A massive political rally under the theme of ‘Eluka Thamil’ or ‘Tamils Arise’ was held today (Sept 16) in Jaffna by Tamil National Alliance (TNA) breakaway groups ahead of Presidential polls.
Former Chief Minister of the Northern Province C.V.Wigneswaran led the rally through one of his civil society groups called Tamil Peoples’ Council of which he is a Co-Chair.
Along with C.V. Wigneswaran, Eelam Peoples’ Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) and other TNA break-away political parties took part in the rally which drew huge crowds from across the Northern province. However, the Tamil National Peoples’ Front (TNPF) boycotted the rally following disagreements over political issues.
Ahead of the rally, the organizers called for a hartal campaign to be observed today. Many trade unions, student groups, and civil society groups heeded the call.
Earlier the Governor’s Secretariat announced that public school activities would be held as usual. However, student turnouts were poor in many schools since limited transport facilities were made available to the public.
Addressing the rally, Mr Wigneswaran accused successive Governments of committing ‘genocide’ against the Tamil community claiming that such issues were yet to be brought before the UN Human Rights Council for war crimes and other abuses during the final stages of the war.
He said that all attempts by the international community to bring Sri Lanka before the UNHRC under an accountability mechanism on account of war crimes and crimes against Humanity had failed.
“Removal of GSP Tax Exemption given to Sri Lanka by the EU has not deterred the government from pursuing its anti-human rights course,”
“We also request the UN to send a special rapporteur to Sri Lanka to examine Human Rights violations being committed against Tamils. We also request the High Commissioner for UNHRC to open up branches in North/East to oversee Human Rights’ violations still being committed,” he said.
(Reporting by Rubatheesan Sandran)
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