2013 Anti–Sri Lanka protests

Last updated

2013 anti-Sri Lanka protests
Part of protests against the Sri Lankan Civil War
Tamil Eelam Champion Seeman Speech Outside UN headquarters Geneva 003.jpg
Protests led by Tamil activists outside the United Nations Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland
Date11 March – October 2013 [1]
Location
Tamil Nadu, India
Caused byRetaliation for war crimes committed against the Sri Lankan Tamil people during the Sri Lankan Civil War
Goals
Methods Hunger strikes, picketings, protest marches, sit-ins, self-immolation
Resulted in
Parties
Casualties and losses
  • 2 deaths [2]
  • 500+ arrested [3]
None

The 2013 anti-Sri Lanka protests were a series of student protests led by Tamil protesters and activists in Tamil Nadu, India in retaliation for war crimes committed against the Sri Lankan Tamil people by the Sri Lankan Army during the final stages of the Sri Lankan Civil War.

Contents

Protests were initiated by the Students Federation for Freedom of Tamil Eelam. Protesters demanded that the Government of India vote in support of a United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) resolution censuring the Government of Sri Lanka for war crimes. [4] More radical sects of the protests demanded the prosecution of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for his role in the alleged genocide of Sri Lankan Tamils. Apart from college students, doctors, film personalities and employees of IT companies also participated in the protests. [5]

Protests

Tamil Nadu

Tamil actor and politician Seeman addressing a Tamil diaspora gathering in March 2013 Tamil Eelam Champion Seeman Speech Outside UN headquarters Geneva 001.jpg
Tamil actor and politician Seeman addressing a Tamil diaspora gathering in March 2013

Protests began on 11 March 2013, when eight students of Loyola College, Chennai fasted in condemnation of alleged atrocities committed against Tamils in Sri Lanka. All 8 students were promptly arrested by the Tamil Nadu Police. [6] The arrests were criticised by student organisations as well as the management of Loyola College and nine colleges across the city went on strike in response. [6]

Following protests saw students from all over Tamil Nadu take to streets in a massive outrage against the predominantly-Sinhalese government of Sri Lanka. A large number of students participated in the protest, including students from other states whom were temporarily studying in Tamil Nadu.

A statewide general strike declared on 12 March by the Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) evoked a mixed response, with most political parties in the state remaining aloof and alleging inaction on the part of the main participant, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). [7] [8]

On 16 March, a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk was attacked at the Brihadeeswara Temple in Thanjavur. [9] Another monk was attacked the following day, at Chennai Central. [10]

Student organisations called for statewide agitations on 18 March. Large-scale agitations were held outside Raj Bhavan, Chennai resulting in the arrest of over 500 students. [11] [12] The Government of Tamil Nadu declared the indefinite closure of 525 engineering colleges affiliated to Anna University, [13] and several other arts and science colleges in the state were forced to close down for an indefinite period. [14] As colleges remained closed, student groups organised protests using social media.

On 2 April 2013, several Tamil film actors staged a one-day fast in support of the protests. [15]

International

On 20 June 2013, during the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy semi-final match between India and Sri Lanka at the SWALEC Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, several Tamil Eelam supporters invaded the pitch with Tamil Eelam flags. [16] After the match, at least 400 protesters held up the bus for the Sri Lankan team and shouted anti-Sri Lankan government slogans at the cricketers. [17]

Aftermath

The Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly passed legislation on 27 March 2013 urging the Indian Government to impose economic sanctions on Sri Lanka and demand for the formation of a separate Tamil state for the Sri Lankan Tamils. The resolution also called on the Indian Government to stop considering Sri Lanka as a "friendly country" and called for an international inquiry in "genocide and war crimes" against Sri Lankan Tamils. [18] [19]

The resolution called for the formation of a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka, through the means of a referendum by a resolution at the UN Security Council which should be conducted among Tamils in Sri Lanka and other displaced Tamils across the world. [19]

The resolution which was proposed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa was unanimously passed by the Assembly. The resolution was passed following the debate in the Council regarding the then-ongoing protests. [18] [19] Moving the resolution, Jayalalithaa said the ongoing students protest was reflective of her government's initiative on the Sri Lankan issue even as she requested protestors to withdraw the stir and resume classes. [20]

The Assembly passed another resolution in October 2013, demanding that the Indian government boycott the 2013 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which was slated to be hosted by Sri Lanka and also sought the temporary suspension of Sri Lanka from the Commonwealth of Nations until Sri Lanka takes steps to grant what they call similar rights to Tamils as those enjoyed by Sinhalese. [21] [22] [23] [24] Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh announced his decision not to participate in the event due to pressure from regional Tamil parties regarding Sri Lanka's alleged human rights record. External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid represented India at the summit in place of the prime minister. [25]

The protests led to strained relations between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the main opposition party of Tamil Nadu, and the Indian National Congress (INC) the then-ruling party of India. On 19 March, DMK president M. Karunanidhi announced the party's withdrawal from the INC-led United Progressive Alliance, citing the INC's alleged disregard for the suffering of Sri Lankan Tamils as the DMK's reason for pulling out. [26] The DMK's withdrawal was well received by DMK supporters. This left the INC isolated in Tamil Nadu in the 2014 general elections, contesting in 40 seats alone and losing in all constituencies. The DMK would eventually rejoin the UPA during the 2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, but the alliance would once again lose to the ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). [27]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ TNN (20 March 2013). "Student protests prove acid test". The Times of India . Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  2. ↑ "Sri Lanka issue: Protests in Tamil Nadu claim another life : South, News - India Today". Indiatoday.intoday.in. 22 March 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  3. ↑ "Hundreds of students arrested in Chennai for anti-Lanka protests". NDTV.com. 18 March 2013. Retrieved 26 March 2013.
  4. ↑ "Students protest continues in Tamil Nadu to press Centre for UN resolution against Sri Lanka". The Times of India . 16 March 2013. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013.
  5. ↑ "Techies swayed by anti-Sri Lanka stir". The Hindu . 19 March 2013.
  6. 1 2 Venugopal, Vasudha (12 March 2013). "Amidst drama, students end hunger strike". The Hindu.
  7. ↑ "General strike evokes mixed response". The Hindu. 13 March 2013.
  8. ↑ "All parties barring VCK keep away". The Hindu. 13 March 2013.
  9. ↑ "Lankan monk roughed up in Thanjavur temple". Deccan Chronicle . 17 March 2013. Archived from the original on 20 March 2013.
  10. ↑ "Sri Lankan monk attacked in Chennai". Deccan Herald . 18 March 2013.
  11. ↑ "Protests continue over Sri Lankan issue, over 500 students arrested". The Times of India . 18 March 2013. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013.
  12. ↑ Chandrasekaran, Anupama (18 March 2013). "Tamil Nadu students protest alleged human rights abuses in Sri Lanka". The New York Times .
  13. ↑ "Tamil Nadu shuts engineering colleges as campus stir spreads". The Times of India . 19 March 2013. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013.
  14. ↑ "Arts colleges closed". The Hindu. 16 March 2013.
  15. ↑ Special Correspondent (2 April 2013). "Film actors fast for Sri Lankan cause". The Hindu. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  16. ↑ "Security breaches disrupt semi-final". espncricinfo.com. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  17. ↑ "Protesters hold up Sri Lankan team bus after supporters invade Cardiff pitch". NDTV. 21 June 2013. Archived from the original on 24 June 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
  18. 1 2 Uthayan Referendum for separate Tamil Eelam. Resolution unanimously passed at Tamil Nadu Assembly
  19. 1 2 3 Tamil Guardian Tamil Nadu Assembly adopts resolution seeking Eelam referendum
  20. ↑ Zee News TN Assembly demands referendum for separate Tamil Eelam
  21. ↑ "TN Assembly passes resolution demanding CHOGM boycott". The Times of India. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  22. ↑ "Tamil Nadu govt moves resolution demanding Centre to boycott CHOGM". The Times of India . 24 October 2013. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  23. ↑ "Tamil Nadu assembly passes resolution demanding India boycott Commonwealth meeting". The Times of India . 24 October 2013. Archived from the original on 27 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  24. ↑ "India should stay away from CHOGM: Tamil Nadu assembly". Business Standard India. Press Trust of India. 24 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  25. ↑ "Indian PM to boycott Commonwealth summit in Sri Lanka over human rights issue, says official". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013.
  26. ↑ "Karunanidhi clarifies why DMK pulled out of UPA". The Hindu. 20 March 2013. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  27. ↑ PTI (16 May 2016). "DMK-Congress alliance sure to form next govt in TN: Chidambaram". The Indian Express. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
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