Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa suffered an ignominious political embarrassment at the stately university town of Oxford when his scheduled address to the prestigious Oxford Union was cancelled unilaterally.

A statement issued by the Oxford union stated-

“Due to security concerns surrounding Mr. Rajapaksa’s visit which have recently been brought to our attention by the police, the Union has regretfully found that the talk is no longer practicable and has had to cancel his address.

This decision was not taken lightly and the Union deeply regrets the cancellation. The Union has a long tradition of hosting prominent speakers and upholding the principles of free speech. However, due to the sheer scale of the expected protests, we do not feel that the talk can reasonably and safely go ahead as planned”.

The cancellation was a question of tarnished political prestige for the President who had arrived in Britain this week with an entourage of more than 100 persons for the highly publicised event.

Despite the political “waterloo” suffered by the cancellation the President remained unfazed and said in a statement “I am very sorry this has had to be cancelled but I will continue to seek venues in the UK and elsewhere where I can talk about my future vision for Sri Lanka.”

President Rajapaksa to his credit adopted a statesmanlike approach towards the incident and went on to say-

“I will also continue in my efforts to unite all the people of our country whether they live in Sri Lanka or overseas. As a united country we have a great future. If we allow divisions to dominate we will not realise our true potential. We have had thirty years of division and conflict. We must now secure peace and harmony for all Sri Lankans.”

The event had originally been planned for November 8th but was postponed for December 2nd due to a request made by the President himself.

The abrupt cancellation had been necessitated due to security concerns caused by a powerful protest campaign launched against the event by sections of Tamils in Britain who accused President Rajapaksa of being a “War criminal” responsible for the massacre of thousands of Tamil civilians during the military campaign against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) in May 2009.

A glimpse of what lay in store for the President at Oxford was seen when the President arrived in London a few days ago. More than 500 Tamil activists with placards mobbed the Heathrow airport demonstrating against the arrival.

The President was whisked away through a special entrance in order to avoid the noisy demonstrators.

British Tamil political activists launched a widespread campaign to protest against the invitation extended by the Oxford Union to President Rajapakse to deliver a special address.

Several Tamil organizations from Western nations engaged in a protracted campaign against the scheduled talk. Worldwide Appeals were made to the British Government in general and the Oxford union in particular.

Numerous letters, petitions, emails, faxes were sent and telephone calls made to authorities and office – bearers at Oxford.

A massive demonstration was also planned at Oxford on December 2nd the day on which President Rajapaksa was to make his speech.

Thousands of demonstrators planned to converge at Oxford throughout the day and conduct the protest campaign.

Efforts were underway to pepper the walls of Oxford with anti- Mahinda posters. Leaflets criticising the Tamil civilian massacres were to be distributed. Demonstrators also planned to block all “paths” leading to the venue where the President was scheduled to speak

Special buses had been arranged in different parts of Britain to transport demonstrators to Oxford.

The highlight of the protest demonstration was to be the presence of several Sinhala activists protesting the unjust treatment meted out to former Army commander Gen.Sarath Fonseka.

It is learnt that several non – Tamil human rights organizations and activists were also planning to participate in the demonstration.

The protest campaign had been planned and coordinated by the British Tamil Forum(BTF) which is part of the Global Tamil Forum (GTF).

The political environment underwent an emotional transformation after the British TV “Channel – Four” showed further footage on brutal cold –blooded execution of prisoners by soldiers.

In another video circulated widely on the web gruesome images of a naked woman were shown. It was alleged that the girl was “Isaipiriya” a woman announcer on the TV run by the LTTE in the Wanni.

The State had earlier announced that she had been killed in the fighting.

Allegations were made that a senior LTTE commander “Colonel” Ramesh was one of those being killed in cold blood. While the govt had announced earlier that “Col” Ramesh was killed in battle, Tamil sources charged that “Col” Ramesh had surrendered to the armed forces.

There was also speculation that moves were afoot to charge high –ranking security officials in President Rajapaksas entourage for alleged war crimes in a British court by invoking principles of universal jurisdiction

The head of the Presidential Security Division , Major-General Chagi Gallage was co- commander of 59 division involved in the fighting in May 2009

The controversy surrounding these TV images and related charges had electrified the atmosphere and fuelled the resentment in Tamil circles towards President Rajapaksas scheduled talk in Oxford.

Given this escalation of mood British law –enforcement authorities had huge security concerns over the scheduled talk.

Sri Lankan officials however refused to back down as the issue was a matter of political prestige and argued strongly for a British ban on the proposed protest campaign.

This request however was turned down.

Thereafter a beleaguered Oxford Union was “persuaded” to call off the talk and avoid a potentially explosive situation.

The Union obliged reluctantly.

A statement issued by Presidential secretary Lalith Weeratunga said as follows:

“For security reasons the speech by His Excellency President Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka at the Oxford Union, the home of free speech, has been cancelled. This is a decision that has been made unilaterally by the Oxford Union, reportedly as a result of pressure applied by pro-LTTE activists”.

The cancellation is perhaps the first of its kind concerning Sri Lanka.

In 1959 then prime minister of “Ceylon” SWRD Bandaranaike –himself an Oxonian – was scheduled to address the Oxford Union but was tragically assassinated on the eve of his departure to Britain.

Oxford, England ~ pic: lily plant

Sri Lanka has had a long and proud tradition of interaction with the Oxford Union.

Four Sri Lankans have been Presidents of the union in the past. They are Lalith Athulathmudali, Lakshman Kadirgamar, HM Noordeen and Jeyasundari Wilson. They were alumni of Royal ,Trinity, St.Thomas’ and Methodist College respectively.

Several other Sri Lankans like C.Sundaralingam, SWRD Bandaranaike, Tyronne Fernando and Chanaka Ameratunga have been secretaries of the union at different times.

Meanwhile the GTF in an internal e-mail sent to members and supporters thanked all concerned for the “success” in getting the talk called off.

“Above all, we are genuinely grateful for all the efforts made in many ways by many of you both in mainland Britain and overseas in ensuring that this programme gets called off and the so called President runs with his tails between his legs” the e-mail said.

Tamil activists also planned to shift their planned protest campaign from Oxford to London. A demonstration was scheduled on Dec 2nd opposite the Dorchester Hotel in London where the President was reportedly staying.

It remains to be seen as to how President Rajapaksa reacts to this embarrassing set-back where a head of state has had his scheduled address to the prestigious Oxford union cancelled unilaterally.

But the views expressed by the President in the official press release are magnanimously statesmanlike and highly commendable.

It is sincerely hoped that the President would treat this “waterloo” as a mere pinprick despite the gloating by British Tamil activists and progress steadily on the path to national reconciliation,ethnic amity and justice in Sri Lanka.

1.

Statement from The Oxford Union on the visit of President Rajapaksa, Dec, 2, 2010

Earlier this year, The Oxford Union invited the current President of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, to address our members at a date convenient to him. The Union has a policy of inviting a broad range of prominent politicians and heads of state from around the world and the invitation to Mr. Rajapaksa was made within the context of this policy.

Since the invitation was first accepted by Mr. Rajapaksa, the Union has consulted extensively with Thames Valley Police as well as the Sri Lankan High Commission in London on security arrangements for the President’s visit. Due to security concerns surrounding Mr. Rajapaksa’s visit which have recently been brought to our attention by the police, the Union has regretfully found that the talk is no longer practicable and has had to cancel his address

This decision was not taken lightly and the Union deeply regrets the cancellation. The Union has a long tradition of hosting prominent speakers and upholding the principles of free speech. However, due to the sheer scale of the expected protests, we do not feel that the talk can reasonably and safely go ahead as planned.

The Union holds a politically neutral stance with regards to speakers and the decision was not made in relation to any aspect of Mr. Rajapaksa’s political position, the policies of his administration or any allegations against his government. As the President of Sri Lanka for the last five years, the Union felt that Mr. Rajapaksa would provide a unique insight into the political climate of the region in his speech. The Union wishes to apologise to our members for this unfortunate cancellation.

Oxford Union Society

Alistair Walker

Press Officer

2.

Statement issued by Mr Lalith Weeratunga, Secretary to the President of Sri Lanka

For security reasons the speech by His Excellency President Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka at the Oxford Union, the home of free speech, has been cancelled. This is a decision that has been made unilaterally by the Oxford Union, reportedly as a result of pressure applied by pro-LTTE activists.

His Excellency said:

“I am very sorry this has had to be cancelled but I will continue to seek venues in the UK and elsewhere where I can talk about my future vision for Sri Lanka.”

His Excellency went on to say:

“I will also continue in my efforts to unite all the people of our country whether they live in Sri Lanka or overseas.

As a united country we have a great future.

If we allow divisions to dominate we will not realise our true potential.

We have had thirty years of division and conflict. We must now secure peace and harmony for all Sri Lankans.”

3.

Electronic Mail circulated among Global Tamil Forum circles -

Dear All,

We are reliably informed that Rajapakshe has refused to give interviews with main TV stations and broadsheet news papers in the UK. It is also likely that Rajapakshe is leaving the UK a day earlier than originally planned like his Foreign Minister had to, a few weeks ago from London.

Oxford Mail is also carrying a news item as a leading story in its next edition highlighting the criminality of Rajapakshe Regime. Like I informed Channel 4 tonight and tomorrow night will be carrying some ‘interesting’ material on its air waves. UK Guardian, Aljazeera have already being reporting on what a criminal Rajapakshe is. Tomorrow’s Independent and Daily Telegraph will be breaking news on alleged war crimes committed by government of Sri Lanka with credible new evidence.

The legal team that worked hard in ensuring the possibility of an arrest of some of the members of Rajapakshe’s entourage should also take credit and our gratitude goes out to some of those people from the Sinhala community in Sri Lanka and outside who helped us to obtain very credible evidence against the Rajapakshe and his crew.

We are as always very grateful to the British Media organisations for lending support in bringing out the crimes committed by the Rajapakshes and their regime. We are particularly grateful to Channel 4, Independent, The Guardian, Daily Telegraph, Aljazeera English, Times, BBC etc. who have been instrumental for many months now in exposing the Rajapakshe regime’s crimes. Not to mention the Tamil media (TV, Radio, news papers and websites) which has been a great source to share information.

Above all, we are genuinely grateful for all the efforts made in many ways by many of you both in mainland Britain and overseas in ensuring that this programme gets called off and the so called President runs with his tails between his legs!

I am sure that all of you have now seen the statement that Government of Sri Lanka has released which was drafted for them by none other than Bell Portinger. I am sure if he has any senses, Liam Fox will try his best to keep a distance from these types of criminals in future without bringing disrepute to Her Majesty’s Government.

Well done and keep up the pressure.

... சென்னையில் தமிழக கோமாளிகளை காசுக்கு ஆட்டுவித்த இந்த ஹம்ஷா தான், மகிந்தவை லண்டனுக்கு வரவழைத்து , ஒக்ஸ்போட் எனும் நாடகத்தின் பின்னணியில் என்கிறார்கள். இங்கும் இந்த நாடகம் பலிக்கும் என்று நினைத்ததா இந்த பின்லாடனின் வாரிசு??????

புலம்பெயர் தமிழர்கள், மகிந்தவிற்கு நன்றி தெரிவிக்க வேண்டும்!!! ..

... தோல்வி,/விரக்தி/வெறுப்பு/அதன் பின்பும் தொடர் அவலங்கள்/திட்டமிட்ட குடியேற்றங்கள்/... என்ன செய்வது என்று என்றும், கோஸ்டி மோதல்களில் உட்பட்டு வெறுப்படைந்திருந்த மக்களை ... மாவீரர் ஒன்று சேர்க்க ... இவன் வந்து ... மீண்டும் புத்துயிர் தந்திருக்கிறான்!!! ... நாலு முறையாவது வா!!! ... நாமெல்லாம் ஒன்று சேர்ந்து விடுவோம்!!!!

தோல்வி,/விரக்தி/வெறுப்பு/அதன் பின்பும் தொடர் அவலங்கள்/திட்டமிட்ட குடியேற்றங்கள்/... என்ன செய்வது என்று என்றும், கோஸ்டி மோதல்களில் உட்பட்டு வெறுப்படைந்திருந்த மக்களை ... மாவீரர் ஒன்று சேர்க்க ... இவன் வந்து ... மீண்டும் புத்துயிர் தந்திருக்கிறான்!!! ... நாலு முறையாவது வா!!! ... நாமெல்லாம் ஒன்று சேர்ந்து விடுவோம்!!!![/

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தாங்களும் ARJUN அவர்களும் எழுதும் எழுத்துக்கள் அதை உறுதிப்படுத்துகின்றன.

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சேர்ந்து வாழ்ந்து எதையாவது பெறலாம் என்பவர்களும் ஏமாந்துள்ளனர். சிங்கள குடியேற்றங்களும் அடாவடித்தனங்களையும் அவனது குணத்தை புரிந்து வந்துள்ளனர். போராட்டம் ஒற்றுமையினால் இன்னும் கூர்பெறும்.

Edited December 2, 201015 yr by விசுகு