Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email Its one of those rare occasions where Indian leaders from both sides of the local political divide were attending a common function.
Even though the police (who seem to be fond of joining protests and gathering nowadays – perhaps they are bored with daily routine of chasing after road thugs and doing riot drills) issued warning that SMS invitations to attend the gathering should be ignored because the gathering is illegal, nearly 5000 (MK estimate) people attend the protest on Sunday at Batu Caves. One can of course ask if other similar “gatherings” like for Palestine also required any permits, but you know, I know, this is Bolehland. Boleh for certain people, but Tak Boleh for others who are lesser citizens.
Among those who attended were Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk M. Saravanan, Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam, Teluk Intan MP M. Manogaran and MIC Youth adviser S. Vel Paari. PKR’s Padang Serai MP N Gobalakrishnan, Batu Caves temple committee chairperson R Nadarajah. and DAP’s Klang MP Charles Santiago were also present.
The gathering started around 10am and finished after noon. It was organised by World Tamil Relief, plus few other NGOs. Main purpose was to condemn the thousands of Tamils lives lost in the war in northern Sri Lanka.
According to MIC’s Saravanan:
Deputy Federal Territories Minister Datuk M. Saravanan, when met at the rally, said that the rally was not in support of any militant group but to show concern for the loss of lives of innocent Tamil civilians.
“We urge the international community, including Malaysia, to not support the actions of the Sri Lankan government and help the Tamil community there to live peacefully,” he said.
Malaysiakini said the protest rally was ” to voice the opposition against the war crimes perpetuated by the Sri Lankan government against innocent Tamils in its ongoing war against the LTTE.”
There were few speeches:
Nadarajah:
… said that he was pressured by some quarters not to allow for the rally to take place in the temple compound today.
“But I insisted on it being held in support for the Sri Lankan Tamils,” he said to the loud approval of the crowd.
Saravanan:
… also lauded the presence of so many politicians at the rally despite their political differences.
“I am proud that we can stand united here for our Sri Lankan Tamil brothers,” he said.
He also lashed out at the Indian government, particularly the Tamil Nadu state government, for not doing anything to stop the attacks on civilians in Sri Lanka.
“If one Prabhakaran is killed, thousands of Prabhakaran will rise. If Israel can be formed, a Tamil nation can be formed too,” he added.
He also urged the Malaysian government not to support a draft resolution tabled by Sri Lanka at the United Nations calling for member nations not to interfere in the internal affairs of the country.
He said such a support for Sri Lanka would hurt the hearts of Malaysian Tamils.
Manoharan:
… the Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse had committed war crimes by killing innocent Tamils in the country.
“He is guilty of war crimes and must be charged in the war crimes tribunal,” he added.
Gobalakrishnan:
… also similarly condemned Rajapakse for “murdering innocent children and women”.
He said that the spirit instilled by Prabhakaran would remain even if he was killed.
Kulasegaran :
… urged the Malaysian government not to give any financial aide to Sri Lanka as it would seem like it was supporting the war crimes in that island state.
“The government of Malaysia is going to give RM3 million to Sri Lanka. We cannot allow that. I will raise this issue in the parliament,” he said.
[note: I hope Kula will raise this issue in the Parliament. Even if he doesn’t others like Gobalakrishnan, Kohilan, Devamany or Saravanan should do it. When the speaker rejects it, will all the Indian MPs walk out?]
Those folks managed to come up with “Batu Caves resolution” as below:
1. “We will form a peace team to be sent to Sri Lanka to help rebuild the lives of the war victims,” said organising committee member K Arumugam.
2. call for the United Nations to start a probe on the Sri Lankan government and to institute war crime charges against the Sri Lankan leaders.
3. lifting of all restrictions imposed on the international community to assess the full nature of the catastrophe that has struck the Tamils in Sri Lanka and offer immediate relief.
4. formation of an independent Tamil state and until then the establishment of a UN peacekeeping force on the island to maintain peace.
5. call upon international community to offer all necessary humanitarian aid through international aid agencies.
6. call upon the Malaysian government to recognise the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils and institute immediate measures to give assistance and financial support to the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
7. the government to withdraw its support for the Sri Lankan resolution in the UN.
Unfortunately, the rally was scoffed at by the Sri Lankan High Commissioner saying that the Indian Malaysians who had protested last Sunday are “jokers”.
“It doesn’t matter to us. We won’t take any action. Why should we? They are jokers,” he told Malaysiakini at his office.
He also provided response the various resolutions taken during the rally:
Asked why international NGOs are being restricted from operating in Sri Lanka, he said this is because many such bodies are already working there.
“(They include) Mercy Malaysia which is operating two hospitals. We have an adequate number of NGOs operating there. We don’t want to have more NGOs than the population.”
“There are also security reasons (against entering areas where battle has been waged). There are dangerous areas filled with landmines. Hence certain rules need to be imposed for security purposes.”
As for the plan to send in a ‘peace team’, the envoy said that an application should be submitted for his government’s consideration.
The organisers and politician who attended the rally were disappointed:
One of the organisers of the Sunday rally SP Pathi:
“They have never respected opinions of the minority, the United Nations or the European Union.
“This shows that they are indifferent to any kind of opinion. That’s why we want the United Nations’ independent inquiry to assess human rights abuses which borders war crimes,” he said.
Another organiser K Arumugam was even more blunt:
“can’t expect anything less from a man who represents state terrorists”.
“We prefer to approach the Sri Lanka government which will enable access for humanitarian aid to be given to all war victims, regardless of whether they are Tamils or Sinhalese. I regret the demise of civilians.”
DAP’s Klang MP Charles Santiagosaid the envoy’s remarks are undiplomatic and unprofessional:
“I guess we have 5,000 jokers here and billions out there. He is only attempting to undermine the criticism of Sri Lanka.
“It is a disservice to his government. It is not the way of a professional diplomat. He is being emotional.”
MIC Youth wing advisor S Vell Paari was also angered by Ranasinghe’s comments:
“His attitude reflects exactly how his government has been treating the Tamil civilians there,” he said.
“I am sad, disappointed and angry with his insensitive attitude over a problem which has brought about a humanitarian crisis in that island state.
“And his arrogance only masks their guilt in causing the crisis. He does not talk about how we can help solve the problem.
“He is only interested in putting us down so that the problems in his country can be overlooked.”
Vell Paari said that Ranasinghe should “find time to talk to the protesters to understand why they are angry”.
He also said that the envoy should apologise to Indian Malaysians within the next 48 hours for insulting them.
Not only did a foreigner demeaned the rally, a local Indian also did the same. P Mukuntha, president of Coalition of Malaysian Indian Associations condemned the rally as irrelevant and said the UN has the right to decide on solution. He was interviewed along with few pseudo-you-know-which-party fellas in that useless piece of paper. Talk about a black sheep in the community! When the community should be standing unity, we have these real jokers having their time in the media. If got nothing to say, better people like Mukuntha keep their orifices closed and stay far, far away.
Presiden Gabungan Persatuan India Malaysia, P Mukuntha, berkata Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) mempunyai hak untuk membuat keputusan dan mencari penyelesaian terbaik krisis di negara berkenaan dan tindakan pihak tertentu mengadakan demonstrasi jalanan tidak relevan sama sekali.
“Apa yang berlaku di sana (Sri Lanka) adalah krisis dalaman negara itu. Jadi, PBB paling sesuai mencari jalan keluar krisis kemanusiaan di sana. Mereka mempunyai mekanisme yang diketahui berkemampuan untuk menilai apa yang berlaku di negara berkenaan.
“Tidak ada guna jika kita di sini mengadakan pelbagai siri demonstrasi jalanan sehingga menjadi acara mingguan sedangkan suara itu boleh disalurkan oleh pemimpin kita pada persidangan PBB. Ini semua hanya motif mahu cari publisiti dan nama,” katanya ketika dihubungi di sini, semalam.
Beliau mengulas mengenai kira 2,000 penduduk berkumpul di Kuil Sri Subramaniar, Batu Caves bagi membantah tindakan Sri Lanka membunuh masyarakat Tamil di negara itu dalam krisis bersenjata dengan LTTE.
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