Tamil diaspora organizations probe UN peacekeeping operations

by Mario
May 2, 2018

Several Tamil diaspora organizations have written to the Under-Secretary General for Peacekeeping Operations urging a response to the issues surrounding the involvement of Sri Lanka’s paramilitary police in international peacekeeping.

The request follows the release of a report by the International Truth and Justice Project (ITJP) that outlines the several human rights violations committed by the paramilitary police (commonly known as the Special Task Force - STF) over the course of three decades.

“Some of their alleged crimes against Tamils include summary executions, abductions, enforced disappearance for which there has been no accountability.  Even this year there are allegations that the STF were complicit in the recent violence targeting Muslims.  We believe this is because they enjoy total impunity and unfortunately peacekeeping is a reward,” stated the letter. 

In addition, the ITJP report identified 56 STF officers that should be screened and vetted given their involvement in abuses – of which, a senior STF commander is currently serving in Africa.

In response to this finding the letter stated, “This is yet another instance of the failure of your vetting procedures for Sri Lanka. We urge you to send this individual home immediately and ensure he is credibly investigated. Also we note there are instances of other senior STF officers being deployed in the past in UN peacekeeping roles such as SSP Waruna Jayasundera in South Sudan, which indicate a sustained failure of vetting, in our opinion.”

The letter, signed by Australian Tamil Congress, British Tamils Forum, Canadian Tamil Congress, Ilankai Tamil Sangam , People for Equality and Relief in Lanka  and United States Tamil Political Action Council, also probes the Under-Secretary to respond to the following questions:

  1. What action will you take regarding the list of 56 names?
  2. How will the STF be screened and vetted – those already in the field and those in future deployments?
  3. Will you return home the STF officer currently deployed in Africa who does not appear to have been effectively vetted?
  4. Have you, or will you, vet the members of Sri Lanka’s Directorate of Overseas Operations?
  5. Please state the vetting criteria currently in use – please note the ITJP report contains some suggested criteria that might be helpful to consider.

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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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