July 23, 2011Following protests from Tamil outfits, a proposed programme to train 25 Sri Lankan soldiers at the Defence Service Staff College at Wellington in nearby Nilgiris district has been cancelled, officials said on Saturday. The Lankan soldiers, who reached the college on Friday for themonth-long training, were sent back following the protests, they said.
The soldiers were sent in a bus to Chennai from where they would return to Sri Lanka, the officials said.
Over 200 activists of various pro-Sri Lankan Tamil outfits had staged a demonstration in front of the Madras Regimental Centre (MRC) at Wellington protesting the training programme.
The protesters included members of Periyar Dravida Kazhagam, Naam Tamizhar Party and Viduthualai Chiruthaigal Katchi.
They alleged that Tamils in Sri Lanka were suffering at the hands of that country's Army and the decision to provide training to the island
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M.I.A. - A Beautiful Reflection of the Besieged Tamils of Sri Lanka
Jul-22-2011Tim King Salem-News.com
"It was about bringing information to the people, I knew something and I had experienced it" - M.I.A.
 M.I.A. photo courtesy: mediabistro.com |
(SALEM, Oregon) - I am the first to admit that I'm extremely judgmental of entertainers who have the attention of large numbers of people but fail to do the right thing with it. I suppose it is tied to the fact that as a child, I watched music bring an end to the Vietnam War. Few mediums are this powerful.
Singer and actress M.I.A. (Tamil: மாதங்கி 'மாயா' அருள்பிரகாசம், Mātaṅki 'Māyā' Aruḷpirakācam) is the only frontline entertainer today of Tamil heritage and after seeing her talk about the struggle of her people, and by that I mean the recent Tamil Genocide in Sri Lanka, I'm left with the impression that she can be a real force in demanding change and accountability. Full Story>>>