By

Vanesha Shurentheran

Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P.Ramasamy had raised five issues regarding the protest against allowing former Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapakse into the country and the arrest on five Malaysians for assaulting Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Malaysia, Ibrahim Sahib Ansar.

“First, despite more than 500 police reports made by various Tamils groups in the country for the organizers not to invite Rajapakse, the Malaysian government rode a roughshod over the feelings and sentiments of Tamils.

“Rajapakse is considered a war criminal and who was responsible for the genocide against Tamils in the north and east of the country during the civil war that ended in 2009,” said DAP deputy secretary-general at a press meet in Komtar earlier today.

Ramasamy said that while he does not condone acts of violence against anybody, but the assault against Ansar, had a background.

He said according to reliable sources, when some Tamil youths approached Ansar at the Kuala Lumpur international airport (KLIA) and asked about the whereabouts of Rajapakse, he apparently replied: “We will wipe out the Tigers in Malaysia as we wiped out the LTTE in Sri Lanka”.

“Such a hostile act, rather unbecoming of a diplomat was responsible for the subsequent assault and detention of the five by the police,” said Ramasamy.

Thirdly, Ramamsamy said that Ansar is no ordinary diplomat in Malaysia, he added that the latter was sent to gather information of the activities of the Tamils especially those who are in support of the creation of independent Tamil Eelam, a separate state for Tamils in the north and east of Sri Lanka.

“In the last few years he was responsible for coordinating information about Tamil refugees coming into the country and passing them to the Malaysian police.

“As result of the nefarious activities of Ibrahim a number of Tamil refugees have been deported back to Sri Lanka by the Malaysian authorities to face detention, torture and lengthy imprisonment in Sri Lanka,” said Ramasamy.

Ramasamy said that he strongly condemns the “unhealthy” role Ansar and that added that the latter is not suitable to serve as diplomat in the country anymore.

“While the police were overzealous in arresting the five protestors, they have remained silent on the provocative statement made by Ibrahim.

“We want the Malaysian government to expel Ibrahim as soon as possible before he creates further problems between Tamils here and the Malaysian government,” said Ramasamy.

“Fifth, those who protested against the entry of Rajapakse were ordinary Tamils.

“By and large, the protests were done in a peaceful and democratic manner. There were no standoffs with the police or any other authorities,” said Ramasamy.

However, he said that it was wrong for the Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar to have labelled the protestors or sympathizers of the now defunct LTTE.

“We urge the police force not create and complicate security matters in the country by “imagining” into existence fictitious enemies,” said Ramasamy.

Courtesy: The Malaysian Times