M.A. Sumanthiran, PC, MP, who battles to win and restore the lost rights of the Tamil people, has formed an advocacy group of enthusiastic lawyers all out to challenge the lawless steamrolling of Tamil rights by the government and its agencies. The group won an initial victory in their landmark case yesterday, 10 November 2020. The group of lawyers vowed to challenge the government with lawsuits to claw back what Tamils have lost.
As government institutions acquire many state lands which are then made inaccessible to the Tamil public, the Tamil people are increasingly nervous about their future in Sri Lanka. To address this, Sumanthiran’s informal group of lawyers engage in public interest litigation. They wish to contribute their knowledge and expertise to the cause of stemming this anti-Tamil theft where what belongs to the Tamil people is removed from their use and even access, thereby blunting government’s attempt to promote separatism through discrimination.
Twenty-seven attorneys-at-law gathered for the first organizational meeting. One of them, Roshanthini Uthayakumar, filed two plaints at the Trincomalee High Court on behalf of the public, including the farmers whose lands had been acquired. Kesavan Sajanthan, till recently an ITAK representative at the Northern Provincial Council, appeared for the plaintiff.
One of these plaints challenged the acquisition of state land to construct Buddhist Temples within the Kuchchaveli Divisional Secretary’s area in Trincomalee District. The other challenged the high-handed acquisition of 354 acres of paddy land in Thennamaravadi belonging to Tamil People.
The High Court issued three stay orders in favour of the Petitioners. Hon. Judge M. Elancheliyan, presiding, through interim orders,
1. Disallowed stopping Petitioners from entering their lands;
2. Disallowed any obstacle from being placed against the Petitioners’ efforts at developing their land or doing agriculture thereon;
3. Stopped the giving away of these lands to any Buddhist Temple.
Matters will be heard next on 23 Nov. 2020.
Nationalism is a Cover for Acquisitiveness
The security forces’ footprint hangs heavily over the Tamil people as they take over the North-East on the pretext of protecting heritage. Nationalism, it is said is the cover used by the crooked. For the security forces usually protecting Sri Lanka is the cover for taking over private lands for their acquisitive selves. As I write (11 Nov.) there are reports of huge demonstrations in Jaffna’s islands against the navy trying to take over civilian-owned lands for the use of men stationed there.
This greed results in the men who come North to “save Sri Lanka” getting to be very acquisitive and tending to break up Sri Lanka. Many Tamils feel that the security forces are in league with criminals to expand their influence over the Tamil people so that they may make money for themselves. A reporter cited the Aljazeera report of 20 Sept. 2020 that a drug ring includes more than a dozen officers from a key narcotics unit of the state. He referred as well to periodic reports of high security services officials engaged in the narcotics trade. The most recent was 2 days ago when the Daily News reported a high-ranking officer’s driver, a sergeant, being arrested for smuggling heroin. A civilian from Chunnakam cited the Aawa Group activities in Jaffna – the police watching as Aawa men assault the public and when the public go to the police station to complain, they see the assailants in a chummy relationship with the police so the would-be complainants beat a hasty retreat.
The suspicion is that the occasional arrests of drugs smugglers are a set-up drama to show that the police do their work while most smugglers get away because they are partnered with the forces. A doctor from Jaffna cited the case of convicted hitman, DIG Vaas Gunawardena, telling drug dealer “Singappuru Sarath that [Singappuru Sarath’s name] was on the top of the list of drug traffickers to be killed” (DIBS Jeyaraj, 24 June, 2013).
However, in contrast, the security forces are yet to penetrate the new and less profitable turmeric smuggling. The result is that, unlike drugs, smuggled turmeric (also from India like heroin and ganja) is “easily detected.”
Consider the detection on 8 Nov. 2020. A trawler from India smuggling 2,800 kg of turmeric was interdicted. The 4 Indian fishermen on board were safely returned to India out of fear that the men might be carrying COVID-19. Two Sri Lankan men were also apprehended at the same time and promptly placed in 2 weeks’ quarantine. The incident occurred near Arippu near Mannar as the Navy spotted the smugglers while they were offloading the contraband.
Based on the information provided by the smugglers, a further 2,600 kg of ganja has been found in Calpentyn (Tamil Kalputty). The total weight of ganja is therefore 5,400 kg. Very efficient indeed, sarcastically said a friend of mine who has reported on smuggling for long. The turmeric remains in Sri Lankan custody. The cost in turmeric in India is about SLR 500 in India and about SLR 5000 here.
The boat adds to the festering problem as Sri Lanka plans to destroy or auction all Indians boats in our custody, while Vaiko in India is urging stern action by the Indian government against Sri Lanka.
Said the doctor quoted earlier, “It is this kind of nationalism that is used as a cover for greed, that will lead to separatist sentiments among us. Sumanthiran’s group must expand the scope of their litigation to cover every abuse of the government if Sri Lanka is to remain united. The government is fostering separatism, and indeed chaos through partnerships with drugs dealer. R. Sumanthiran is helping Sri Lanka stay together by restoring faith in our badly broken legal system, broken all the more after the 20th amendment.” (By N. Lohathayalan)
Eagle Eye / November 12, 2020
Dravida laborers brought by Portuguese from Hindusthan after 1505 to work in tobacco plantations in Yapanaya and Kthonis stole land where Sinhalayo lived for thousands of years. After that Malabar Vellala Tamils imposed a Malabar customary law called ‘Thesawalamei’ to block land in Yapanaya going into the hands of non-Tamils as well as to low caste Tamils.
Government should declare land in the North and East occupied by Tamils as State Land and issue Permits to real users as they did in settlement schemes to eliminate absentee landlords who live in Colombo and foreign countries. That will help low caste Tamils to stand against the oppressors.
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“anti-Tamil theft where what belongs to the Tamil people is removed from their use and even access”
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Pandi Kutti / November 12, 2020
Shut up racist Chingkalla Kurangu Thattha. It is not the Eezham Thamizh but the Chingkallams who are largely descended from low caste Thravidha slave imports from South India. Around half the present day Chingkallams . All the ones with Portuguese family names , the Karaiyar( Karawe) Salagamam , Durawe, Hunu , Berewa , Making up around 50% of the Chingkallams . Then you get upper caste Tharavidha immigrants like the Kandyan Pandarar ( Banda/Bandara)and the so called Radala. Then lots of Govi gamma. Mudaliar/Mudali, Chetti/Hetti, Pillai/Pilli, Perumal/Peruma, Konaror Kone/ Koon. Sekaran/Sekera, Tungan/Tunge. To which lot do you belong to Eagle Thattha? Thatta have you heard of a Chingkalla caste called Demala Gatara, who have now been assomilated as Govigamma? Please google and read
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demala-Gattara
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Stanley / November 13, 2020
Read the article yourself Pandiya
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‘This article has multiple issues. This article’s factual accuracy is disputed.’
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That’s your idea of proof?
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SJ / November 14, 2020
Stanley
Piglet can only abuse.
Nothing that makes sense penetrates its/his/her cranium.
To debate with it/him/her is to show undue respect.
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Pandi Kutti / November 14, 2020
Kilatu SJ Thaatha , Racist Eagle Thaatha calling all Thamizh as imported Dravidian slaves in not abuse to you and to that racist Chingkalla Kurangu Stanley but what I post is abuse. h’m.
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SJ / November 14, 2020
Stanley
Piglet can only abuse.
Nothing that makes sense penetrates its/his/her cranium.
To debate with it/him/her is to show undue respect.
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Stanley / November 14, 2020
SJ, thank you. I will take your advice.
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Stanley / November 15, 2020
Yes and Happy Diwali to you too Pandi. May Lakshmi bring peace to your hate-filled, tortured heart.
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Buddhist1 / November 13, 2020
Eagle Eye, Where did the Sinhalayo come from? China? India? May be from a Lion’s womb!
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Eagle Eye / November 14, 2020
Buddhist1
Dombo, Sinhalayo did not come from any other place in the world. They evolved in this country over a period of 125,000 years according to research conducted on pre-history by archeologists.
I feel sorry for your lack of knowledge on history of Sinhale as a descendant of a Dravida coolie brought to Sinhale by colonial parasites.
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Ari / November 14, 2020
Fools like EE will always be fools!
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PIRABAKARAN / November 15, 2020
Eagale Modaya
Are you telling us that Your Aryan Sinhalayas evolved in Eelam ? Are you on cocaine or cannabis ?
By the way Balangoda man is an early Tamil man a Dravidian so was Ravanan. You sinhala kallathonis can get lost to Bangaladesh.
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Burt / November 14, 2020
No: from a Monkey’s womb. The lion had sex with a Monkey.
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paragon / November 12, 2020
This is a very good move.but giving too much of publicity to this news and going to town with the news of only an interim order will have a negative impact on the FINAL JUDGEMENT ALSO PUTTING THE DISTRICT JUDGE BEING A TAMIL IN UNEXPECTED TROUBLE FROM GROUP LIKE HELAKARUMAYA AND RAVANABALLA.It will be good for every body not to make a big noise until the final judgement is delivered.
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soma / November 12, 2020
Private lands acquired by the government must be fully compensated at the prevailing market value.
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Soma
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Ari / November 14, 2020
Agree, if it is for national purposes that benefits all communities one can see sense in your point, but not when places of worship are built in areas where there are no indigenous people who have been followers of the faith in question. How many lands have been acquired by the government in Sinhalese areas to build Hindu Kovils, Churches or Mosques? This land grab is for the sole purpose of entrenching their propagated falsified narrative that the North East are areas where Sinhalese had lived!.
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Sugandh / November 12, 2020
“Sumanthiran’s group must expand the scope of their litigation to cover every abuse of the government if Sri Lanka is to remain united.”
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All power to Sumanthiran & co’s advocacy. Hope the best legal minds in the country continue to converge and stand strong against the illegal acts of those who run the state.
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Dilshan / November 12, 2020
What was Sumanthiran doing during Yahapalanaya. I am not sure whether he is doing for the sake of Tamil people or Ranil Wickremaainghe.
Anyway thanks to fearless judge Illancheliyan something positive may happen for the Tamil people.
Sumanthiran Sleeping with Ranil for 5 years has put the Tamil people at risk now.
It is set back for Srilanka as a whole
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 12, 2020
Dear NL
Thank you for sharing. Observations and Suggestions
(1) High court orders in Trinco is about normal process for anyone files a case and has substance?
(2) You have said many things in one article seem to be centred around accusing the security forces/police all the way to North?? from conniving with smugglers of drugs to turmeric sumggling?
(3) Jaffna is not a police state but has elected officials from municipality to members of parliament. People do lead a normal life…………the crime is an issue because public taking part in the crime with the smugglers from India and breaking their own nations law and order?? In fact Hon Judge in Trinco had to leave Jaffna because of the crime committed by the thugs?? these crooks are not Armed forces nor Sinhalese???
(4) So why the elected not making speeches about these criminals in the parliament??
(5) Turmeric/Drugs/textiles all illegally trafficked into Jaffna the consumers are general public?? are they reporting crimes to the police or participating in the crime??
(6) Is anyone protesting in-front of the Indian embassy/permanent vigil organised by TNA to tell the world the crooks/smugglers coming from India to Jaffna to ruin the life of the people?? breaking SL laws?? why no one filing case against the smugglers??
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Dilshan / November 12, 2020
As far as I heard, Jaffna is not police state but millitary state. Drugs are peddled by armed forces similar to armed forces in Indian Punjab state
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SJ / November 14, 2020
D
Punjab has a drug menace amid prosperity, but what is the link to armed forces?
For all I know, the state has been a leading provider of soldiers.
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Buddhist1 / November 13, 2020
Jaffna need not be a police state but entire Sri Lanka is a Military Dictatorship.
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SJ / November 14, 2020
B1
This is a rather premature utterance.
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Kanapathy Varunan / November 12, 2020
It appears that Sumanthiran’s flirting with government is over and has got down to business. let’s hope that Sumanthiran in association with his colleagues will be Landfilled, (Fruitful)
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 12, 2020
How come you have not written an article on the recent Turmeric smuggling to Karainagar and the Covid infections?? who came/how they came/who traded with them/who are they/Indian embassy in Jaffna answered all the journalist outside the embassy?? why the Karainagar Navy unable to control the illegals/crooks from India into Jaffna?
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Ajith / November 12, 2020
TV,
What is the deal you get for Turmeric smuggling?
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 13, 2020
Dear Ajith
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._Thiagarajah
Please refer to the referencing/writings by the Sachi Sri Kantha.
Kindly confirm what you think…..do you have any other references/sources also please share.
There is a purpose I am following the CT and all the wonderful writings because I will meet people like you to help me establish facts. Please help. I was always destined to be close to you all and thank you in anticipation.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 13, 2020
Dear Ajith
Please watch this if you may we will discuss my Father / Nation thereafter please
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0u3QJrtgEM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nji4o1LxBBY
I look forward to a very constructive discussion.
Thank you
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 12, 2020
Then you sight why people will see for wanting to separated from the south yet there is no Tamil in Jaffna capable of catching the theirs coming into their land illegally/document them and submit to the GOSL??UN??Indian Government?? but we are capable of bigger things??
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Ajay / November 12, 2020
In the script written by Gota, the security forces are playing Dr Jekyll in the south, and Mr. Hyde in the north. In the south they’re now going after the drug peddlers, but in the north they are part of the drug trade. Looks like this government has already decided the north is a foreign land: plunder whatever you can.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 13, 2020
Dear Ajay
That is for the elected to run around and put their neck out to solve?? ask the Police and Armed forces to be behind them all the time?? this is a 24/7/365 work not a part time leasure activity to be an MP?? specially in the North as we have a lot to catchup??
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Stanley / November 12, 2020
Initial victories are allowed, even encouraged. They give the appearance of democracy and fair play. But we all know better don’t we? It will all come to nothing.
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srikrish / November 13, 2020
political issues are not settled in courts.
Courts is only one forum.
Any decision in courts is not final
This is not a home vs home match.This is not Sumanthiran vs rest of Tamil nationalists
We must know our enemy.
Unlike JR the new leaders armed with 20A believe that they could even change a man into a woman and vice versa.
The only way out is to bring all discriminatory actions under one umbrella and mobilize all
moderates in this just struggle and make it not a racist communal struggle
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PIRABAKARAN / November 15, 2020
Eagale Modaya
Are you telling us that Your Aryan Sinhalayas evolved in Eelam ? Are you on cocaine or cannabis ?
By the way Balangoda man is an early Tamil man a Dravidian so was Ravanan. You sinhala kallathonis can get lost to Bangaladesh.
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Agnos / November 15, 2020
Mr. Lohathayalan,
It is a very good initiative. Tamils need to fight the legal battles in Sri Lankan courts first. Even though the courts may often be stacked against them, in a nonviolent struggle for justice, we need to use the courts to the maximum extent possible. Even if some people have no faith in SL courts and want to take the Tamil case to India, the UN, US, UK, etc., the people need to fight these battles and have clear documentation on how the Lankan courts repeatedly work against them. I hope there will be a Legal Defense Fund set up to help with the court and travel costs when lawyers appear pro bono. If such a fund is already set up, please provide a website explaining how it is governed and what procedures are in place to ensure there is no abuse of funds. Also provide details on how contributions should be made. Then many in the Diaspora will support it.
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Native Vedda / November 16, 2020
Agnos
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“Tamils need to fight the legal battles in Sri Lankan courts first. “
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Tamils should first stop fighting among themselves.
In the past 9 months weirdos and stupidos from the Tamil community were fighting fellow Tamils, particularly their able professionals for no good reason. Sumanthiran was accused being a UNP lackey, money grabbing greedy politician, all kinds of nasty things without a shred of evidence, speculations rife, such as the one that he might choose to switch parties, …..
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There are many deadwoods within the main Tamil party. Today I heard Mavai (aged 78 years) wants to contest Provincial Council Elections. I am not sure whether the stupid Tamils want a candidate as young as him to contest elections. My Tamil friends are unable to tell me his contribution to Tamil Cause (whatever that is). Can you?
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Agnos / November 18, 2020
NV,
You are right about that. I keep myself too busy to get involved in their petty fights though. I have previously said that there should be a leadership transition to younger generation. The likes of Mavai, Sampanthan, Anandasangaree and CVK Sivagnanam should retire gracefully and allow younger people other than their relatives to take up leadership.
And given the lack of adequately educated and articulate leaders, Sumanthiran should continue to play an active role, even if some of his decisions during Yahapalanaya weren’t advisable, and some of his critics may be justified in their criticism.
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Thiagarajah Venugopal / November 16, 2020
Dear Agnos
I go further and am enlisting now please give me the names of your children for the next round and they will be sent to the Indian Training camps direct for mercenary missions.Kindly let me manage them please.
I am only accepting Tamil Nadu Indians/Malaysian and Singaporean Tamils and Western Diapora Tamil children between the age of 13-15 n=for now. Shouldiwish to have golden oldies brigade for missions I will call them later.
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Agnos / November 18, 2020
TV, You shouldn’t poke into things you know nothing about. Stay confused as ever.
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umberto / November 18, 2020
ATTENTION
Peadophile Venogopal is on the prawl.
Please take care!!!
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