Man sets himself ablaze; pro-Tamil groups stage protests

A 41-year-old man from Cuddalore district died after self-immolation while several pro-Tamil outfits tried to picket the Lankan Deputy High Commission here demanding action against the Rajapaksa government for alleged war crimes.

Mani, a social worker of coastal Nallavadu village in Cuddalore district, died of "excessive burn injuries", sources in the Government Kilpauk Medical College said.
Raising slogans against Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Mani doused himself with petrol and set himself ablaze at the Collectorate complex in Cuddalore.

Mani was initially admitted to a government hospital in Cuddalore with serious burns and later shifted to Government Kilpauk Medical College hospital in Chennai, where he succumbed to his injuries.

Political parties in Tamil Nadu have been pressing for action against Sri Lanka for alleged war crimes committed by its armed forces during the last phase of the conflict with rebel LTTE.

MDMK chief Vaiko, along with activists of several pro Tamil outfits, were arrested when they tried to picket the Sri Lankan Deputy High Commission here to press their demands, including a probe against the Sri Lankan government.

Protestors, including Tamil Desiya Iyakkam (Tamil Nationalist Movement) leader P Nedumaran, and around 400 people were arrested, police said.

Expressing their solidarity with the Tamils cause, a majority of advocates in the principal and Madurai bench of the Madras High Court boycotted court proceedings.
Lawyers' associations including Tamil Nadu Advocates Association, Women Lawyers' Association and Madras High Court Advocates Association extended support to the boycott.

"We want India to vote against Sri Lanka for all the war crimes it has committed. Sri Lanka should be brought to justice. They should not be pardoned," S Prabhakaran, President of Tamil Nadu Advocates' Association said.

The DMK-backed TESO (Tamil Ealam Supporters' Organisation) will hold a similar protest tomorrow.