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| Tamil campaigner Euro vote boost | Tamil campaigner Euro vote boost |
| (about 19 hours later) | |
| A Tamil rights campaigner won more than 50,000 votes in the European elections - making her one of the most successful independent candidates ever. | A Tamil rights campaigner won more than 50,000 votes in the European elections - making her one of the most successful independent candidates ever. |
| Jan Jananayagam gained more votes than some political parties in the London region and more than all the other independents in the UK put together. | Jan Jananayagam gained more votes than some political parties in the London region and more than all the other independents in the UK put together. |
| The IT consultant, a spokesman for the Tamils Against Genocide campaign, was backed by community groups. | The IT consultant, a spokesman for the Tamils Against Genocide campaign, was backed by community groups. |
| Her campaign was also boosted by the support of Oscar-nominated rapper MIA. | Her campaign was also boosted by the support of Oscar-nominated rapper MIA. |
| Ms Jananayagam has been involved in the Tamil protests taking place in Parliament Square. | Ms Jananayagam has been involved in the Tamil protests taking place in Parliament Square. |
| Since April thousands of Tamils have staged sit-down protests and other demonstrations outside the House of Commons to call for a ceasefire in the Sri Lankan civil war. | Since April thousands of Tamils have staged sit-down protests and other demonstrations outside the House of Commons to call for a ceasefire in the Sri Lankan civil war. |
| Ms Jananayagam, a former banker who used Facebook and her own internet site to mobilise support for her candidacy, had a range of policies including financial transparency, the environment and women's rights. | Ms Jananayagam, a former banker who used Facebook and her own internet site to mobilise support for her candidacy, had a range of policies including financial transparency, the environment and women's rights. |
| But it was the alleged treatment of Tamils in her native Sri Lanka that provided the main focus for her campaign. | But it was the alleged treatment of Tamils in her native Sri Lanka that provided the main focus for her campaign. |
| 'Positive feedback' | 'Positive feedback' |
| She told BBC News: "It was one issue, but it appealed to a broad range of ethnic minorities generally. They identified with the wider civil liberties issues such as stop and search and how the anti-terror laws are being used to stop them. | She told BBC News: "It was one issue, but it appealed to a broad range of ethnic minorities generally. They identified with the wider civil liberties issues such as stop and search and how the anti-terror laws are being used to stop them. |
| "Ordinary people liked it. I got a lot of positive feedback on my leaflet." | "Ordinary people liked it. I got a lot of positive feedback on my leaflet." |
| The first person that I've seen in politics who can actually raise questions and be about the people Rapper MIA on Jan Jananayagam href="/2/hi/south_asia/2405347.stm">Q&A: Sri Lanka conflict href="/2/hi/south_asia/8065594.stm">Agony in Sri Lanka's refugee camp | |
| Ms Jananayagam also believes she was backed as a protest vote against the anti-immigration British National Party. | Ms Jananayagam also believes she was backed as a protest vote against the anti-immigration British National Party. |
| "When I walked down the street, young Asian men would stop and say they had voted for me to stop the BNP getting in. | "When I walked down the street, young Asian men would stop and say they had voted for me to stop the BNP getting in. |
| "I hadn't been talking about that, I'd been talking about genocide, but a lot of people voted for me on the wider issue." | "I hadn't been talking about that, I'd been talking about genocide, but a lot of people voted for me on the wider issue." |
| She said it had been very difficult to tell how the campaign was going as it was "organic and chaotic" but she was very happy with the result. | She said it had been very difficult to tell how the campaign was going as it was "organic and chaotic" but she was very happy with the result. |
| 'Raise questions' | 'Raise questions' |
| There have been a number of independent MEPs elected to the Strasbourg Parliament in different member states, including the Parliament's former president Pat Cox who was twice elected in the 1990s in Ireland. | There have been a number of independent MEPs elected to the Strasbourg Parliament in different member states, including the Parliament's former president Pat Cox who was twice elected in the 1990s in Ireland. |
| In 2004, so-called "metric martyr" Neil Herron made a splash in the North-East of England when he polled 39,658, or 5.1% of the vote, on an anti-EU ticket, although he failed to gain enough votes to be elected. | In 2004, so-called "metric martyr" Neil Herron made a splash in the North-East of England when he polled 39,658, or 5.1% of the vote, on an anti-EU ticket, although he failed to gain enough votes to be elected. |
| Independents have traditionally had a hard time making their voices heard in British elections - particularly at the European polls, which use a closed "party list" system. | Independents have traditionally had a hard time making their voices heard in British elections - particularly at the European polls, which use a closed "party list" system. |
| Jan Jananayagam gained 2.3% of the vote in the London region, where she was standing. | Jan Jananayagam gained 2.3% of the vote in the London region, where she was standing. |
| Singer MIA urged her fans to vote for Ms Jananayagam | Singer MIA urged her fans to vote for Ms Jananayagam |
| That was more than established parties such as the English Democrats, the trade union-backed No2EU, the Socialist Labour Party, Libertas and Jury Team, a new umbrella group for Independents, all of which were running national campaigns and had the benefit of party political broadcasts. | That was more than established parties such as the English Democrats, the trade union-backed No2EU, the Socialist Labour Party, Libertas and Jury Team, a new umbrella group for Independents, all of which were running national campaigns and had the benefit of party political broadcasts. |
| Ms Jananayagam would have needed about 10% of the vote to stand a chance of winning a seat, but she did not enter the contest until the last minute, meaning she had just three weeks to mobilise support. | Ms Jananayagam would have needed about 10% of the vote to stand a chance of winning a seat, but she did not enter the contest until the last minute, meaning she had just three weeks to mobilise support. |
| Her campaign was given a major boost by Grammy and Oscar-nominated rapper MIA, who urged fans to vote for her on Twitter and said she would create a new song to download for free. | Her campaign was given a major boost by Grammy and Oscar-nominated rapper MIA, who urged fans to vote for her on Twitter and said she would create a new song to download for free. |
| The Sri Lanka-born musician, real name Mathangi Arulpragasam, told Sky News Ms Jananayagam was "the first person that I've seen in politics who can actually raise questions and be about the people". | The Sri Lanka-born musician, real name Mathangi Arulpragasam, told Sky News Ms Jananayagam was "the first person that I've seen in politics who can actually raise questions and be about the people". |
| The Tamil Tiger rebels, regarded by the British government as a terrorist organisation, were defeated last month after a conflict lasting about 30 years. The group fought for a separate state in the north and east of the island. | |
| The UK has a large Tamil community, but the Tigers' cause did not command support among all Tamils. |