REFUGEE

A week after shaking hands with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Viduthali Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol Thirumavalavan has called upon the international community to declare the Lankan President and his brother ‘war criminals’ and impose economic sanctions on the island nation.

Thirumavalavan, who was part of a delegation of MPs from Tamil Nadu that visited some camps for the internally displaced Tamils in Lanka, took a stand independent of the delegation’s on Monday. “No one can tolerate the sufferings of Tamils in the camps. I am at a loss to understand why countries, including India, continue to be mere spectators to this tragedy,” he said.

Thirumavalavan said the displaced Tamils he met in the camps had cried and pleaded with the delegation to poison them rather than let them live in the camps. The camps were crammed, with eight to 10 people made to live in spaces meant for just two persons, he said in a statement. “Though resettlement of displaced Tamils and extending help for this purpose are immediate requirements, the most important things to be done now are exposing the human rights violations committed by the racial rulers of Sri Lanka and punishing them for the crimes,” he said.
Thirumavalavan said he would lead a demonstration in Chennai on October 22, pressing for his demands. Earlier in the day, VCK cadre were arrested for attempting to burn the effigy of Rajapaksa near Perambur railway station.