Is this a country or a cemetery? Diaspora Tamils demand justice for Alex

by Thusiyan
Nov 22, 2023

A sign held at Alex's funeral this week. It says, 'We want justice. We want justice'.

Diaspora Tamils from the same village as 25-year-old Nagarasa Alex, a Tamil youth who was tortured to death in Sri Lankan police custody, have demanded justice be served and the officers responsible held accountable.

In an open letter published this week, Tamils from Sithankerni in Jaffna who now reside in Europe have echoed calls from their hometown.

“What are the answers for our dear friend Alex's death due to police torture?” the letter asked.

“Will the relocation of the police killers compensate for his departed life? Is there no one to hold the police, who senselessly assaulted him until his kidneys failed, to account?”

Alex passed away on Sunday after being taken into Sri Lankan police custody and tortured. Shortly before he passed, Alex was seen on video giving a harrowing recount of his torture at the hands of Sri Lankan officers.

Read more: ‘They beat me whilst I was hanging there’

“If justice can't be upheld, is this a country? Or is this a cemetery?” the letter continued. "If this is not done, we hereby firmly pledge that we will take this to the Human Rights Council in Geneva and urge expedited action be taken against the murderers."

See the full text of the letter, in Tamil and English, below.

 

Nagaraja Alex

We extend our sincere condolences to the family of late Mr Nagaraja Alex of Siththankerni, who are no doubt consumed by grief.

What are the answers for our dear friend Alex's death due to police torture? Will the relocation of the police killers compensate for his departed life? Is there no one to hold the police, who senselessly assaulted him until his kidneys failed, to account?

Can the life of our Alex be brought back? What punishment is there for the policemen who blindly tortured him? Why is there this silence, still, despite hearing the statement made by our Alex before his murder?

If justice can't be upheld, is this a country? Or is this a cemetery?

What is the reason behind the policemen responsible for Alex's death not being brought before the courts and punished?

Is the officer in charge of Vaddukoddai police station unaware of this matter? Is there no connection between him and this incident? Why the delay in punishing him?

The real burglars must be found and our Alex must be exonerated.

Further, police officers responsible for Alex's death must be punished appropriately.

If this is not done, we hereby firmly pledge that we will take this to the Human Rights Council in Geneva and urge expedited action be taken against the murderers.

From

Kalaivani Rd, Sithankerni residents, currently living in Europe

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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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