Tamil film stars protest killings in Sri Lanka

Rameshwaram (TN) Oct 20 : Tamil film stars have raised strong objections in Rameshwaram against attacks on Tamils in Sri Lanka.

A large number of artistes and directors of the regional film industry took part in a protest against the killings of innocent people.

Sporting black shirts and badges, the protesters shouted slogans against the Sri Lankan Government.

They even held a meeting and took a decision to pressurise the government to enter into a dialogue with Colombo and help bring an end to Tamil sufferings in that country.

"How can we tolerate innocent killings. No Tamilian will tolerate the brutal act of the Sri Lankan army which is butchering our brothers and sisters there," said Vairamuthu, a well-known lyricist of the Tamil film industry.

So far, thirteen lawmakers including six ministers of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party (DMK), a key ally of the Congress party have handed over their resignation letters to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Muthuvel Karunanidhi on Friday.

Sri Lanka has vowed to crush the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) militarily. It says its troops are two kilometres from the rebel capital of Kilinochchi, a strategic and symbolic target.

Troops stepped up the offensive against the LTTE, which has been fighting for a separate homeland for more than two decades. The government says its forces have killed thousands of rebels since January this year

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has urged Sri Lanka to solve the conflict politically, but said it was not going to intervene.

ANI