...says a horrified refugee, now in Norway, tells S Suresh Kumar
...says a horrified refugee, now in Norway, tells S Suresh Kumar
The Lankan army may take advantage of the Tamil Nadu elections today to launch its final offensive against Tamils, many suspect. Since politicians are going to be preoccupied through the day with the electoral process, they will not be able to pay any attention to what is happening in Lanka, a Tamil from Norway told MiD DAY.
The army may use deadly weapons to clear out rebels and declare victory in their 25-year war, Tamil activist V Thamizhan said early today.
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Bloodbath: Ethnic Tamils at a makeshift hospital in the rebel-controlled zone in Mullivaaykaal, Sri Lanka, on Tuesday after an artillery barrage that killed hundreds |
In a telephonic conversation, he told MiD DAY about the Lankan Tamils' receding hope, and what the war could leave in its wake.
Who's V Thamizhan?
>>Thamizhan (42) reached the Tamil Nadu coast after he escaped from Lanka. He was 16 then. He then went to Norway as a refugee.
>>He works for the Tamil cause in Norway.
>>Thousands like him spread out once they came away from Lanka. He hopes to be reunited with his family
some day.
Starving people have started killing themselves for food
Here's what he said, in Tamil:
About the battleIt may look easy to talk about Lanka from here, but just imagining what is happening there is a big nightmare. We know the scars are not going to go away. Never. Neither the international community nor the media can stop the deaths. That's the sad truth.
On Indian leadersWe can't expect anything from politicians in India, because they are just bothered about their vote banks. We always think we have an umbilical connection with India, but in the last six months we have seen no indication of such a sentiment from Indian leaders. As soon as the elections end, they will forget all Lankan issues they have been raising over the past 40 days at their rallies. But still I have hope that someone will emerge and help us any moment. Hope is the only thing that keeps us going. We think our brothers in Tamil Nadu sympathise with us and bravely come forward to help. Stop the killing of innocents.
About world bodiesWe always keep in touch with our brothers and sisters across countries. When we left our land we dreamed we would one day be united. That dream kept us alive. Many countries listen to our tale and even voice their concern but that hasn't stopped the war.
Please feel the pain we are going through, please do something to save our people. Stop separating us from the world community and portraying each and every one of us as a terrorist.
The fearWe have seen enough drama in front of the TV channels. But we fear Lanka is preparing for the final assault on the day Tamil Nadu is going to vote. Our sources say the military has orders to use poison gas. They will probably claim they have won the war after ravaging the last 3.5 sq km. Starving people have started killing themselves for food.
So what now?
When I was 16 I came to Tamil Nadu in a boat after being tortured. After some months I reached Norway. I have worked for the Tamil cause and led protests and demonstrations here. But I can't sleep when I think of what is about to happen in Lanka today.
On the futureThis problem will never end. It will go on and on. If you ask people from any refugee camp, they will tell you stories no Indian can even imagine. Rajapakshe is a bigger filmmaker than Shankar or Manirathnam. He is portraying each and every Tamil soul as a terrorist. No media, no aid, no medicines, no foodu2026 we have no energy even to cry.
Makeshift hospital shelled by SLASri Lanka Army (SLA) fired artillery shells killing at least 47 civilians, patients and the Administrative Officer K Tharmakulasingam Tuesday morning around 8:00 a.m. At least 55 patients sustained serious injuries in the attack on the makeshift hospital which was functioning at Mullivaaykaal junior school. The attack came while around 2,000 wounded patients within the last 3 days were waiting for the ICRC to be transported in the ship. More than 2,600 civilians were killed within the past 3 days in Sri Lankan attacks in Vanni.
