we urge French police to ensure it is fully investigated and the perpetrators are brought to account.

At this terrible time, the thoughts of all our members and the Diaspora community at large are with Mr Mathinthiran's family and friends.”

Vigils are expected to be held across the Diaspora as tribute to Mr Mathinthiran, who is survived by his wife and daughter.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has called for changes to the country’s 13th Amendment, calling for a mechanism that will unify the country further.

Delivering his budget speech in Parliament, Rajapaksa stated the devolution should not lead to separation, saying,

"Instead it should be a one that unifies all of us".

Following his comments, a Sinhala nationalist party and ruling coalition member, the National Freedom Front, announced that they are set to file a case in Sri Lanka’s Supreme Court against the 13th Amendment.

The NFF leader government Minister Wimal Weerawamsa also met with the opposition UNP party’s leader Ranil Wickremasinghe where they discussed the NNF’S call to abolish the amendment. Wickremasinghe stated that the UNP were not against the call and noted that they would decide on their stance on the matter at the next party convention.

The riots in Welikada prison ended in a bloodbath, with 27 people dead and dozens injured.

Most of the dead were prisoners who were killed by armed police and army soldiers.

At least three prisoners were killed when they attempted to flee in an auto-rickshaw, which was shot at by security forces.

Clashes between prisoners and police erupted on Friday after a search operation was mounted. At least one prison guard was killed and several policemen and soldiers were injured during the violence.

Welikada prison has a history of violence against inmates, with clashes earlier this year leaving one Tamil prisoner dead.

Singhalese prisoners killed over 50 Tamil political detainees in Welikada during the Black July pogrom in 1983.

STF withdraws, SL army moves in with snipers - Welikada (09 Nov 2012)

Riots at Welikada prison after STF tries to search inmates (09 Nov 2012)

 14:57 GMT

In breaking news, riots have broken out between inmates at the Welikada prison and the Sri Lankan security forces. 

Reports coming through state that on Friday afternoon, Sri Lanka's Special Task Force (STF) and prison intelligence unit conducted a search operation on inmates in the L and Chappell units of the prison, citing authorisation by the minister of prisons and reforms.

As inmates protested, STF personnel fired tear gas at the protesters. The situation continued to escalate, with several inmates climbing onto the roof of the prison in protest, and news coming through of serious injuries and fatalities.

Photograph SundayTimes.lk

Latest reports state that the Sri Lankan military and STF have stormed the building, and that protesting inmates are armed, having successfully broken into the fire arms unit at the prison. 

At least six inmates are believed to be in a critical condition and remain inside the prison. The Deputy Inspector General of the STF, C. Ranawana, is reported to have been injured and has been taken to hospital.

Welikada prison houses a number of Tamil political detainees, who earlier this year protested after the death of a fellow political detainee at the hands of Sri Lankan security forces.

Previous prison riots, notably in 2000, 1997 and 1983, have resulted in Tamil political prisoners being murdered by Sinhala mobs.

See related articles:

Over 200 Tamil prisoners on hunger strike (21 May 2012)

Tamil detainees launch hunger strike (18 May 2012)

Tamil prisoners moved as riots engulf Welikada prison (24 Jan 2012)

15:02 GMT

The STF personnel have withdrawn from the Welikada prison riot, allowing troops and snipers from the Sri Lankan military to move in, reports Sunday Times. Armoured vehicles have been situated at the gates of the prison, preventing inmates from leaving.

See: Riots at Welikada prison after STF tries to search inmates (09 Nov 2012)

23:58 GMT

The director of the hospital dealing with casualties from the Welikada prison violence has told AFP that 13 people, of whom at least 11 were inmates, had died. Anil Jasinghe said that a further 32 injured were also brought to the hospital.

The BBC reported that it isn’t yet clear how many may have died inside the jail.

The army moved in when police lost control of parts of the prison after an attempted search operation.

See:

STF withdraws, SL army moves in with snipers - Welikada (09 Nov 2012)

Riots at Welikada prison after STF tries to search inmates (09 Nov 2012)

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, expressed concern at Australia’s new policy of that allows for immediate deportation of Sri Lankan refugees seeking asylum.

Speaking at a Democracy forum in Indonesia, Pillay outlined why so many Tamil were leaving Sri Lanka and voiced her concerns about the Australian deportation policy.

She said that Sri Lanka was still volatile, despite the end of the armed conflict.

“Now that was a conflict area, matters have not stabilised as yet. All the reports reaching me ar that people are concerned over control being imposed over them”

“So I can understand if they’d be leaving out of feat or for their personal security, and it really cries out for all the refugee protections, asylum seeker protections to be made particularly applicable to them,” she said

The Australian Governments new deportation policy, which was instated in August, has resulted in the involuntary deportation of 186 refugees back to Sri Lanka.

Navi Pillay also criticised Australia's off-shore detention policy.

''I am highly concerned that detention in regional offshore processing centres such as in Nauru could result in indefinite detention and other human rights violations,'' she said.

''All people, including migrants, have the right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health, and this form of detention has been shown at times to violate this right.

''It could well end up as indefinite detention, and people in indefinite detention suffer significant mental health issues - and Australia should be well aware of this."

The Sri Lankan Army has announced the launch of a brand that will create resorts across the country, as they opened yet another holiday resort on the island.

Speaking to reporters, Army chief Jagath Jayasuriya proudly announced the launch of the “Laya” brand hotels, stating,

"Our vision is to make the 'Laya' brand one of the most sought-after resort hotels in Sri Lanka".

The Army chief went on to comment that the security forces had taken up this task because of necessity, explaining,

"We're not going to challenge the private sector but trying to help meet the room requirement for the anticipated tourist arrivals and maintain the best standards."

He went on to anticipate a bigger role for hotel resort industry on the island, and possibly the armed forces, telling reporters,

"This depends on the rapid build up of room capacity…The government has set a target room capacity of 30,000 by 2015".

Earlier this year the Sri Lankan Army opened their second holiday resort in the Jaffna peninsula alone. See below:

Army opens yet another holiday resort in Jaffna (11 Jan 2012)

The military is currently involved in a whole host of other activities in Sri Lanka, already running restaurants and shops along the A9 highway to Jaffna, selling vegetables, running holiday resorts in the North-East, maintaining cricket stadiums, constructing buildings, running domestic flights and even have their own reality TV show.

See our earlier posts:

Gota's catering services (21 July 2012)

Military does public health (12 May 2012)

Army to form construction company (19 Jan 2012)

Army on standby to sell and distribute vegetables (13 Dec 2011)

Army to build a 5-star hotel (06 Nov 2011)

Militarising Cricket (04 Nov 2011)

Sri Lankan military expands commercial arm (01 Oct 2011)

The Leader of the French branch of TCC (Tamil Co-ordination Committee) has been killed in a shooting in Paris’s 20th arrondissement on Thursday evening.

A prominent figure in the French Tamil community, Nadarajah Mathinthiran alias Parithi was shot dead as he left TCC's Paris office, allegedly by two hooded individuals on motorbike who fired three shots at their victim.

Parithi had previouly been attacked in a stabbing around a year ago, sustaining serious injuries from which he had only recently recovered.

A police investigation has been launched into the murder.

"They were advised of their status and that they were subject to removal from Australia. They raised no issues that engaged Australia's international obligations,”

"Without a valid visa they had no legal right to remain in Australia and were removed at the earliest opportunity,”

"People who pay smugglers are risking their lives and throwing their money away. There is no visa awaiting them on arrival, no speedy outcome, and no special treatment,"

"We will continue to regularly transfer people to Nauru and shortly to Manus Island".

Finance Minister Mahinda Rajapakse, who also happens to be President and Defence Minister, has presented the 2013 budget to parliament today.

Three years after the end of the armed conflict, Rajapakse has allocated a record US$ 2.2 billion to the defence ministry.

This increase is partly financed by a rise in taxation on luxury goods and other imports, like milk powder.

Rajapakse also announced a ban in the sale of land to foreigners, whose purchases are thought to have raised local prices, reported the AFP.

Delegates at the World Tamil Conference - including Tamil activists and politicians from the North-East and the diaspora, as well as politicians and civil society activists from Tamil Nadu - gathered at the British Houses of Parliament for a second day to discuss and endorse the resolution proposed.

The resolution put before the delegates, which received widespread backing on the first day, including by several British parliamentarians, called for an international, independent investigation into the allegations war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of genocide by the Sri Lankan state against the Tamil nation.

Specifically, the resolution urged the international community to push for four key points:

1) Take immediate steps to provide for space for free flow of information that would bring to light as to the ground realities prevailing in the North and East of the Island of Sri Lanka.

2) To stop decimation of the Tamil Nation by the Sri Lankan State.

3) To stop Sinhalisation of the Tamil traditional Homeland.

4) To demilitarise the Tamil People’s Homeland for the people to exercise their democratic rights free from fear of persecution.

Delegates from the North-East included Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam of the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) and Mavai Senathirajah of the TNA. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam urged Tamils both in the North-East and in the diaspora not to feel defeated in the wake of the events of 2009. Civil society activists from the North-East asserted that the it is the role of Tamils outside the island to articulate the aspirations of those back home, not merely to articulate just what is possible or be straddled by concerns of pragmatism, and urged the Tamil nation to move beyond the framework of the LLRC.

Seated left to right: T Gandhi of the May 17th Movement, Prakash Padayachi, Jude Lal Fernando, Mavai Senathirajah of the TNA

Diaspora organisations including co-hosts British Tamils Forum (BTF), Global Tamil Forum (GTF), USTPAC (United States Tamil Political Action Council), CTC (Canadian Tamil Congress), Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO) and the TGTE. In a written address, Father Emmanuel of the GTF highlighted the unique role that Tamil Nadu politicians need to place, and urged Tamil Nadu political parties to rise above electoral politics and lobby as a united body for the rights of the Tamil nation in the North-East. V. Ravi of the BTF also reiterated this, echoing the call on Tamil Nadu political parties to work decisively to lobby the central government in New Delhi.

Delegates from the TYO

Welcoming the resolution as an "unanimous recognition that the situation is one of the genocide of the Tamil nation", the TYO questioned was critical of the resolution's fourth call on the international community stating, 

"The statement implies that demilitarisation of the North-East would lead to Tamils being free from the fear of persecution. The TYO believes that given the long history of genocide, so long as the Tamil nation is within a united Sri Lankan state, it cannot be free of persecution."

"We also express concern that the statement implies that demilitarisation would lead to Tamils having democratic rights when in fact it was the failure of the post-colonial Sri Lankan state to secure the democratic rights of the Tamils which led to the conflict in the first place."

"A discrimination of the Tamils is enshrined within the Sri Lankan constitution. The militarisation is a mere consequence of the structural flaws within the unitary Sri Lankan state. Demilitarisation will thus not solve the problem in the North-East."

(See video here)

Representatives of Tamil Nadu political parties, including Thirumavalavan of the VCK, G.K Mani of the PMK and D. Raja of the CPI, and civil society activists, including representatives from May 17 Movement and Pasumai Thayagam, unanimously welcomed the resolution, and vowed to return to India with a renewed impetus to lobby New Delhi towards accepting the fundamental themes contained within it.

Tamil Youth Organisation - UK have released a press statement on the recent review of Sri Lanka at the UPR.

Full statement below:

The United Nations Human Rights Council’s (UNHRC) 2^nd Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Sri Lanka formally concluded on Monday the 5^th of November 2012, with the outcome once again confirming the urgent need for drastic action to force Sri Lanka to abide by its human rights obligations.

Sri Lanka has rejected outright 100 out of 210 recommendations made at the UPR. These included those made by a number of countries calling for the implementation of recommendations from Sri Lanka’s very own flawed LLRC report, as well as those made by the more credible UN Panel of Experts’ report.

Although TYO-UK welcomes some of the effective recommendations made by countries, including the calls for accountability for war crimes and for ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, many of the recommendations lacked the required strength to effect tangible change on the island.

Nearly all of the recommendations fail to take into account the ethnic nature of the conflict that continues to blight the Tamil people to this very day. What remains unchanged is that it is Tamils who suffer the consequences of the “time and space” that was requested by Sri Lanka, and granted by the international community.

“Most recommendations ignored the fact that it was Tamils who bore, and still bear, the overwhelming brunt of the Sri Lankan government’s abusive conduct,” said Thusiyan Nandakumar, who was leading TYO-UK’s Human Rights delegation in Geneva.

“Sri Lanka deliberately stalled implementing the 2008 recommendations, and this was ignored in most of the statements made by the 99 participating countries.”

Only 2 of the 26 commitments voluntarily made by Sri Lanka in 2008 were implemented and out of 45 accepted recommendations only 5 were implemented.

It is this flawed, subdued approach and lack of stern action that has made it too easy for Sri Lanka to falsify promises, whilst simultaneously committing human rights violations, over several decades.

This review has proven once again that Sri Lanka is resolute only in its obstinacy to continue on its path of impunity. However the UNHRC has continued to reward Sri Lanka with more “time and space”, in a futile hope that the country will reform.

Meanwhile, land grabs in the traditional Tamil homeland continue unabated, whilst heavy militarisation of civilian life is stifling all attempts at dissent by the Tamil people. Recommendations to address abductions and the fate of detainees have invariably been rejected by Sri Lanka, and the country continues its blatant disregard to international human rights norms putting the potency of the UPR process, and the UNHRC, into question.

“The only way to force Sri Lanka’s commitment to human rights and effect positive change for the island’s inhabitants is through strong action by the international community, including by the UN,” said Mr Nandakumar.

Sri Lanka has been allowed to dodge its obligations and deceive the international community for far too long. This farce can no longer be allowed to continue. The time for strong decisive action from the United Nations and international community to act and end Sri Lanka’s cycle of impunity is long overdue.