n Solidarity with the people of Tamil Nadu
Dear Fellow Tamils
As most of you are aware, Chennai has been devastated by the worst torrential rains in history and flash-floods have caused hundreds of deaths and untold misery to millions of people in several parts of Tamil Nadu.
While more rain is expected over the week, thousands of people still remain stranded. And despite the best efforts of the TN Government and NGOs, many are left without basic supplies of food, drinking water, clothes, blankets, etc.
Even as we pray for an end to this unforseen natural calamity, we believe we should do the least we can to bring some immediate relief to the affected.
For decades the people of Tamil Nadu had continued to rise in support of the Tamils in Sri Lanka, and many of our people have taken refuge in Tamil Nadu for so long. It is now our chance to help them in whatever measure we can.
The Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) urges all Australian Tamils to be generous enough to donate and show our solidarity with our Tamil Nadu brethren at a time of their dire need.
Please use the below link to donate immediately to this urgent relief fund. ATC will donate the funds to Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam* in Chennai who is already involved in coordinating the relief work. We will provide the donors with feedback as we receive.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Please click here to donate and show our solidarity.
With great expectations,
Executive Committee
Australian Tamil Congress
*Gandhiya Makkal Iyakkam is a non-governmental organisation, whose President - Thamilaruvi Maniyan - had visited Australia a few times before.
Her assessment is borne out by others. A BBC crew following returning Tamil refugees observed a marked distinction between the poor institutional support they received and the support that Sinhala settlers in the same regions enjoyed from military, government and Buddhist authorities.
NATIONAL constitutions come in two main types. Some are prescriptive, enshrining freedoms, curtailing the powers of the state and generally hampering would-be dictators. Others, however, tend to the descriptive, and are often revised to catch up with changes that have already happened. Into this class can be put Sri Lanka‘s 1978 constitution, this week amended for the 18th time, with unseemly haste.
The Sri Lanka described in the revised charter is not a pretty place. It is one where the forms of parliamentary democracy are preserved but the substance has become subordinated to almost untrammelled presidential power.
A NSW political team representative met with some officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The officials were updated on the impact of the 18th amendment and the need for the Australian government to push for international NGOs to be present in order for any foreign aid be-ing pledged for development. ATC‘s Blueprint docu-ment was appreciated by the officials.
Last week, in an act of desperation Tamil asylum seekers climbed on to the roof of the Villawood De-tention Centre. There was widespread media cover-age of this issue. The ATC National Coordinator for Refugees and Migrants made himself available and worked with DIAC officials and the Tamil asylum seekers.
He also gave several media interviews to ex-press the legitimate fear of persecution faced by Tamils in Sri Lanka. Media personnel present had mentioned how his participation in interviews was very useful in explaining the concerns of the Tamil asylum seekers to the wider public.