Call to boy-cot World Tamil Writers conference in Sri Lanka: Proposes to convening in 2011

Tamil Writers and Journalists in Tamil Nadu urged to world Tamils to boycott the World Tamil Writers Conference planned in Colombo in January 2011. A collective of Tamil writers, artistes and journalists warned Tamil writers not to attend the conference, threatening to boycott any writer who does so.

The collective has called the boycott on the grounds that the Sri Lankan government has no moral right to conduct a Tamil conference what with mounting allegations of crimes committed during the recent war.

"Rajapaksa is trying to hold this conference to mask his guilt and the blood on his hands. Having said that, we know what kind of a conference it is going to be. I was explicitly told by the organisers that nobody would speak about the civil war," said writer Surya Jeevan.

The meeting featured writers and representatives from the film fraternity. Speakers lashed out at Tamil scholar Sivathambi for playing a key role in organizing the conference.

"Attempts are being made to make Sivathambi the face of the Colombo conference. We are pained to see him cooperating with the Sinhalese government," said noted Sri Lankan Tamil writer Espo. "The conference is an attempt to destroy Tamilians using Tamilians", he added.

Other speakers alleged that Sivathambi and others were conspiring to ensure no newspaper, magazine or publication from Tamil Nadu was allowed to enter the Tamil dominated areas of the island nation. Among others who took part in the boycott call were lyricist Thamarai, writers Solai, Kasi Anandan, R C Shakti and actor Manivannan.

Thamarai told the gathering that she had received letters of support for the boycott from over 25 Tamil organizations across the globe. The collective appealed to writers and artistes to stand together to replicate the success of the boycott of the IFFA awards held earlier this year in Colombo.

LTTE Chief Prabhakaran is alive

"All the personalities, who opposed the proposed Tamil Conference, believed that the LTTE Chief Prabhakran is alive and he will come soon in a day light and fight against the Rajapaksaas' undemocratic and jungle rule", Ms Tamarai told Asian Tribune.

- Asian Tribune -