Vaiko keeps all guessing

(February 02, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) MDMK general secretary Vaiko has said the Sri Lankan Tamils Protection Movement would take some important decisions later today, after the cremation of Ravi, who allegedly immolated himself over the Lankan issue.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, ‘Following the orders of the Chief Minister, the police are trying to make it look like a case of marital discord and an accident involving a stove burst.

Ravi’s wife has made it clear that they do not even have a stove or gas at home. She also said that they had no family dispute and Ravi was an ardent supporter of the Tamils cause.

Expressing concern, he urged the youth to remain calm at this hour of crisis and convey their solidarity with the Tamils in other acceptable forms.

The Centre had thoroughly failed to stop the war in the island nation, he said Vaiko on Sunday had met Ravi at the government hospital in Madurai, where the latter was admitted with 80 per cent burn injuries.It is to be noted that the State government called the 4 February ‘bandh’ by the Sri Lankan Tamils Protection Movement as ‘illegal’.It also warned that it would have to take all steps to uphold law and order on that day.

An official release said the government would do everything needed to maintain normal life came in the wake of protests against the Centre for its ‘inaction’ in saving civilians in the island nation from the ongoing war. However, the newly-formed organisation said the government’s move declaring the general strike as illegal was only meant to ‘intimidate’ those who were voluntarily participating in it.-Sri Lanka Guardian