IT Professionals Human Chain in Chennai demanding Justice for Eezham Tamils

[Mohan Kumar Subramaniam]

Dear Friend,

On 20th March 2013, more than 4000 IT professionals joined their hands together for a human chain protest organized by Save Tamils Movement near Tidel Park, Chennai demanding justice for Eezham Tamils.

IT professionals from various software companies located in the OMR stretch and other IT parks like CTS, TCS, HCL, Polaris, Ramco, HP, Infosys, Accenture etc were participated in this human chain protest demanding Indian government to advocate for an independent international investigation on the Genocide committed by Sri Lanka and  to impose economic embargo on SL till justice delivered to Eezham Tamils. They also demanded the UN to hold a plebiscite among ethnic Eezham Tamils for an independent Tamil Eezham state.

Similar Human chain were organized in Sriram IT Gateway in Perungalathoor and Navaloor HCL office in Chennai.
We sharing the various print media reports on the protest for your information and to spread the message.

Regards
Elangovan.Sa
Spokesperson, STM
+91 98844 68039

Techies add muscle to students' anti-Lanka crusade

http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article1510282.ece

By Express News Service - CHENNAI

21st March 2013 09:09 AM

• Photos

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  The human chain stretched from Tidel Park to Madhya Kailash.
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  Around 3,000 people must have participated in the stir, police said.

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Any trade union leader in the State would confess without doubt that mobilising IT employees for protests and agitations is a tough task, thanks to the comforts of their office cubicles, strict employer directives and happy salaries.

But, it was a completely different scene on OMR on Wednesday. Inspired by the student movement across the State on the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, many employees of IT companies participated in a human chain protest on the service lane of the Old Mahabalipuram Road.

Around 3,000 people must have participated in the stir, police said, making this perhaps, the first time ever that such a large group of IT employees had ever been mobilised for a public cause.

The human chain stretched from Tidel Park to Madhya Kailash. Members of all age groups stood hand in hand and held up placards. Slogans were also raised in support of Sri Lankan Tamils.

Sandhya Ravi, an MNC employee in the Tidel Park, said she decided to participate after reading the news about student protests. “The students have come out and they are fighting for a cause. As matured human beings, I think it is the duty of every one to agitate, given what had happened to the Tamils in Sri Lanka,” she said.

Karthikeyan, who came all the way from Sholinganallur to participate in the human chain, said the images of LTTE chief Prabhakaran’s son, Balachandran, had brought him to tears. “It is such an inhuman act to kill a child like that. If we keep quite even after this, we are not human at all,” he said.

Almost all participants had taken time off work. In some offices where bosses were not inclined to their participation, they had taken a few hours’ permission to be a part of the protests.

The brain behind the hugely successful protest was Save Tamils Movement, a collective of IT professionals which was formed during the later stages of the Eelam War in 2009. Spokesperson of the group, Elangovan, told Express that members had distributed 18,000 pamphlets over the last few days, exhorting people to participate in the protest. This ensured that IT employees from all over the city came to OMR on Wednesday evening.

The organisation said the protest stressed on three demands: independent international investigation into the genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka, imposition of economic sanctions on the country and a referendum among Sri Lankan Tamils for a separate Eelam.

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/130321/news-current-affairs/article/techies-join-protest-chorus-against-lanka

Techies join protest chorus against Lanka

DC | Janani Sampath & Uma Kannan | 23 hours 39 min ago

Chennai: In what has gradually developed into a mass movement across the state, over 4,000 people, majority of them being software professionals, formed a human chain from Tidel Park to Madhya Kailash on Rajiv Gandhi Salai on Wedn­esday evening, demanding an independent international investigation probe into Sri Lankan war crimes.

“Students too took part in the human chain and our demands include imposing of economic sanctions against Sri Lanka,” said Senthil Kumar, co-ordinator, Save Tamils Movement and an IT professional.

“Though we expected around 200 professionals, more number of techies joined us and showed their solidarity during the protest,” said Elango­van of Save Tamils Movement.

Meanwhile, about 110 IIT-Bombay students on Wednesday observed a hunger strike against the alleged Lankan war crimes. “We are following student protests in Tamil Nadu. The injustice caused to Tamils in Lanka is demoralising and shattering the values of humanity. An international referendum for an independent Tamil Eela­m is our demand,” said the organiser and Ph.D scholar at IIT-Bombay Harshavardan.

Students and members of public staged a mass demonstration at the Marina on Wednesday. Over hundreds of protesters gathered in Marina holding banners and placards slamming Mah­inda Rajapaksa. Even members of Tamil film fraternity joined the band­wagon and demanded justice for the victims of the alleged genocide by staging a hunger strike. Scores of protesters staged demonstrations in more than 50 locations in the city.

The protest movement gained momentum acr­oss the state, even as 1,000 students from more than 10 colleges gathered in Tirunelveli and came down upon the UPA government for allegedly diluting the US resolution. Auto drivers, Sri Lankan refuges and general public joined hands with the students and agitated in around 35 spots in the district.

 

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/it-professionals-join-in-as-protests-gather-pace/article4530739.ece?homepage=true

IT professionals join in as protests gather pace

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The HinduProfessionals working in several software companies gathered outside Tidel Park, in support of the student movement. Photo: M. Karunakaran

2,000 IT EMPLOYEES EXTEND SUPPORT

In the evening, professionals working in several software companies came out in support of the ongoing student movement. Armed with placards, the employees, who work in reputed MNCs including, Infosys, HCL Technologies, IBM, Accenture, TCS, Polaris and several smaller ones, formed a human chain outside Tidel Park that extended from Indira Nagar to the junction.

“It is only when working professionals demand answers that governments take notice. When the students persistently stood by the protests, we decided it was time for us to act too,” said R. Deepa, an employee of a company in Tidel Park.

S. A. Elangovan, spokesperson, Save Tamils Movement, one of the associations that had brought the employees together, said there was much work done to mobilise the employees. “We identified key points on the IT corridor–Ascendas, Tidel Park junction, Siruseri, OMR post – at key timings, and distributed nearly 18,000 pamphlets to professionals.”

While most of the employees were from Tidel Park, many working in Siruseri, SIPCOT IT Park and Mahindra World City had also travelled down to be part of the movement.

According to S. A. Elangovan, spokesperson, Save Tamils Movement, one of the associations that had brought the employees together, the response was overwhelming. “Police officials told us there were over 2,000 people in the protest.”

Seen among the protesters were also autorickshaw drivers and residents who work near IT offices. While Elangovan maintained the protest was being held to ask for an independent international investigation into the genocides, to impose economic embargo and a referendum among Tamils for a political solutions, some participants carried images displaying a hanging Rajapaksa or suggestions for a separate Tamil nation.

“Bulletin boards will full of discussions about the war crimes. And ever since the protests started, software employees have been itching to show their support. We are politically conscious and sensitive too,” said R. Mahesh, one of the protesters.

“Normally we work even if there State wide bandh or any emergency bandh. But this time many managers in smaller companies wanted their employees to participate in the issue,” said Annadurai, another employee.

The employees recalled the last time they took part in the protest was during the anti–sexual violence rally after the Delhi gang-rape. “Many companies had offered to send us more employees for the protest. Even during the anti-corruption protests, many companies started their own campaigns. But an issue like Sri Lankan war crimes, is still seen as a Tamil issue,” said R. Varadarajan, an employee of Infosys.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/south/blog-the-face-that-launched-a-thousand-protests-345042

»

Blog: The face that launched a thousand protests

Chennai: One of the first things that I noticed on the drive from Chennai's Meenambakkam airport to the city's IT hub -Tidel Park, was the posters all along the route. The face that launched a thousand ships they say, but this one is of an innocent 12-year-old, Balachandran, the son of Velupillai Prabhakaran. 

Still pictures from the Channel 4 video of his killing is the face that seems to have shaken people's conscience and galvanised Tamil Nadu into unprecedented protests that are hoping to catch the eye and the attention of the world, more specifically, the United Nations (UN).
 
On the main road outside Tidel Park, the human chain formed by at least a thousand young professionals seemed endless, stretching over a couple of kilometres.


Somehow you don't expect protests to be so widespread, simultaneous and well-organised unless there is a political party or interest backing it. Mention it and there is anger. "There is no political link,'' is the vehement retort.
 
Are all these people apolitical? I must admit I had been a little skeptical at first. The slogans seemed to ring with some political undertone.
 
"Tamizh eelam malarattum'' (let Tamil Eelam Blossom)
 
"Echcharikkai echcharikkai, mathiya arasukku echcharikkai'' (This is a warning to the Central government)
 
"Ilangai doodarai veliyetru'' (Send the Lankan Ambassador back)
 
"Vellattum, vellattum, Tamizh eelam vellattum'' (Victory to Tamizh Eelam)
 
"Tamizhargallukku veera vanakkam'' (Our salute to Brave Tamils)
 
The protest I was told had been organised by a pro-Tamil group, the Save Tamils Movement, a collective of IT professionals, who had been advocating the cause for a few years now. But many in the group raising the slogans were first-timers. The people were there, out of some heartfelt need to express protest, stand up to be counted, raising a voice, hoping to be seen and heard. 
 
"I am here as a human, as an Indian and as a Tamilian,'' declared Joseline Jing. " If your sisters and brothers are killed, won't you cry? It is an issue that bothers us, so we are raising it. But the Indian government is not able to understand our pain,'' he says.
 
Are you happy that the DMK has withdrawn support to put pressure on the Central government? I ask deliberately, to provoke a reaction.
 
"So-called Tamil political parties are playing games. If they felt any emotion, they would have taken it up in 2009 when things turned so bad, but they did not. Even in 2009, when I was a student, I protested and I was arrested, but there was political pressure. This time we don't trust political parties. They are looking at the next elections. We are looking at the UN,'' says one professional. Many others join in agreeing with him.
 
So what changed this time? Why are there so many voices now that were silent for so long, I ask?
 
"Most people have been very ignorant because the media blocks out such news, '' Pandian explains. "There is now proof and evidence of lot of violations. So the government should take a tough stand, take it up on an international forum, so there can be justice.''
 
Karthigeyan is interning with an IT company here. He and his friend Vignesh Babu from Coimbatore say they want to take the issue to the UN directly, not through any political party.
 
"Slowly awareness is coming. I did not expect so many people to come here but they are protesting everywhere, in the colleges, on the roads. Social media and twitter have made all the difference,'' Karthigeyan says.
 
Bright Billy Graham says it took an international news house, the UK-based Channel Four, to put out something to shake the conscience of the world. "Thousands have been killed by Sri Lanka. 500 Indian fishermen have been killed and yet the Indian government is reluctant to act. I feel ashamed about it. ''
 
Don't the IT companies you work for object if you come out on the road and protest on what is seen as a political issue, I ask. Wide grins, some embarrassed. "No madam, I came after office hours," says one. "My company management initiated me to participate in this,'' says another. "It is a human rights issue, why can't we also stand up for it,'' asks a third, adding, "and so should the Indian government.''
 
Once the protests were over, I find one of the young girls, an IT professional, is holding a poster in one hand and picking polythene water bags littered around. There is hope when aware people act as socially conscious citizens, I tell myself.

http://www.save-tamils.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=488:thousands-throng-it-highway-demanding-international-probe-on-sri-lankan-war-crimes-and-genocide-crimes&catid=4&Itemid=23

Thousands throng IT highway demanding International probe on Sri Lankan war crimes and genocide crimes

Posted in Protest

Tamil Nadu students and youths started a historical protest demanding international investigation on Sri Lankan war crimes and plebiscite for Tamil Eezham a week ago. The students protest gained momentum and spread like forest fire across Tamil Nadu and brought various sections of society to the streets seeking the justice for the Eezham Tamils.

Today (20^th March 2013), more than 4000 IT professionals joined their hands together for a human chain protest near Tidel Park, Chennai seeking justice to the Eezham Tamils. IT professionals from various software companies located in the OMR stretch and other IT parks like CTS, TCS, HCL, Polaris, Ramco, HP, Infosys, Accenture etc were participated in this human chain protest demanding Indian government to advocate for an independent international investigation in Sri Lanka and also to impose economic embargo on SL till justice delivered to Eezham Tamils. They also demanded the UN to hold a plebiscite among ethnic Eezham Tamils for an independent Tamil Eezham state. The placards and slogans reiterated the demands and condemned the Indian government for standing with Sri Lanka. About 200 IT professionals gathered in Shriram IT Park, Perungulathur today and hold a human chain protest with same demands. Both the events were organized and presided by Save Tamils Movement, a collective of IT professionals and youths based in Chennai.

A similar kind of protest was also organized by IT professionals yesterday (19^th March 2013) in DLF IT park, Chennai where about 300 techies participated and raised slogans for international probe in SL war crimes and genocide.

Instead of listening to the voice of Tamil Nadu, Indian government played a mediator role and further diluted the US sponsored resolution against Sri Lanka in the name of saving the friendly neighbor. The techies condemned the Indian government for not heeding to the voice of millions of Tamils from Tamil Nadu and failing to stand up for justice for the war victims.

Below are the demands put forth by the IT professionals to the Indian government and International Community:

1. Conduct Independent international investigation on the Sri Lankan government

2. Impose economic embargo on the SL government, till the justice is delivered to Eezham Tamils

3. Conduct a public referendum among the Eezham Tamils for an independent Tamil Eezham state

The professionals pledged that the protest is not going to end with this 22^nd UNHRC session and planned to intensify the Boycott Sri Lanka campaign ranging from IPL cricket matches, tourism and Sri Lankan products in Tamil Nadu.

 

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Save Tamils Movement

Website:           http://save-tamils.org/
Google groups: http://groups.google.co.in/group/save-tamils
Facebook:         http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=100000523099231
Twitter:             http://twitter.com/savetamils
Orkut:                http://www.orkut.co.in/Main#Community.aspx?cmm=58284862
Blog:                 http://save-tamils.blogspot.com/
YouTube:          http://www.youtube.com/user/Tamilsfortamileelam

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