A spirited gathering of 100 to 120 enthusiastic and angry, predominantly youth gathered at the Town hall in Bangalore on 15th November to protest against the CHOGM event in Sri Lanka. Though the city had seen few protests on this issue in the course of the week, observers said this was the most vocal & substantiative of all.
As the photos from the protest graphically depict that the demands and concerns were raised in the most effective manner through the posters prepared for the event. It was mentioned by the many first-timers that they had come to the protest after seeing the posters and reading leaflets in various locations of the city of Bangalore.
The meeting was addressed by several leading members of the supportive organisations who had joined the protest. Rajan C of the Karnataka Tamil Makkal Iyakkam, Paul Newman of Naam Thamilar, Ravanan of Periyar Dravida Kazagam, Fr. Ambrose Pinto, Principal of St’ Aloysius College, and Fr. George of Indian Social Institute of Bangalore dwelled upon the Genocidal War in Sri Lanka and how the Govt. of India is guilty in supporting such a gross violations in that country.
Jagadish G Chandra of the New Socialist Alternative (CWI-India) making the introductory remarks explained the current situation in Sri Lanka and how the CHOGM was an attempt to whitewash Mahinda Rajapakse’s regime. He also opined that the recent expose by Channel Four Documentaries had put a spotlight on the horrendous human rights abuses that have gone on for years, and the coming period would be crucial for the Activists around world to build up the struggle to bring justice the Tamils in Sri Lanka.
The event was jointly organised by Tamil Solidarity, May 17 movement, Solidarity Youth Movement and New Socialist Alternative as part of the world wide protests initiated by Tamil Solidarity Campaign. In India apart from Bangalore the protests were conducted in Chennai, Trivandrum, Palakkad and Thrissur too.
Jagadish G Chandra
Bangalore
