Justice Wigneswaran should apologize to Tamil Nadu Tamils; TNA should pick another CM candidate, says Tamils for Obama.
Issuing a statement Tamils for Obama says; “Mr. Wigneswaran lives in Colombo and has lived there all his life. He is out of touch with the experiences and wishes of the Tamils in northeast Sri Lanka. He was reluctant from the beginning take this office and we urge the TNA should pick someone closer to the northeastern Tamils.”
Wigneswaran
We publish below the statement in full;
Justice Wigneswaran recently gave an exclusive interview to Hindustan Times. There are few things that came out during this interview that worry us. We would like address these worries in this letter.
1. Mr. Wigneswaran in this Hindustan Times interview referred to “our army” and “our navy.” These references are to the Singhalese-controlled national Sri Lankan armed forces. They are not “our” forces and calling it “our army” insults the Tamils. This is the genocidal army killed over 70,000 Tamil civilians, and raped numerous Tamil women and whose officers may eventually be facing war crimes tribunals for these murders.
2. Mr. Wigneswaran makes clear (he says it many times and in many ways) that he favors a united Sri Lanka. He asks the leaders in Tamil Nadu to “allow us to work out our own solutions to our own problems within a united Sri Lanka.” These are the same ideas and even the same phrases that Mahinda Rajapaksa used when misleading the international community.
3. “You are welcome to give us any other kind of support,” Mr. Wigneswaran says to our Tamil cousins in Tamil Nadu, “but please allow us to work out our own solutions to our own problems within a united Sri Lanka.” Our cousins deserve our respect and thanks for their support and sacrifice. CM Jayalalithaa and the Tamil Nadu legislature have passed (unanimously) a resolution calling for a South Sudan style referendum asking about a separate, secure and safe Tamil homeland. Jayalalithaa met Hillary Clinton in Chennai and spoke of the suffering of the Sri Lankan Tamils. We know, because when we met Asst. Secretary Blake at the state department he told us so. Secretary Clinton then worked to support the UNHRC resolution to bring war crimes charges against SL government leaders. Jayalalithaa and the TN legislature then pushed India to support the resolution also, and India has since supported it twice. TN Tamils have given us their support in our time of need. We appreciate their help, and we will never tell them “mind your own business.”
We urge Mr. Wigneswaran to apologize to the leaders and the people of Tamil Nadu.
Mr. Wigneswaran lives in Colombo and has lived there all his life. He is out of touch with the experiences and wishes of the Tamils in northeast Sri Lanka. He was reluctant from the beginning take this office and we urge the TNA should pick someone closer to the northeastern Tamils.
Tamils for Obama
Rifkha Roshanaara / July 24, 2013
Tamils for Obama should not be bothered about Tamils in Sri Lanka. It doesn’t make sense. It’s very evident that diaspora guys are shaken and as always cannot accept anything that’s against their separatist ideologies. Mr. Wigneswaran is right regarding his requests to pro-Eelam Tamil Nadu element who want Eelam for their selfish motives, even if it costs the lives of whole Sri Lankan Tamil community. Diaspora is no different either.
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Ben Hurling / July 24, 2013
Dudes,
Obama Tamils are stupid!
Living in the USA. Trying to manipulate world’s most powerful nation and its’ leaders using utter propaganda & corruption. To serve extreme Tamil ethno-nationalist racism in Sri Lanka. It does not work.
Justice Wigneswaran is a respected Tamil who did not run away from his country. All Sri Lankans may not agree with him on all issues. Still we can work with him. Because we know he wants to work for the Tamils of Sri Lanka. That is just fine with us. We know he is a civilzed man. We know he is an uncompromising democrat. Through and through. We also know that he loves our country and all its’ people. Whether we are Sinhalese, Tamil or Muslim.
I may not vote for Wigneswaran. Yet, I wish him all success.
Tamils for Obama are starting look like frustrated, pathetic, fascist idiotic, racists.
Cheers!
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Native Vedda / July 24, 2013
Ben Hurling
“Justice Wigneswaran is a respected Tamil who did not run away from his country.”
His eminence is not a sufficient condition for him being elected as prime minister or president.
He should have born in a Sinhala/Buddhist racist bigoted family.
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Ben Hurling / July 25, 2013
Native,
We need a Sri Lankan Tamil or Muslim leader who can mobilize the Sinhalese people. A man or a woman who can win Sinhalese hearts and minds as well. No just votes from their own ethnic group.
Do not forget Lakshman Kadirgamar achieved this goal among the people. Millions of Sinahlese prefered him to a Sinhalese Buddhist leader. Though he fell victim to internal power hungry individuals of the corrupt SLFP.
I believe such a leader will emerge eventually in Sri Lanka. When it happens top slot of Sri Lankan power will be up for grabs.
One must not forget, USA is a far more racially charged nation than Sri Lanka. A black teen cannot walk without getting shot there. Stupid “Tamils for Obama” take note. Yet, they now have a black man as their leader.
Yes, there are racists in SL. Like in every society. But, there are millions of others who are not.
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Uthungan / July 26, 2013
Ben H’s comment,specially the last line second para is most revealing and is the time is ripe for the cat to be let out of the bag on this sordid affair..?
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Wyatt K / July 28, 2013
Yes, he is called MA Sumanthiran…
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David Blacker / July 24, 2013
” “Mr. Wigneswaran lives in Colombo and has lived there all his life. He is out of touch with the experiences and wishes of the Tamils in northeast Sri Lanka.”
What an ironic claim by people living in the US :)
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Rifkha Roshanaara / July 24, 2013
Haha true and that too the people who live for Obama !
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Vishvajith / July 26, 2013
Hear, Hear.
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Ravi / July 27, 2013
Wheather you live in the US or any part of the world, this is common sense man. Wigneswaran is a Colombo Tamil. The Colombo Tamils mingle and socialize mostly with the Sinhalese. They even get married to them (Wigneswaran’s both sons are married to Sinhalese). Most of the Colombo Tamils try to understand the problems of the NE Tamils only by listening to them and by reading News just like the Sinhalese. The Colombo Tamils do not have any personal experience of the problems that the Northern Tamils have undergone. For Colombo Tamils, the Sinhala regime and the Indian government the unitary state is good enough and they consider the Jaffna Tamil parties, the Tamil Diaspora and Tamil Nadu as unwanted trouble makers. Even before getting elected, he is helping the Sinhala regime and India by telling Tamil Nadu not to pay attention to the Sri Lankan Tamils. Wigneswaran is already showing the traits of Lakshman Kadirgamar. We cannot afford another Lakshman Kadirgamar helping the Sinhala regime after getting elected. The TNA is making a huge blunder by listening to other countries and selecting a CM for the NPC who is not at all suitable for the Tamils of North. Today he is pretending like a Hindu priest but I am sure he will betray the Tamil people tomorrow. The TNA should make sure that if he fails to safeguard the interest of the Tamils in the North, remove him from the CM post and send him back to Colombo to live happily with his Sinhala in-laws.
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David Blacker / July 29, 2013
So you’re saying that the American Tamils who are even further away and out of touch from the Jaffna Tamils than the TNA know better than the Tamils who are actually in SL who have picked Wigneswaran? Oh yes, your logic is stupefying.
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Ravi / July 30, 2013
Where and when did I say that? Wigneswaran definetely is not in touch with the Jaffna Tamils. When it comes to actually knowing the Jaffna Tamils and their problems, there is no big difference between a Colombo Tamil and an American Tamil. American Tamils are also having enough relatives in Jaffna and they are in constant touch with their relatives.
When it comes to selecting a CM for the NPC, it should be someone from the North who has lived there through the troubled years.
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David Blacker / July 30, 2013
Really — you believe having relatives in Jaffna is the criteria for being in touch with the people of the NE? :D Aside from that, how can we take the judgement call of people who (according to you) are no more in touch with the NE than Wigneswaran over that of the TNA (who most certainly are in touch with the people of the NE)?
Personally I think there is a huge difference between living on the other side of SL and living on the other side of the planet, but hey, I live in SL.
If the criteria for understanding the people of the NE is to have lived there through the war, you’re acknowledging that Tamils for Obama and the rest of the diaspora do not have this capability. So why pay attention to them?
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Maamanithar / July 24, 2013
Vultures – The diaspora Tamils.They had a Donkey called VP. Dangling the carrot ”Tamil Ealam” before him, the diaspora enjoyed a heavenly ride on him at the expenses of the innocent blood. At the end of the war, the so called top ranking freedom fighters among diaspora became entrepreneurs. While hundreds of thousands of innocent civilian die, the political wing donkeys tried to save their lives to secure a second innings of fanaticism.
Had the final battle been taken place in the peninsula instead of Vanni, does anyone believes that the diaspora would have let their people die pathetically the way the vanniyans died in the vanni ??
Have you ever heard the diaspora blaming or condemning the LTTE for their atrocities on the fleeing poor Vanniyans during the last phase of the war.
Have you ever heard the diaspora portraying KP or Thaya master as ‘traitors’ ( It’s not applicable for their people)
Have you ever heard a diaspora Organization submitting accounts for the billions collected in the west and in Australia during the last phase of the war.?
Have you ever heard the diaspora speaking about the eradication of cast discrimination, social justice, equal rights among Tamils during the 30 years of toiling !!?
Have you ..!!? Has anyone..!!? Never.Never….and if you ask these questions, you are a traitor.
On the other hand, if you say yes , on the diaspora’s accusations on the enemy, then you are a son of the soil.
The diaspora desperately looking for another donkey for a ride. I was expecting the mudslinging proppaganda firstly from the EPDP or SLFPers. But see the naked diaspora Organizations. How come they could speak about rights. Shame on you Diaspora vultures.
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Jim softy / July 24, 2013
Have you ever heard a diaspora Organization submitting accounts for the billions collected in the west and in Australia during the last phase of the war.?
I know a story that one new Tamil couple bought a humongous house. Their only job was full time LTTE work. Other tamils were furious with them saying they have stolen money collected for the Fake Struggle.
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Thiru / July 24, 2013
The international community is looking at the Problems of the Tamils of North-East of Sri Lanka seriously now mainly due to the following:
1. Two Channel 4 exposures of the atrocities committed on them in
2009 produced by Callum Macrae and his team.
2. The UN reports that came out as a consequence of the exposures
by Channel 4,.
3. The wide spread protest by large numbers of Tamil Nadu Students,
including self immolation, that raised the awareness of Tamil Nadu people. The
Diaspora protests in London, Canada and elsewhere also contributed to it.
4. As a consequence of the student protests, Tamil Nadu government
passed resolutions in support Sri Lankan Tamil cause unanimously.
The Diaspora knows all the atrocities heaped on Tamils for 65 years
and continuing, because they are also victims of anti-Tamil pogroms and other injustices.
The Tamils of North-East cannot express their views freely under the repressive militray regime in operation.
It’s the Tamil kith and kin outside Sri Lanka, who can articulate their views in support of the democratic rights of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
I think it is unfortunate that Mr Wigneswarn dismisses all those outside who support the Tamil cause as emotional. He ought to apologize to Tamil Nadu people and the government of Tamil Nadu for his remarks. We need continued support from them.
Sinhala Majoritarian mind set will not allow any rights to Tamils.
I won’t be surprised if Wigneswaran is called to the 4th floor if he expresses anything the regime can’t swallow. Some TNA MPs have gone through that already.
There is a proverb in Tamil: The wife trusted the king lost her husband?
Did appeasing of the Nazi regime in Germany work? UK knows.
Please don’t hurt the hands that give us support when we need it the most.
Everybody makes mistakes; it is not a shame to apologize for one.
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Anpu / July 24, 2013
I agree.
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Bedrock Barney / July 25, 2013
Thiru, all you say is true. Perhaps he shouldn’t say dismiss all on the outside. Yet they are emotional. This post of chief minister has no real power. It is just garnishing. (Think about Pillayan and Abdul Majeeb, they are puppets) The last thing Wiggles will be doing is guiding the Tamil people. He will spend most of his time battling the governor of the northern province. He is best suited for the job in that context. Furthering the cause of Tamil rights in SL, will still firmly be in the hands of the TNA parliamentary group.
The reason for the holding of this election is CHOGM and UNHRC session later on. NOT your list provided above.
Negotiations for the furthering of Tamil rights in SL will be done by the Govt of India and the TNA NOT the Tamil diaspora and the Tamil Nadu government.
Think on it.
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manisekaran thangavelu / July 25, 2013
Do you think without involvement of TN government, GOI will act anything that related to SL, if so you are yet to learn a bit called geopolitics
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Bedrock Barney / July 26, 2013
Any observer of TN politics will know that the SL tamil issue is peddled by TN politicians only for their gain. I challenge you to show that the AIADMK and DMK have been consistent on the SL Tamil issue since the mid 70’s. You can’t, cuz you and I both know that they turn the tap on and off whenever it suits them.
As for geo politics. If SL gives India CEPA, Sampur and say Naval rights to the Hambatota port. Come BJP or Congress, Jaya will have to perform an Arangetram naked before the centre takes her seriously.
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Manisekaran / July 26, 2013
You are simply a armchair critics, for sure, you never knew anything more than what you read in newspaper columns.
1) It was AIADMK led MGR government which pursued the GOI to train LTTE in India ( Though LTTE turned into a different organization later)
2)It was TN government which pursued to accept refugee from Srilanka and share their’s whatever little they posses
3) It was these government which made all university free education available to Srilankan Tamils in India
4)It was Dr.Anna led team made Dr.Kamaraj to fight for plantation worker citizenry. There are plenty, keep quiet buddy.
Congress may help sinhalese but definitely not BJP. Because BJP is very consistent with SL policy from the day of katchatheevu transfer to denying arms to SL in 2003.
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Bedrock Barney / July 27, 2013
Mani, the view from my armchair says
(1) THE GOI trained 5 groups in Norther India. THe LTTE was the last to join, they did reluctantly. GOI insisted that only they will supply weapons. Which meant that they only wanted to pressure the GOSL not hand the Tamils Ealam. VP was smart enough to find his own weapons. Ask Gary Saxena, if he is alive. The AIADMK led by Jaya openly criticized the LTTE. You already know that. Which means there is NO CONSISTENCY. Got it. Same with Kalaignar. Only when it suits them.
(2) I have no idea what your second point means. I don’t speak Tanglish.
(3)Giving free education to refugees is only expected. They are refugees. They don’t have money to pay for education. That is why they are called refugees. In Western countries they give any refugee from any country everything free. You know why. It is because they are refugees. That has nothing to do with CONSISTENCY.
(4) Don’t insult the memory of Thonda and all he did for plantation Tamils. Kamaraj may have been big in India but he was a nobody in SL. It was Thonda who helped Plantation Tamils. On a off day read “Out of Bondage’ by T Sabratnam. Anyway I don’t see what that has got to with the TN goverment. But you brought it up.
As for BJP tell me one thing Vajpayee did for SL Tamils. As for Modi, he is the same as Rajapakse. They hate Muslims more than Tamils. Rajapakse prefers Modi over Manmohan.
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Manisekaran / July 27, 2013
I just countered to your view that TN parties supported SL tamils only for their electoral gain, which i refuted with few points. Your answer is cleanly on different path to the one you posted previously.
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weerasena / July 24, 2013
Tamil extremists abroad and Sinhala extremists like Wimal Weerawansa, Chandraprema, Ranawaka have something in common. They are all against Wigneswaran. This means that the TNA’s choice is an excellent one.
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commando695 / July 24, 2013
……so Tamils for Obama living in the US are in better touch with the Tamlis of the Northern Province, than is Mr.Wigneswaran …. get a life man!
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Leon / July 24, 2013
This has been the problem of the Tamil people, they can’t get along with each other and their divisions are exploited by the Sinhalese leadership. This is historical too. So, as long as there are KP’s, Douglases, Pilliyans, Karunas and others who work at cross-purposes they will sell their souls for some money and power, and the Tamil people will continue to suffer. So, all these know-alls had better try and unite for the greater good of the Tamil people without causing a dissipation, disunity and division in the ranks of the Tamils or be consigned to the dustbin of history as the Tamils in Sri Lanka will soon become absolute nobodies politically.
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Samaya / July 24, 2013
All these known tamil politians are just hand picked ones. I mean that are now in power supporting to ruling coalition, namely Douglases, Pilliyans, Karunas. There should be several better candidates like CV within 4 mio tamil population. They may be not known to many, but the highly educated ones among T diasphora can surely help regarding better candidates for the nominations. If they would not react at this stage, very same situation that southern and other PCs are facing today will be the consequence. Underqualified candidates have been elected to southern and other provinces through negligence of the SLFP party topleadership. Some continue with their crimes, while some trying to harm for example teachers for their reasons to kneel down before them. They have been a greater problem to general public today.
Sources said, the MP that was reported to have harassed a teacher had met with president. The guy had boasted saying further that he is innocent. See, today, under the guidance of MR, you can even kill others and stay without any charges. This is grave situ in the country today.
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David Blacker / July 25, 2013
But this candidate was picked by the TNA which is in opposition to the GoSL. Douglas, Pilliyan, Karuna, etc are — or were — the heads of their groups/parties and are in alliance with the government.
You say that the educated diaspora can help pick the candidate. But why should they have this privilege when they are not the constituents of the candidate. Do you believe the TNA to be uneducated and incapable? If you want to dabble in SL politics you must enter the arena, not stand on the road outside and shout.
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manisekaran thangavelu / July 25, 2013
The diaplaced disapora has every right in deciding Northern SL ploitcs, just because they were forced to exit tehir mother land, you cannot say that they dont have any right Example, Tamils in refugee camps in TN are stateless and they are still citizen of Srilanka. What will you say for them? was it their destiny to stay in 100 square feet small home and suffer?
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Bedrock Barney / July 26, 2013
You can thank the bleeding hearts of Kalinger and Jaya for the 100 sqaure feet. You know, becuse they care so much for one lakh SL Tamils who have lived like paraiahs in TN for 3 deacades. No one denies that SL Tamils have been mistreated and persecuted and it is a terrible thing.
Yet life is not fair. If your not in the country, you don’t matter! You can either set your self on fire or comment on CT and that Mani, is about all you can do.
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David Blacker / July 26, 2013
So “Tamils for Obama” are talking from a refugee camp in TN? Was the TGTE or TGIF or whatever they are called democratically elected by all diaspora Tamils (never mind SL Tamils) including those in your TN refugee camps? Please don’t talk nonsense. These statements are made by Tamils who have no interest in ever returning to SL, and so no, they don’t have a right to dictate SL politics.
In the end, whatever the circumstances people left under, they cannot expect to have a say in a place they have opted to leave and are unwilling to return to.
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Manisekaran / July 26, 2013
How do you know that they are not willing to return? Name 5 people who said so to you..
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David Blacker / July 26, 2013
Every single one of my dozen or so uncles and aunts who are in the diaspora.
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Manisekaran / July 26, 2013
DB,
Your inability to answer my direct question shows that you have not just lost your hair alone on the skull, also the brain inside.
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David Blacker / July 29, 2013
I have answered your question, Mani. Do you think that I am going to give you my relatives names so that you can slander and insult them as you have done me? The fact that you must resort to personal attacks predictably reveals that you need hair to cover the emptiness beneath.
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lal / July 26, 2013
You say: “Example,Tamils in refugee camps in TN are stateless and they are still citizen of Srilanka.”
Idiot, if they are stateless then they cannot be citizens!
If you are a frustrated LTTE loser, explore possibilities of self immolation.
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Manisekaran / July 26, 2013
You stupid, I refer they stay as refugee in India as stateless and they are originally citizen of srilanka.
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Bedrock Barney / July 27, 2013
Lal, I actually recommended that to Mani. He is angry and has got himself a computer. So now he busy proving that he is not able to make a coherent argument.
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Manisekaran / July 27, 2013
the below comments say , “By and large SL government will decide who will be the CM of NPPC.” what kind of democratic person that you are made of. Better to ignore people of your sorts.
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shankar / July 24, 2013
Is new york and chennai closer to northeast srilanka?Seems like where you live counts as to whether you are in touch with the problems of the people of the north as per tamils for obama.
Let us assume there is a eelam.Who is going to be the primeminister of eelam?Rudrakumaran?How can he be when he has been living in the US.He will not be in touch with the problems of the people of the north east as per tamils for Obama.Is that why the diaspora want to vote at a referendum,because they want to elect the first primeminister of eelam from among their own?Therefore the diaspora should not be allowed to vote at a referendum,lest this becomes a unnecessary power strugge again between tamils themselves,instead of a genuine quest for freedom for the tamils people.
Tamils for Obama are right because take the case of Gota.He abandoned the army and fled to the US for twenty years and did not even come for a holiday.He was absolutely out of touch when he was appointed the defence secretary.In fact so out of touch just imagine the poor soldiers who met their fate in nanthikadal and handed the LTTE a victory on a platter.Wignesvaran also going to mess up the north by living in colombo for so long.
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shankar / July 24, 2013
“3. “You are welcome to give us any other kind of support,” Mr. Wigneswaran says to our Tamil cousins in Tamil Nadu, “but please allow us to work out our own solutions to our own problems within a united Sri Lanka.”
Especially leave our fish alone.
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manisekaran thangavelu / July 24, 2013
You are stealing teh fish of Tamil men around katchatheevu, It is the right of TN fishermen, I had posted in many comments yet no one has come with valid arguements.
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shankar / July 25, 2013
kachativu is srilankan property and we are entitled to fish in our waters.As for tamilnadu,the CM has given licences for malayalee businessman with powerful trawlers using tamil fisherfolk to fish in our waters.So much for how mauch she really cares for the tamils of srilanka,whose tamil fishermen have at alst got the permission of the GOSL to start fishing without security restrictions.We certainly don’t mind some poor tamil fishermn coming and sharing some fish with us because we are all the same brethren,but we certainly mind some damn malayalee businessmen coming with their trawlers using methods such as bottomline trawling with large fishing nets and sometimes even using double trawling nets.They have finished the stocks of fish in tamilnadu waters and exported them to japan etc and now want to make a quick buck in our waters too and finish the stocks there.
That is why i said before talking of the lofty ideals of eelam etc,please first of all leave alone our fish so that the poor tamil fisherfolk in srilanka can start to have a livelihood again which they were deprived of all these years.
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manisekaran thangavelu / July 25, 2013
“kachativu is srilankan property and we are entitled to fish in our waters” – who said? where did you read this? This was a cheating to TN, do you know historical events on this. Please read;
The agreement was signed on 28 June 1974.Swaran singh was the external affairs minister of India and the parliamentary debate that happened during the agreement is of high importance.[8]
Article 5 of the 1974 agreement says “Subject to the foregoing,Indian fishermen and pilgrims will enjoy access to visit Katchathevu was hitherto and will not be required by Srilanka to obtain travel documents or visas for these purposes”
Though there has been no mention about fishing rights,M.Kalyanasundaram sought a clarification in this regard and Swaran singh replied quoting the 1921 agreement which tells that the fishermen of both the countries historically have fished in and around katchatheevu and have dried their nets there and hence their historic rights will be preserved in this agreement as well.By superimposing the parliamentary debate on the article 5,one can come to a conclusion that the fishing rights of Indian fishermen were not given away in 1974 agreement.
Prof.Suryanarayanan in his book “Conflict over fisheries in palk bay region” says that he was able to get information from a highly reliable senior officer of GOI that at a meeting between then Foreign secretary Kewal singh and PM’s secretary PN Dhar ,the external affairs minister maintained that the case of Katchatheevu was a disputed territory and what was done was not a “ceding away” but a demarcation.According to international laws of seas any delimiting should be done on the basis of equi-distance principle (as said earlier in this section).If the principle of median line was strictly adhered to Katchatheevu would have fallen on the Indian side.
The Dravidian parties expressed their discontent strongly over the agreement to the center and the Raja of Ramnad was naturally unhappy as well,he requested the government to protect the fishing rights of Indian fishermen. [9].Reading carefully the parliamentary debates,it is very clear that the regional parties strongly expressed their discontent against the agreement.Era.Sezhiyan (MP,DMK) called the agreement as “unholy and disgraceful statesmanship” and pleaded to go for a vote of confidence.K.Manohar (MP,DMK) threatened for a walk out.P.K.Thevar (MP,Forward bloc,Ramanthapuram constituency) went on to say that “you are acting like a dictator” and he emphasized that by ceding katchatheevu away the government has put the whole lives of fishermen in danger.P.K.Deo (MP, Kalahandi) pointed out that ceding away even an inch of the territory of the sovereign state is unconstitutional and violates Article 1.A.B.Vajpayee one of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prominent leaders called this agreement as unconstitutional and he said that “this is not an agreement but a surrender”.Despite of the wide outrage,Congress progressed and signed the agreement.
In march 1976,a second agreement was signed between India and Srilanka which delimited the boundaries in Gulf of mannar and in the Bay of Bengal to the west and east of the boundary line which was already delimited in 1974.
There was an exchange of letters between Indian Foreign secretary Kewal singh and W.T.Jayasinghe Srilankan Secretary of the Ministry of defence and foreign affairs [10] and in those letters it was categorically delineated that fishermen of India can not fish in historic waters of Srilanka and vice versa.Reading the verbatim of the letters would be crucial as the issue of fishing in wadge bank was deeply discussed.India allowed Srilankan fishermen to access wadge bank and fish there for three years from the agreement but it fixed the quantum of catch.But it is vivid that the fishing rights promised to Tamilnadu fishermen by Swaran singh in the parliament and article 5 of 1974 agreement was denied in the 1976 agreement.There was no satisfactory answer from the government of India
So, dont just jump by posting what is in wikipedia. Tamils were tols in parliament that their traditional fishing rights were retained.
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Citizen / July 26, 2013
Dear Manisekaran,
I agree with you.
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shankar / July 27, 2013
“Article 5 of the 1974 agreement says”
mani,it can say what it wants,we don’t care, you are still talking about the 1974 agreements while i gave you an excerpt from wiki that shows that it has been superseded in 1976.
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“The agreement was signed on 28 June 1974.Swaran singh was the external affairs minister of India and the parliamentary debate that happened during the agreement is of high importance.[8]”
Maybe of high importance to you,but it is of no interest to us at all now that the agreement has been signed by your government.Your internal processes leading upto the signing is of no consequence at all to us.It is upto you to see that due process was followed,not our problem.BTW you have given names of a lot of people who objected to it,but what about the main cinematic actor the cinema scriptwriter karunanithi.I believe he was the CM at that time.Why did he not do a fast to the death for about an hour between breakfast of thosai and lunch of vadai with a little bit of sambaru inbetween.
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Manisekaran / July 27, 2013
The point of contention is,when Artcile 5 exclusively did not refuse the rights of fishing, how would you assert that TN cannot fish over the water? (2) TN men can visit over the water without visa itself is rightful enough to reserve their legal right. Why is your navy killing them? When it is not even civil offense, who gave right to your navy to kill them? Recent RTI revealed so far 378 fishermen had been killed by your Navy. You are not only refusing the rights of us, but also killing them.
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shankar / July 28, 2013
“The point of contention is,when Artcile 5 exclusively did not refuse the rights of fishing,”
If it has not mentioned anything about fishing,then you can’t fish mate.If you can fish,nothing to stop article 5 from stating so.It can take just a few words such as “tamilnadu fishermen will be allowed to fish around kachativu”.How many words was that,9 in fact to make abundantly clear what you can and can’t do in and around kachativu.
Without arguing with us till the cows come home,just go and ask from the guys that drafted the clause why they did not insert those vital 9 words.They will tell you that they could not do it because you cannot fish there.
Have you ever wondered with your peanut brain why the hell should srilanka get kachativu,if you are allowed to fish there too.You might as well keep it then and fish in it or shit on it.
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“Recent RTI revealed so far 378 fishermen had been killed by your Navy”
Check how many of the 378 were killed around kachativu.Probably none.Most of those killed would have been in our territorial waters.Why are they there?Because in your waters you have finished all the fish due to unsustainable methods of fishing.
I agree with you that killing them is uncivilised,but what to do we are not a civilised people yet.The correct thing to do is to take them into custody,but the first thing that happens is that India puts tremendous pressure to release them and they get back to tamilnadu with a smirk on their faces and come back again,so probably the navy fellows lose their patience sometimes.
Anyway our waters and even our backsides are reserved for china and russia who are the only real friends we have in this world.
Chinese trawlers are allowed to fish and they pay for that.In fact in future china will be allowed to do anything they want,so you can go and have a bath in the ganges and wash your sins off.
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Manisekaran / July 29, 2013
Thanks for recognizing that I have a brain of at least peanut size, but I wonder that whether you have even at least that? Did you not understand what I said by “no visa required” do you want to even write in article 5 that whether TN fishermen has any right to pee in water? Huh?
Oh you are civilized hence you can kill, wonderful, wait,one day we also turn uncivilized to respond your navy man.
Yeah, give whole island to chinese, and worship their feet. Atleast our brothers have a place to reside 26 miles away, and you??? Deep waters of indian ocean.
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shankar / July 29, 2013
” Did you not understand what I said by “no visa required” “
I also go to many countries without a visa,but that does not mean i can go and plunder their resources.There is something called jail in those countries for smartass foreigners.
—-
Yeah, give whole island to chinese, and worship their feet. Atleast our brothers have a place to reside 26 miles away, and you??? Deep waters of indian ocean.
Does it matter whether one is pushed into the ocean by 1350 million chinese or 1250 million Indians?
Anyway just like taiwan needs a bodyguard like the US so that the taiwanese don’t get pushed into the sea by the chinese,we too need a bodyguard to stop us from being pushed into the sea by the indians.Of course like Indira’s bodyguard,our bodyguard also can shoot us but that is a risk we have no choice but to take especially after that behaviour of the fool bully Rajiv.
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shankar / July 25, 2013
“I had posted in many comments yet no one has come with valid arguements.”
I did post this in my reply to you in the article”holding of a referendum on eelam”,however here it is again
[Under the treaty agreement of 1974, Indian fishermen do not have rights to fishing around the island as it is within the territorial waters of Sri Lanka. Indian fishermen were only allowed to dry their nets and use Church for religious observance. With the 1976 agreement where delimitation of International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) was agreed upon as required by the UNCLOS, Indian fishermen do not have any right to even engage in drying of nets and use of Church in Kachchativu as 1976 agreement supersedes 1974 agreement.]
Don’t blame us for kachativu mate.Just blame Indira your very own primeminister for that who said “these are just some barren rocks only”.So just forget about kachativu now without crying and crying over it.You trusted the aryans and went into federalism with them,for them dravidian lands are barren rocks ,but see whether they will concede any barren aryan rocks or land.Not only that they will expect you to shed your blood fighting for them too to preserve their lands from pakistan and china in the future.Who went on the sucker ride?Jayalalalitha is also not a dravidian.They are brahmin aryans.Once when a MP from tamilnadu tried to sit next to her on the plane she had exploded saying how dare he try to sit so close to a brahmin.
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hannah rajaratnam / July 24, 2013
Mr Anadasangaree has made his announcement.He has made it clear as to why he can come forward for the CM position.Rightly said that he has worked hard for the Tamils welfare for many years.
He has v.kind words for Justice W.
Then,why not Gajen Ponnambalam,Congress Party?. As a young barrister,who upheld his granfather GG Ponnambalam’s ideals,worked politically for his father,late Kumar Ponnambalam,stood for elections in Jaffna under the same banner Tamil Comgress,and won hands down.Never changing his stance,joined forces with other parties to form TNA and worked hard so that Peace and stability for the Tamils could be achived.After the war he simply went back to his ideals – Tamil Congress.
He now permanatly resides in Jaffna and has worked hard these last 3 years.
We have amongst us a young,highly educated barrister,politician,and politics runs in his blood.
Why didn’t Sambanther think of him? Why did he look over the fence for others.
Will some one explain this.?
Thankyou
hr
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manisekaran / July 24, 2013
I think TNA succumbed to the pressure of India.In any case, Mr.Sumanthiran is a better choice than former justice.
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NAK / July 25, 2013
Mr.Sumanthiran is a better choice than former justice.
Why because he is Abrham? he has the same disqualifications as the judge.
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manisekaran thangavelu / July 25, 2013
Because we had seen many times that he fearlessly fought for the rights of minorities in your parliament and people of his calibre should take the position of CM.
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lal / July 26, 2013
By and large SL government will decide who will be the CM of NPPC. Not, Tamils for Obama, a mad Monk in UK, TRO, Endia or GTF. Justice W is acceptable, but not Mr Sumanthiran it seems. The matter is settled for now. Mr S will be offered another job by MR. Those who went to war to kill and lost will eat humble pie.
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Manisekaran / July 26, 2013
SL government will select CM of NPPC? Hmm you dictator mindset will not work in 21st century, mental patient, see some doctor.
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Park / July 24, 2013
If the Tamils for Obama are so worried that Colombo Wigneswaran does not know the feelings of Tamils in the North, how can the Tiger loving Tamils in the US know about the true feelings of the Tamils in the North? These so called Tamils for Obama still hold on to the tiger flag and want to control the masses in the North, what legitimacy do they have to do this. If they are truly interested in working for the benefit of the Tamils then they should be in Sri Lanka. For that matter Justice Wigneswaran could have left Sri Lanka and got a fat salaried job in the US, but he did not do it, and now he is prepared to lead the people in the North. This shows the double standard of the diaspora who do not truly understand the feelings of the people in Sri Lanka. Tamils for Obama please focus your efforts on US politics and leave Sri Lankan politics to Jusice Wigneswaran to handle.
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whywhy / July 24, 2013
First of all Mr.Wigneswaran is a Tamil,next,he was a
supreme court judge to serve all communities equal
and another plus point for him is,living in a place
where all cultures mix.At a time govt insists on a
homegrown solution for Tamil issue,Wigneswaran
sending signal to Tamil Nadu is,also a gesture to
Srilankan govt that he should be trusted.I think
it a good,serious and honest start.Tamil Nadu and
India understands this.
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Lanka likar / July 24, 2013
Obama Tamil please apply the same argument to you. If Wikneswaran lives in Colombo and thus he has no right to contest what right you have to speak about Tamils when you live in US. Looks like you have recruited some idiots among you. Obama is going to be very very angry. For Gods sake take his name out and call yourself Tamils for Stupids and Idiots.
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DW / July 24, 2013
Tamils for Obama! what a joke. Living in U.S and question about Justice Wigneswaran? Guys please get a life and go to a bar in U.S and drink some beer…geeeee…these guys are nuts and screw ups!!!
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Safa / July 24, 2013
Why not propose Obama for CM?
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Jim softy / July 24, 2013
What happened to “Tamils for Hilary Clinton” ?
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thivya / July 24, 2013
//Mr. Wigneswaran lives in Colombo and has lived there all his life. He is out of touch with the experiences and wishes of the Tamils in northeast Sri Lanka. He was reluctant from the beginning take this office and we urge the TNA should pick someone closer to the northeastern Tamils.//
Amen!!
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NAK / July 25, 2013
The same goes for most of the TNA as well!!
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j.muthu / July 24, 2013
Who cares tamils of tamilealam clear and united, TNA will win any donkey contest. u cant fool any longer. Tamils of tamilealam united and deliver their verdict, if its free and fair…..hoorrrraaayyy…
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Native Vedda / July 25, 2013
j.muthu
Long time no see.
“Tamils of tamilealam united and deliver their verdict,”
If that is true there must be something wrong with them. Remember once upon a time they were united behind VP.
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Lanka Liar / July 25, 2013
Sinhalese are united behind Pakses isnt it.
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j.muthu / July 26, 2013
Dear vedda,
I am in a deep mission, see u soon…
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Native Vedda / July 27, 2013
j.muthu
Thanks, good to hear from you.
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Lapatiya / July 24, 2013
Tamil for Obama and Tamil for Rajapakshaes does not like an Educated person like Hon.Vignashwaran. Tamil 4 Obama should take care of Obama like Tamil 4 Rajapaksha taking care of Rajapakshas.
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Kalu Kolla / July 24, 2013
@ Tamils for Obama – Justice Wigneswaran, did not run when he was threatened or in danger unlike you bunch of losers who ran off to another country, hide behind a veil and cry foul about what’s happening here and continue to live in peace there. If you folks are so concerned why not give up all your creature comforts and come back to build our country and unite it. Furthermore you say The Judge referring to as our army, our navy is incorrect. How else would you want him refer them as” the LTTE”. He is talking about a Sri Lankan army which is what we refer ourselves to outsiders. Sorry to say this as a Tamil, I am disgusted the way you diaspora try to meddle and screw things up. You left this country please stay there and keep out. The Good Judge shall prevail.
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thivya / July 25, 2013
I am skeptical about the choice of Vigneswaran as the CM candidate. The widespread support of Tamil Nadu Tamils is the biggest headache facing the Mahinda regime and the Indian government. Their noise is making the International community pay attention to the plight of Tamils and the Mahinda regime has been struggling to contain the support of Eelam Tamils in Tamil Nadu.
Now this unelected guy is telling them not to pay attention to the Eelam Tamils. Indirectly he is helping the Sinhala regime, I think we Tamils must be concerned about it. We have to keep him on a leash and make sure he won’t pull another Kadhirkama(r) on us. We cannot afford another Kadhirkamar helping the Sinhalese colonize our homeland at the cost of Tamils. The TNA must have enough safeguards to remove him as a Chief Minister as soon as he is showing any trait of Kathirkamar. We do not need anyone who wants a united Sri Lanka on the blood and sacrifice of innocent Tamils. We are taking a gamble by appointing him as the CM candidate.
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Native Vedda / July 25, 2013
thivya
“The widespread support of Tamil Nadu Tamils is the biggest headache facing the Mahinda regime and the Indian government.”
Is it so?
Where was this biggest headache when their brethren in this island needed them most? Tamilnadu must have swollen panadol in large quantities. Those painkillers were made in New Delhi perhaps. Weren’t they?
“Their noise is making the International community pay attention to the plight of Tamils “
If I were you I wouldn’t bet on it.
“Now this unelected guy is telling them not to pay attention to the Eelam Tamils.”
He was only setting out his stall. If people like his goods let them buy from him. If they don’t like his goods they don’t have to.
Un-elected VP did tell the stupid Tamils, when, where and how to pee. In the process many lost their lives and properties. Did it ever bother you? Have you had the good fortune to challenge the psychopath?
Kathir was never a TNA candidate.
“We do not need anyone who wants a united Sri Lanka on the blood and sacrifice of innocent Tamils.”
It appears you don’t want a United Sri Lanka. Sinhala/Buddhists too don’t united Sri Lanka. It appears that both stupid agree on one thing, opposition to United Sri Lannka.
The only solution to this problem is to pack both Tamils and Sinhalese and send them back to their mother country India.
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Samarasinghe / July 25, 2013
It is unfortunate to note that Justice Wigneswaran enjoys a luxurious life in Colombo, sans the Police powers and Land rights which has not bothered him or any other tamil who is living in the South in their millions working and earning among the Sinhalese.
The truth of the matter is that education and improved standard of living should be the need of the hour not only for the Tamils but for the Sinhalese and Muslims too who live below poverty line in their millions.
It is not only minority concerns but the concerns of the majority too should be addressed for a lasting peace but the consistent interference from Tamil Nadu and its assistance to political terror campaigns will unsettle any agreement reached between the Sinhalese and the Tamils mainly due to mythical Tamil homeland dream.
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manisekaran thangavelu / July 25, 2013
You are wrong Samarasinghe, TN never had rigourously campaigned for separate eelam except MK and Vaiko. The other parties like CPI,Congress, AIADMK was requesting only 13A as a solution till May 2009. It was your army which massacred civilians made the TN to take such stand.
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Anpu / July 25, 2013
“Jayalalithaa on Saturday said her party would strive for the establishment of an independent ‘Tamil Eelam’ as that was the only lasting solution to the decades-old ethnic crisis. ( Watch – http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/videoshow/4449506.cms )”
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-04-26/india/28008908_1_tamils-aiadmk-sinhala-majority
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Manisekaran / July 26, 2013
Sorry, in my statement it should be “did not” instead of “never had”
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Sengodan. M / July 25, 2013
It is true that Mr. Wigneswaran’s comment on the role of the Tamilnadu politicians was inappropriate. He may have mentioned that in passing, but the Indian media for their own reasons,perhaps to serve vested interests had highlighted those comments. We all respect the sympathetic sentiments of the PEOPLE of Tamilnadu,especially those of the students and others at grass-roots level. Whether such sentiments of the leadership, especially Jeyalalitha and more so of Karunanithi are equally genuine is questionable. Those two leaders are just playing politics at our expense and nothing more.
To blow out the above comment out of proportion and call for a replacement of the candidate for CM is absolutely silly, to say the least.
Can I ask you, the Tamils for Obama, what have you achieved for the Tamils of Eelam so far? Can you please. Submit at least a short list?
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jeevan / July 25, 2013
“Can I ask you, the Tamils for Obama, what have you achieved for the Tamils of Eelam so far? Can you please. Submit at least a short list?”
Good question. We would all love to see that list.
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Sengodan. M / July 25, 2013
The fact that Wigneswaran was living in Colombo cannot disqualify his candidature. Was not ‘Thanthai Chelva’, the late S. J. V. C living mostly in Colombo? If you all who are living in the U.S can in someway serve the interests of Sri Lankan Tamils, cannot C.W serve better?
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Sivathasan / July 25, 2013
To Sir Ivor Jennings, the defeat of Churchill after the World War was not ingratitude of the Britisher but political maturity. For the Tamils, the time is now for a display of hard headed reasoning and not of sentimental outpouring.
What are our compelling needs? Resuscitation of people’s lives. regeneration of the economy and reconstitution of the political framework. Interaction with power centres on equal terms is necessary. We can hold with the sage “The world is well disposed to acting with speed, if there be logical and coherent presentation”. Valluvar’s choice is “One with wisdom, personability and scholarship” to set out on such a mission.
Nehru’s first Cabinet had quite a few distinguished personages, who were not Congressmen and who were not participants in the struggle. They were not even initiates in politics. Nehru’s selection fell on the best for the most challenging.
In the fifties, the Communists were inveterate critics of Nehru. About them he said “They are people who hold the umbrella in India when it rains in Russia”. About socialism he said “It means redistribution of wealth and India has only poverty to distribute”. India owes her position to Nehru’s intellectuality and pragmatism. Tamils too have to opt for wise choice.
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Senguttuvan / July 25, 2013
Justice Vigneswaren is politically mature and otherwise savvy enough to know that even within the Tamil socio-political formation there are
interests – under State inspiration and at the instance of frustrated
elements within the country and outside – to throw barbs at him in various ways. The uncultured and out of depth Weerawansa convincing a waiting Sinhala chauvinist audience Vigneswaren is India’s choice is
one such trickery. There will be many more. It will be a rocky path and the experienced men in the TNA will have to help Vignesewaren to overcome these predictable obstacles.
It is intriguing the date of the Election is still kept in suspense
Why?
Senguttuvan
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Donald J Gnanakone / July 25, 2013
@Senguttavan… Your assumptions are all wrong.
I support the position of Tamils For Obama as I wrote 2 days ago, with copy to this editor as well.
Mr. W’s attack on Tamil Nadu politicians were totally inappropriate and foolish. But this is on someone’s instructions and directions. This is very obvious and are signs of what can be expected when he is CM.
BTW, the election date is 28th of September. My vote is for the TNA despite the differences of opinion on the selection and the candidacy of people like TULF’s Anandasangary and PLOTE’s Sitharthan. Many Tamil quislings for decades are receiving nomination from the TNA which is a disgrace.
Tamils For Justice
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NAK / July 25, 2013
TNA is compelled to give nomination to Sangary and others for if not they will compete as indipendants spoiling the chances of wining the PC
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michael don / July 25, 2013
Tamils for Obama should be named Tamils for Bush! They are a stupid lot of Engineers and Doctors whose ideas on tamil culture does not go beyond their Bharathanatyam Arangetram’s and their caste culture.
We have had years of Jaffna men who could not speak a word of Sinhalese determining Tamil politics. Look at the Muslim politicians who speak Sinhala fluently. It is high time we make sure that any notable Tamil political leader speaks fluent Sinhalese and understand the Sinhala mind in order for us to do better politics than our arch Jaffna man who led us to hell from Jaffna Mr vp.
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David George / July 25, 2013
Just letting everyone know since I live in the US, that Tamils for Obama arent big or have any sufficient influence at all. Its a small group, although wealthy, their impact is very minimal.
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Raja / July 25, 2013
Its the Tamils for Obama who are out of touch! They should instead defend Obama’s rather unimpressive record in the US!! These people have done nothing for the livelihood or economic development of the Sri Lankan Tamils. India and the United States have raised issues of human rights in Sri Lanka but that has more to do with geostrategic issues rather than the lobbying of any diaspora group or even the Tamil Nadu politicians. The Tamil Nadu politicians have also been self seeking and like the diaspora group have done nothing tangible except to raise histrionics. The most vociferous of them like Vaiko and Seeman are not even electable in Tamil Nadu!
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / July 25, 2013
You had already took a gamble by appointing VELUPILLAI PIRAPAHARAN as the SOLOE saviour of Tamil people of Sri Lanka, not asking from all Sri Lankan Tamils.
And Humiliated The Once Proud Tamil people.
And Got HIs Stupid Brain Investigated By a Gun Shot.
[forget About the Cyanide Tubes],
That is A TRECHARY,
done to All Sri Lankan Tamils and
Finnely, Got Killed His Own 12 year old Innocent Kid also.
What A TRAIROR To HIS own people.
And Ultimately Innocents Of Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims with others paid from their lives.
Now you Crying with Crocodile TEARS for Tamils.
HON Lakshman Kadiragamar was not a racist like Your Pirapaharan.
You, and India’s Tamils, Don’t Want Hon Vigneswaran ,
So who care about India’s Tamils and you.
But Sri Lankan Tamils need him as their Chief Minister candidate
to represent them.
So STOP BARKING AND BELLOWING , Mind Your Own Businesses.
Let Sri Lankan Tamils to Decide What they want.
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JULAMPITIYE AMARAYA / July 25, 2013
ABOVE COMMENT IS FOR THIRU AND THVIYA
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