Tamil film industry joins protest
With the students’ protests over the Sri Lankan issue gaining momentum day by day in Tamil Nadu, the Tamil film industry has now joined the protests with a token fast that was observed near Valluvar Kottam on Tuesday.
About 1,000 people from 30 different unions affiliated to the Film Employees’ Federation of South India (FEFSI) and small screen TV actors association participated in the protest.
The protestors wanted the Union Government to take necessary action on the resolution passed in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, economic sanctions against Sri Lanka to pressure the country into giving equal status and dignity to Tamils and ‘War criminal’ Rajapaksa to be produced before the international court and conduct an independent probe against the alleged atrocities committed against the Tamils by the Sri Lankan Government.
They also demanded a referendum for a separate Tamil Eelam for all Sri Lankan Tamils, including those residing outside Sri Lanka, and urged the Centre to snap all ties with the Sri Lankan government.
“If the Union Government does not take any positive step for Sri Lankan Tamils, the Tamil film industry would break all the ties with island nation. None of the Tamil movies would be screen in Sri Lanka,’’ said FEFSI president and director Ameer on the sidelines of the protest.
FEFSI association members who had been shooting outside the city took leave from work and gave their support to the Chennai fast, said G Siva, secretary, FEFSI, while ace director S P Muthuraman said that all the Tamilians should be united on the Sri Lankan Tamil issue and work together for a definite solution.
Photographs of the Sri Lankan genocide were put up at the venue of the fast while a documentary on the alleged war crimes was also screened.
Prominent film personalities who attended the fast included music director Ilayaraja, movie directors Shankar, A R Murugadoss, Balaji Sakthivel, Suhasini, Jananathan, Sasikumar, Santhanabharathi, actors Vinu Chakravarthy, Sibi Sathyaraj and Prasanna. Small screen actor Kuyili also participated in the protest.
VIDEO: UK RAISES QUESTIONS ABOUT SRI LANKA’S RESPECT FOR RULE OF LAW
Human rights issues concerning journalists and human rights defenders, the climate of impunity and the impeachment of the former Chief Justice has raised serious questions about Sri Lanka’s respect for the rule of law, the UK stated during the UNHRC sessions.
The UK delegation pointed out that it is vital that Sri Lanka take further steps to demonstrate its commitment to the democratic values it has pledges voluntarily to uphold given its scheduled hosting of the Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting.
UK stressed that the government needs to implement all recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) despite its shortcomings in order to ensure reconciliation and the full enjoyment of human rights for all its citizens.
The delegation commended Sri Lanka on its progress concerning demining but stated that it was disappointed with Sri Lanka’s slow progress concerning the implementation of its own National Action Plan.
The UK encouraged Sri Lanka to look into human rights violations and alleged war crimes depicted in the Channel Four footage by initiating a credible and independent investigation into the allegations.
The Norwegian delegation shared similar sentiments highlighting further work that needed to be done in the country regarding reconciliation, accountability and a political solution.
It stressed that sustainable peace can only be built on a political solution that is acceptable to all the people including the minorities.
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