NGO: LTTE's struggle similar to Palestinian struggle

An NGO has urged the government to be fair in dealing with issues concerning the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Malaysian Tamillan Today president N Shanmugam was commenting on a protest in Penang demanding the arrest of the state's Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy over his alleged links with LTTE, which was described as a terror group.

Shanmugam, however, claimed that the struggles of the LTTE and Palestinians were similar.

“Malaysians, especially the Tamils, have fully supported the Palestinian struggle because we see it as similar to LTTE's struggle. The aim and objective of both struggles are the same.

“In a nutshell, LTTE and Palestinians are fighting for land taken from them and an independent state. So it is not proper to belittle LTTE's struggle without understanding the facts,” he said.

Shanmugam also questioned the silence among Pakatan Harapan's leaders with regard to defending Ramasamy or condemning the protest.

However, MIC lawmaker M Saravanan had come out in defence of the deputy chief minister.

Shanmugam also claimed to have proof that Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng had once attended a function which honoured Tamil war victims in Sri Lanka, including LTTE.

“Is the government willing to question Lim as well?” he asked.

Shanmugam said those who are in the dark about LTTE's struggle can approach the NGO for clarification.

He also claimed that LTTE never oppressed the Muslims in Sri Lanka.

“The claim that LTTE killed Muslims in the 90s is a lie... there has been no concrete evidence to substantiate this,” he added.

Scores of police reports have been filed against Ramasamy over this issue, which cropped up after the latter urged the Malaysian government to extradite controversial Muslim preacher Zakir Naik.

During the protest held after Friday prayers, Pertubuhan Kebajikan Al-Qayyim Malaysia member Salman Ali claimed there was evidence to show Ramasamy’s involvement with the LTTE.

FMT quoted Salman as stating that police had acted against Malaysians who “merely” had in their possession Islamic State (IS) materials or married men linked to IS.

“We are not political. We do not hate any religion or provoke anyone. But we are against Ramasamy for being part of a terror group, the LTTE,” he told the protesters

Police have recorded the DAP leader's statement. Ramasamy has denied the allegations. - Mkini