Vaiko,1,000 others detained for protest against Rajapaksa visit

During his three-day visit Rajapaksa will hold talks with PM Manmohan Singh,S M Krishna and others.

MDMK founder Vaiko and leaders of the CPI and VCK were detained on Tuesday when they attempted to stage demonstrations at different places here to protest against Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s visit to the country.

During his three-day visit beginning Tuesday,Rajapaksa will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh,External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and others.

Viduthalai Siruthaigal Katchi leader Thol Thirumavalavan,CPI state secretary D Pandian,Tamil Nationals Movement leader P Nedumaran and actors Seeman and T Rajender were among those detained.

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Cadres of the Sri Lankan Tamils Movement,formed by several pro-Tamil parties,including the MDMK,known for its pro-LTTE stand,and the CPI were held when they tried to stage black flag protests near Nageswara Rao Park and proceed towards the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner’s office,police said.

Vaiko,who addressed the protesters,alleged that thousands of minority Tamil civilians were killed towards the

end of the war between the Sri Lankan forces and the LTTE last year.

He also alleged that Rajapaksa was responsible for the killings of many innocent Tamils and demanded that he be tried in an international court of law.

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More than 200 cadres belonging to the VCK,headed by Thol Thirumavalvan,were detained as they tried to stage a protest near Memorial Hall.

Thirumavalavan alleged that the Sri Lankan government had not utilised the funds given by India to rehabilitate Tamils living in rehabilitation camps in that nation.

About 100 PMK cadres,headed by Velmurugan,an MLA,were also detained near the Collector’s office. Eighty Nam Tamil Movement activists led by actor Seeman were picked up when they tried to burn an effigy of Rajapaksa near Sastri Bhavan.

“Rajapaksa is the man responsible for the death of many innocent Tamils,” Vaiko said.

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He also alleged that India had helped Sri Lanka in its war against the LTTE.

In Bangalore,60 members belonging to the Human Rights Federation held a black flag protest in front of Mahatma

Gandhi’s statue against Rajapaksa’s visit,police said.

In a statement,Federation convener M Ravanan flayed Rajapaksa for not “taking any steps to rehabilitate innocent

civilians who are still in concentration camps”.

A Madurai report said 224 activists belonging to the MDMK and pro-Tamil outfits were arrested there for attempting to burn the Sri Lankan national flag and Rajapaksa’s effigy.

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In Ramanathapuram district,115 persons were arrested for holding demonstrations and trying to take out a black flag procession and burn the effigy of the Lankan President,police said.

Advocates belonging to the Kumbakonam Bar Association boycotted court proceedings at Kumbakonam,protesting against Rajapaksa’s visit.