RAMESWARAM; TAMIL NADU; INDIA; NOVEMBER 6, 2008; HOLD FOR STORY BY HARRY SANNA;
A boat damaged in gunfire from Sri Lankan army is repaired in the shipyard of Rameswaram.
(Photograph by J. Adam Huggins for The National)
 *** Local Caption ***  Refugee_52.jpg Refugee_52.jpg
A boat damaged by gunfire from the Sri Lankan navy is repaired in Rameswaram. The navy, wary of the Tigers' sea wing, has been known to fire on unidentified vessels.

A life spent in waiting



RAMESWARAM, INDIA // It was a short but perilous boat ride. Motoring across the cyclonic waters between India and Sri Lanka, the wind beat against the small plastic dingy as its engine spat smoke. For six hours, the choppy sea threatened to upend the craft, while the danger of Sri Lanka's navy patrol boats was never far from Arumugam Rasasekeran's mind. With Sri Lanka's government stepping up its assault on ethnic Tamil separatists in the country's north, Mr Rasasekeran, 30, a Tamil farmer, felt he had no choice but to flee his homeland. His brother was killed by Sri Lankan forces several years ago, mistaken for a Tamil Tiger rebel, he said.

"It is very dangerous for Tamils in Sri Lanka now. The Sri Lankan army is very dangerous for us," said Mr Rasasekeran as he registered at a police station in Rameswaram, the beachside town in India's south-eastern state of Tamil Nadu. Since the Tamil Tigers launched their war in the early 1980s, Sri Lanka's 3.2 million ethnic Tamils have been under suspicion by successive Sinhalese governments. With good reason: the Tigers forcibly recruit from the Tamil population and are ruthless in their quest to carve out a separate homeland for Tamils in the north and east, sending suicide bombers into civilian as well as military populations.

Up until two years ago, the Tigers held wide swathes of territory in the north and east which they controlled like a tiny state, while carrying out raids on security forces. A 2003 ceasefire brought a measure of peace to the island, better known for its sandy beaches and palm trees, but began to unravel in 2005. In 2006, the government launched a concerted effort to retake areas in the east, pushing out the rebels and holding elections. It officially pulled out of the ceasefire in January and has since pledged to crush the insurgency by the end of the year. This week, the government troops claimed to be just 30km from Kilinochchi, the rebels' de facto headquarters.

The war, however, has taken its toll on the country's population. Thousands of Tamils, many of them children, have been press-ganged into the Tigers' dwindling ranks, while the Sri Lankan security forces have been accused of abductions and torture of Tamil civilians. Since 1983, about 70,000 people, both combatants and civilians on both sides of the ethnic divide, have been killed and more than 600,000 Tamils forced to flee their homes, many of them seeking refuge in Tamil Nadu in India, where there are strong historical, cultural and linguistic links. But securing passage via the sea can take days and many of those trying to escape end up staying in squalid bedsits, waiting for a space on a boat.

Mr Rasasekeran was lucky. For 40,000 Sri Lankan rupees (Dh1,330), he bartered his way on to a boat from the coastal island of Talaimannar, where fishermen make the risky journey under cover of darkness. His wife, however, was turned away. It is not uncommon for boats to capsize and the passengers to drown in the shallow waters. In September, a boat carrying 13 refugees capsized off Rameswaram, killing eight. Another concern is the Sri Lankan navy which, wary of the Tigers' feared sea wing, has been known to open fire on unidentified vessels, including fishermen and boatloads of refugees. About 400 fishermen from the area have been killed since 1983, said Suresh Mascarenas, 27, a fisherman.

But for some Tamils, there is no alternative. Week by week, scores of desperate and frightened Sri Lankans wash up on the long, thorium-stained shores of Tamil Nadu. According to latest official estimates, there were 75,000 Sri Lankan refugees in 117 camps there. Estimates from those on the ground place the figure closer to 90,000, with another 25,000 outside the camps. Life for the refugees is basic. The majority live in overcrowded camps, said Thushanth Balasubramaniam, who works for the Organisation for Eelam Refugees Rehabilitation. Those who find work, usually as farm labourers or in construction, are lucky to earn a basic daily wage.

Recent arrivals are monitored closely for the first couple of weeks and intelligence agents regularly visit camps to scout out any possible connections to the Tamil Tigers, officially known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE. If they are found to be soldiers, they are transported to a Chennai-based prison camp. "We screen them very thoroughly here," said a policeman in Rameswaram, who asked to remain anonymous. "In the past, LTTE men have come here acting as refugees, but not anymore. LTTE needs all the cadres they have right now, so they would not let them flee to India."

Although life is tough in India, the situation back in Sri Lanka is worse. UN agencies estimate there are still about 250,000 Tamils living in territory controlled by the Tigers in the north, where for the past two years the government has enforced a blockade, leaving them short of food, medicine and subjected to daily air strikes and tit-for-tat artillery battles. "Things are too dangerous in Sri Lanka. [The Sri Lankan military] sees all Tamils as rebels and the supporters of LTTE," Mr Balasubramaniam said. Even though they have fled their country, there is still widespread support for Tamil Eelam, the independent state within Sri Lanka that the rebels are fighting for. "Most of the Sri Lankan Tamils are still supporting LTTE. All are demanding Tamil Eelam," he said.

In certain areas of Tamil Nadu, there is also support for the Tamils' cause. During the 1980s, many Tiger cadres trained and lived in the state before returning home to fight the government, including Velupillai Prabakharan, the group's elusive leader. But the relationship between India and Sri Lanka's Tamils soured after New Delhi sent in a peacekeeping force in the 1980s which ended in a hasty pull-out a few years later and the subsequent assassination of Rajiv Ghandi, the prime minister, by a female suicide bomber in a town outside Chennai in 1991.

With daily ground battles in Sri Lanka's north, calls in Tamil Nadu for a solution to the decades-long conflict have grown louder. Last month, M Karunanidhi, Tamil Nadu's chief minister, threatened to resign with several other ministers if the Indian government did not pressure Sri Lanka into calling a ceasefire. With the Sri Lankan government closing in on Tiger headquarters, and with the rebels refusing to accept defeat, it is unclear what will happen to the insurgents and their cause.

New Delhi fears that as more Sri Lankans seek refuge in India, the fight for a separate state may simply shift location. But for most of the refugees, the answer is that they simply want to return home. "It's very tough for refugees to come over here," said Vabivelu Kandaiah, a refugee from Jaffna who has been baking bread outside Rameswaram's camp for the past decade. "It's not an easy choice. But I hope I will go home again.

"I don't want a separate homeland, but we need independence and we need peace. Whatever it may be, Sri Lanka is my country." * The National

if you go

The flights

Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav. 

The tour

While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).

 

If you go…

Emirates launched a new daily service to Mexico City this week, flying via Barcelona from Dh3,995.

Emirati citizens are among 67 nationalities who do not require a visa to Mexico. Entry is granted on arrival for stays of up to 180 days. 

The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)

SPECS: Polestar 3

Engine: Long-range dual motor with 400V battery
Power: 360kW / 483bhp
Torque: 840Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Max touring range: 628km
0-100km/h: 4.7sec
Top speed: 210kph
Price: From Dh360,000
On sale: September

ROUTE TO TITLE

Round 1: Beat Leolia Jeanjean 6-1, 6-2
Round 2: Beat Naomi Osaka 7-6, 1-6, 7-5
Round 3: Beat Marie Bouzkova 6-4, 6-2
Round 4: Beat Anastasia Potapova 6-0, 6-0
Quarter-final: Beat Marketa Vondrousova 6-0, 6-2
Semi-final: Beat Coco Gauff 6-2, 6-4
Final: Beat Jasmine Paolini 6-2, 6-2

MATCH INFO

AC Milan v Inter, Sunday, 6pm (UAE), match live on BeIN Sports

The specs

Engine: 3.6-litre, V6
Transmission: eight-speed auto
Power: 285hp
Torque: 353Nm
Price: Dh159,900
On sale: now

How Sputnik V works
COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Haltia.ai
Started: 2023
Co-founders: Arto Bendiken and Talal Thabet
Based: Dubai, UAE
Industry: AI
Number of employees: 41
Funding: About $1.7 million
Investors: Self, family and friends

SPECS

Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now

Manchester City 4
Otamendi (52) Sterling (59) Stones (67) Brahim Diaz (81)

Real Madrid 1
Oscar (90)

CABINET OF CURIOSITIES EPISODE 1: LOT 36

Director: Guillermo del Toro
Stars: Tim Blake Nelson, Sebastian Roche, Elpidia Carrillo
Rating: 4/5

Dates for the diary

To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:

  • September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
  • October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
  • October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
  • November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
  • December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
  • February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Schedule for show courts

Centre Court - from 4pm UAE time

Johanna Konta (6) v Donna Vekic

Andy Murray (1) v Dustin Brown

Rafael Nadal (4) v Donald Young

Court 1 - from 4pm UAE time

Kei Nishikori (9) v Sergiy Stakhovsky

Qiang Wang v Venus Williams (10)

Beatriz Haddad Maia v Simona Halep (2)

Court 2 - from 2.30pm

Heather Watson v Anastasija Sevastova (18)

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (12) v Simone Bolelli

Florian Mayer v Marin Cilic (7)

Profile of VoucherSkout

Date of launch: November 2016

Founder: David Tobias

Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers

Sector: Technology

Size: 18 employees

Stage: Embarking on a Series A round to raise $5 million in the first quarter of 2019 with a 20 per cent stake

Investors: Seed round was self-funded with “millions of dollars” 

TWISTERS

Director:+Lee+Isaac+Chung

Starring:+Glen+Powell,+Daisy+Edgar-Jones,+Anthony+Ramos

Rating:+2.5/5

Dengue fever symptoms

High fever (40°C/104°F)
Severe headache
Pain behind the eyes
Muscle and joint pains
Nausea
Vomiting
Swollen glands
Rash

MEDIEVIL (1998)

Developer: SCE Studio Cambridge
Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment
Console: PlayStation, PlayStation 4 and 5
Rating: 3.5/5

Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press

UAE athletes heading to Paris 2024

Equestrian
Abdullah Humaid Al Muhairi, Abdullah Al Marri, Omar Al Marzooqi, Salem Al Suwaidi, and Ali Al Karbi (four to be selected).


Judo
Men: Narmandakh Bayanmunkh (66kg), Nugzari Tatalashvili (81kg), Aram Grigorian (90kg), Dzhafar Kostoev (100kg), Magomedomar Magomedomarov (+100kg); women's Khorloodoi Bishrelt (52kg).


Cycling
Safia Al Sayegh (women's road race).

Swimming
Men: Yousef Rashid Al Matroushi (100m freestyle); women: Maha Abdullah Al Shehi (200m freestyle).

Athletics
Maryam Mohammed Al Farsi (women's 100 metres).

Recipe: Spirulina Coconut Brothie

Ingredients
1 tbsp Spirulina powder
1 banana
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full fat preferable)
1 tbsp fresh turmeric or turmeric powder
½ cup fresh spinach leaves
½ cup vegan broth
2 crushed ice cubes (optional)

Method
Blend all the ingredients together on high in a high-speed blender until smooth and creamy. 

Company Profile

Name: Raha
Started: 2022
Based: Kuwait/Saudi
Industry: Tech Logistics
Funding: $14 million
Investors: Soor Capital, eWTP Arabia Capital, Aujan Enterprises, Nox Management, Cedar Mundi Ventures
Number of employees: 166

Company Profile

Company name: Hoopla
Date started: March 2023
Founder: Jacqueline Perrottet
Based: Dubai
Number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Investment required: $500,000

The story of Edge

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, established Edge in 2019.

It brought together 25 state-owned and independent companies specialising in weapons systems, cyber protection and electronic warfare.

Edge has an annual revenue of $5 billion and employs more than 12,000 people.

Some of the companies include Nimr, a maker of armoured vehicles, Caracal, which manufactures guns and ammunitions company, Lahab

 

Can NRIs vote in the election?

Indians residing overseas cannot cast their ballot abroad

Non-resident Indians or NRIs can vote only by going to a polling booth in their home constituency

There are about 3.1 million NRIs living overseas

Indians have urged political parties to extend the right to vote to citizens residing overseas

A committee of the Election Commission of India approved of proxy voting for non-resident Indians

Proxy voting means that a person can authorise someone residing in the same polling booth area to cast a vote on his behalf.

This option is currently available for the armed forces, police and government officials posted outside India

A bill was passed in the lower house of India’s parliament or the Lok Sabha to extend proxy voting to non-resident Indians

However, this did not come before the upper house or Rajya Sabha and has lapsed

The issue of NRI voting draws a huge amount of interest in India and overseas

Over the past few months, Indians have received messages on mobile phones and on social media claiming that NRIs can cast their votes online

The Election Commission of India then clarified that NRIs could not vote online

The Election Commission lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police asking it to clamp down on the people spreading misinformation

KLOPP AT LIVERPOOL

Years: October 2015 - June 2024
Total games: 491
Win percentage: 60.9%
Major trophies: 6 (Premier League x 1, Champions League x 1, FA Cup x 1, League Cup x 2, Fifa Club World Cup x1)

How to avoid getting scammed
  • Never click on links provided via app or SMS, even if they seem to come from authorised senders at first glance
  • Always double-check the authenticity of websites
  • Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for all your working and personal services
  • Only use official links published by the respective entity
  • Double-check the web addresses to reduce exposure to fake sites created with domain names containing spelling errors
KEY DATES IN AMAZON'S HISTORY

July 5, 1994: Jeff Bezos founds Cadabra Inc, which would later be renamed to Amazon.com, because his lawyer misheard the name as 'cadaver'. In its earliest days, the bookstore operated out of a rented garage in Bellevue, Washington

July 16, 1995: Amazon formally opens as an online bookseller. Fluid Concepts and Creative Analogies: Computer Models of the Fundamental Mechanisms of Thought becomes the first item sold on Amazon

1997: Amazon goes public at $18 a share, which has grown about 1,000 per cent at present. Its highest closing price was $197.85 on June 27, 2024

1998: Amazon acquires IMDb, its first major acquisition. It also starts selling CDs and DVDs

2000: Amazon Marketplace opens, allowing people to sell items on the website

2002: Amazon forms what would become Amazon Web Services, opening the Amazon.com platform to all developers. The cloud unit would follow in 2006

2003: Amazon turns in an annual profit of $75 million, the first time it ended a year in the black

2005: Amazon Prime is introduced, its first-ever subscription service that offered US customers free two-day shipping for $79 a year

2006: Amazon Unbox is unveiled, the company's video service that would later morph into Amazon Instant Video and, ultimately, Amazon Video

2007: Amazon's first hardware product, the Kindle e-reader, is introduced; the Fire TV and Fire Phone would come in 2014. Grocery service Amazon Fresh is also started

2009: Amazon introduces Amazon Basics, its in-house label for a variety of products

2010: The foundations for Amazon Studios were laid. Its first original streaming content debuted in 2013

2011: The Amazon Appstore for Google's Android is launched. It is still unavailable on Apple's iOS

2014: The Amazon Echo is launched, a speaker that acts as a personal digital assistant powered by Alexa

2017: Amazon acquires Whole Foods for $13.7 billion, its biggest acquisition

2018: Amazon's market cap briefly crosses the $1 trillion mark, making it, at the time, only the third company to achieve that milestone

The specs

Engine: 77kWh 2 motors
Power: 178bhp
Torque: 410Nm
Range: 402km
Price: Dh,150,000 (estimate)
On sale: TBC

COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Educatly
Started: 2020
Based: UAE
Founders: Mohmmed El Sonbaty, Joan Manuel and Abdelrahman Ayman
Industry: Education technology
Funding size: $2 million
Investors: Enterprise Ireland, Egypt venture, Plus VC, HBAN, Falak Startups

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed