Demo in France by former detainees: TNA

13 October 2015 03:37 pm

The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) said today that last Friday's demonstration in France against a meeting between its MPs and Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) provincial councillors, was carried out by some of those who had been harassed while being detained in TELO camps in the 1990s.

TNA MPs Selvam Adaikalanathan, A. K. Kodiswaran, Northern Provincial Councillor M.K. Sivajilingam and Eastern Provincial Councillor Kovinthan Karunakarum alias 'Jana' of TELO had attended the meeting held at a restaurant in La Chapelle, Paris.

However, a mob which gathered outside the restaurant had protested shouting slogans against the TELO members attending the meeting.

“The protesters are said to be those who are alleged to have been harassed by the TELO and military personnel while being detained at TELO camps in Batticaloa in the 1990s. Their family members had also joined in the protest. They had displayed their outrage against ‘Jana’ accusing him for what happened back then. The protesters had claimed they had to flee the country because of the harassment they had to undergo,” TNA MP M. A. Sumanthiran said quoting Mr. Adaikalanathan.

Mr. Sumanthiran said someone had called the French police and the police had rushed to the location. However, the meeting was cancelled because of the tense situation and said he was not aware whether there would be a next meeting or when. (Lahiru Pothmulla)