There have been many attempts by the DMK to tap into the peoples outrage to the alleged genocide of ethnic Tamils during the civil war in Sri Lanka. A Channel Four documentary, Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields , reported that rampant war crimes including mass killings in refugee camps occurred in the aftermath of the war.

During one such protest in Chennai, members of Tamil Eelam Supporters’ Organisation (TESO) were arrested in front of the Sri Lankan High Commission. The protest was led by former Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M.K. Stalin, son of DMK supremo K. Karunanidhi.

The protestors were arrested by Chennai Police and whisked away to Rajaratnam Stadium where they were kept till late afternoon. Over 20 special vans and 500 personnel were deployed near the embassy. According to police sources the number of protestors was well over 3,000.

The reason the DMK is feeling edgy is because Chief Minister Jayalalithaa appears to be coming close to Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) leader Vaiko, a long-time supporter of the LTTE.

However, the sentiments expressed by common folk suggest that the DMK’s attempts to ride the anti-Lanka wave are not going far. “Kalaignar is our leader but we don’t vote on the Lanka issue. We don’t have clean water in our house,” said K. Lakshmi, a resident of Valluvar Kottam where the protestors were originally detained. Slogans of “Destroy Rajapaksha, destroy Amma” were heard as the protestors were pushed into vans after their arrest.“It is horrible that the boy (referring to the 12-year-old son of LTTE leader Prabhakaran) had to die. We feel very strongly for our Tamil brothers,” said Velu, a shopkeeper. “But what can a poor man like me do? I want 24-hour electricity and a good school for my son.”

“Youngsters don’t feel that deep a connection with Sri Lankan Tamils,” said T. Padmanabhan, a businessman whose son studies in Class 10. “Even amongst our generation, there are bigger concerns, of slowing economy and lack of water and electricity. We feel for Sri Lankan Tamils but what can we do?”

“DMK is trying to take Vaiko’s position in the Lanka protests,” said Anbuselvan, a resident of Valluvar Kottam.

(Sriranjani is a student of ACJ.)

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