British PM a hero among political, Eelam leaders in Tamil Nadu
David Cameron's statements against the government on human rights violations have made him a hero among pro-Eelam groups inTamil Nadu as well as the diaspora.
Karthick S, TNN | Nov 19, 2013,
CHENNAI: His visit to Sri Lanka's Northern Province and his statements against the government on human rights violations have made British premier David Cameron a hero among pro-Eelam groups in Tamil Nadu as well as the diaspora.
A day after the DMK-sponsored Tamil Eelam Supporters' Organisation (TESO) lauded Cameron for his pro-Tamil initiatives during his visit to the island nation, Union shipping minister G K Vasan on Monday hailed the "positive" efforts by the British PM in seeking an independent probe into alleged human rights violations against ethnic Tamils during the just-concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet (CHOGM) in Colombo. "Nobody can deny his positive efforts," Vasan said while speaking to the media on the sidelines of a function.
Leaders of the PMK, VCK and a few pro-Eelam outfits have also expressed appreciation of Cameron and his visit to Jaffna and the Northern Province. Ironically, these same leaders had strongly advocated against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh participating inCHOGM or visiting Sri Lanka.
Defending the contradictory stand, TESO member and DMK MP T K S Elangovan said: "The Commonwealth summit did not include the Sri Lankan Tamil issue on its agenda. If such discussions had figured, then the PM's participation is justified. The complete boycott of India would've attracted international attention. Moreover, there was no committed word from the Indian government on a visit to Sri Lanka."
But the groundswell of pro-Cameron sentiment was exactly what India needed to convey its deft handling of foreign policy and its concerns about Lankan Tamils' welfare.
Social-networking sites like Facebook and Twitter expressed best what a cross-section of people felt about the stand taken by both the UK and India. They were flooded with congratulatory posts for Cameron, which are now status messages. Some Eelam supporters even replaced their profile pictures with that of Cameron.
"Cameron's visit was calculative and aimed at emphasizing the need for an international probe into war crimes against Sri Lanka," said VCK general secretary D Ravikumar. "He endorsed the views of UN human rights commissioner Navi Pillay and also set an ultimatum for Lanka." India would do well to stand by the UK, he said.
David Cameron's statements against the government on human rights violations have made him a hero among pro-Eelam groups inTamil Nadu as well as the diaspora.
Karthick S, TNN | Nov 19, 2013,
CHENNAI: His visit to Sri Lanka's Northern Province and his statements against the government on human rights violations have made British premier David Cameron a hero among pro-Eelam groups in Tamil Nadu as well as the diaspora.
A day after the DMK-sponsored Tamil Eelam Supporters' Organisation (TESO) lauded Cameron for his pro-Tamil initiatives during his visit to the island nation, Union shipping minister G K Vasan on Monday hailed the "positive" efforts by the British PM in seeking an independent probe into alleged human rights violations against ethnic Tamils during the just-concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meet (CHOGM) in Colombo. "Nobody can deny his positive efforts," Vasan said while speaking to the media on the sidelines of a function.
Leaders of the PMK, VCK and a few pro-Eelam outfits have also expressed appreciation of Cameron and his visit to Jaffna and the Northern Province. Ironically, these same leaders had strongly advocated against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh participating inCHOGM or visiting Sri Lanka.
Defending the contradictory stand, TESO member and DMK MP T K S Elangovan said: "The Commonwealth summit did not include the Sri Lankan Tamil issue on its agenda. If such discussions had figured, then the PM's participation is justified. The complete boycott of India would've attracted international attention. Moreover, there was no committed word from the Indian government on a visit to Sri Lanka."
But the groundswell of pro-Cameron sentiment was exactly what India needed to convey its deft handling of foreign policy and its concerns about Lankan Tamils' welfare.
Social-networking sites like Facebook and Twitter expressed best what a cross-section of people felt about the stand taken by both the UK and India. They were flooded with congratulatory posts for Cameron, which are now status messages. Some Eelam supporters even replaced their profile pictures with that of Cameron.
"Cameron's visit was calculative and aimed at emphasizing the need for an international probe into war crimes against Sri Lanka," said VCK general secretary D Ravikumar. "He endorsed the views of UN human rights commissioner Navi Pillay and also set an ultimatum for Lanka." India would do well to stand by the UK, he said.
