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Sri Lankan, Tamil Tiger protesters draw Capitol police sniper teams

By Todd A. Heywood | 04.29.09 | 2:30 pm

A screen shot of a sniper's nest at the state Capitol this morning.

A screen shot of a sniper's nest at the state Capitol this morning.

LANSING — The Michigan State Capitol is pretty used to various rallies and protests. From the tea party protests a few weeks ago, to gay pride rallies, to gathers of organized labor, anti-war activists and white nationalists.

But staffers at the Capitol on Wednesday morning were greeted by not only a protest by Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers, but Michigan State Police sniper teams monitoring the situation.

About 100 people gathered to protest or voice their support for the government of Sri Lanka and the South Asian island nation’s ethnic Tamil minority, whose rebel force, the Tamil Tigers have been engaged in a bitter fight for control of the ethnic Tamil homeland.

When Michigan Messenger called the Capitol Committee offices, which is responsible for events scheduling of the Capitol lawn, staffers said the protest was called Friends of the Globe, Support Sri Lanka. The protest was scheduled from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

But questions about the police sniper unit were referred to the Michigan State Police Capitol post operations office.

Lt. Jerry Alliare from the state police said at first he was unaware of sniper units being in place. “We have some folks down there kind of monitoring the situation. I am not sure of their total roll.”

When Alliare was told there was a Twitter picture of the unit, and asked why the unit was in place, he responded: “I don’t know. We just kind of have the resources they request.”

A legislative staffer who spoke with the state police sniper unit, but did not wish to be named because they were disclosing security information, said the unit was there because of fears of potential trouble.

“The group is known for their violent protests and terrorism,” the staffer said, who said the state police had blocked the foot bridge between the Capitol and other state office buildings. The source also said the unit had originally been on the Governor’s Capitol office balcony but was moved.

Comments

  • humanitariandoc

    The title of your article saying that “Tamil Tigers” were protesting is incredibly ignorant. Look again , These are families, women and children who have reletives back in Sri Lanka that are caught up in the humanitarin nightmare caused by the Sri Lankan government. To say that these Tamil Americans are part of a terrorist organization, is to say you buy into the propaganda of the govt of Sri lanka.That is ridicuous and slander. The Sri lankan govt under the guise of fighting terror, has wholesale slaughtered thousands of people. They are committed to the massacre and ethnic cleansing of all the Tamil civilians. This is an ethnic war that started in 1948 when the British left the Tamil minority at the hands of the Singhalese majority that formed the Sri Lankan government.
    It is a war crime to deny food, medicine, and doctors to thousands of wounded. It is a war crime to kill helpless civilians
    I know that if you are aware of the situation including that Pres Obama and Sec Clinton have told the Govt of Sri Lanka to STOP KILLING civilians . that you will immediately publicly disavow any connection to the Sri Lankans and their government. This is a humanitarian crises of huge proportions. The Tamil people are facing extinction. If you don't stand up against this slaughter of innocents, then you are complicit in the genocide.
    CIVILIANS ARE ENTITLED TO THE AUSPICES OF THE GENEVA CONVENTION. THEY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE KILLED BY THIER OWN GOVERNMENT..
    I am a humanitarian doctor that worked in Sri lank after the tsunami, and have worked for an end to the bloodshed and genocide of the Tamil people ever since.

    • innocent_tamil

      Following is on the wires. This is what the sri lankan Government is doing day in and day out to the innocent civilians. USA and western democracies are acting togather to held Sri Lanka accountable.
      The protesters there were mothers, brothers and sisters of these innocent people.

      - The United States has decided to delay a $1.9 billion International Monetary Fund loan to Sri Lanka to try to pressure Colombo to do more to help civilians caught in the fighting between the government and Tamil Tiger rebels, U.S. officials said on Wednesday.

      • itsalmostovernow

        I appluad the propaganda machine behind the huge cut'n'paste job you guys are doing … but remove the beer goggles and see the truth for yourself my friends …

        Are you saying that the Tamil people suffering in the north are better off being held at gunpoint by Praba and his maniacs? Give me a break … the government of Sri Lanka and the armed forces are risking their lives everyday to help the civilians get out of that hell-hole … for what? to make a better tomorrow for your relatives/friends/whatever is stuck there.

        Before you pick up the banner or flag and head to the street to protest the next rally … ask your self why you are not alongside the SL forces – risking your own life – fighting for your own people as well!!

      • humanitariandoc

        nic job

        In a message dated 04/30/09 07:42:27 Eastern Daylight Time, writes:
        http://michiganmessenger.com/?p=17963#comment-8…

  • helpsrilanka

    Dear Todd,

    Thank you for covering this event. As you have mentioned there were two groups today. We, peace loving Sri Lankans living in Michigan organized a peace rally to expose the brutal LTTE terrorists who are keeping hostage close to 50,000 innocent Tamil people, who they claim to protect. News about this event got out and Tamil Tiger sympathizers tried to stop us from having the rally using various ways. But since we didn't stop. They brought a bus full of LTTE mob protesting in Toronto streets to Lansing. They were the people flying LTTE terrorist flags along with the Canadian and US flag. Which was ironic.

    LTTE or Tamil Tigers are very similar to Taliban. They want to carve out a mono ethnic dictatorial state out of Sri Lanka. They have killed more than 80,000 people during past 30 years. Sri Lankan government had several peace accords with them to address legitimate grievances. But LTTE used them to strengthen their rebels and international financing network using LTTE agents and sympathizers you witnessed today.

    I like to bring your attention to this article titled “The fine line between a protest and a mob” by National Post. http://www.nationalpost.com/story-printer.html?…

    I quote the following paragraph from that article for your readers.

    “Moreover, many Tamil spokesmen here in Canada seem to live in a dreamworld — ignoring the plain fact that (as the United Nations and several blue-chip NGOs have pointed out) a primary threat to Tamils in Sri Lanka is posed by the Tigers themselves, who are holding trapped civilians as human shields. Given that the protesters seem curiously unperturbed by the Tigers' own brutality toward Tamils, one is left to wonder what their real goal is: saving Tamils, or saving the remaining leadership of the Tigers.”

    May we all live to see a world without terrorists like LTTE!

    • anantha

      “We, peace loving Sri Lankans living in Michigan organized a peace rally”
      If you are peace loving, please check the following websites and decide how much peace you would love (please be advised that if you have soft heart, do not visit those websites). Attrocities against the Tamil minority by the Sri Lankan Government sponsored pogrom of 1983 brought this conflict this far and the current attrocities will bring this conflict for another 25 years. Mother nature gave Sri Lankans a chance for achieving peace via the Tsunami, but you Sinhalese did not want to grab it.
      http://tamilsgenocide.com/
      http://warwithoutwitness.com/

      “LTTE terrorists who are keeping hostage close to 50,000 innocent Tamil people”
      Please send independant jounalists of bodies like UN to the those civilians and ask that question. Is the Sri Lankan goverment ready to do it?

      “They brought a bus full of LTTE mob protesting in Toronto streets to Lansing”
      In my opinion, there is no LTTE mob in Toronto. All those who may have reached Lansing would definitely be the relatives of those Tamil civilians killed in Sri Lanka by your brutal regime.

      “LTTE or Tamil Tigers are very similar to Taliban.”
      This is one of the method used by Sri Lanka's Sinhalese. LTTE has no similarities with Taliban. LTTE has been a freedom movement like African National Congress fighting for the minority rights in Sri Lanka. Sri Lankan Government has been trying to portray the Tamil tigers and their methods similar to the world common enemies to show that they also have a valid war-on-terror. In the process, Sri Lanka put a same-side-goal by proving itself as the worse terrorist-state of this planet.

      “LTTE have killed more than 80,000 people during past 30 years.”
      This is the accumulated number said by the world (grossly under estimated) for a long time as the cost of this conflict. Anybody that follows this conflict knows that 99.99% of the killing of the innocent civilians is done by the Sri Lankan forces. Any killing attributed to the LTTE is for the killings of the armed forces and protected targets.

      “Sri Lankan government had several peace accords with them to address legitimate grievances. But LTTE used them to strengthen their rebels and international financing network using LTTE agents and sympathizers you witnessed today.”
      As a matter of fact each and every accord by the the LTTE or even the earlier peaceful Sri Lankan Tamil Leaders were abbrogated by the Sri Lankan Sinhalese Governments. Please check the following website for more information on the peace processes of Sri Lanka. If you Sinhalese have been able to share the peace with the Tamils, you and me did not have to fled that wonderful nation. In 1950s, even the Singapore was fearful about Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) and its potential for growth. First nail to its coffin was nailed by the Sinhala only rule by Mr. Bandaranaike jus t to come to power.
      http://my.nowpublic.com/world/under-reported-un…

      “I like to bring your attention to this article titled “The fine line between a protest and a mob” by National Post.”
      No point in commenting as some of the National Post writers lives in a dreamworld themselves. I do not say LTTE was all saints. However, an article that do not even point a finger towards the Gross human rights violations of the Sri Lankan government lost its credibility already.

      “May we all live to see a world without terrorists like LTTE!”
      United States defines “terrorism” as “premeditated, politically motivated violence perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents.”

      You decide who are better terrorists in Sri Lanka the Government itself or the LTTE.

      • helpsrilanka

        I have seen most of the self written LTTE propaganda and I have narrowly escaped an LTTE brutal suicide attack directed at then president Chandrika Bandaranayake. Which killed 70 innocent people instantly. LTTE wants to make Sri Lanka a blood bath.

        Please wake up and review the following articles in legitimate sites like fbi and wikipedia to get some perspective.

        http://www.fbi.gov/page2/jan08/tamil_tigers0110…

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LTTE

        • Thayan

          SL government wants Tamils blood bath. That is what it's doing in Vanni.

          SL government is using chemical weapons and using heavy weapons in a small strip of land where over 200000 Tamils are staying.

          Tamil Girls are kept naked in SL govt controlled area. These girls moved form LTTE controlled area into SL govt area. Therefore Tamils have a valid reason they don't want to go in govt area.

          Why govt want to keep our girls naked?? Why govt not allowing international community? because if they are in that area they will bring the truth.

          • helpsrilanka

            Hey Thayan Bro!

            I think you are so sexually frustrated and think only about naked tamil girls… Please provide credible neutral evidence for your claims.

            Also I would suggest that you go and get some help for your dreams about tamil naked girls.

            The reason the Sri Lankan government is not allowing any foreigners belonging to international organizations in the no fire zone is because LTTE will use them as hostages like they are using your borthers and sisters to save their lifes.

          • Thayan

            First of all Tamils never kept foreigners or international organization members as hostages. Our problem is only with Srilankan govt.

            The reason I have been telling about naked girls story because it never came to the public. But Tamils have informant in your group (SL army), they released this story to us, otherwise we don't know this at all.

          • Thayan

            by the way we will post the evidence very soon, because our informant are working on that now.

          • Ramba00

            here is the link , take a look… http://www.tamilwin.org/view.php?2aSWnBe0dZj0M0…

            it shows what you guys are doing to Tamil girls

            few more are coming on the way… the funny thing is your own people are sending this for money.

          • Ramba00

            here is the link , take a look… http://www.tamilwin.org/view.php?2aSWnBe0dZj0M0…

            it shows what you guys are doing to Tamil girls

            few more are coming on the way… the funny thing is your own people are sending this for money.

      • allrsrilankans

        I am profoundly impressed by the creative ability of the LTTE supporter many of these LTTE pro pieces are excellent works of art but it is definitely not helping your fellow Tamil brother and sisters in Sri Lanka to escape from the menace of the same group you claim to represent your freedom. You concerned folks should really focus on convincing your so called “humanitarian leader” Velupillai Prabhakaran to stop using his own people as roadblock and release them. Let them live in peace amongst the other ethnicities like in other parts of Sri Lanka. Apparently, none of you seriously want them saved for your own selfish reasons. Please stop using this dilemma as an excuse to safeguard your visa status. It’s such a lame excuse.

        In spite of all the noise in the background, none of the international organizations have accepted genocide against the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, simply because they are neutral and intelligent enough to know that there is NONE. I am sure you LTTE supporters are carried away by the enormity of the word. The military efforts by the Sri Lankan forces are against the LTTE, a ruthless terrorist organization that killed and continues to kill thousand of innocent civilian and masterminded numerous terrorist attacks around the worlds and NOT the against the innocent Tamil people. And no country in the world would hesitate to do what the Sri Lankan Govt. is doing right now if their country was infested by a similar parasite.

        Tsunami was not a chance for the Sinhalese; it was really chance for the LTTE to stop inflicting cruelty on their own people and rebuild our nation. Of cause, LTTE has always been deaf to the words “peace” and “unity”, misused the aid given by donor countries to reinforce their military power and gave hardly anything to the people. This is the way LTTE cared for the people it represented, in time of need.

        By the way, not all Sinhalese and Tamils used the ethnic problem as vehicle to flee the country it is only the LTTE supporters. So please be informed before you stereotype, not all are in your boat. And Singapore actually praised Sri Lanka in the past for its economic prosperity and used some of our strategies in their development plan. I have serious doubts about the credibility of your sources.

  • anantha

    Hi Todd, Thank you for covering this event.

    As a matter of fact, letting the Sinhalese to celebrate their victory of subjugation of innocent Tamils by using heavy weaponry including Chemical and banned cluster munitions even on Children, women, mothers and elderly is a shame for the civilized state like Michigan. This victory is soaked with the blood of more than 25 000 innocent Tamil civilians victimized in 2009 alone with the expense of UN humanitarian conventions and unprecedented war crimes by the Rajabaksa brothers of Sri Lanka.

    To quote the UN figures, which is usually a gross under-estimate of the actual figures, the UN spokesman in Colombo, Gordon Weiss, said that in the 3 months since 20 January 2009, 6,432 Tamil civilians had been killed and 13,048 wounded. He also added that the fighting was now expected to intensify, and with it, the inevitable civilian casualties.

    Recently Sri Lankan president admitted that his forces have been using heavy weapons in an area crowded with displaced civilians. Human Rights Watch rightly demanded for a need of an inquiry into violations of the laws of war by government forces (http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/04/27/sri-lanka…).

    Even if the president of Sri Lanka was to stop using the heave weaponry by his words, the ground reality was different. United Nations has rightly accused the Sri Lankan army of shelling the civilian safe zone hours after president's announcement that his forcess would stop all heavy artillery attacks: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/5237497/UN-accu…

    The pictures of the carnage to the civilian life for the proof of what happened even after the president of Sri Lanka announced his military would stop all heavy artillery attacks. A picture can say thousand words (I warn you of the graphic nature of the photos, however, it is the reality for these poor souls, the Sri Lankan Tamils): http://www.puthinam.com/full.php?2b1VoUe0dIcYU0…

    For your reading pleasure, please access the following URL for more information by Mr. Bernard Kouchner (France's Minister of Foreign Affairs) and Mr. David Miliband (Foreign Secretary):
    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/column…

    Sri Lanka is not allowing any independent journalists into the warzone. It does allow any humanitarian monitors to get into the warzone. What do they have there to hide. Increasingly Sri Lanka is exposed to be indicted on the international arena for its war crimes. Rajabaksa brothers, especially Gothabaya will be in deep trouble.

    In addition, Sri Lanka's hard line Sinhalese has proven to the world for the reason why there was a need for an organization like LTTE. The methods used by the LTTE to counter the ruthless Sinhalese regimes were dictated by the Sinhalese regimes themselves.

  • Akootha

    Thanks for covering this story.

    It is very sad that the modern world is witnessing a genocide right in front of their eyes, deliberately neglect it. Sinhala Buddhist chauvinism which is the driving force behind genocide of Tamils ought to be treated parallel to Nazism as both inhumane ideology based on ethnic cleanse.

    Sri Lanka state terror is committing collective war crimes under the name of sovereignty, with the price of 20 000 Tamils civilian's blood.

    Every single Tamil were displaced, their right to live was denied by Sinhala regime.

    Tamils want justice! Tamils want peace!

    Would this celebration of victory by Rajabaksa brothers in Michigan bring justice to Tamils?

    It would be full of wine of Tamil's blood and flesh of Tamil children's as bite.

    • anantha

      I agreed with you Akootha.

    • MarkFZ

      Michiagn was wise to deploy snipers against tiger terrorists who are now in desperate situation. After killing so many srilankans for decades, they are living the last few days. They can be so desperate they can do anything. Kudos to Michigan state gov for being ready.

      • Thayan

        You story is BS.

  • Rajan001

    Thank for coverring the story Mr. Heywood. I want to clarify that the group with the illegal flags were the supporters of the Terrorists (LTTE) not the govt of sri Lanka. This group is only concered about saving the Terrorist Leadership thats holding thousands of civilians as Human shields. If these protesters were so concerned about the poor civilians trapped they should be shouting slogans for the LTTE leadership to release the civilians and surrender. However the motive behind these demonstrations are far from a humanitarian cause. Infact the Govt of Sri Lanka and the Military could have finished off the war within days and killed the Leadership, but because of the trapped civilians as Human shileds the process has been slow and the army is doing everything they can to save these hostages. It is a Hostage situation thats going on and these idiots abroad are only concered about saving the Leadership. The innocent Tamil civilians are of Low caste to them and therefore considered disposable for their cause.
    Most of the other LTTE supporters are living in countries like Canada out of Refugee status and they are worried that if the war ends they may have to leave the comforts of these countries. SOme of them are actually living off of the money generated by the smugglers and credi card frauds and the underground counterfiet deals that are used to generate money to buy arms for their so called “freedom fight”

    But the reality is that maority of Tamils IN SRI LANKA live amongst sinhala and muslims in large cities and the capital. They go to school, work and live harmoneously wit the rest of teh country. They are NOT descriminated. In fact sri Lanka has SInhala, ENglish and TAMIL as the National Language when only 10% or so of teh population is Tamil. In India's Tamil Nadu where maority is Tamil the Official Language is NOT Tamil. Thats just one example of how well the Tamils are regarded in Sri Lanka.
    These foreign Diaspora wants to split the country so they can have a MONO ETHNIC TAMIL land.

  • ThelVedaa

    Looking at the comments supporting the Tamil protesters, it is funny that they're still using the same terms and quotes as those of LTTE, a ruthless terrorist outfit BANNED in US, UK and many other countries. The words like “Genocide”, “Chemical Weapons”, “Cluster Bombs” reiterate, who these people stand for.

    No credible organization or a government has accepted that a genocide is going on in Sri Lanka, or SL forces are using any chemical weapons or cluster bombs.

    Conversely, the LTTE was holding up thousands of civillians as a human shield against the SL forces to delay their eminent defeat by the advancing SL troops. There has been a constant flood of civillians fleeing from LTTE clutch to the government-controlled area which was well documented by news agencies. So far, more than 100,000 have fled. If there is a so-called genocide, why would these tamils come to the hands of the government. What is actually happening is that the LTTE is holding up civillians and shooting at them if they try to escape. This was shown to the world with the footage from unmanned aircraft cameras.

    If one is not convinced, please watch this video interviewing once topmost LTTE figures, “Daya master” and “Jeorge” who escaped LTTE recently.
    http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=HiddenReality

    • Thayan

      This is pro governement site link http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=HiddenReality, so you are not going to get the truth.

      Daya master & George were not powerful LTTE figures. They were just paid employees, you just pay little more money then they will say anything that SL government wants.

      Srilanka govenment killed over 6500 tamils and injured more than 14000 since 1/1/2009. SL government not trating Tamils fairly, instead they are killing Tamils therefore the conflict started.

      • ThelVedaa

        Daya master was the spokesperson & George was a translator for Thamil Selvan. So how can one say they're not powerful in LTTE. When they were in LTTE you believed whatever they said. Now since they have escaped and free to talk you don't believe them. Please don't talk rubbish. This is only one interview. There are hundreds more escaped people talking. Just open your ears. And you want me to believe what a site run by terrorists says!
        Defence.lk is a site run by SL government. A ligitimately elected government, mind you. Not a terrorist group who kills thier own kind.

    • Thayan

      If you want to see the outcome of Srilankan Government recent genocide then go to this site … http://tamilsgenocide.freetzi.com/ , here you will see the truth not at http://www.defence.lk/

  • common_citizen

    There is a streotype I see in the reporting here. First Labelling the people who fight for their rights as a terrorism by saying: 'The group is known for their violent protests and terrorism' .
    Theose people who were there are the families and friends who are directly affected by the SriLankan goverment attrocities and were ( may be even furious ) concerned by the negative propoganda of the group who support the killings of innocent Tamils in SriLanka.

    • ThelVedaa

      Well, LTTE is a terrorist group as accepted by many governments and organizations. Only people who say otherwise are LTTE supportes, people benefiting from LTTE and tamils who are seeking bogus refugee status in western countries. So who should one believe?

      Even the once powerful LTTE figures like Daya master & George are saying that the LTTE commit gruesome crimes on their own tamil people. The truth is clear!

      • Thayan

        First of all Daya master & George were not powerful LTTE figures. They were just paid employees. They will say anything that you want as long as they get the money. They used to get the pay check from LTTE now Srilankan Government… what is the big deal!!

        • ThelVedaa

          They anyway got the government paycheck, because they were government servants WHILE serving LTTE.
          The big deal is that you LTTE supporters don't want to accept the truth even after it's thrusted thru your eyes and ears. You're brainwashed!

  • Krish_78

    Why did Lansing city officials allow the Tamil group to show the LTTE flags? LTTE is banned in United State there for displaying such a flag is prohibited.
    It’s also a disgrace to the US and Canadian flags they displayed together with.

    • Thayan

      Hello Krish,

      Looks like your understanding of this conflict is very limited. You may need to brush-up before write your comments.

      The flag that you saw is not LTTE flag. It is Tamil national flag. So don't write something if you don't understand.

      Thanks.

      • itsalmostovernow

        Is there a Tamil country somewhere – with a national flag? I am confused … why do we need Eelam then?

        • Thayan

          Eelam has not been created… but it is going to be the flag. I mean tamil national flag.

      • ThelVedaa

        Please don't assume everyone else is dumb. The tiger symbol was created by Prabhakaran for LTTE. Why don't we see this flag used in Thamilnadu if its a national flag?

        You can stay in your dream forever, but I can guarantee you that your eelam is not in SL soil. May be it's in Thamilnadu. Go & try to find it there.

  • Jason12

    First of all the Topic should be: American and Canadian Protest to Draw International Attention to “STOP GENECIDE OF TAMILS IN SRI-LANKA”. The government of SRI-LANKA is killing the TAMIL civilians (Women & Children) using heavy weapons including Chemical weapons’ without international media or witness. The fact is since January 2009 to April 2009 more than 7,000 innocent Tamil civilians were killed and more than 20,000 were wounded. The Tamils are asking the International community to Stop the war and negotiate for a peaceful solution.

    The flags were shown were US, Canada, Tamil National to bring attention from the Michigan State government and US Federal government to step and stop the killing and help the helpless innocent Tamils in Sri-Lanka.

    Even Tamils porters were politely thank the Michigan Police personal were protecting them during the rally. This topic is changing the reality.

    “President Obama, Please help the Tamils” UN and US Please Save the Tamils” Media Please Brake the Silence and Bring the Truth to the Public” and Help the Tamils in Sri-Lanka to Save from the Sinhala Terror Government” BOMING and SHELLING the unarmed civilians without wildness Since 1983 .

  • LankaFriend

    Dear Sri Lankans,
    We should think the future of Sri Lankan. Not the incidents day-to-day basis. At this moment, LTTE cannot stand for Tamils or any Sri Lankan as they have committed numerous destructive conducts during last 25 years. Killing or destroying will not resolve any problem in this glob. Problems were resolved by working together, mutual understanding and respect. Thus, we should not talk about what LTTE did to the country, nation and to the Tamils as a whole. Lets allow legitimate government shoulders to finish it and free the civilians from LTTE clutches.
    Lets united, lets understand the issue and lets find the solutions!
    May god bless Lanka!
    May god bless All the people living in Sri Lanka!
    I remain Dear Friends.

    • Thayan

      So keeping tamil girls naked in Vanni govt controlled area is called “working together” and “mutual understanding and respect” ??

  • Thayan

    Dear Todd A. Heywood,

    You wrote:

    “About 100 people gathered to protest or voice their support for the government of Sri Lanka and the South Asian island nation’s ethnic Tamil minority, whose rebel force, the Tamil Tigers have been engaged in a bitter fight for control of the ethnic Tamil homeland.”

    In the above statement you have made a biggest mistake, that is, Tamils did not go there to support for the government of Sri Lanka. They went there because Srilankan Government is doing genocide of Tamils, therefore they went there.

    They clearly repeated number of times “Srilankan Government stop the Genocide” , “Srilankan government is a terrorist government”, “Srilankan Government stop using chemical weapons” — did they say anything to support srilankan government?

    Thanks.

  • Jeffery_Lawyer

    Quiet in context by the current Sri Lankan government namely weather or not the Killings, kidnappings, tortures and the arbitrary detentions against Tamils is a response to terrorism or is in fact a cover for genocidal intent to destroy Tamils in whole or part because of their ethnicity. We need to begin with the 1948 genocide convention which defines the crime of genocide as intent to destroy a group in a whole or part as such because of their nationality, ethnicity or religion and if we consider the entire sweep of Sri Lanka’s life since it was given birth in 1948, the evidence clearly established is that the animosity the attempt to destroy began far before late 1970 when the separatist group,LTTE, began moving to protect the Tamils. Sri Lanka was barely born when the first genocide is began namely denaturalization of Tamils. LTTE is the product of the Sinhala government attrocities. These atrocities reached further than old days. I wouldn't call LTTE is a terrorist group when there were 25,000 of it's soldiers gave their life for their freedom fighting and almost 90% Tamils support this group.

    • ThelVedaa

      Yeah, 90% of the Tamils living in western countries, because they're worried of their refugee status once the war is over in SL. Know your facts before talking.

      • Jeffery_Lawyer

        Sorry for your understanding. Let me explain to you the United States refugee policy. In seeking durable long-term solutions for most refugees, the United States gives priority to the safe, and only VOLUNTARY return of refugees to their homelands. If voluntary repatriation is not feasible, this great country provides resettlement here. So if you say all Tamils here are refugees which I reject your appeal as most of them here are under proffessional programs according to my data, then there is no need for them to return Sri Lanka. This policy pretty much applied to all western countries as this is the world standard refugee policy adopted in the definition of “refugee” contained in the 1951 U.N. Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol.

        • ThelVedaa

          There's nothing wrong in refugee programs, and US hasn't done anything wrong. But many Tamils have used this method to find shelter in western countries, by producing fake documents and certificates to prove that they or their relatives are harassed. US was more strict on this and thus there are fewer Tamils in US. But countries like Canada, UK and Australia were more lenient, and you can see the difference.
          What is this genocide you're talking about? Don't just repeat what LTTE is chanting. Prove it! If there's a so-called genocide, how come majority of the Tamils live in the south peacefully with sinhalese and other ethnicities. They would have fled to the Tiger held areas. But the reverse is true. The Tamils in LTTE area risk thier lives to escape into government controlled area.

          • Jeffery_Lawyer

            Let me reiterate what I said. The term genocide according to UN 1948 convention, is intending to destroy a group in a whole or part as such because of their nationality, ethnicity or religion. Its meaning is “done by government of people”. Whatever I said is not talking about LTTE as they are not government. We are talking about democratically elected government killing its own civilians. These killings have not been brought in front of justice systems, rather they are being justified and hidden by the Sri Lankan government which is a gross violations in the international systems, and absolutely becomes part of war crime under international standards.

            The situation is better in South for Tamils. But it is not peaceful or under living conditions as you claimed. According to HRW, Reporters Without border, Amnesty International and other international organizations, there have been so many killings, abductions, disappearances of Tamils day by day in South. The government is intent to hide them from international communities. There are hard evidences from the above organizations. Above that, major racial conflagrations that erupted violently in South against the Tamil people were inspired and master minded by the president of the government and it's allied ministers as part of a genocidal program (1956, 1958, 1961, 1974, 1977, 1979, 1981 and July 1983). This mentality even now has not been changed. It is still going on in 2009 as most other nations in the world have been civilized. There is no justification of killing civilian in the world by anybody. NOBODY HAS RIGHTS TO KILL A CIVILIAN!. Period!!! According to the latest international report, Sri Lankan government contributed a big chuck in this gruel activity. It is time for it to answer!!!

          • ThelVedaa

            Please don't try to dictate what genocide is to me. I know what it is and it's not happening in SL.
            And Don't come talking about civilization in SL. We know well what your civilization is like in the western world.
            Do I have to remind you what the europeans did to the American natives when they “Discovered” america?
            Do you know how the whole villages were masacared including infants and pregnant women in Sri Lanka when these europeans invaded our motherland? Do you know the extent of disaster in Japan made by the atomic bomb?
            Do you question American government's bombing and missiles on villages in Afghanistan and Pakistan which kills scores of civillians every day in the name of war against terror?
            Sri Lanka has an unparalled history, heritage and a civilization that we're proud of. The whole country was destroyed by the gredy europeans who invaded our country since 15th century, who are also the fathers of the current situation, who brought Tamil workers from India to work in the plantations which in turn were robbed from the Sinhalese.
            Let me also tell you a thing about the NGOs you're talking about. These peace mongers are known and proven to publish report intentionally to tarnish the SL government. Why? Simply because if there is no war, they won't get the dollars from their parent organizations in the western world. So, they'll do whatever possible to keep the war going. You should know that the captured LTTE bunkers were full of equipment donated by these NGOs, which were supposed to be put to the use of civillians.
            Again, unless you're a Tamil LTTE supporter, you must be quite mislead by the LTTE propaganda to go on talking about a genocide, which is rediculous. How come a Tamil, Lakshman Kadiragamar became the foreign minister of SL? (Mind you, was killed by LTTE) How come even in this government there are several Tamil ministers, including Karuna who is a former LTTE leader?
            Please remove your colored glasses and face the reality.

          • Jeffery_Lawyer

            You sound like you are a representative of the Sri Lankan rouge government who paid here to preach how to kill civilians. That's not going to fly. Killing civilians by anybody is not acceptable! The world is watching you. USA and European countries are at this level of civilization because they regret what they did it to those countries. Don't you know when civilians are killed in Afghanistan or Iraq; the culprits are being put in front of justice system? There is a justice being heard. What kind of justice system does your country have? British gave you the constitution for your country to run and you could not even follow it. I am just wondering what would have happened if they did not show you what tea is? And what railway system is. I am not sure what you will be eating if they did not show you what bread is? Did you ever invent anything by yourselves?

            Let me ask you what happened to the investigation of 17 workers of Action Contre La Faim NGO? They are LTTE huh? You dumped that case like you dumped those people. What is the difference between you and former Iraq? Why do you need democracy anyway? There are so many cases against your country. Before you come here and preach about your government, tell your government to catch those people and put them in front of the justice system. If you can make a thug a minister who killed 500 policemen and civilians in east, can anybody think that you are civilized? Why do you still keep NGOs like CARE, HUDEC, MSS, WUSE, ZOA, WORLD VISION, FORUD, and DRC CHIRISTIAN AID? You don’t need money huh?

          • ThelVedaa

            Ah! You've forgotten what you sound like when you point a finger at me. You forgot that the rest of the 4 fingers are pointed at you.. I don't have to tell you that you already mentioned it by saying LTTE are freedom fighters!
            So the western world regrets their misdeeds huh? Show me when the Portugeze, Dutch and Britain have apologized SL for the masacar and destruction they brought up on SL soil or compensated for it. No they didn't, but even now are trying to push us for peacetalks with the terrorists as though we're still their colony!
            And now, Taliban is holding a human shield against the pakistani Military.
            http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=93581&sect…
            Go and tell your masters to run and ask the pakistani government to stop the offensive and hold peace talks with Taliban! Double standards!

            So, justice is being done when the civilians get killed in the mid east? If the justice to be done, Bush must be prosecuted for going for war on bogus charges to bring about such a devastation to a country. I'm not talking about the soldiers killing at random, which is by the way a common occurence in Iraq and Afghanistan, but planned bombings, shellings that kill scores of innocent civillians while killing a millitant or two. Who's being charged for such crimes?
            SL didn't want the British justice system, but it was the only way to get rid of those bastards from our soil.
            So the SL's would starve to death if not for bread and tea? If you don't know something, better not to talk about it. Otherwise u're just showing your ignorance and lack of knowledge. I don't have to list what a variety of food we have in our country. Just be informed that the europeans didn't even know what the spices were before the arabic and other merchants brought them from our countries.
            What we have invented? Go and see for yourself what our sinhalese kingdoms looked like more than 2,000 yrs ago. How large reserviours they built and how complex the irrigation systems were. You obviously didn't know of the canals that have only a slope of 1 inch per one mile! or water fountains in our palaces still functional after 2,000 years. All the while many other cultures were living in caves feeding on raw meat.And that's how we prospered unlike the europeans who sucked up the blood and sweat and the treasures of our countries to develop their own.
            You think the britains built the railway to develop SL. Plz don't say rubbish. They built it to carry the wealth my motherland produced to their ships to be sent to their home and make money out of it!

            There are so many cases against SL? How many cases are there against US? Who's talking about them? No one! Why are these NGOs silent as mice? Just because SL is not a so-called super power, you think that anyone can say anything against it?

          • Jeffery_Lawyer

            Then go back there. why the hell are you here? you need US help to save you and your family???

          • Jeffery_Lawyer

            Here your pride is flying over the sky!.
            The drama is not going to work any more…

            http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/politics/…

          • ThelVedaa

            I hoped you'd answer my questions sensibly. But I realize that I can't expect that from you. So if this channel4 cameraman got into the camp? Where are those dead bodies? He cud have filmed them. It'd be very dramatic. Why couldn't he catch all the sufferings they claim of? Who are these aid workers?
            Only people like you will buy such bullshit!
            Of course these camps are not hotels. But people are provided with thier necessities. Do you know that there are tons of donations are being collected by Sinhalese in the south to be sent to those people? Which of your western media reported that?
            Who put these people in such a peril in the first place? None other than your freedom fighters, who shot and shelled thier own blood when they were fleeing.
            -End of Conversation-

  • innocent_tamil

    One more thing every time Western countries try to bring anything on Sri Lanka in the UN China and Russia come running to Veto or let alone block it from consideration. This will put Sri Lanka in the elite company of North Korea, Sudan and Iran.That is something to celebrate. Of course everyone here who are roaring like the lions should be really proud to be in the company.

  • 1234_k

    Don't you know whats happening last 25 years Modu sinhalava. Our Prabharan is a freedom fighter. He is the hero. LTTE will free us from the sinhala terrorist government. you will see.

    • ThelVedaa

      No question! Your freedom fighter is spending his last hours on SL soil right now. Soon he'll be history. A blood thirsty retarded person who killed thousands of innocent people indiscriminately is called a freedom fighter!

  • Rajan001

    I too am a Tamil who lived in Sri Lanka till i was an adult. LTTE killed my ralatives. NOT the Government. How many more tamils have the LTTE have killed? I have to say that you guys are mistaken about a lot of things. There mayhave been some descriminations 50 years ago. Today the only problem is Racial profiling in check points which is due tobecause of the mass number of suicide attacks and bombings done by the LTTE in public places. Let be real guys. Stop believing what these MFing LTTE propaganda'a are saying. Come to colombo and see for your self how well we live.

    • 1234_k

      If you are an eddappan, you can have a good life. !!!

    • Thayan

      Hello Mr. Rajah,

      So far over 100,000 Tamils have been killed in this conflict, but a few were eliminated by tamils because they were against for freedom of Tamils. I am sorry that your relatives were killed. The majority of the Tamils got killed by Srilankan Army and Singhala people.

      Discriminations 50 year ago? which part of world are you living, were you sleeping till today? The problem and discriminations are going from the day one, they never stopped and infect it is going up day by day and year by year. You know Tamils girls are being kept naked in Vanni. If your sister or mom was kept naked then only you will know the pain.

      We all are being real guys except you because you said Discriminations happened 50 year ago.

      Going to Colombo is like going to Jail. Why do we have to go thru the check points and afried for White Van?
      May be Colombo life is good for you because you might be in govt payroll as an informant/spy. That answers why your relatives were killed.

      By the way you need to fix your ESL issue.

    • ThelVedaa

      I bow my head to you Rajan, for being truthful! Unfortunately most others are so brainwashed.. And this guy's saying women are kept naked???? He's dreaming or what?
      Genocide.. Chemical weapons… Cluster bombs… They just gulp down what LTTE is saying to them. No brains to think.

  • Sona

    Mr Rajan-thilaka,
    Yes. We were living there in 1983. Did you forget what happened to Tamils in 1983 July? I and my family were actually rooted from Colombo and chased away from there and now ended up here. How many Tamil civilians did your sponsor killed? How many Tamil houses were burnt down? How many Tamil properties were even now stolen by Sinhala mob? And how many of them were occupied by Sinhala Viharais? Well, even now, how many kidnappings, killings and disappearances are happening in Colombo? (Is it 50 years ago?) Don't you read any news or travel warnings from other countries? It's shame on you, pretending to be a Tamil.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_July
    http://www.blackjuly83.com

  • 1234_k

    You are true tamilian. well done.

  • Sona

    Ridiculous! It appears to me a big drama was at Capitol Hill lobby, wasted tax payers money. Sniper team for what? Are the Tamils pirates or what? The security and facility people were duped big time by these idiots. It is absurd that our security forces were pulled into this non-sense without knowing. A big question is, how did our security forces allow to take a picture from a hidden place? I think this should be immediately brought to facility attention.

  • Jason12

    Dear Tood A. Heywood:

    Please investigate the subject reality of systematic “Genocide of Tamils in Sri-Lanka by government of Sri Lanka and their armed forces” for more than 25 years. There is no free media and people are living with fear in open jail. There are many reports from human right organizations, UN, ICRC,NGOs. There were lot of good reports from Australian media and CBC visited Sri-Lanka in what condition even the journalist is risking their lifves to report out the truth daily to outside world.

    Thank you for your consideration.

  • The_Punisher

    Well so the LTTE flag is the tamil national flag, does anyone know when this was done, also you may ask the Eastern province of Sri Lanka, whether they beleive that it should be done, because they appointed a party biassed to the government in the election, next did u see that video on youtube, of the kid whose legs were missing below the knees, crying in anguish, rolling on the ground due to a mortar shot by the LTTE took of his legs, now who is going to tell him the LTTE took of his legs for the sole purpose of bringing Prabhakaran to safety, who will pay for his rehabilitation, the Diaspora?? or maybe the Sri Lankan government, you blind Krauts of the 21'st century come to bloody daylight, you are the murderers of all the Sinhalese, Tamils, Burghers ( Portugese & Dutch Decendants) & Muslim, by the money you payed for explosives, how many innocent children waited after school to see there mother come home and found out that the people who carry the flag of a clandastine or (the tamil nation flag), how many wives waited for there husbands to come home from office to find the same, how many children or youngsters have you killed, 30 years you took out of this country, you know whats sounding to be a genocide you, not of 1 race, but all, when you exterminated the muslims of the eastern province, when you killed Tamil monks in Kovils, you think u still represent the tamil people, its like Ruwanda, only not Mashadis just bombs and guns..

    • Thayan

      Ok..ok buddy, don't flip the story, those kids lost their legs by the SL Army, not by Tamils.

      As far as your flag confusion, I would say go and take a look of both flags side by side then you will see both flags are not same. ( I hope you know how to find the difference)

  • The_Punisher

    And maybe, we can portrait the elimination of Muslims from the Eastern province to Darfur, similar dont you think, take weapons and just shoot at all the muslims just so you can make yourself look the majority race in the eastern province, what say you?

    • Thayan

      Muslims are tamils too, they are our brothers.
      Ask Srilankan government they will answer your question.

  • The_Punisher

    You tell me where you want me to upload the video for your viewing, I will oblige..

    • Thayan

      Who cares of your video… did we ask?

  • The_Punisher

    well numb nut when you accuse sumone, you know the accused has to answer dont you..so you challenged me sayin the childs legs were taken of by the army, Im telling you I have a video you can see the evident..if you cant accept reality, dont bother getting lost for words..

    • Thayan

      Fix your ESL, I don't understand your language.

  • The_Punisher

    Or should I give you the UAV mmages of the LTTE using a x-soviet union T-55 Main Battle Tank to openly fire at people..do you…

  • The_Punisher

    To all Non Sri Lankan or Non Eelamist readers, this organization has the most advanced Weapons procurement network ever seen, we just took 4 container vessels, but as per evidence they have a lots more, they not only supply the LTTE but all innabitadly supply all the terror networks accross the globe, today they may be supplying the Taleban, Maoists and AlQuaeeda themselves tomorrow they will be supplying them to your very own neighborhoods, already the Lobyist group supporting them in London have been accused of weapons smuggling in large scale, already on US-Canada border they have been captured transporting Heroine accross the borders on board of submersibles which have been traced back to Wanni ( The Sri Lankan battlefield), do you want to risk your sons and daughters limbs by housing these peoples illegal operations, they say that what comes around goes around, you better be ready.

  • Krish_78

    Today US government allowed LTTE supporters to protest on their soil. Tomorrow Al Queada will ask to protest here too.

    • Raman001

      There is no comparison between LTTE and Al Queada… your posting shows that your lack of understanding is very low… get educated before write something.

  • daNike

    To all the Pro Sinhalese and Anti-Tamil freedom lovers, all your lies are coming to an end. You think the rest of the wold is full of idiots like you?

    Please take a look at the following Satellite picture release by the UN.
    This is a PROOF that the Sri Lankan government is committing genocide on the innocent Tamils.
    And these fools wanted even celebrate it with the help of snipers.

    http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asi…

    From The Times
    May 1, 2009
    Leaked UN satellite images 'show haven for Sri Lanka refugees was bombed'

  • Krish_78

    This is how the Tamil tigers 'protect' their people

    http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25…

    • silva001

      Use your common sense… he was a paid employee when he was woring for LTTE. Now he is with SL govt, his goal is get out from you guys. So he will say everything against to LTTE.

  • anishasing

    How are you guys going to hide the satellite pictures that is with the world community. Think people! think!. I think the whole of sinhales community would reserve their time to sit and think for their government. Rather, you sinhales out side srilanka are paid to respond to the blogs. good new for you guys, your government is gonna pay you a million buck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FOR THE FIRST ONE WHO COMES OUT WITH THE “IDEA”, OR “COMMENT”. How to counter the truth about the satellite pictures of the srilankan armed forces and planes bombarding the tamil area. Work hard people. A million dollar awaits. GOOD LUCK TO YOU AND TO YOUR GOVERNMENT!

    • ThelVedaa

      Don't jump yet! Of course the government shelled. But not the civillians, but LTTE bunkers. These LTTE pigs ran and hid among the civillians to delay the certain defeat. Ask your hero the retarded Prabhakaran to leave the civillians and face the Army like a man with a spine. Then you'll see the reality. But, no! He won't do that. Because he & his blood-thirsty wolves are scared to death, and will try to hide underground until the last civillian is rescued by the military.

      • banda001

        Your government never ever going to capture him…. so don't dreem too much. you guys will realize very soon what you have done is total waste.

        • ThelVedaa

          Yeah! That coward might have fled already. That's fine. The last trace of the LTTE will be wiped off from our motherland. Then That Pig and his supporters can build thier dreamland in Thamilnadu or Malaysia or whatever!

  • banda001

    Your government never ever going to capture him…. so don't dreem too much. you guys will realize very soon what you have done is total waste.

  • Gurugee

    All you Tamil folks who have grown up in the US and have never been to Sri Lanka should really go there and see how different it is to your twisted, propaganda brain-washed “simple” minds. If you guys really want to learn the truth, I suggest you start here: http://tinyurl.com/cz4rzo

    • desilva

      what you see on the link is bunch of BS. No at all true!!

      • ThelVedaa

        OK! If the claims are not true, give your reasons!

  • michlankan

    Hi
    My comment is directed to you media and Lansing secuirity forces.
    This shows your lack of understanding towards recent issues in Sri Lanka or for that matter issues in any other country.You got your wires crossed .
    THESE WERE NOT DANGEROUS UNRULY TAMIL TIGER SUPPORTERS WHO WERE PROTESTING BUT REPRESANTATIVES OF INNOCENT SINHALA MAJORITY AND A FEW TAMIL SUPPORTERS OF SRI LANKA WHO ASKED FOR HELP FROM MI LEGISLATERS FOR A GOOD CAUSE.
    HOW DARE LANSING AUTHORITIES CALLED SNIPERS FOR HELP !!!!! THESE ARE NO NOTORIOUS MIDDLE EAST TERRORISTS OR LTTE MEMBERS !!!
    WHAT A SHAME !!!!!! YOU ARE IGNORENT BUNCH OF PEOPLE ! !!!!!!

    MEDIA AND LANSING AUTHORITIES GET YOU SELF EDUCATED ON WORLD AFFAIRS ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANT TO BE A LEADER IN THE WORLD AFFAIRS . YOU CANT AFFORD TO DO MAKE MISTAKES. DO NOT SHOW YOUR IGNORENCE !!!!!!!!!

    • lookubanda

      Part of the reason the media personal doesn't know what he is doing…. sorry for him.

    • Raman001

      I would NOT blame on Lansing Authorities or the Security forces, because someone must have given wrong information to them, so they were prepared, but I believe now they know Tamils are not that type of violent people.

      The person who put this news on this Michigan Messenger is not a qualified person for journalism. His lack of understanding shows that he is not a qualified person for his job.

  • ThelVedaa

    I hoped you'd answer my questions sensibly. But I realize that I can't expect that from you. So if this channel4 cameraman got into the camp? Where are those dead bodies? He cud have filmed them. It'd be very dramatic. Why couldn't he catch all the sufferings they claim of? Who are these aid workers?
    Only people like you will buy such bullshit!
    Of course these camps are not hotels. But people are provided with thier necessities. Do you know that there are tons of donations are being collected by Sinhalese in the south to be sent to those people? Which of your western media reported that?
    Who put these people in such a peril in the first place? None other than your freedom fighters, who shot and shelled thier own blood when they were fleeing.
    -End of Conversation-

  • Raman001

    I would NOT blame on Lansing Authorities or the Security forces, because someone must have given wrong information to them, so they were prepared, but I believe now they know Tamils are not that type of violent people.

    The person who put this news on this Michigan Messenger is not a qualified person for journalism. His lack of understanding shows that he is not a qualified person for his job.

  • Raman001

    There is no comparison between LTTE and Al Queada… your posting shows that your understanding is very low… get educated before write something.

  • ThelVedaa

    OK! If the claims are not true, give your reasons!

  • ThelVedaa

    I hoped you'd answer my questions sensibly. But I realize that I can't expect that from you. So if this channel4 cameraman got into the camp? Where are those dead bodies? He cud have filmed them. It'd be very dramatic. Why couldn't he catch all the sufferings they claim of? Who are these aid workers?
    Only people like you will buy such bullshit!
    Of course these camps are not hotels. But people are provided with thier necessities. Do you know that there are tons of donations are being collected by Sinhalese in the south to be sent to those people? Which of your western media reported that?
    Who put these people in such a peril in the first place? None other than your freedom fighters, who shot and shelled thier own blood when they were fleeing.
    -End of Conversation-

  • Raman001

    I would NOT blame on Lansing Authorities or the Security forces, because someone must have given wrong information to them, so they were prepared, but I believe now they know Tamils are not that type of violent people.

    The person who put this news on this Michigan Messenger is not a qualified person for journalism. His lack of understanding shows that he is not a qualified person for his job.

  • Raman001

    There is no comparison between LTTE and Al Queada… your posting shows that your understanding is very low… get educated before write something.

  • ThelVedaa

    OK! If the claims are not true, give your reasons!

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