20.2.2008
The
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) failed miserably
in its attempt to stop a musical show organized by a group
of Tamil entertainers in Paris with active participation
of top singer Mohanraj Muthuswamy. Many Tamils and Sinhalese
and a handful of French attended the musical show held
on Sunday at Salle LSC on the outskirts of Paris.
Independent observers said that this is the first time
in recent years that moderate Tamils in Paris could defy
the open threats from the LTTE. Few hundreds flocked to
Salle LSC at 146, Avenue President Wilson in Paris where
Mohanraj Muthuswamy and several Tamil and Indian bands
entertained the audience until early hours of morning
of February 18.
Tamil
entertainer Vardhan who organized the show thanked the
participants who decided to participate despite the LTTE
threat to their lives. He added that the crowd has given
him strength to organize similar events in future with
larger participation. He also sang a popular Tamil song
of Indian singer Manoharan.
According
to reliable independent Tamil sources in the French capital,
the LTTE has demanded money from the organizers and the
singer, which they had flatly refused. Following that
the LTTE started a campaign against the musical programme
by spreading the word by mouth that people should boycott
any event if it is not organized by the LTTE.
As
the organizers told the Tamil public that the musical
show was not a political event and it was a mere cultural
activity for the Tamils in Paris, the demand for tickets
for the show has suddenly increased.
In
desperation, the LTTE launched a poster campaign on February
16 accusing the organizers as collaborators. The poster
stated that “this musical event has been organized
by the racist Sri Lankan government and traitors to the
Tamil cause – EPDP and ENDLF” and warned the
Tamil public not to attend the show.
“It
is a blatant lie,” Vardan said. “I have no
connection with the Sri Lankan government. This is cultural
event and it has nothing to do with any political party
or group”.
Some
of the Tamil members of the Communist Party of France
were among the organizers and they had brought this to
the attention of the CPF and urged them to assist the
organizers to hold the show.
Immediately
CPF members informed the police to provide security for
the event. However, the police intervention came late
and many Tamils who bought tickets did not go to the venue
due to fear of reprisals by the LTTE. But few hundreds
defied the LTTE threats and came in groups to the venue.
“We decided to come not only to enjoy music but
also to create a conducive atmosphere in Paris for moderate
and independent Tamils to live in peace,” Murugan,
a 24 year old youth told this correspondent after the
show. “The fact that the show was held in spite
of the open threats by the LTTE is a victory for democratic
Tamils in France”.
Courtesy - Asian
Tribune