Some 500 anti-war activists gathered outside the Indian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur today to protest against the ongoing war in Sri Lanka where over 6,000 civilians have been killed since January.
Led by non-partisan Global Peace Initiative (GPI), the protesters submitted a memorandum to the high commission appealing that the Indian government stop its military assistance to the Sri Lankan army which is battling the separatist Liberation Tiger of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
This is the second memorandum submitted to the high commission urging the Indian government to save the Tamil minority.
“Seventy-three days have gone by… there has not been any acknowledgment of it, let alone a reply,” stated the memorandum prepared by GPI coordinator S Pasupathi.
Various placards and posters that condemned the military actions were brandished by the protesters. Some also carried photos of LTTE commander-in-chief Vellupilai Prabakaran.
They also hung worn-out slippers and shoes on the placards with photos of president of the Indian National Congress Sonia Gandhi and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
The memorandum was submitted to the high commission’s first secretary VKV Raman at around noon.
The bloodshed between the Sinhalese government and the LTTE began in 1983 when the Tamil rebels demanded for an independent state for the minority Tamils in the north and the east of the island.
Women and children being victimised
According to GPI, civilians, especially women and children, are also being victimised by the government’s soldiers.
The memorandum also quoted Foreign Minister of India Pranap Mukherjee as saying that India has a comprehensive relationship of ’strategic importance’ with Sri Lanka as Pakistan and China are attempting to gain foothold in the island.
India is perfectly aware that its weaponry, military personnel and intelligence services… which has made the fire power of Sri Lanka’s armed forces formidable not just for defeating the LTTE but also for achieving the ultimate objective of the Sinhalese regime (which is for) the annihilation of the Tamils in Sri Lanka,” read the memorandum.
“From the policy statement by the foreign minister… it is crystal clear that in the best of India, the Tamil civilians could be sacrificed and that India would supply armaments to Sri Lanka in order to forestall Pakistan and China becoming the suppliers
“At the same time, to placate the people of Tamil Nadu, the Indian government has been publicly calling for a cease-fire and political solution while everything needed for a successful military solution is being attended too,” it added.
According to the memorandum, the Indian government’s ‘generous’ military aid had resulted in the killing of over 250,000 in the bloody battle which has been going on for almost 20 years now.
M’sian gov’t must make a stand
Two months ago the government demarcated a Civilian Safety Zone in Mullaitivu, former stronghold of the LTTE, in which the army had promised not to infiltrate and to allow for humanitarian aid for some 100,000 trapped in the area.
malaysia sri lanka anti violence protest 210409 01However, all international organisations including the United Nations (UN) were evacuated from the north eastern part of Mullaitivu except for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and local aid organisations.
Opposition parliamentarians R Sivarasa (Subang-PKR), Charles Santiago (Klang-DAP), S Manikavasagam (Kapar-PKR) and M Manogaran (Teluk Intan-DAP) were also present.
Santiago told reporters that the Malaysian government has to take a stand against the war, as it did during the Israel-Palestine massacre.
“It is our moral responsibility to oppose their disregard for convention that speak against the massacre of civilians, let it be in Palestine, Kosovo or even Sri Lanka,” he stressed.
The parliamentarians are also expected to hold another protest next Friday at the Sri Lankan High Commission hoping to bring about a cease-fire in the country soon.
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