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British Tamils stage largest ever march protesting genocide
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by WilliamBaptist | January 31, 2009 at 05:32 pm
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125 000 British tamils in a protest against the Sri Lankan State Terror On Tamil Eelam Civilians
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British Tamils stage largest ever march protesting genocide | Photo 02
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British Tamils stage largest ever march protesting genocide, mandating Tamil Eelam [TamilNet, Saturday, 31 January 2009, 21:50 GMT]
More than one hundred thousand British Tamils marched through central London Saturday condemning Sri Lanka’s war against their people and calling for an independent Tamil Eelam. The unprecedented response on one of the coldest days this year turned out to be the largest ever gathering of the British Tamil community. It seems almost half of the Eezham Tamil community in Britain joined the march Saturday. While the turnout reflected the anger and outrage over the genocide committed on Tamils by Colombo and its international abettors, significant focus of the march was the demand for the recognition of Eezham Tamil sovereignty in the island of Sri Lanka. It was actually a mandate, the organizers said.
Protesters carried large flags of red and yellow – the Tamil national colours – and banners condemning the genocide of Tamils by the Sri Lankan state and expressing their support for an independent Tamil Eelam.
Many expatriate organizations and associations had printed leaflets which they handed out en route. Some focused on recent massacres by the Sri Lankan military, others outlined the ’60 years of Oppression’ faced by the Tamils of Sri Lanka, many others highlighted ‘Genocide’.
Many of the marchers had made up their own banners and posters; some highlighted the slaughter of Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka Army and Air Force attacks especially in the past month in Vanni, others slammed various members of the international community, especially India and Japan. There were calls on the British government and the UN to act.
One community organization passed out cards bearing a petition to the British government demanding the de-proscription of the LTTE, drawing enthusiastic response.
The protesters chanted slogans, including “We want – Tamil Eezham!”, “Pirapaharan - our leader!”, “Stop killing – Tamil People”, “Rajapakse - go to hell!”
“We’re here in solidarity and unity with our suffering people in Vanni,” said an official with the British Tamil Forum, a prominent Diaspora organisation and a key association organizing of the event.
“There is widespread and deep seated anger [amongst expatriate Tamils] at Sri Lanka’s cowardly attacks on civilians and also at the international community which is supporting this,” he said.
“We are also here to reiterate once again our support for the Tamil demand for national self-determination and political independence,” he said.
“The brutality of the Sri Lankan state is plain to see now, as well as the ruthlessness of those states supporting it, he added.
“The recent past has underlined yet again why it is necessary for the Tamil people to have the security of our own state”
The protesters included every social category of the diverse Tamil community in Britain including large numbers of second and third generation youth as well as recently arrived people from the Tamil homeland, older professionals and teenagers, merchant bankers and market traders.
Young families fielded a swarm of push-chairs and strollers or carried young children. Many elderly Tamils braved the near freezing winds to make the long walk from Millbank to Temple on the Embankment.
Youth banged drums, chanted slogans through megaphones, handed out leaflet.
The ranks of hundreds of stewards further expanded as people responded to calls for volunteers to help marshal the marchers and assist the elderly.
London’s extensive network of Tamil-owned and Tamil-run businesses closed their doors for the day in solidarity. Many businesses reportedly subsidized coaches from Tamil-dominated suburbs to the central London to enable families with small children and the elderly to be able to participate.
Tamil satellite television channels transmitted the event to Diaspora centres and Vanni.
"More than 50,000 were at the demonstration," a spokesman for London's Metropolitan Police told AFP earlier on in the day. Thousands more descended on the route from Millbank to Temple, joining the marchers as they passed.
The marchers began gathering at 1pm on Millbank, near the Tate gallery. By 2pm the riverside road, which had been closed to traffic was filled and roads leading back to Pimlico and Vauxhall stations were also full of Tamil protesters.
The text of a petition to British Premier Gordon Brown signed by many of the marchers follows:
“I express my solidarity with the people of Tamil Eelam in their struggle against Sri Lankan state oppression and I support their efforts to liberate their homeland in the North and East of the island of Sri Lanka and to restore their sovereignty over it. I believe, as they do, that only the establishment of the secure and independent state of Tamil Eelam can ensure the well-being of the Tamil people and their right to self rule.”
“As I am unable to express my feelings and support to the brave men and women who are fighting an armed struggle for a just and legitimate cause, with a full democratic mandate of the Tamil people, for the entire Tamil community in Sri Lanka, I as a law abiding citizen of this country demand HM’s Government de-proscribes the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) immediately.”
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at 17:52 on January 31st, 2009
50,000 in London Tamil protest demanding ceasefire
4 hours ago
LONDON (AFP) — More than 50,000 demonstrators marched through London in a Tamil rally on Saturday demanding an end to the fighting in Sri Lanka.
"More than 50,000 were at the demonstration," a spokesman for London's Metropolitan Police said.
"There has been one arrest for possession of an offensive weapon."
The spokesman said the protest was largely peaceful and good humoured.
The rally began at Atterbury Street, by the Tate Britain gallery and passed along the north bank of the River Thames to Temple Place.
Demonstrators banged drums and waved flags and banners along the route.
The protesters delivered a petition to British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Downing Street office, urging the government to persuade Sri Lankan forces to declare a ceasefire.
The Sri Lankan military has been battling cornered Tamil Tiger rebels in the north of the island. The Red Cross has been trying to negotiate the evacuation of more civilian wounded from the conflict zone.
The military says it is in the final phase of a year-long offensive to wipe out the Tiger guerrillas and end Asia's longest-running ethnic conflict. Tiger rebels took up arms in 1972.
The United Nations says as many as 250,000 civilians may be trapped by the fighting.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/artic...0G6lTDrt23jYf9Q
at 17:58 on January 31st, 2009
Can you give us a simple breakdown of what this battle is all about?
at 18:37 on January 31st, 2009
Please go to this site and read the e-book
http://www.pagegangster.com/p/2Lweq/
at 10:14 on February 3rd, 2009
The SL governemnt is fighting the LTTE rebels who wants to divide the country. Most Tamils in Sri Lanka itself condemn this fighting and want nothing to do with the LTTE.
In breif the conflict did ignite due to the past sl governemnt trying to opress the Tamils. Which was completely wrong! But times have changed, and there are Sinhalese and Tamils living peacefully in Colombo ( Commercial Capital of Sri Lanka)
more info http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7867743.stm
at 20:07 on April 6th, 2009
Can you give us a simple breakdown of what this battle is all about? René
Thank you so much for asking. I much appreciate your interest in the issue. I am providing basic details here for even basic reader, so please don't take any offense. I will try my best to keep it brief, however the conflict demands for some history. So please bear with me.
Sri Lanka is the tear-drop island right below India.
There are two communities, a Sinhalese Kingdom to the South and a Tamil Kingdom to the North and East, have been living the Island for over 2000 years. These two communities speak different language and mostly also follow different religions.
As many other Asian and African countries, Colonial powers came to Sri Lanka, then known as Ceylon. Portuguese, Dutch and then British. Portuguese and Dutch ruled the Island separately. However the British decided to combine the two separate kingdoms in to one state for administrative convenience in 1833.
When British left in 1948, they left the country as the combined state. Consequently, the Sinhalese became majority 72% and the Tamils became minority in Sri Lanka 18%.
The Sinhalese Politicians had an internal jealousy that Tamils held many high posts during British ruling and wanted to see to it, the Tamils are deprived of education, rights and other issues. Hence they started to fuel Sinhalese chauvinism among Sinhalese majority and used it as a main method to gain votes. Tamils oppression has started in Sri Lanka and the Sinhalese chauvinists’ majority has been sustaining similar mind-set government since then.
Source: my.nowpublic.com
Over 100, 000 Tamils have been killed, tortured and raped by the Sri Lankan Government and Army in Sri Lanka so far.
State sponsored mass massacres have been staged by the Sri Lankan Government to threaten and deplete Tamils’ aspiration to live freely in Sri Lanka.
1977 the Tamils’ Political leaders decided, enough is enough and declared Tamil Eelam is the only solution that will give Tamils rights and freedom in Sri Lanka.
Due Sri Lankan Government’ violence towards the request, few Tamils rebel groups have emerged among Tamils. India provided training and financial support to these rebels and encouraged them to grow.
LTTE survived time due to its strong alignment with Tamils’ aspiration to find Tamil Eeleam.
However, mass massacres were organized by the Sri Lankan Government to root out any resistance from Tamils:
July 1983- 52 Tamil prisoners massacred at Wellicata
July 1983 - 3000 Tamils killed mostly burnt alive in Capital of Sri Lanka, Colombo
15/5/1986 - 38 Tamils of Kumudhini boat passengers were massacred by Sri Lankan Navy- Neduntheevu,Jaffana
7/9/1995 - 65 Tamils massacred at refuges camp -St. Peter church - Navali Jaffana
10/9/1990 - 185 Tamils to massacred by stabbing at Sri Lankan Army Camp- Saththurukondan,Batticola
28/10/2000 - 28 Tamils were massacred at the Rehabilitation Centre - Bindunuwewa
LTTE accepted peace talks with the Government since 2002 – 2006 with the previous Sinhalese Government. However, the Sinhalese majority made the government lose the office in 2005, and elected the Mahinda (President) and Gotabaya (Defense Secretary) Sri Lankan Government.
The current government ended the peace talk with LTTE for Tamils’ rights and declared an all military solutions to Tamils’ aspiration to be free in Sri Lanka.
The current Sri Lankan Government has killed 4 Tamil Parliamentarians Mr. Joseph Pararajasingham, MP, Batticaloa District (in December 2005), Mr.Nadarajah Raviraj, MP, Jaffna District (in November 2006), Mr. T. Maheswaran, MP, Colombo District (in January 2008) and Mr. Kiddnan Sivanesan, MP, Jaffna District (in March 2008).
http://www.tamilnation.org/hundredtamils/pararajasingham.htm
http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2006statements/822/?print=yes
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-01-01-3514995787_x.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7282205.stm
Since then many journalists have been killed:
January 8, 2009 – Dying for Journalism: Lasantha Wickrematunge of Sri Lanka
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1870440,00.html
Sri Lanka special report: Failure to Investigate
http://cpj.org/reports/2009/02/failure-to-investigate-sri-lankan-journalists-unde.php
Tamil civilians have been bombed and shelled mercilessly by the Sri Lankan Government in the name of rooting out “terrorism”.
Over 4700 Tamils civilians are dead in the three months attacks, and over 1000 of them are children.
The Sri Lankan Government has used Chemical weapons on Tamils civilians areas and have killed over 1500 just in last two days.
Strict ban on media prohibits any war zone details to get out.
Few coverage have been done by:
SBC Dateline Hunting the Tigers
http://www.sbs.com.au/dateline/story/watch/id/600020/n/Hunting-the-Tigers
Sri Lanka’s journalism under threat
http://my.nowpublic.com/world/sri-lanka-journalism-under-threat-aljazeera-english-0
The current fight in killing Tamils civilians and LTTE will be over in one or two days.
Then LTTE will be gone.
Then what for Tamils in Sri Lanka?
The same oppression that has happened for Tamils last 60 years?
Tamils want autonomy in Sri Lanka.
That is the only sustainable arrangement to restore relative peace and stability in the Sri Lankan Island as it has been for over 2000 years.
at 18:41 on January 31st, 2009
Tamils are fighting for freedom from Majority Sinhalese in Sri Lanka. Tamil Eelam is the name of the country Tamils are fighting for.
at 22:21 on January 31st, 2009
Srilankan Sinhala President Rajapakse and his government want to make the Tamils slaves. Sonia Congress of India is helping the killing the Tamils.
Sinhala forces have been bombing the Tamils for more then 6000 times from air and killing innocent Tamil children and woman. Which country will bomb their own people and kill them? Only in <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 />Sri Lanka this is happening! Of the casualty of 80,000 or more people killed for the last 25 years of the conflict, 95 percent are innocent Tamil civilians. Tamils have no choice other then having their own country so that they can live freely and peacefully. It is the duty of the International Community to recognise the Tamil peoples fight for their freedom and recognise Tamil Eelam. Hope President Obama and Hillary Clinton will lead the way for Tamils to live freely again as independent people.at 07:45 on February 1st, 2009
Proud to say I was one of those who joined the protest!! :) Although the number count was 125,000 as per the announcement at the meeting.
at 10:46 on February 1st, 2009
I also joined the protest.
at 10:12 on February 1st, 2009
after all this marching lets all hope we get tamil eelam also i am very proud that i participated in this protest.
at 10:10 on February 3rd, 2009
No one wants to make anyone slaves. That was a very childish comment, and you know it is not true, so dont resort to pity lies.
Having said that, I too condemn the killing of innocent Tamils, the war has gone far too long, we should stop this sillyness and come to our senses. However a division of the country is not acceptable at all. We are all togehter, Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims, Burgers and all other Sri Lankans. We lived so peacefully so longago, its high time we did that again.
I am a Sri Lankan Politics student in UK.
Please read this link to know what I am talking about http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7867743.stm
at 10:32 on February 3rd, 2009
we are waiting for get to Tamil Elam with confident
at 14:23 on February 5th, 2009
I am sorry to burst your bubble, and I dont mean to be rude in any way, but the SL army has already nearly captured the last rebel base, so I dont think that is going to happen.
However instead, I am sure I speak for majority of the country when I say, come and join us, run in elections, get voted in, and then help the people, instead of training them to be sucide bomber's.
at 20:31 on February 15th, 2009
Fuck off piece of shit.....The only elam ur going to get is up ur ass..... murderers
at 21:53 on February 20th, 2009
ignorant! every day there is like 200 people dieing with the army killin and raping women n young girls... have you atleast seen the pictures of the tamils being killed the bodies scattered ... if it was your family lieing there dead with body scattered, raped or shot dead by the army... you would know the feeling ...the places you went for safe : churches temples pansala was bombed and in the middle of the night with out you knowing whats goin on bombed... starved without food ... if you only had the feelin and saw the pictures of the tamils suffering youn would hav understood what forced them to say we want a separate country... who would want to separate from such a beautiful country like Sri lanka ... only the people who had suffered so much and had enough
at 12:21 on February 3rd, 2009
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This is a great video, thanks for sharing because the media blackout of the Vanni has proved to be successfully cruel and the suppression of information clearly has economic/political benefits to some. But there is an amazing energy to people here, just amazing, and I guess the Sri Lankan diaspora has started showing its strength, as peace hopefully. The role of the Indian govt is worrying; they're probably already facing international nudges to step in and sort it out, but the government is being deliberately vague
at 04:39 on February 6th, 2009
I feel really bad for the innocent civilians in Sri Lanka but at the same point i blame their own people living out of the country.
They migrate for various countries as refugees which the government has provided them with many priviledges to study, work and become someone to help their country. Instead of honouring this, certain Sri Lankan tamils take advantage of this and misuse the system by praticising gangterism, fraud, murder and in a nutshell fighting for area codes. They are fully aware of the suffering people in their country but how is these kind of things protraying themselves and more so their homeland.
Should they be fighting for peace in Sri Lanka, they must demonstrate peace in their livehood otherwise this just becomes to show how hypocritical this is.
Lastly this war has been going on for 25years where now people should come to their sense and have a peace talk instead of having war and killing those the innocents whom had nothing to do with it in the first place.
I hope the reader to not see this as a condemnation but an eye opener.
at 11:40 on February 7th, 2009
What I fail to understand is why the Tamils, making up about 20% of the country's population, want 2/3 of the country's coastline. That's an unreasonable request.
Terrorism also is not the way to obtain a separate state.
at 21:15 on February 20th, 2009
This was not wat we initially asked for but we were forced out of our basic rights until left with nothing. We were discriminated simply because we were tamils. As i am typing here i am with 100% can assure you that tamil women are bein raped by the Srilankan army and the unborn children are being aborted as commanded by the Srilankan Government. If you were to ask me how I got this information, it is through my relatives living in jaffna, Srilanka. These singhalese people never steped on the tamil soil they don't whats going on and simply believe the selfish political leaders. It is not suprising that the government had killed the journalist who found out about the on goin event and when the U.S enquired about it, the only answer the government was able to give is they are still searching for the killer when the killer is the Srilankan government. Singhalese people should understand what going on first before reaction on instinct on what they hear. When I go to my Sighalese relatives without fear and enjoy peace, it not the same with my tamil relatives. The anger, pain and vengence come naturally when the government treats the tamils by bombing people in hospitals, schools, temples, churches most of all small children in the nights when they least expect it. They have killed all young generations. Tamils have suffered alot they have lost everything that they once were proud of ...the government is motivated in killing tamils nothing can be stopped when a big country like India is at help. Tamils live like dogs in the Srilanka. They rather be treated humans. This is why tamils need a separate land, they have beared it all now they have raised their hands to god to save them.
at 17:01 on April 6th, 2009
I just want to tell the singhalese people..you guys are being naive and believe all the propaganda of the srilankan government..they hide all the truth from you..how would you know without looking at the evidence from both side of the story..i only feel sorry for you guys because the goevernment are lying to you..off course if the srilankan government doesn't have anything to hide why don't they allow journalists in the area? because they are lying to ur community..you can never understand what the tamil people are going through..you never will...you'll only understand if you are in the war zone..when you dad, mum, sister and brothers just burst and die in front of your eyes or your mother, daughter or sister are raped and killed in front of you..or if you are injured and don't even have any medication..not even a bandage to stop the bleeding..or if they operate on you without any anaesthetics or you see you family just die of hunger..don't talk without knowng the full story..those who have not experienced it or even seen anything..you don't have the right to talk..if you still comment childishly..you are just in humane..
at 08:59 on April 7th, 2009
Jeyanthi
You mentioned that the SL government are killing the tamil then why do you see or hear tamils are killing tamils in gang fights?? Shouldnt they have common sense when they know that people are dying in their own country? You said they live like dogs in SL then why do they act like dogs when they are migrated to a different countries to better themselves?