M.K.Sivajilingham MP in full swing in India carrying on anti Sri Lanka Government activities

Chennai, 29 January, (Asiantribune.com): A Tamil National Alliance Member of Parliament who is on leave of absence from the Parliament of Sri Lanka, is alleged to be running a well organized anti-Sri Lankan Government disinformation campaign in India. Not only he is involved with running his own campaign against Sri Lanka, sources said he is involved in arranging the funding of all anti-Sri Lankan campaigns on behalf of the Tamil separatist outfit – Liberation Tigers Tamil Eelam in Tamil Nadu in particular and in India in general. M. K. Sivajilingham MP

According to Sri Lanka parliamentary sources, Mahalingam Kanagalingam Shivajilingam one of the members of parliament representing the Jaffna electoral district, is on leave of absence from the Sri Lanka Parliament since 9th October 2008 and is now in Chennai to run and organized anti-Sri Lankan Government disinformation campaign and funding all those who are involved in protest rallies against Sri Lanka.

Sivajilingham, a leading member of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO), is from Valvetiturai and in the last parliamentary general election held in April 2004, contested in the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kadchchi ticket, thus representing the Tamil National Alliance, a proxy political formation of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

In Sri Lanka a member of parliament is entitle, at a stretch for leave of absence up to a three months period.

Normally another member of parliament has to move in a motion in the floor of the house for the leave of absence on behalf of a member.

As a tradition, leave of absence motions are passed in the parliament without any objections.

For the first time, the leave of absence motion of Sivajilingham was approved in the parliament on 9th October 2008, but when it came to an end, again Kathirgamathamby Thurairetnasingam a TNA MP from the Trrincomalee electoral district moved the motion for further leave of absence in the floor of the parliament on 4th of December 2008 and the parliament granted him leave of absence until 4th of March 2009.

Sivajilingham has obtained leave of absence, it seems to carry on an anti-Sri Lanka campaign in the soils of India.

When Asian Tribune contacted Minister Dinesh Gunawardene, who is also the Chief Government Whip in the parliament about Sivajilingham who has obtained leave of absence from the parliament, but involved in political activities in India - "He has been approved leave of absence by Parliament so he can be on leave from Parliament as long as the parliament approves. Approving - is if the person is a member of parliament, any other member moves for leave from the Parliament when Parliament sits and only in the morning sessions and normally parliament approves the leave for a member," said Minister Dinesh Gunawardene.

When asked how can it be tolerated when a MP takes payment from the Government of Sri Lanka and also enjoying the status as a member of parliament, also holding a red color diplomatic passport and who has sworn allegiance to the constitution to go and work against the country’s Government in a foreign soil for the bifurcation of the country which amounts violating the constitution of the country?

Minister Dinesh Gunawardene said that the matter is now under consideration by the government.

He said , that the issue has to be considered by the government. He further added, "As the matter is under study at present, I cannot comment on it any further."

Given below some of the news items appeared in the Indian press regarding the activities of Sivajilingham, who is on leave of absence from the Sri Lankan parliament:

Sri Lankan Tamil MP Mr. M. K. Sivajilingam

1. Chennai based media have reported on the protest held by the Delhi Tamil Students Federation in New Delhi on 9th November 2008 on the Sri Lanka issue. The reports stated that the CPI and Sri Lankan Tamil MP Mr. M. K. Sivajilingam had also been part of the protest rally. Mr. Sivajilingam is reported to have stated that India should intervene and stop the killings of innocent civilians in the country as "in the guise of attacking LTTE, the Sri Lankan Government is killing Tamil civilians. India’s military assistance to Sri Lanka is being used against innocent Tamils. India should stop arms supply immediately".

2. Chennai based media reports have stated that Sri Lankan parliamentarians Mr. Sivajilingam and Mr. Sri Kantha from the TELO, who are currently in New Delhi (14th November 2008) with the intension of meeting the Indian Prime Minister and Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, had stated that 'the statement by H. E the President had only proved that the Government was pursuing a military solution'.

The reports also stated that Mr. Sivajilingam had stated that India should immediately intervene to protect the welfare of the Tamils and that the Sri Lanka Government should announce a ceasefire. He is also reported to have stated that if there was no ceasefire and solution to the issue, then the 22 TNA MPs would resign from the Parliament.

Mr. Srikantha had stated that equal rights should be given to the Tamil people on par with that of the Sinhalese and further stated that if there was an acceptable solution given by the Government which would address the needs of the Tamils, they were prepared to accept it and even Mr. Prabakaran would also examine it.

3. Chennai based media datelined Karnataka have reported that the Bangalore Tamil Sangam had called on Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to exert pressure on Sri Lanka to 'immediately declare a ceasefire'.The reports stated that Bangalore Tamil Sangam held a special meeting on 30th November 2008 to express its moral support to the Sri Lankan Tamils, in which nearly 500 members, including Sri Lankan MP Mr. M. K. Shivajilingam and former Deputy Speaker of Tamil Nadu Assembly Mr. Pulamaipithan, had also attended.

4. Chennai based media have reported that Sri Lankan MP Mr. Sivajilingam had stated that the recent Mumbai terrorist attacks had links with the ongoing war in Sri Lanka. The reports stated that Mr. Sivajilingam addressing the media on 9th December 2008, had also stated that the 'Mumbai attack was a conspiracy aimed at diverting India’s attention from the war against the LTTE in Sri Lanka' and that the Indian Government must take note of this seriously’. He is also reported to have stated that 'the Sri Lankan Government has ignored India’s counsels and suggestions in order to bring about an equitable solution to the Tamils' issue' and had further stated that "…but being friendlier with Pakistan and China, the Sri Lankan leaders are keen on strengthening ties with them. Pakistan has been supporting Sri Lanka militarily and also with lavish financial aid" and added that the Mumbai terror attacks should be viewed against this backdrop.

5. In an interview with an evening newspaper, the Maalai Murasu newspaper, in response to a question of on how he could favour returning Katchatheevu to India and whether it would amount to him speaking against the sovereignty of Sri Lanka, MP Sivajilingam, has responded by stating that while he accepted that it was so, he did not believe in conforming to the sovereignty of Sri Lanka when his people were being oppressed daily with their sorrows continuing, and as such, conforming to sovereignty would be deception.

6. protest meeting was held by the MDMK near the vicinity of the Sri Lanka Mission in Chennai on 10th December, in which many slogans criticising the remarks made by the Army Commander on Tamil Nadu politicians, such as Mr. Vaiko, the General Secretary of the MDMK and Mr. Pazha Nedumaran, calling for the Sri Lankan envoy to be expelled to Sri Lanka from India, calling to stop the war and warning not to anger the people of Tamil Nadu were some of the slogans at the meeting which was poorly attended by a crowd numbering around one hundred in the presence of Mr. Vaiko, Mr. Nedumaran, Mr. Thiyagu, Mr. Masilamani of the DPI/VCK, MDMK’s Nellai Sathya and Sri Lankan MP Mr. Sivajilingam. Sri Lankan Parliament MP Mr. Sivajilingam in his address also questioned the validity of the war and those supporting the war and asked them to help to being back peace to the island of Sri Lanka.

7. Chennai based electronic media have reported that Sri Lankan MP, Mr. M. K. Sivajilingam has held a press conference in New Delhi on 18th December 2008 and had announced that he was due to meet leaders of the BJP shortly.

Meanwhile, sources have informed that Mr. Sivajilingam is due to meet the BJP leaders on 21st December 2008 and that one Mr. Nagai Mugan, a leader of the Forward Bloc party is reported to have organised the meeting with the BJP leaders. It is also understood that all the other TNA MPs are also due to arrive in time for the meeting.

8. Chennai based media have reported that Sri Lankan MP, Mr. M. K. Sivajilingam had reportedly met the leader of the opposition BJP and the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate, Mr. L. K. Advani in New Delhi on 21st December 2008. According to media reports, Mr. Sivajilingam is reported to have stated that he had called on Mr. Advani to take up the Sri Lankan issue and stop the fighting in Sri Lanka. He is also reported to have stated that he had also explained the plight of the Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka due to the conflict and had called on India to alleviate their sufferings. He had also stated that while pressuring the ruling Government, as the next possible party to rule India, he too should ensure the protection of the Sri Lankan Tamils. Quoting the response of Mr. Advani, Mr. Sivajilingam, is reported to have stated that Mr. Advani had assured him that he would raise the importance of stopping the ‘war’ in Sri Lanka at the Indian Parliament, and that his party would strive to protect the welfare of the Tamils in Sri Lanka.’. Mr. Sivajilingam is also reported to have informed Mr. Advani of the demolitions of Hindu temples in Sri Lanka to which Mr. Advani is reported to have expressed strong condemnation. The reports added that Mr. Sivajilingam is also due to call on RJD’s leader and Union Minister for Railways, Mr. Lalu Prasad Yadev, UJD’s leader Mr. Sarath Yadev and other leaders in connection with the ethnic issue in Sri Lanka.

9. Chennai based electronic media have reported that Sri Lankan MP, Mr. M. K. Sivajilingam of the TNA had reportedly stated that the Sri Lankan Government was taking certain actions that may pose a threat to India. The reports stated that Mr. Sivajilingam, who was addressing the ‘Eelam Tamils Right to Live’ conference in Nagarcovil had also stated that of the nine oil wells that were discovered in Manner, the Sri Lankan Government had decided to give some of them to Pakistan, while it was possible that the Hambantota harbour, which is to be constructed with China’s assistance, was to be given to Iran to store weapons. He is also reported to have stated that Sri Lanka’s relations with India’s enemy countries such as China and Pakistan can pose a threat to India’s security and that the only solution to this problem was the blossoming of Tamil Eelam which will be a friendly country to India. The reports had added that Mr. Sivajilingam had also stated that over 400,000 Tamils had become refugees in the Wanni region due to the conflict and had reportedly appealed to the Indian Central Government to intervene in the matter.

10. Give Katchatheevu to India

Express News Service

Chennai, September 17 2008

At a time when the demand for retrieving Katchatheevu from Sri Lanka is growing high in Tamil Nadu, the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) party from the island nation has also extended its support for the cause.

At a media gathering in Chennai on Wednesday, TNA MP Sivajilingam said that the move would be a final solution to save Indian fishermen from being killed by the Sri Lankan Navy.

He said, "We (the Sri Lankan Tamil leaders) have expressed our solidarity to the suffering fishermen from Tamil Nadu. However, we are unable to help them more than this, as far as the Katchatheevu issue is concerned." But, in case India gets back Katchatheevu, the Sri Lankan Tamils will be very happy, he added.

He, however, denied the allegations that fishermen from Rameswaram were detained by the LTTE, while they were fishing in the Bay of Bengal. On the Sri Lankan military attacks in places dominated by Tamils, Sivajilingam said the Rajapakshe Government has decided to carry out the genocide in Tamil areas, such that the minority community can be completely wiped out.

In the name of war on terrorism, the Sri Lankan Army is targeting innocent Tamils. In fact, many people are being harassed and women are being raped, he alleged. In such a scenario, Indian Government should take appropriate steps to ensure that civilians were kept away from the inhumane attacks. It should also stop extending any sort of military help to Sri Lanka he added.

The TNA leader said, about two lakhs Tamils in Sri Lanka are living as Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), where in these people are largely hit due to failure in augmenting basic amenities, including water.

- Asian Tribune -