Former LTTE negotiator slams Tamil Nadu Government for ban on seminar
A former LTTE negotiator has slammed the Tamil Nadu Government for banning a seminar organised by his organization, the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE).
Former LTTE peace negotiator and now self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the TGTE, Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran, a New York based lawyer, said the TGTE condemns the action taken by the Tamil Nadu government in India that denied permission to the TGTE’s seminar entitled “200 Years Tragedy of Malaiyaha (up country) Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka,” which was organized by the Tamil Nadu members of the TGTE and scheduled for the 15th of October.
This undemocratic denial of permission violated Tamils’ rights to both free speech and freedom of association, the TGTE said in a statement.
TGTE’s seminar was intended to discuss ways and means to uplift the lives of the Malaiyah Tamils in Sri Lanka. The conference was to be chaired by retired Tamil Nadu Justice Hon. Hari Paranthaman.
The confirmed speakers included V. Suresh, All India General Secretary of Peoples Union of Civil Liberties, Gobi Naiyanar, Film director, Professor Saraswathi, member of the TGTE senate, SS Balaji, a member of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, U Thaniyarasu Ex M.L.A, President of Konku Youth Association, Sankara Subbu, Senior Advocate, Madras High Court and Advocate T.M. Johnson, Tamils Lawyers Association, as well as Indian members of the TGTE and other Tamil Nadu-based speakers, the TGTE said
The TGTE said that the Tamil Nadu authorities who denied permission for the TGTE’s indoor seminar have not given any reason for their denial of the permit, which TGTE sought more than 1.5 months ago, in writing.
The Tamil Nadu members of the TGTE, Mr. T. Thamizhinian, Mr. Mugesh Thangavelu, Mr. G. Pavendhan and Professor. Saraswathi are making preparations to legally challenge Tamil Nadu Government’s ban on the “200 Years Tragedy of Malaiyaha Tamils” seminar in the Indian judiciary. (Colombo Gazette)
