Tamil film industry protests killings in Sri LankaRAMESWARAM: Even as a few leading Tamil actors stayed away from the protest rally, a large number of artistes and directors of the Tamil film industry staged a protest here on Sunday against the killing of innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Picture( EXPRESSING SOLIDARITY: Vadivelu, Vijaya T. Rajender, Bharatiraaja, Rama Narayanan and S.A. Chandrasekaran at a protest by film personalities in Rameswaram on Sunday, against the killing of innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka. - PHOTO: S. JAMES)
Led by director Bharatiraaja and producer Rama Narayanan, they took out a rally from the Agnitheertha Kadarkarai to Kilakadu ground near the bus stand. Members of about 25 associations of the industry took part in the rally that went along the important roads of the island town amid tight security.
Agony of TamilsWearing black shirts, black badges, the protesters shouted slogans against the Sri Lankan government for waging a war against the Tamils. Many carried placards and banners highlighting the suffering and agony of Tamils in the island nation. A few placards urged Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to respect “human rights” and international conventions to be followed to protect citizens.
A group burnt the effigy of the Sri Lankan President at Thittakudi junction.
Later, they held a meeting at the Kilakadu ground in which most of the speakers urged the Central government to use its good offices to persuade Sri Lanka to stop the war immediately and put an end to the suffering of Tamils, majority of whom are of Indian origin.
