Army barges into Noolaham Foundation meeting in Jaffna

    29 May 2011, 5:29 pm

    Press Release

    Project Noolaham has been ongoing since the year 2005 and is run by respectable and responsible Tamil intellectuals. The main purpose of the Noolaham Foundation, a registered charity, is to collect rare books and manuscripts from across the globe, and digitize and make them freely available to all researchers.

    In the past year, we added more than 3000 documents to our e-library. We operate on a meager annual budget of about Rs. 1.65 million collected from contributions, working with mainly volunteers consisting of young persons who initially conceived the idea.

    This evening we met in Jaffna, as we regularly do on the last Sunday of the month. The highlight today was on preserving sites of ancient cultural heritage through videos and photographs.

    As we started, the army arrived and a person identifying himself as Colonel Jayawardene brusquely entered our hall rudely shouting, “Who is in charge?” When the person in charge, an emeritus professor, identified himself, the colonel shouted at him for all to hear: “No LTTE commemorations. Ministry of Defence orders. Do you understand?”

    We were allowed to proceed after a Tamil speaking person from the army in civil attire was allowed to sit among us and under the condition that copies of the presentations should be given to him. Soldiers were moving around the hall peeping in on the meeting. As we left, our names, identity card numbers and addresses and telephone numbers were recorded.

    Our day was spoilt. The meeting was ruined because we were so worried by the military presence that we could not focus on the speakers. We could not freely express ideas since the military presence and weapons were intimidating. The public will keep off from our functions now and those who rent us halls will be fearful of doing so.

    Unfortunately, this is a regular occurrence in Jaffna. Just 2 days ago, an official event at St. Charles’ School was interrupted by the army barging in on a false tip-off.

    For peace and prosperity and indeed normality in Jaffna, endeavours like Noolaham’s are of essence. But the gains made by the government are being squandered by the army without any discernment, treating all of us who are Tamil like suspects.

    The government, after winning the war, is losing the peace. We must point out the irony of our government working with former hardcore LTTE personnel and using some of them as informants while branding respectable Tamil civilians as LTTE.

    I appeal to His Excellency the President to please review how civilians are treated in Jaffna by the military.

    S. Ratnajeevan H. Hoole, D.Sc. (Eng.)

    Member, Advisory Committee

    The Noolaham Foundation

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    31 Comments

  1. aratai says:

    May 29, 2011 at 6:04 pm

    .

    Mr. Hoole,

    No one will beleive you…

    Why?

    1) According to Rajapakse’s, north is free from LTTE terrorists and are living free and happy

    2) Srilankan soldiers always carry Human Rights declaration in one hand… you did not mention that

    3) You did not get VC post and therefore you are mad at the government

    ***by the way, did you say anything against Douglas recently?

    :-)

    Reply to this comment

  2. Indonicus says:

    May 29, 2011 at 6:58 pm

    “I appeal to His Excellency the President to please review how civilians are treated in Jaffna by the military.”

    Keep appealing brother. If it fails try begging. If that fails try crawling. It may still bear no fruit but His Majesty will like it!

    Reply to this comment

  3. Kaz says:

    May 29, 2011 at 7:17 pm

    More proof that, all what the Rajapaksa regime had in mind, and has done is to replace LTTE terror with pro-govt terror. Time has come for the Tamils to be freed from this form of terror.

    Reply to this comment

  4. Mayu says:

    May 29, 2011 at 7:27 pm

    This act deserves full condemnation.

    SL army was directed by some unprofessional officers who wanted to dent the good work of the SL population.

    SL got rid of some kind of threat but now facing a new threat from uniformed personal. This should be stopped.

    Reply to this comment

      5. Ex neocolonial subject from NE says:

        May 29, 2011 at 9:53 pm

        This reminds me of Colonel Udugama time in 1961, Veerasingham Hall and Duraipaaha Stadium incidents of 1974 and so on. Nothing new for the subjects and ex subjects like me. Ofcourse the IC including India and China and Russia know very well but they pretend not to know. But who will play the role of a Justice ? Sooner or later the intervention time has to come.The people of the South has to use their democratic rights again to find a leader who can bring real peace. Otherwise many sections of them too will start to suffer like the subjects of NE.

        Reply to this comment

    • TRN says:

      May 31, 2011 at 8:55 am

      no one in the horizon at present.

      we have to work with as always lesser devils.

      Reply to this comment

    6. Thamilan says

      :

      May 29, 2011 at 10:19 pm

      The war is not over yet. This is genocide. The Sinhala race want to suppress us s physically, mentally, intellectually, spiritually, financially, economically and emotionally so that within a decade our race will disappear. Let us fight back and safeguard our history. Remember that words of Mahinda Rajapakshe in parliament just after the war. I quote “There is no minority in this country” The development that is taking place in the north and east – building new Buddhist temples, Changing names of villages and streets to Sinhala etc., grabbing lands belongs to Tamils are the ways by which the Sinhala race want to achieve this.

      Reply to this comment

      • Velu Balendran says:

        May 31, 2011 at 6:34 am

        War is only over for the dead – so said someone

        Reply to this comment

      • Thambi says:

        May 31, 2011 at 5:17 pm

        Not the Sinhala race — just the Rajapakse administration. Mind not spilling yourself into the racist film, okay?

        Reply to this comment

    • Ilaya Seran Senguttuvan says:

      May 29, 2011 at 10:20 pm

      Fascism has been part of our daily life for sometime – and more in the post-7/83 period. The saving grace is sometimes it dissappears for a while – but sadly re-enters stridently. Whether we can rid ourselves of this element in our daily life in the foreseeable future will remain a matter of debate. This ugly incident will in no way enhance the oft-repeated claim of the Rajapakse regime of clean,


      good and just Govt. The Army has a right to fear, rightly or wrongly, activity

      risking the interest of the State. After all, in view of the continuous presence of injustice, State terror and the denial to the Tamil people ONLY the rule of Provincial Councils given to the other 8 – the State fears a return of resistance to these inequities. The Army man would have done himself and his body a favour if he had come decently invited himself – with a trusted Tamil person – and followed the proceedings to his satisfaction. No one will protest if he was to take exception of aberrations, if any. But with men like Dr Hoole present, this is unlikely. It is in situations like this one thinks of the descrption An Officer and Gentleman – not a half-crazed screaming creature. What this callous incident has eventually achieved is to leave the impression of an Occupation Army on an unwilling, suffering Tamil people. The “genuine reconciliation” the Indian Govt counselled to the visiting Dr. GL Peiris and the Rajapakse regime in the recent Communique clearly something that is far, far away.


      To set the balance right the Tamils in the NEP suffered fascism from their side as well – though the cause and other are subject to interpretation.

      ISS

      Reply to this comment

    • SriLankan says:

      May 29, 2011 at 10:53 pm

      This is the typical behaviour of this Rajapakse Regime. They use the military to threaten and subdue people, deprive them of their rights and liberties. The situation is pretty bad.

      Reply to this comment

    • Sri Lankan says:

      May 29, 2011 at 10:55 pm

      Prof Hool is a wellknown senior academic but also, he is wellknown for his expression of racial sentiments. There are numbers of NGOs, societies ets under the sheep’s skin but reality is the other. The activities of these were at a full momentum over the past decades thanks to the democracy and the fredom in this country and also due to the stupidity and the short-sightedness of our athorities.


      As we all know, the momentum has slowed a little with the end of the LTTE but hasnt dissapeared. Perhaps never. However, this country needs the peace and harmony and equally, the equivality for all ethnic sectors in every aspects. So for all those parties concerned have to be mindful about these facts.


      Reply to this comment

      • dax says:

        May 30, 2011 at 12:11 am

        Sri Lanka in the wake of Tamil Diaspora making the Western Countries act against Sri Lanka,has to be vigilant.The country thought the show was over when the war was finished. But in contrast we find many false charges framed against Sri Lanka which has resulted in immense hardships to the Citizens of this Country. Up to today I have not seen many so called intellectuals rise against so called Pro LTTE diaspora. Please do not forget for 30 years Tamil people in the North and East depended on the food and all the their needs sent by Sinhalese people,not India or any other country. Rather than mulling over heritage sites why don’t you devote your time to counter the menaces against this country by your fellow country men who have managed to escape in to the West and trying their level best to disrupt this country again.Only few weeks back large amount of LTTE papers were seized and also it is a very well known fact that under the guise of many names lots of Terrorist activities are being done. So the Country has the every right to be suspicious about every thing.Why don’t you appeal to the Tiger Diaspora in the West so that others will not interfere with our country and so that every body can live in Peace.

        Reply to this comment

        • TRN says:

          May 31, 2011 at 9:04 am

          OK … but shouldn’t there be a better way to monitor than walk around with a loaded gun?

          The armed army personal should have left leaving the civilian clothed military person. so he will be able to judge the proceedings.

          There should be a civilized way of doing things. Let the jaffna people live without fear of a gun at least now. what is the point of victory over terror for the people in the north if the terror continues?

          The majority of Jaffna people do not want another war , they want a live a normal life…. let them live a normal life without fear of the gun.

          Reply to this comment

        • Hiphop says:

          June 1, 2011 at 11:08 am

          http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/news/story/2011/06/110601_protest.shtml

          Yep this is also Tamil diaspora’s false propaganda. Get a life

          Reply to this comment

      • Paran says:

        May 30, 2011 at 12:41 am

        Such dis-respectable harsh military intrusion is deplorable. How do you prevent such occurrence in future? Should we have to obtain a special permission form “SOMEONE” prier to any “meeting”.

        Reply to this comment

      • Raj Kulasingham says:

        May 30, 2011 at 3:52 am

        Prof Hoole Did he expect tamils were going to be allowed to live in peace or develop their culture when he set himself against the Tigers ?

        Raj

        Reply to this comment

      • Nama yoga says:

        May 30, 2011 at 4:16 am

        The North and East of Sri Lanka is under Army occupation to keep people suppressed without freedom of thoughts and action.


        It is just a large prison for suppressed minority race.


        Reply to this comment

      • Dr Mervyn Silva PhD says:

        May 30, 2011 at 4:31 am

        This incident may seem unimportant for many however this is an example of how Mahinda’s caring armed forces poking their noses into people are private and public affairs. This event came to light only because high profile Prof Hoole was intimidated by the army.

        Even if the event was hosted to remember Mullivaaikkal, indeed it’s in human nature to grieve collectively up to the day many thousand died, particularly by their kith and kin, the army (or its boss in Colombo)again does not show any sensitivity which is needed for healing.

        In 1974 the police did not understand the sensitivity as to why Tamils wanted to host the Tamil Research Conference in Jaffna. After winning the war Mahinda’s armed forces behaving like “Gestapo” scrutinising every aspect of life in occupied areas.

        Is the army going to regulate family life in the occupied areas, prescribing when, where and how the husband and wife can have their intimate relationship or how many times they can have fun?

        These members of armed forces are not going to behave differently when they go back to their home towns and villages. So the majority community must be aware what to expect from them, particularly when there is no accountability and behave like private army of a particular family.

        This creates a condition which can only lead to struggle for liberation.

        Reply to this comment

      • Suresh says:

        May 30, 2011 at 4:34 am

        This is the high handed and loutish behavior that will lead to further animosity being generated among peaceful Tamil people! Shame on the Commander of the Northern security force detachments!

        The security forces need to be given lessons in dealing with the general public in a time of peace. All they have been exposed to is a war mindset and cannot break away from it even once the war is over!

        Sadly, in my humble opinion, the powers that be are dependent on having an aggressive armed force mentality in order to cower and beat down any dissenting voices that they fear.

        Reply to this comment

      • srilankans says:

        May 30, 2011 at 4:54 am

        what do you mean by respectable tamil and responsible tamil. all the people are respectable and responsible…. not mentioned few tamils..

        Reply to this comment

      • PASUPATHY says:

        May 30, 2011 at 8:38 am

        Hello Dr Hoole,


        you are day dreaming, dont think MR will help you, or listen you. You expect he will make you VC jaffna university, that will not happen. You beg him but nothing will happen.


        Reply to this comment

      • rohan j says:

        May 30, 2011 at 9:00 am

        What else can one expect from those who are neither here or there to do, I mean a gang who just do not whether they are men or women under the protection of weapons and dress in lingerie.

        The world is watching their antics instead of being humble and attempting to save their skins they desire to intimidate and walk all over the docile Tamil people.

        I am very well aware that the Tamil folk regret the absence of Velu & his merry men no goon in uniform or the likes of doggie & Karuna were all kept in their rightful places.

        Keep on bullying, the time will come hopefully soon where the bullied will become the soul savers of the bullies. R j.

        Reply to this comment

        • Siva says:

          May 30, 2011 at 7:20 pm

          Dear Ratnajeevan H. Hoole D. Sc.(Eng)

          Feedback and criticism like these would be very valuable to the government as I know they are trying quite hard at reconcilliation and rebuilding of relations between the communities.

          But you as a member of the diaspora should understand that the army also has an extremely difficult task to perform. Not so long ago, perfectly respectable and well educated people like you, professors, doctors and lawyers, sat around tables in Jaffna, London, Melbourne and Toronto performing crucial planning and forward thinking tasks in support of the LTTE movement.

          The army has to be very careful not to appear rude and impolite in their activities and thereby alienate the tamil public. But this has to be a two way street. After all the army’s foremost function is the security of the nation.

          They would be perfectly within their bounds to enter ANY gathering, so long as they are not overtly rude, insulting or abusive. If the law of the land hurts the feelings of some individuals, then this is unfortunate. But this the price we have to pay for what the LTTE supporting intellectuals have been doing for so long.

          The future for Sri Lankan Tamils and Sinhalese is in promoting genuine friendship and brotherhood as have been amply demonstrated in many individual anecdotes. Sinhalase and Hindu Tamils are extremely close in culture, Religion and way of life. Unfortunately it is the divisive elements of the western society, e.g. western religions that are mainly responsible for the conflict we see to day.

          Lets hope and pray that the we will one day see the light, and be able to unite as Sri Lankans.

          Ajit Perera Ph.D

          Reply to this comment

          • Balthazar says:

            May 31, 2011 at 5:48 am

            Dr Ajit Perera, how would you react in a situation such as this, if the roles were reversed if you were at a meeting and the army barged in?

            Reply to this comment

        • Ilaya Seran Senguttuvan says:

          May 31, 2011 at 6:52 am

          Siva/Ajith Perera PhD is an unusual but welcome combination.

          Your comments and mine here largely are in the same trajectory, if you will notice. But let me ask you this. If Rohana Wijeweera – who is just as culpable or not (depending on how you see it) as Prabakaran in waging war against the State – and the JVPs leader’s death anniversary can be celebrated openly in the streets of Cbo, why not Prabakaran’s? I was not a Wijeweera supporter but I was in sympathy with some of the things he stood for – although I did not agree with the means he took to achieve them. Neither am I a VP or LTTE supporter per se but I am raising a fundamental question of democratic rights of lawful dissent. Wijeweera killed many civilians and was responsible for the death of many men in uniform- as we all know. But the Sihala society forgave him. I believe the people of Jaffna should not be denied the lawful right of mourning the death of their near and dear ones – political leanings apart.But then, it requires a society of some maturity, tolerance and learning to practise that degree of respect to an alternate view.

          ISS


          practise


          Reply to this comment

        • Samuel says:

          May 31, 2011 at 9:58 am

          Will Ajit Perera like the army entering a wedding, funeral or a literary event in which he is present?


          Why should the army enter ANY gathering? For what purpose?

          Should the army attend weddings,funerals etc. too?

          Already the army is disrupting even temple poojas.

          Recently a temple priest was killed by persons using weapons supplied by the army – as admitted by the Military Governer.His two sons were seriously injured.

          Even after this admission, there was no proper investigation.

          What is Ajit Perer’s reaction to this?


          Prof. Hoole tried to become Vice Chancellor through the backdoor and failed. He slandered the present VC elected by the senate. Since he is in the good books of the President,why is he not informing tha latter about this incident – and many other incidents of harassment by the army?

          Reply to this comment

          • Merlin Van Tweest says:

            May 31, 2011 at 10:46 am

            As long as the UN and the Diaspora continue the harassment of Sri Lanka under the guise of ‘human rights’ the armed forces have to be extra vigilant that nothing will re-awaken the LTTE or a similar movement.

            Sri Lankans have learned the hard lesson that the indoctrination of the Tamil youth and the Vaddukodai resolution precipitated in the killing of 100,000 personnel and the thirty year war. It is in this atmosphere events such as these have to be judged. Never again will Sri Lanka permit the likes of the LTTE or their proxies the TNA to use events such as these to be a springboard for any such future terrorist actions. Such actions will nip in the bud any prospect of the indoctrination of the youth and the initiation of any future terrorist movement.

            One must understand these actions from the perspective of the armed forces who are the guardians of Sri Lanka and their nervousness that accompanies anything that will re-awaken any smidgen of terrorism.

            Reply to this comment

            • Dr Mervyn Silva PhD says:

              June 2, 2011 at 3:07 am

              Sri Lankan state, Sinhala Buddhist narrow nationalists and the Sinhala so called academics have been reciting the same Mantra at S J V Chelvanayagam, A Amirthalingam and Prabaharan in the past 60 years or so.

              If Sri Lanka as a cohesive state to exist the Political elite, Bureaucracy, armed forces, and the so called intelligentsia need enemies within and without. Now that LTTE and its leaders have gone the Tamil Diaspora has become its prime enemy, of course they are backed by the “west” for ulterior motives, as if the ground condition in the island is not obvious.

              The Katunayake incidents clearly show that the enemies outside the island are insufficient to hold the state together; the real issues are beginning to surface, after the end of “patriotic war”. fought and won by the family.

              This undemocratic state will continue to find enemies just as it found Gen Fonseka, the prime “suspect” in all sorts of alleged crimes against the family. Perhaps as enemy Gen Fonseka alone is not big enough to absorb blame for state’s failure. Therefore, the blame game will not stop at the Tamil Diaspora.

              I have been wondering for many years as to why the Sri Lankan state and its supposed opponents could not solve their differences in amicable fashion.

              Prof G L P visited India and China. Now the TGTE and TNA are planning either to visit or lobby China and Russia. The problem lies within Sri Lanka and responsibilities rest on the state not outside the island. The sooner the people who undemocratically run the state realise this better for the country and its people. The state and its rulers are running out of enemies hence both will create new ones. The danger is that the people irrespective of their ethnicity will be at the receiving end, as we witnessed at FTZ.

              Reply to this comment

          • a velayutham says:

            June 1, 2011 at 1:58 pm

            Mr. Hoole: Are you not crying Wolf after crying Wolf for so many years? You are not the only intellectual among the Tamils who have said this before and has been totally ignored? Get over it. It just seems ironic after helping to paint anything and everything with the Tamils to the government as bad all these years.


            Velayutham


            Reply to this comment

          • Samuel says:

            June 3, 2011 at 6:52 pm

            Project Madurai – which collects and digitises ancient tamil manuscripts has been in existence for many decades, with resources provided by the govermnment of Tamilnadu and tamil intellectuals and computer experts.


            http://tamilelibrary.org


            A lot of work has been done.

            Reply to this comment

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