Tamil Nadu opposition chief M Karunanidhi has urged Delhi to prevent the Sri Lankan president’s visit this week, saying that Tamils are not prepared to welcome him.

"Considering that no Tamil is prepared to welcome him to the country, the Centre should prevent his visit and also be humane at the UN review meeting," he said in DMK party organ 'Murasoli’.

Karunanidhi also expressed sadness at the death of a protestor who self-immolated in protest over Rajapakse’s visit to India.

26 year old Vijay Raj, an auto rikshaw driver from Salem set himself alight on Monday morning. In his suicide note, Vijay accused Rajapakse of killing innocent Tamils and the Indian government of supporting him.

"While DMK has never encouraged such incidents (of self-immolation) I respect his sacrifice and express my sympathies. The Centre should take note with concern the arrival of Rajapakse amidst such strong protests," said Karunanidhi.

Mahinda Rajapakse is due to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday.

"All issues of bilateral interest will be discussed. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will host a dinner for the visiting President," said an External Affairs Ministry spokesperson, who confirmed the planned meeting.

As Sri Lanka prepares to host the World Twenty20 which starts tomorrow in Rajapaksa's hometown of Hambantota, with many hoping that the image of cricket can 'fade away' the horrors of war crimes and genocide.

One of the key brand ambassadors for the event, the Sri Lankan Central Bank Governor, Nivard Cabraal, told AFP:

"The T20 World Cup programme will provide an excellent platform to endorse the new Sri Lanka brand during the next three weeks,"

"I am confident that this trend will continue in the future, and those so-called international calls for (war crimes) investigation will fade away,"

"An enormous amount of development activity is taking place in the former conflict areas,"

"If there were war crimes... this type of reconciliation and progress would have never taken place."

Speaking to AFP, the TNA's Suresh Premachandran dismissed, saying, "some Tamil youngsters may be happy about cricket and the Twenty20 tournament, but it won't do anything to address the core issues."

Charu Lata Hogg, the Sri Lanka expert at the London based think-tank Chatham House, told AFP,

"Hosting an international sporting event will not deflect international attention on its core human rights responsibilities,"

"Attention on the issue of war crimes investigations, is unlikely to cease until there is a genuine effort by the Sri Lankan state to establish accountability."

Mahinda Rajapakse's upcoming visit to India is becoming the political headache for Delhi it was predicted to be.

A 26-year old male has self-immolated in Tamil Nadu against the proposed visit and is said to be in a critical condition with 95% burns and the Union territory of Puducheri was completely shut down, in protest at Rajapakse's visit to Sanchi in Madhya Pradesh later this week.

MDMK leader Vaiko slammed Madhya Pradesh's BJP government and said he will go ahead with a planned protest in Sanchi, while talking to Headlines Today.

“It’s atrocious that BJP-led Madhya Pradesh government has invited Rajapakse, who was responsible for the genocide of thousands of Tamils.

“He is coming with the blood-stained hands and he cannot be forgive..It’s the Sinhala regime that destroyed nearly 2,000 Hindu temples in Sri Lanka.

“I made a request that he should not be allowed to enter Sanchi. It’s a place of peace, but this man Rajapakse has committed the genocide of Tamils and has killed thousands of Tamils. With what an audacity the MP government invited him.

“Sushma Swaraj says ‘we didn’t invite (Rajapakse)’ and on 15th September, MP chief minister writes to me and says to promote peace and harmony in the Asian continent.

“To express our disgust and anger and expose the gruesome killings of Tamils to the entire world we are marching towards Sanchi…The whole of India should realise that our kith and kin were brutally murdered by the Sinhala regime with the help of the UPA government. They supplied arms and money to commit the genocide.

“We can never forgive the BJP.”

The Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh had urged Vaiko to call off the protest, as Rajapakse's visit was "apolitical".

Reports on Monday indicated that Vaiko had left for Sanchi for the protest which is expected to draw thousands.

Abuse and sexual assaults on children and women in Sri Lanka has risen by 6%, Uthayan reports.

The incident of child abuse and rape in Sri Lanka has consistently come under national and international attention, culminating with the recent warning by the UK FCO of sexual offences on the island.

The United Nations listed Sri Lankan among 16 nations where governments are believed to be cracking down on critics with impunity, reports the Associated Press.

Addressing a special session of the Human Rights Council, the High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said that the 16 nations had been “far from sufficient” in preventing intimidation and attacks by government members on various activists.

Along with Sri Lanka, the other named nations were Algeria, Bahrain, Belarus, China, Colombia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malawi, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Uzbekistan and Venezuela.

Ms Pillay further said:

“Reprisals and intimidation against individuals continue to be reported. People may be threatened or harassed by government officials, including through public statements by high-level authorities. Associations and NGOs may see their activities monitored or restricted. Smear campaigns against those who cooperate with the U.N. may be organized. Threats may be made via phone calls, text messages or even direct contacts. People may also be arrested, beaten or tortured and even killed.”

“[There has also been a] lack of accountability in relation to the majority of reported cases of reprisals.”

A report submitted to the UNHCR details alleged killings, beatings, torture, arrests, threats, harassments and smear campaigns against human rights defenders and other government critics in the various named nations.

Urging the council and the world’s nations to do more, Ms Pillay said:

“We need more coherent and solid strategies to put an end to reprisals. Reprisals are not only unacceptable: they are also ineffective in the long term. Preventing people from expressing their will or their dissent freely, does not succeed. Ultimately, freedom will always prevail. And information will always find its way to the outside world.”

Five councillors from the Tamil National Alliance have fled from the Eastern province following threats to support the government and are now in hiding in Colombo.

TNA leader R Sampanthan stated that unidentified persons threatened the councillors to support the ruling UPFA, reports Colombo Page.

TamilNet previously reported that each councillor was offered 50 million rupees in cash as well as a vehicle and house in Colombo.

Sampanthan confirmed that the councillors have fled from the Eastern province and gone into hiding in Colombo.

See our TGView on the Eastern Province elections here.

The Indian Army’s Southern Command chief, Lt Gen A.K. Singh has admitted that the Sri Lankan Army takes part in a ‘diverse’ training programme with Indian security forces.

Speaking after a passing out ceremony of new cadets in Chennai, Lt Gen Singh said that the Sri Lankan army’s ‘expertise' is due to the training provided by India.

“With the Sri Lankan Army, we have an ongoing training programme. It is very diverse.” said Lt Gen Singh when a reporter questioned him about training provided to Sri Lanka.

“I think the Sri Lankan Army acknowledges that their expertise in various fields is largely the result of the very fine training that has been imparted to them by the Indian Army and other wings such as the Air Force and the Navy,”

President Premadasa threatened to go to war with India in 1989 if the Indian military did not withdraw its troops, revealed the former Indian High Commissioner to Colombo, Lakhan Lal Mehrotra. 

According to Mehrotra if India did not withdraw, Premadasa threatened that he would claim on state TV that Sri Lankan forces had captured the North-East, saying, “and then if the IPKF (Indian Peace Keeping Force) resented, there would be hostility and war,”

Mehrotra is said to have replied, “Excellency, I have come here to discuss peace with you, but if you want war you will have it.”

Commenting on that conversation, Mehrotra recalled, “these words, delivered in a very serious manner, brought him down. I was observing him keenly; he was not expecting that kind of reply. He was virtually shaking and could not speak for a minute or two.”

Mehrotra also claims that Premadasa threatened to abrogate the 1987 Indo-Lanka Accord, asserting that he did not care if there was a break down in diplomatic relations between the two countries. Premadasa reportedly said that he would declare India an occupying force in order to damage New Delhi's reputation, to which Mehrotra replied, "we will take care of our reputation".

According to Mehrotra, Premadasa replied angrily, “It will cost me my political future and your next visit will be for my funeral!”

“One must not lose sight that rights can bear fruit only when it is exercised with sensitivity to the accompanying duties”

“In this context Sri Lanka is concerned that the council has increasingly witnessed the disturbing strength of unsubstantiated and uncorroborated allegations being used for political purposes by certain sections of the international community and NGOs to seek to name and shame specific countries.”

“States cannot at the same time be held responsible for any comments and references made in the independent media against such persons or entities, which would be tantamount to an interference with the freedom of expression.”

“Unfortunately, despite several calls for action, a number of states continue to engage in reprisals against human rights defenders- among these countries are Bahrain, Malawi, Sri Lanka and Sudan.”

“Elsewhere, human rights defenders in Sri Lanka face a climate of fear, intimidation and threats. The space for free expression and association has been severely restricted by government legislation requiring NGOs to obtain government clearance for all gatherings and activities. Similarly, news websites covering Sri Lanka have been ordered to register with Sri Lanka’s information ministry, after officials stated that a number of websites had already been blocked for engaging in “character assassination” of the President.”

“This intimidation has followed activists to Geneva, as human rights defenders in this very building have been directly approached by members of the Sri Lankan delegation and told that, “they should not be in Geneva.” They also faced violent threats from government ministers and media in Sri Lanka.

One Minister pledged to “break the limbs” of journalists and human rights activists who advocated for the UNHRC resolution that passed this March. Lawyers’ Rights Watch Canada commends these human rights defenders who have courageously chosen to return to Geneva and are with us here today.”

“LRWC calls on the Council to systematically condemn and respond to harassment and intimidation against human rights defenders. Without their work, the objectives and even the existence of this very Council are endangered.”

The visiting United Nations office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights (OHCHR) that arrived in Sri Lanka on Friday was briefed about the post-conflict ‘progress’ on human rights in Sri Lanka.

Upon their arrival, the United Nations team met Sri Lanka’s Minister of Economic development, Basil Rajapaksa, who issued the usual Sri Lankan government discourse on post conflict development.

Minister Rajapaksa also stressed that the government is now focused on “winning the hearts and minds,” of the minority community, and described the recent ruling party victory at the Provincial Elections as a success in obtaining the support of the minority community.

See the TG view of the provincial election results here.

The UN team is expecting to visit the war-torn North-East to get a firsthand look at the government attempts of resettlement and other issues.

A sudden decision by Sri Lankan public and private sector banks in the north to stop issuing loans has left the Tamil business community in a precarious situation. The banks subsequently increased the rate of interest on existing loans by 4 percent, reported TamilNet.

As a result of being unable to repay the new interest on their existing loans, several Tamil traders have had to close their businesses.

The president of the Jaffna Chamber of Commerce, Mr.R Jayasekaram, stressed that the sudden termination of issuing loans to businesses was the starting point for an economic crisis for the entire business community in that area.

"These bank branches were established after the war under the theme to provide livelihood assistance to people. However, these bank branches have not provided any social welfare facilities or livelihood assistance to the affected, instead they were functioning with the sole purpose of earning profit,

“Many traders with the loans obtained from these bank branches have already launched their business activities. But, the bank branches phased down the amount of loans issued to traders six months ago.

"Majority of business people have mortgaged their properties to these banks to obtain loans. Now they are left in the lurch to find money and run their businesses,” he said.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) have issued a press release demanding that the UK suspend immediately deportations of Tamils with links to the LTTE or those that may have been politically active against the Sri Lankan authorities in the UK.

Extracts from the press release follow:

“The Sri Lankan security forces have long used torture against people deemed to be linked to the LTTE,and growing evidence indicates that Tamils who have been politically active abroad in peaceful opposition to the government may be subject to torture and other ill-treatment.

 

"A Tamil woman whose asylum claim had been rejected in the UK returned to Sri Lanka in May 2009. She said she was detained, questioned, and subjected to torture including sexual abuse by security agents, and imprisoned for five months at an army camp.

"She told Human Rights Watch that officials accused her of being a fundraiser for the LTTE in the UK and showed her video clips of her holding a banner critical of the Sri Lankan government in a public demonstration.”

London director for HRW, David Mepham said:

“In its haste to be tough on failed asylum seekers, the British government is turning a blind eye to compelling evidence that Tamils deported to Sri Lanka risk torture on arrival,”

“The UK government has not explained why it condemns Sri Lanka’s use of torture but rejects evidence before the UK Border Agency that demonstrates the danger of torture to Tamil deportees.

"It is time for a serious rethink so that what the UK says in its foreign policy is reflected in how it acts in its immigration policy.”

See also HRW’s Document containing cases of Sri Lankan deportees allegedly tortured on return here.