Meet to condemn Lankan Army brutalities against Tamils

Vijayawada: The progressive and civil rights organisations have called upon people to express solidarity with the Tamilians fighting for liberation in Sri Lanka. The organisations would be holding a State-level convention on April 15, in support of the Sri Lankan Tamilians and mobilise support for them. Speaking to the media here on Saturday, the civil rights activist, SSC Bose and advocate Karnati Ramamohana Rao, said that the proposed meeting would mobilise support for the Tamilians and also condemn the atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan army against Tamilians. They said that Sri Lankan army had killed thousands of innocent Tamilians, besides Elam leaders like Prabhakaran and his family members. The brutal killing of Prabhakaran's son exposed the brutality of the Lankan army, they said. Ramamohana Rao alleged that the Indian government and the political parties from Tamil Nadu were also playing opportunistic politics and have not condemned the army excesses. He recalled that the Tamilian youth from Sri Lanka have been demanding international investigation into the Lankan army excesses and prosecution of Sri Lankan President Rajapaksha. He justified the Tamil Elam leaders' demand for declaration of Rajapaksha as a war criminal and should be punished in the international court for the crimes committed by the army. He called upon the people to extend support to the Tamilians fighting for independence and creation of separate nation. The Andhra Pradesh Civil Rights Committee senior leader, SSC Bose recalled that Sri Lankan government had been discriminating against the Tamilians right from the formation of first government in 1950. The Tamilians, who are a minority in the country, have been fighting for liberation and the fight had intensified since 1970, he added. He said that the demand for equal rights for Tamilians gained popularity while majority of the Tamlians started liberation fight. He stressed upon the need to extend support to the Tamilians and demanded that the crimes of Sri Lankan army should be condemned. He said that the proposed meeting would focus on the crimes of Sri Lankan army, the demand of the Tamilians for separate elam. The Peoples' Democratic Movement (PDM) State secretary, N Kranti Kumar, Virasam leader Varavara Rao, former national president of Samata Party V V Krishna Rao, APCLC leader Ch Chandrasekhar and other leaders would speak at the meeting. The Andhra Pradesh Rythu Coolie Sangham leader V Ramalingaiah, PDM leader Y Venkateswara Rao were present at the news conference.