Vaiko alleges heckling by Sri Lankans at UNHRC meet

A group of Sri Lankans, allegedly former defence personnel, heckled MDMK general secretary Vaiko soon after he completed his address during a debate at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, he alleged.

After concluding his address for the second time, a group of Sri Lankans allegedly encircled him. A woman in the group yelled at Vaiko, saying that he was not a Sri Lankan Tamil to raise the Sri Lankan issue, a statement from the party on Monday quoted by the New Indian Express claimed.

When Vaiko said he had the right to speak up for Sri Lankan Tamils with whom Tamil Nadu’s relations were intertwined, the men allegedly shouted at him, saying that rebel LTTE cadre were ruthless murderers and cut-throats, alleged the MDMK. The release said those present at the venue felt that it was a deliberate attempt to stop Vaiko from attending the UNHRC session.

Earlier, Vaiko had expressed concern over the alleged torture of Sri Lankan Tamils a. He noted that about 1.46 lakh Sri Lankan Tamils were killed till May 2009, and 90,000 women were rendered war widows.

The only way to protect the Sri Lankan Tamils and ensure justice to them was to refer the issue to the UN General Assembly and recommending to constitute the International Criminal Court, Vaiko emphasised.