Thousands of Tamils demonstrate at UN Geneva headquarters

Thousands of Tamils demonstrate at UN Geneva headquarters [ Friday, 06 February 2009, 17:37 GMT+01:00 ] [InfoTamil]

Thousands of Tamils from all over Switzerland gathered outside the UN headquarters in Geneva on Wednesday to register their protest against Sri Lankan government's genocidal activities against minority Tamil community in northern region in Sri Lanka and to demand help from the UN.

Organisers said around 15,000 people took part in the demonstration that ended peacefully.

The demonstrators carried signs with messages protesting the military offensive against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), including ones that said 'stop the war' and 'stop killing Tamils immediately'. Other placards showed pictures of dead and injured.

The demonstrators blasted Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for describing LTTE men as “terrorists” and they said they are not terrorists, they are just fighting for our freedom.

An effigy of Rajapaksa was burned at the protest, while others stomped on photos of him.

Organisers said the protest spilled out of the Place des Nations, the main square in front of the UN building, and for about half an hour hundreds of protesters staged a sit-down in front of a main gate, blocking traffic on the road in front of the headquarters.