IPL withdraws Sri Lankan players from Chennai matches

            The Indian Premier League (IPL) General Council decided that Sri Lankan players will not play in IPL matches to be held in Chennai. Earlier, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh saying that “the participation of Sri Lankan players in the IPL tournament, with many games to be played in Chennai, will aggravate an already surcharged atmosphere and further offend the sentiments of the people.”

Chennai is scheduled to host 10 matches, including a qualifier and an eliminator after the league phase. The Chief Minister’s letter prompted the IPL Governing Council to convene an emergency meeting where it was decided that Sri Lankan players and officials will not take part in the matches to be played in Chennai. It was a rather quick response to a strongly worded letter from the Chief Minister. The letter said that, The BCCI may be advised by the Government of India to prevail upon the IPL organisers not to allow Sri Lankan players, officials, umpires and support staff to take part in the tournament in Tamil Nadu. The Government of Tamil Nadu will permit IPL matches to be held in Tamil Nadu only if the organisers provide and undertaking that no Sri Lankan players, umpires, officials or support staff would participate in these matches.

This would be the second instance of the IPL saying no to players from a neighbouring nation, although, this time, they have been barred from taking part only in one city. Pakistan players have not been picked by any of the franchisees since 2009. Azhar Mahmood is the only Pakistani to have made it — to Kings XI Punjab — because he holds a British passport.

Recently, the Asian Athletics Championship, scheduled to be held in July in Chennai, was shifted. The State government cited pro-Sri Lankan Tamil sentiments among the people as the reason.

Online comments on the Lankan players to be out of Chennai in IPL:-

Why the North Indian media channels are shrieking in horror and wringing our hands in dismay at the decision of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa to ban the stylish Lankan cricketers from playing in Chennai? ‘Well, Chennai isn’t India, how can she take a decision impacting the country’s foreign policy, traditionally considered the exclusive preserve of New Delhi?’ Jayalalithaa has decidedly taken her cue from New Delhi’s propensity to lasso sports into politics. Just as 26/11 and Kargil angered and shocked us at the duplicity of the Pakistani state, so has the killing of Tamilians in Lanka shocked their brethren in Tamil Nadu. The Lankan military bombed indiscriminately and relentlessly the civilian population of North and East Lanka in the months before the LTTE was decisively defeated and decimated. Thus, free from the fear of retaliation, the Lankan soldiers killed in cold blood, secure in the knowledge that they enjoyed impunity.

It is a humanitarian act. In fact, the Centre should have ensured that no Sri Lankan player participated in IPL. The move is not against the players or sports. It is an announcement to the international community that Tamil Nadu is sensitive to the plight of Sri Lankan Tamils.

The Shiv Sena ensured that Pakistani players were left out of IPL in 2008 (and still no Pakistani players is in IPL); Telangana agitation succeeded in shifting the venue out of Hyderabad in 2009. But when Tamil Nadu insists, the whole Indian ‘uncivilised’ media cries to a large extent, that Tamil Nadu is dangerous to Federal of India. Politics and sports should not be mixed up. But they forget the same mix up when India cancelled friendly match of Hockey with Pakistan earlier this month.

 Related links:-

Jaya's letter to PM on IPL matches to ban Sri Lankan Players from Chennai matches

TN Assembly passes resolution on 'Eelam'

            The Tamil Nadu Assembly urged the Centre to move a resolution in the United Nations Security Council seeking various measures against Sri Lanka, including a referendum on creation of Eelam. Considering the future of Sri Lankan Tamils, such a referendum should be held among Tamils living in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora, says the resolution, which the House adopted unanimously through a voice vote after it was moved by Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

Urging the Centre to stop calling Sri Lanka a “friendly nation,” the Assembly demanded that an independent international inquiry be conducted into “genocide” and “war crimes” committed in the final phase of the Eelam War in 2009; those found guilty be produced before an international court and given appropriate punishment; and till the Sri Lankan government stopped repression of Tamils, an economic embargo be imposed on the island nation.

Coming down heavily on the Centre government for its approach to the issue, Ms. Jayalalithaa said that even though two years had gone by since the Assembly adopted a resolution (which had demanded, among others, that the government impose economic sanctions on Sri Lanka), the Centre had done nothing. In her speech during the debate on the Governor’s address last month, she appealed to the Centre to get a resolution passed at the United Nations Human Rights Council on the basis of the 2011 Assembly resolution, but the government, which comprised the DMK, did not bother about it.

For the crimes against humanity committed, whole world must boycott the

Sri Lankan Administration. Unfortunately, lives lost are not American or

European lives - The world will ignore this tragedy!

Khurushid rejects T.N. resolution on Eelam:-

The government rejected the Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution that asked the Centre to stop treating Sri Lanka as a friendly nation and to slap sanctions on it while demanding a referendum on a separate Tamil Eelam. External Affairs Minister Mr. Salman Khurshid told Karan Thapar in Devil’s Advocate programme on CNN-IBN that there is no question of [our] accepting them. That is not the only State that has a stake in this. What about the others? There are many other States. There are many other Assemblies. The rest of India is not supporting this.

When Karan Thapar asked about the Tamil Nadu Assembly’s three important resolutions, he said a firm “NO” to each of the three demands. He added that, if all of India was to support, it was another matter. But if one State supports something, it is sensitive to their concerns but do not necessarily have to...

The Assembly resolution urged the Centre to take firm steps against Colombo until the “suppression” of Tamils was stopped and those responsible for “genocide and war crimes” faced a credible international probe. The resolution came on the heels of Ms. Jayalalithaa’s letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding that India boycott the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Colombo in November this year. On the issue of CHOGM in Colombo, he said the government had an open mind about it but made it clear that as of today it was a party to the collective decision.

UN readies for vote on Sri Lanka: five-point cheatsheet

The United Nations is gearing up for a vote on Sri Lanka this week that will hold it accountable for alleged war crimes against its ethnic Tamil population during the final phases of the bloody civilian war against the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The US, which is sponsoring the motion against Colombo, has circulated a draft of the resolution.

Here's ready reckoner on the resolution:

(01) What the resolution says:

Moved by the US, the draft resolution against Sri Lanka, in gist, calls for an independent investigation that will be monitored by the UN Human Rights Commissioner.

(02) US resolution toned down:

The revised draft circulated by the US is being viewed as a watered down version of the initial one - the resolution was first submitted on March 12 but was re-introduced with changes on March 18. The current draft does not mandate an international probe into alleged war crimes and human rights violations during Sri Lanka's lengthy civil war with Tamil rebels.

(03) DMK's demand:

The Karunanidhi-led party wants India to press for stronger language in the resolution that would call for an independent, international probe against Sri Lanka for alleged war crimes against Lankan Tamils. The party also wants the world "genocide" to be part of the text of the resolution. But the government hasn't acquiesced to the DMK's demands, leading the latter to pull out of the government today.

(04) Will India push for changes to the draft:

Sources say that for its amendments to be accepted, India would need the support of 24 out of 47 member countries, which is unlikely. Government sources also say that New Delhi will not agree for the word "genocide" to be incorporated in the resolution.

(05) India's contribution to draft?

From "urges" to "encourages" and "unfettered access" to "extending invitations" for Special rapporteurs - these are some of the several areas that suggest a softening of language in the revised resolution. Sources say that the toning down of the draft could not have been possible without New Delhi's approval.

Related links:-

Why India needs to vote for UN resolution on Sri Lanka?

About UNHRC

DMK’s pull out a drama: Jayalalithaa

Slamming DMK president M. Karunanidhi for announcing his party’s withdrawal from the UPA over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa described it as a “drama” and indicated it was an action which came too late in the day. His announcement that the party was withdrawing its support to the Centre over the Lankan Tamils issue was a late decision, she said while also referring to a Tamil saying.

 She said that, when the war in Sri Lanka was at its peak in 2009, he embarked on a “three-hour fast drama,” but neither pulled out his party nominees from the government nor withdrew support to it. On his assurance that the hostilities had ceased, people had come out of bunkers only to fall victims to shelling and Mr. Karunanidhi was “responsible” for their killing, the AIADMK supremo alleged.

“Sri Lankan Tamils would have been saved if he had withdrawn his support to Central government then. Karunanidhi did not do it. This is a very big betrayal of Tamils,” she alleged.

The “second betrayal” came when DMK did not insist the Centre to implement a Tamil Nadu Assembly resolution in 2011 that called for economic sanctions to be imposed on Sri Lanka till Tamils in the island nation were ensured status on par with the majority Sinhalese.

She said that at the previous UNHRC session, India was responsible for “weakening” a “fairly strong” US-sponsored resolution and Mr. Karunanidhi had “not opened his mouth.” “While he squandered all the opportunities to strongly voice against the Centre, he has announced quitting UPA today, which amounts to washing his hands off responsibility,” she said.

On his demand for a resolution in Parliament incorporating two amendments sought by him to the US backed initiative against Sri Lanka in UNHRC, she said it won’t help the cause in the present situation as a motion in the UN rights body alone would enable taking strong action against Colombo.

“People are tired of the countless dramas by Karunanidhi. While the revived TESO had failed to find any support among people and students, he seems to aim at minimising the blame by enacting the latest drama. His aspirations would not come true and people will teach him a right lesson for his drama,” she said.

DMK quits from UPA-II

UPA-DMK govt crisis - Political Analyst chat

No ‘Karuna’ for UPA? Congress ship may sink sans DMK mast

It isn’t without a reason that Muthuvel Karunanidhi is called an ace scriptwriter. On show is the latest DMK-Congress co-production, with lead actor Karunanidhi threatening to walk out of the UPA government over the Lanka issue. A couple of thundering letters written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi showcase Karunanidhi at his melodramatic best, complaining about how he feels “let down” by the “lukewarm” response of the government.

 Cut to next scene in Delhi where Manmohan Singh decides to do a 2013 version of Manmohan Desai, by sending an ‘Amar Akbar Anthony’ like triumvirate of P Chidambaram, Ghulam Nabi Azad and A K Antony to mollify Karunanidhi. The climax scene, I guess, will be in Geneva on 22 March , where India will most likely vote against Sri Lanka at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).

Now anyone who follows Tamil Nadu and Karunanidhi’s politics will know the DMK chief is just indulging in posturing. Quitting the UPA will rob the party of its clout in Delhi and for a party whose leaders and cadre are already facing trouble in the AIADMK regime, not having men who matter in Delhi on speed dial would hurt. But at the same time, if he decides to go half the distance and just quit the cabinet, the bets are that he would choose the Lankan issue to pull his ministers out.

But by raising the pitch on the emotive Lankan issue, Karunanidhi’s political protest is in sync with what is happening on the streets of Tamil Nadu. Hunger strikes and street protests by a few colleges in Chennai have metamorphosed into a frenzy that is sucking in more students from different cities of the state. This is a new development because hitherto pro-Lankan Tamil protests have been the preserve of Tamil Nadu politicians and the likes of Vaiko have virtually built their political career over such agitations.

Which is why Karunanidhi wants to be up in the batting order in the test against Sri Lanka. The Lankan Tamil issue is just right for the 88-year-old to improve his credibility quotient, one year ahead of elections. The wily politician has been waiting for a big issue to piggyback on and this one fits the glove perfectly.

The letters and the airdash by three senior ministers seem more an orchestrated plot to make Karunanidhi the hero of India’s pro-Sri Lankan Tamil campaign. The AIADMK has ridiculed it calling it a “deal between UPA Delhi and UPA Chennai”. Karunanidhi knows very well that he cannot afford to yield even an inch on the issue because Jayalalithaa will go all out to occupy it. Already the Tamil Nadu chief minister has asked the PM to take “historic and courageous” steps to move amendments to the US-backed resolution at Geneva. Jaya has even pressed for slapping economic sanctions on Sri Lanka till Tamils were fully settled. Which is why Karunanidhi wants terms like ‘genocide’ and ‘Eelam’ added to the resolution.

 In the past, the Lankan issue has never played a significant part in the elections, where local issues held sway. But this time, political consensus is that Tamilians in Tamil Nadu are feeling more strongly for their brethren across the Gulf of Mannar. The photographs showing Prabhakaran’s son minutes before he was killed in cold blood have unleashed a sense of outrage against Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Lankan army. There is intense competition among the political tribe now to emerge as the voice of this anger and anguish.

The Congress knows there is no way its alliance with the DMK will fetch it the kind of dividends it did in 2009, when the two won 26 of the 39 Lok Sabha seats (18 seats DMK and 8 seats Congress). But then wooing Jayalalithaa is not an option given the unpredictability quotient that defines her.

Which is why when Sonia goes around political shopping in Tamil Nadu, she sees only TINA. She is aware that Karunanidhi comes with the baggage of a huge family tree and the overambitious and allegedly corrupt nature of its branches led to the electorate cutting them to size in the 2011 assembly polls. Things haven’t looked up since and Karunanidhi needs to do all it takes to put up a good performance in 2014. The DMK-Congress tie-up is not a win-win combo, but fighting separately is not an option either. A joint electoral account, both parties hope, will get more punches on the EVM than going it alone.

The Lankan issue is Karunanidhi’s gambit to get back into political form. 2014 will reveal if the master storyteller got this Act and Scene right.

Congress ministers fail to broker peace with DMK over Sri Lanka

The Prime Minister's fragile coalition is under new pressure. Senior partner DMK has threatened to withdraw its five ministers this week from the cabinet unless India asks the UN's top human rights body to hold Sri Lanka accountable for "genocide." Later this month, the UN's top human rights body will vote on a resolution by the US which criticizes Sri Lanka for alleged human rights violations by its defence forces in the final phases of the civil war against the Tamil Tigers which ended in May 2009.

Here are 10 big developments in this story:

(01)     A trio of ministers - P Chidambaram, AK Antony and Ghulam Nabi Azad - met the DMK chief M Karunanidhi this evening after which he said, "I have been assured that our demands will be met."

     (02) But sources indicate that a compromise was not brokered and the DMK has threatened to pull its ministers from the government.

        (03) The DMK says it's not enough for India to vote against Sri Lanka in Geneva on March 22. It wants India to add strongly-worded amendments to the US resolution, asking for an international probe that must be completed within a fixed period on the island's "genocide."

      (04) The Foreign Ministry said that, India has not yet seen the final format of the proposed resolution at the UN Human Rights Council against Sri Lanka. The text of the resolution is expected to be finalised and circulated (March 19, 2013).

(05)     Dilip Sinha, the permanent representative of India to the UN in Geneva, will arrive in Delhi tomorrow (March 19, 2013) to brief the government on the US resolution.
(06)     More than 500 college students were arrested in Chennai today for attempting to march to the Governor's house to protest against Sri Lanka. IIT Madras has joined the protests. (Techies swayed by anti-Sri Lanka stir)

(07)      The state government has ordered all arts and science colleges to remain closed to contain student demonstrations, an order that has proved ineffective.

(08)     The DMK's arch rival, J Jayalalithaa, who is chief minister of Tamil Nadu, has written to the Prime Minister today stating, "It is absolutely important that India takes a strong stand in support of the US-sponsored resolution at the 22nd session of the UNHRC and more importantly moves necessary independent amendments to further strengthen the resolution." (Letter written by Jaya to PM: Jaya's letter to PM)

(09)      Last month, Channel 4 from the UK released new photos which allegedly show the 12-year-old son of the chief of the rebel Tamil Tigers was shot in cold blood by the Sri Lankan army. Sri Lanka alleges that the photos are morphed. 
(10) Last year, India voted against Sri Lanka after the DMK threatened to quit the government. The resolution adopted then asked Sri Lanka to implement the recommendations of an internal commission.

About UNHRC

Techies swayed by anti-Sri Lanka stir

Employees of IT companies in Chennai joined students in the anti-Sri Lanka protests, which spread to more educational institutions in the city and forced Anna University to announce an indefinite closure of all its constituent colleges. Nearly 150 employees of reputed IT companies were seen distributing pamphlets on Sri Lankan war crimes to passengers in suburban trains, urging them to express support for the student movement.

Syed Kadhar of the Save Tamils Movement, which brings together employees of different software corporations in the city said that, we want IT employees to understand that the students’ demands are justified.  They are asking for a referendum which is the only solution for Tamils. This is not on the agenda of any government.

MEDICOS JOIN IN:-  Nearly 400 students from government medical colleges also held protest meetings on Monday. Students from various courses, including medicine, nursing and pharmacy, squatted in front of the collector’s office and held placards demanding an independent inquiry into the civilian deaths in Sri Lanka. G. Kamalesh, coordinator of Tamil Nadu Medical Students' Association said that, the US does not call it genocide. We want India to call for a probe by the United Nations without interference from any country. We also want the Central government to ensure that Tamil Nadu’s fishermen are not attacked.

CINE FRATERNITY TOO:-  The movement also received a boost when the cinema fraternity pledged its support. Sources said the Tamil Nadu Film Directors Association and the Tamil Nadu Film Producers Council will go on a one-day fast alongside small-screen technicians and actors at Valluvar Kottam (March 19, 2013).

CAMPUSES VACATED:- Anna University, which saw a gathering of more than 700 protesting students, asked its female students to vacate the campus by March 19, 2013 morning and male students by 9 p.m. on March 18, 2013. “The administration had warned us of suspension if we participated in any protests. But we wanted to be heard,” said Kathirvalan, a student who was one of the many shouting slogans against the Sri Lankan government, as part of a day-long protest.

 Several of the 450 engineering colleges affiliated to Anna University — which had been asked to make their own decisions regarding conduct of classes — also decided to suspend classes, announcing indefinite closure. Students were seen crowding the Central station and Koyembedu bus stand, making arrangements to reach their hometowns. 

“We were given a four-hour deadline to vacate the hostels. Nearly 60 of us are leaving for Kerala by the next available train in the general compartment,” said a student of Asan College of Engineering.  Several other students from various districts of Tamil Nadu decided to take a bus from CMBT. In some colleges, students were given time to vacate hostels. “But the canteen facilities have been shut and we have asked not to leave the hostel premises. Even the entry of visitors has been barred,” said Anmol Shah, a student of a deemed university.

In many private colleges, parents and guardians have been asked to come and take their wards home. “It has been brought to our notice that several of our students have been taking part in protest activities of other colleges. We are responsible for them, and so we don’t want them to leave from here and join the protesters,” said R.M. Rao, chairman of a city –based private institute.

Earlier, several students of Dr. Ambedkar University and many private engineering colleges protested in front of the Saidapet Court. The protesters, nearly 500 of them, were rallying towards Raj Bhavan when they were stopped by barricades and ropes. “We were packed off in nine buses and taken to the YMCA grounds in Nandanam YMCA, where we were kept till 6 p.m. and then released,” said Dhiviya, a student.

Last week, the government had asked arts and sciences colleges to close down following the rising number of college students taking part in the protests.

MARKET HIT:- March 19, 2013 will also see business in Koyambedu affected as over 3,000 shops in the flower, fruits and vegetable sections of the market will remain closed.  Members of the federation of Koyambedu wholesale market traders said trade would be suspended between 10 p.m. on March 18, 2013 and 10 p.m. on March 19, 2013. The 600-700 lorries that bring produce to the Koyambedu market every day will be diverted to other places. A demonstration will also be held at the market.

 The unrest is likely to continue until March 21, when the US-sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka is expected to come up for voting at the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva.

Sri Lanka war crimes govt in bind

Sri Lanka war crimes: Govt in a bind after DMK threat, Jaya's letter

Shaken up by DMK chief M Karunanidhi's threat of pulling out his ministers from the UPA Cabinet if his demands on the UNHRC vote against Sri Lanka are not met, the Congress (March 18, 2013) sent its leaders to placate him. Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Defence Minister AK Antony and Minister of Health and Family Welfare Ghulam Nabi Azad met Karunanidhi at his residence in an attempt to bridge differences between the two allies.

The DMK wants the words 'genocide' and 'Eelam' added to the US-sponsored resolution in UNHRC against Sri Lanka. Apart from a vote against Sri Lanka and adding the words 'genocide' and 'Eelam', Karunanidhi has also sought a time-bound international probe into the alleged Sri Lankan war crimes and has demanded that India should move these amendments in the US-backed resolution.

However, the Centre is opposed to the idea of 'Eelam' and will not accept the term 'genocide'. India is also said to be against an 'international' probe into the alleged war crimes committed by the Sri Lankan army during the battle with LTTE cadres.

Following Karunanidhi's threat, the Congress seems to be walking a tightrope as its relations with the DMK has been under strain for the past several months. The arrest of DMK leaders A Raja and Kanimozhi in the 2G spectrum case and the blame game between the two parties after a dismal show in Tamil Nadu Assembly polls have been the major sticking points.

In 2012 India was forced to vote against Sri Lanka in UNHRC due to DMK pressure and is likely to vote in favour of the amended resolution again.

To add to UPA's troubles, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister                        J Jayalalithaa has also written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, demanding that the government move amendments to the US-backed resolution. The government has, meanwhile, called India's ambassador to the UN, Dilip Sinha for consultations.

The big question now is whether the DMK will pull out of the UPA if its demands are not met.

A look at the numbers in Parliament:

15th Lok Sabha - Total 539

Halfway mark - 270

UPA - 250

Congress 202

NCP 9

RLD 5

Others 16

DMK 18

Outside Support to UPA - 49

BSP 21

SP 22

RJD 3

JDS 3

NDA - 152

Left + Others 88

About UNHRC

Jaya's letter to PM on related with Sri Lanka and UNHRC

India must take a strong and courageous stance on Lankan Tamils issue: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa

With emotions running high in Tamil Nadu on Sri Lankan Tamils issue, Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa (March 18, 2013) asked India to take "historic" and "courageous" steps to move amendments to the US-backed resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to "assuage the deeply hurt sentiments" of people.

          She said that, to assuage the legitimate sense of outrage and deeply hurt sentiments, it is absolutely important that India takes a strong stand in support of the US-sponsored resolution in the 22nd Session of the UN Human Rights Council and more importantly moves necessary independent amendments to further strengthen the resolution. In her letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the Chief Minister recalled she had earlier twice taken up with him, including in person, the need for New Delhi to take up the issue of war crimes and slapping economic sanctions on Sri Lanka till Tamils were fully resettled.

Quoting a report of the Office of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Tamils, she said there was "a continued and sorry saga of human rights violations against" them. She charged that the Rajapakse government was "not keen" on genuine reconciliation or even to allow the Sri Lankan Tamils to be rehabilitated, "let alone start life as equal citizens in that country, which is reflected in the lack of adequate action even on a relatively mild UNHRC Resolution."

"At this juncture, the ongoing 22nd session of the Human Rights Council is the most appropriate forum and occasion to mount further pressure on Sri Lanka to ensure accountability is established under an international framework for the war crimes and genocide committed in the closing stages of the civil war and the ongoing gross human rights abuses".

She said that, India must take a "strong, historic and courageous stance" in this matter and not just support the US-sponsored Draft Resolution on 'Promoting Reconciliation and Accountability in Sri Lanka,' but strengthen it further through suitable amendments that would make the resolution unambiguous in intent and effective in implementation. Ms Jayalalithaa made a series of suggestions including strengthening the language in the draft resolution.

"In PP9 (paragraph) strengthen the language from expression of 'concern' to 'serious concern and dismay' at the reports of the continuing violations of human rights. In PP10 strengthen the language to 'condemnation' of the failure of Sri Lankan Government to fulfill its public commitments including on devolution of political authority".

Further, there should be an unequivocal call for a credible, independent, international mechanism to prosecute "genocide, war crimes and war criminals and the accused should stand trial before an International Court."

          She demanded, this process should be completed within a period of six months and the outcome reported for a special discussion in the 25th session of UNHRC in 2014. In operative para 2 there should be an insistence that the OHCHR report be implemented in its totality. Further, she pressed for a "strong call" to Colombo to accept an impartial, international institution to initiate credible and independent action to ensure justice, equity and accountability.

This should include investigation of violation of international law and reconciliation of all Sri Lankans, including Tamils, and Colombo should provide a pragmatic political package to Lankan Tamils and restore their equal rights of citizenship on par with the Sinhalese Community.

On her insistance, India supported UNHRC resolution last year, one that called upon the Lankan government to implement constructive recommendations of Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) whose report she said was 'relatively mild.'

Ms Jayalalithaa said she was 'dismayed' over statements made by Mr Singh and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid as they appear "equivocal and prevaricating" and do not give a clear indication of India's stance, particularly with reference to 'genocide' which has taken place in Sri Lanka.

She said, it was disappointing that India had maintained a deafening silence when the US-sponsored draft was taken up for discussion in the ongoing UNHRC session, while expressing hope that India at this 'historic moment' will champion the cause of democracy and take a "bold stand" to express solidarity with minority Tamils.

IIT-Madras joins statewide stir

Don't remain spectator at UN meet

About UNHRC

IIT-Madras joins Statewide stir with fast, rally

The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M) is the latest in a long line of colleges to join the ongoing students’ protest against Sri Lankan war crimes. The agitation has now spread to dozens of colleges in nearly 20 districts across the State.

The IIT-M campus, usually known to be politically inactive, was bustling on March 17, 2013, as 69 students began a fast under a shamiana. In the evening, the students joined with over 100 others and held a rally and gave talks to create awareness about the war crimes and atrocities committed against Sri Lankan Tamils recently.

Som Prakash Singh, an MLA from Bihar addressed the students, telling them that it was only recently during Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to Bihar that the people there began hearing about the killings and atrocities committed.

Eeveera (an engineering student in IIT-M) said that, at least 40 of the fasting students are from north India. We are fasting to say that this is not a Sri Lankan or a Tamil issue alone. Posters, explaining the history of conflict in seven different languages, dotted the campus. Students even have a poster in Tulu as many of us come from there. Students said that, their point was to highlight the issue and spread awareness to as many people as possible.

The students also organised a panel discussion in which political experts and analysts talked about several issues relating to Sri Lanka and India.

          Raj Mohan, a researcher at the institute said that, IIT-M has students from many states. We are trying to scale up the State-wide protest to the national level in the hope that the Central government will take note and break its silence on this issue. Students from Presidency College as well as social activists also arrived at the college. The students said it was entirely their initiative, free of influences from political parties. The students had been given the go-ahead by the IIT-M administration.

          Another student said, it is just a day-long fast and sure classes will not be disrupted. This will help awaken the political consciousness of the student population in IIT. Students are sure the other IITs will soon follow suit.

          Political analysts say it has been quite a while since students in Tamil Nadu took to the streets to register their dissent. V. Krishna Ananth, a political historian, said, in the 1980s, students protested against the Sri Lankan genocide. But those protests were different from what is happening now. This time, the students represent a cross-section of academia. Students from almost all colleges are involved.

More protests are anticipated. While officials at Anna University have been issuing notices to students to stay away, members of the Student Movement Against Genocide and Student Struggle Committee for Tamil Eelam say their ranks are swelling.

          Dhiviya, coordinator, Student Struggle Committee for Tamil Eelam said, students from nearly 17 city colleges are coming together to protest against Sri Lankan war crimes outside the Governor’s house on Monday. College managements and police officers have been trying to break the movement but we won’t let that happen.

Nityanand Jayaraman, a city-based activist, added: students are harbingers of change. Governments have been mortally scared of people voicing their opinions, so they have always taken pre-emptive measures such as closing colleges. The students have asserted their rights, and shown that they are here to lead.

Don't remain spectator at UN meet: Opposition parties

Holding the UPA government responsible for the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka, Opposition parties demanded that India take a firm stand against that country at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, and called for economic sanctions as well. In the Rajya Sabha, the AIADMK’s V. Maitreyan and D. Raja of the CPI criticised the government for not even mentioning the issue in the President’s address to the joint session of Parliament, and hoped that it would not remain a spectator at the UNHRC meeting, allowing the U.S. and Sri Lanka to dictate the proceedings.

Both members expressed the hope that India would vote against Sri Lanka in the U.N. and that it would not dilute the resolution as it had done the last time round.

Mr. Maitreyan demanded an independent inquiry into the killings of Tamils, and imposition of economic sanctions on Sri Lanka until the community was treated with dignity and respect.

He attacked the Centre for increasing the assistance to Sri Lanka by Rs. 210 crore during 2013-14, ignoring the fact that this fund was being misused and not spent for rehabilitation and resettlement of Tamils. Mr. Maitreyan accused the DMK of shedding crocodile tears over the loss of lives in Sri Lanka even though it was part of the UPA when the “genocide” occurred. He demanded that the DMK and the Congress tender apology for their acts of commission and omission. The AIADMK leader also urged the Centre not to participate at the CHOGM summit to be held in Sri Lanka in November.

Mr. Raja said the promised devolution of powers to Tamils was yet to be carried out.

            The Congress said that India would not interfere in Sri Lanka’s domestic affairs but it unambiguously condemned human rights violations in that country.

Fisherman shot at by Sri Lankan Navy:-

A fisherman from Karaikal was injured when he was fired upon allegedly by the Sri Lankan Navy, about 11 nautical miles off the Kodiakarai coast. Shenbagam (40) of Kilinjamedu was shot in the back while steering one of two mechanised boats in which a group of fishermen ventured into the sea. A few others escaped, the fishermen said in a police complaint later.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa voiced serious concern over such incidents and demanded that the Union government take firm action. In a letter to the Prime Minister, she said the latest incident was an attempt to intimidate India and “browbeat” it into not raising its voice against Sri Lankan authorities in international forums. The incident should be viewed in the backdrop of protests by MPs from Tamil Nadu against atrocities perpetrated on Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Best possible decision on Sri Lanka in Geneva -India

About UNHRC

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) is an inter-governmental body within the United Nations System. The UNHRC (HQ @ Geneva) is the successor to the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNCHR, herein CHR), and is a subsidiary body of the United Nations General Assembly. The council works closely with the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and engages the United Nations' Special procedures.

The members of the General Assembly elect the members who occupy the UNHRC's forty-seven seats. The General Assembly takes into account the candidate States’ contribution to the promotion and protection of human rights, as well as their voluntary pledges and commitments in this regard. The term of each seat is three years, and no member may occupy a seat for more than two consecutive terms. The seats are distributed among the UN's regional groups as follows:

v     13 for Africa

v     13 for Asia

v     06 for Eastern Europe

v     08 for Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC)

v     07 for the Western European and Others Group (WEOG)

The previous CHR had a membership of 53 elected by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) through a majority of those present and voting.

The General Assembly can suspend the rights and privileges of any Council member that it decides has persistently committed gross and systematic violations of human rights during its term of membership. The suspension process requires a two-thirds majority vote by the General Assembly. The resolution establishing the UNHRC states that "members elected to the Council shall uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights."

Sessions:-

The UNHRC holds regular sessions three times a year, in March, June and September. The UNHRC can decide at any time to hold a special session to address human rights violations and emergencies, at the request of one-third of the member states. To date there have been 19 Special Sessions.

Members:-

            Members of the UNHRC are elected to staggered three-year terms. The current members, with the year that the mandate expires in parentheses, are the following:

Current Membership of the Human Rights Council, 1 January - 31 December 2013 by regional groups

AFRICAN STATES	LATIN AMERICAN & CARIBBEAN STATES
Angola (2013) Benin (2014) Botswana (2014) Burkina Faso (2014) Congo (2014) Côte d’Ivoire (2015) Ethiopia (2015) Gabon (2015) Kenya (2015) Libya (2013) Mauritania (2013) Sierra Leone (2015) Uganda (2013)	Argentina (2015) Brazil (2015) Chile (2014) Costa Rica (2014) Ecuador (2013) Guatemala (2013) Peru (2014) Venezuela (2015)
ASIAN STATES	WESTERN EUROPE & OTHER STATES
India (2014) Indonesia (2014) Japan (2015) Kazakhstan (2015)  Kuwait (2014)  Malaysia (2013) Maldives (2013) Pakistan (2015) Philippines (2014)  Qatar (2013) Republic of Korea (2015) Thailand (2013) United Arab Emirates (2015)	Austria (2014) Germany (2015) Ireland (2015) Italy (2014) Spain (2013)  Switzerland (2013) United States of America (2015)
EASTERN EUROPEAN STATES
Czech Republic (2014) Estonia (2015)  Montenegro (2015) Poland (2013) Republic of Moldova (2013)  Romania (2014)

High Commissioner of UNHRC:-

The appointment of Navanethem Pillay as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights was approved by the General Assembly on 28 July 2008. She took up the post on 1 September 2008. Her mandate has been renewed for two years beginning on 1 September 2012. Ms. Pillay, a South African national, was the first woman to start a law practice in her home province of Natal in 1967. Over the next few years, she acted as a defense attorney for anti-apartheid activists, exposing torture, and helping establish key rights for prisoners on Robben Island.