englishpunk77
02-22-2008, 12:20 AM
Source: defence.lk
Tamils in France defy LTTE
PARIS: For the first time in recent years moderate Tamils in Paris organised a musical show defying the open threats from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Many Tamils and Sinhalese and a handful of French attended the musical show on Sunday at Salle LSC at 146 Avenue President Wilson in Paris where top Sri Lankan vocalist Mohanraj Muthuswamy and several Tamil and Indian bands entertained the audience until the early hours of morning of February 18.
Tamil entertainer Vardhan who organised the show thanked the participants who decided to participate despite the LTTE threat to their lives.
He added that the crowd has given him strength to organise similar events in future with larger participation.
He also sang a popular Tamil song of Indian singer Manoharan. According to reliable independent Tamil sources in the French capital, the LTTE has demanded money from the organisers and the singer, which they had flatly refused.
Following that the LTTE started a campaign against the musical programme by spreading the word by mouth that people should boycott any event if it is not organised by the LTTE.
As the organisers told the Tamil public that the musical show was not a political event and it was a mere cultural activity for the Tamils in Paris, the demand for tickets for the show has suddenly increased.
In desperation, the LTTE launched a poster campaign on February 16 accusing the organisers as collaborators. The poster stated that "this musical event has been organised by the racist Sri Lankan government and traitors to the Tamil cause - EPDP and ENDLF" and warned the Tamil public not to attend the show.
"It is a blatant lie," Vardhan said. "I have no connection with the Sri Lankan Government. This is cultural event and it has nothing to do with any political party or group".
Some of the Tamil members of the Communist Party of France were among the organisers and they had brought this to the attention of the CPF and urged them to assist the organisers to hold the show.
Immediately CPF members informed police to provide security for the event. However, the police intervention came late and many Tamils who bought tickets did not go to the venue due to fear of reprisals by the LTTE. But few hundreds defied the LTTE threats and came in groups to the venue.
"We decided to come not only to enjoy music but also to create a conducive atmosphere in Paris for moderate and independent Tamils to live in peace," Murugan, a 24-year-old youth told this correspondent after the show.
"The fact that the show was held in spite of the open threats by the LTTE is a victory for democratic Tamils in France".
Courtesy : Daily News
Tamils in France defy LTTE
PARIS: For the first time in recent years moderate Tamils in Paris organised a musical show defying the open threats from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Many Tamils and Sinhalese and a handful of French attended the musical show on Sunday at Salle LSC at 146 Avenue President Wilson in Paris where top Sri Lankan vocalist Mohanraj Muthuswamy and several Tamil and Indian bands entertained the audience until the early hours of morning of February 18.
Tamil entertainer Vardhan who organised the show thanked the participants who decided to participate despite the LTTE threat to their lives.
He added that the crowd has given him strength to organise similar events in future with larger participation.
He also sang a popular Tamil song of Indian singer Manoharan. According to reliable independent Tamil sources in the French capital, the LTTE has demanded money from the organisers and the singer, which they had flatly refused.
Following that the LTTE started a campaign against the musical programme by spreading the word by mouth that people should boycott any event if it is not organised by the LTTE.
As the organisers told the Tamil public that the musical show was not a political event and it was a mere cultural activity for the Tamils in Paris, the demand for tickets for the show has suddenly increased.
In desperation, the LTTE launched a poster campaign on February 16 accusing the organisers as collaborators. The poster stated that "this musical event has been organised by the racist Sri Lankan government and traitors to the Tamil cause - EPDP and ENDLF" and warned the Tamil public not to attend the show.
"It is a blatant lie," Vardhan said. "I have no connection with the Sri Lankan Government. This is cultural event and it has nothing to do with any political party or group".
Some of the Tamil members of the Communist Party of France were among the organisers and they had brought this to the attention of the CPF and urged them to assist the organisers to hold the show.
Immediately CPF members informed police to provide security for the event. However, the police intervention came late and many Tamils who bought tickets did not go to the venue due to fear of reprisals by the LTTE. But few hundreds defied the LTTE threats and came in groups to the venue.
"We decided to come not only to enjoy music but also to create a conducive atmosphere in Paris for moderate and independent Tamils to live in peace," Murugan, a 24-year-old youth told this correspondent after the show.
"The fact that the show was held in spite of the open threats by the LTTE is a victory for democratic Tamils in France".
Courtesy : Daily News