Socalist Alliance Tamil Solidarity Resources

Tamil History in Sri Lanka

2009-07-01T17:04:00.000+10:00

Presentation from a talk given a the June 23 rd Forum at the Activist Centre by Marty Gnanananthan

Tamils In Sri Lanka -- by Mathavakrishna(Marty) Gnanananthan

View more presentations from Ratbag Media.

The Tamils need support

2009-04-18T19:23:00.004+10:00

Green Left Weekly #791 editorial:

The Tamils need support

One of the great crimes of modern times is occurring on the island of Sri Lanka without a word of protest from governments the world over. The Tamil people are facing genocide.

Already this year, the death toll of Tamil civilians exceeds 4000. Often dozens, and in some cases hundreds, are slaughtered in a single day in Sri Lankan Army (SLA) bombings of the so-called safe zone, into which as many as 300,000 people are crowded.

Those Tamils who flee this zone are being placed into concentration camps by the SLA.

This brutal reality is almost entirely unreported, and not simply because the Sri Lankan government refuses to allow journalists access to the scene of its crime. Instead, the mainstream media is once again siding with the powerful.

When the issue is reported at all, the Sri Lankan government's propaganda is repeated the propaganda of a regime that refuses to allow a free press, with one of the world's highest rates of journalists being murdered each year.

According to Sri Lankan propaganda, the military are merely fighting "terrorism". It claims its war is merely against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), an armed group fighting for an independent Tamil homeland in the island's east and north.

Yet Sri Lanka's actions prove its war is against the Tamil people as a whole.

The actions of the LTTE are a response to the decades of discrimination and violent repression meted out to the Tamil minority by a state dominated by the majority Sinhalese ethnic group. Support for armed struggle grew among Tamils in response to the violent anti-Tamil pogroms in 1983 that killed more than 3000 people.

The solution to ending the decades-long war on the island, and bringing about desperately needed peace, is to end the oppression of the Tamil people.

First, and most urgently, there must be a permanent ceasefire declared. The mass killings must be ended. Food and medical supplies must be allowed into the "safe-zone", without which aid agencies are warning of a terrible humanitarian crisis.

The Tamil people must regain their freedom of movement and the concentration camps must be closed.

Once this occurs, the conditions for a negotiated settlement to the crisis, which can resolve the issue of self-determination for the Tamil people, will exist.

However, powerful governments, in defence of powerful interests, are allowing the Tamil people to be sacrificed. In return, the powerful are manoeuvring for access to lucrative shipping routes and ports.

To avoid upsetting the racist and undemocratic regime in Colombo, that regime is allowed a free hand to implement a "final solution" to the Tamil question. Once again, the corporate elite is placing profit over human life.

People around the world who believe in social justice must raise their voices. The Tamil diaspora is desperately attempting to bring the plight of its people to the world's attention. In their hundreds of thousands, they have marched in cities around the globe.

In India, dozens of Tamils have self-immolated to bring attention to the situation. In Australia, six young Tamils went on hunger strike for almost a week. They refused food or water, with a serious risk of death, in an appeal to the Australian government to press Sri Lanka to call a permanent ceasefire.

We cannot let them stand alone. Those who believe in social justice and political parties, trade unions, churches, social movements must speak out against the atrocities occurring right now.

The powerful have abandoned the Tamil people, it must be ordinary people all over the world who use their power to force action.

When Israel levelled Gaza, millions marched in opposition. That movement must continue, and the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign seeking to isolate apartheid Israel is beginning to have effect. But that display of "people power" needs to be repeated on behalf of the Tamils.

International solidarity helped end apartheid in South Africa, despite Western governments siding with the regime. It helped the East Timorese win their independence, despite Western governments including Australia siding with Indonesia.

It is placing Israel on the back foot, despite the most powerful nations on Earth backing the oppressors of the Palestinian people.

Now, international solidarity must be mobilised to save the Tamil people and stop the genocide.

[Support this very urgent struggle by joining the heroic campaign of the young Australian Tamils. Visit http://www.tamilsydney.com

SA member, Dr Brian Senewiratne, deported from Malaysia

2009-03-29T23:34:00.001+10:00

. An international group "Canadians for Genocide Education" which is an umbrella organisation with some 46 Member Associations annually picks ONE country of greatest concern re Genocide. The country picked in 2008 was Sri Lanka, and I was picked as the "Distinguished Speaker" and given an award... The plaque reads "Canadians for Genocide Education EDUCATORS AWARD 2009 Presented on March 25, 2009 to: Dr Brian Senewiratne In recognition of his dedication to inclusivity and equity in genocide education"

I was invited to come to Canada and receive the award My presentation was titled Peace with Justice in Sri Lanka Genocide of Sri Lankan Tamils. It's Causes & Solution .

It was held in the University of Toronto before a distinguished audience of academics, policy makers etc The hall was packed to capacity The flyer describing me was way over the top (as it usually is)...

The SL Govt coote Bandula Jayasekere, or to use his official title, His Excellency The Hon Bandula, etc, tried their best to block this but failed. Then they got their stooges e.g. Asoka Weerasinghe (patriot) to write scurrilous articles, published in the Mirror ?in Sri Lanka, to the Canadian Foreign Minister asking whether he had taken leave of his senses to allow me into the country.

Unable to block my entry, the next was harassment at Toronto airport ( a 4-hour search of everything, including downloading of every document including my letters to patients and going thru every scrap of paper (hundreds of pages of hand written notes, articles etc, and photocopying them all) It took about 4 hours and I was kept standing (that was after a 23-hour flight economy class which at 78 years is no small problem)

What riled the SL govt even more is action by a bunch (of goats) who are exploring putting my name up for a Nobel Prize for Peace. That is of course a nonsense project but with a one in a million chance, if it materializes, that would be a major blow for Sri Lanka. My very close association with Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu (I think I sent the photo with his arm round my shoulder) added to the concerns of the GoSL

What also of concern was that at the end of my Oration, the whole jolly audience of some 350, rose to their feet (I'll send the recording if/when I get it). This was recorded and sent to the Sri Lankan Ambassador and t the Govt in Colombo. Their blood pressures went thru the ceiling

I was scheduled to deliver the same award winning address in Malaysia (KL and Penang) and in Singapore, some 48 hours after it was delivered in Toronto.

Urgent action was needed. Someone ?Foreign Minister Bogollagama contacted the FM of Malaysia, who contacted the Minister of Home Affairs who contacted the CID who contacted Immigration asking them to prevent me entering the country stating I was a "Security risk"!!!!!

I said that if a 78-year old senile man was security risk for Malaysia, they should urgently review their Security set-up I smiled and asked that arrangements be made for me to get to Singapore. They said "tour ticket os from Penang. You cannot get to Penang because you cannot enter Malaysia, so you will have to buy yourself a ticket (which I did). I was then escorted to the plane by 6 police officers and an Immigration fellow.

While waiting for the flight (for 3 hours) I gave the bunch a lengthy talk on Human Rights abuse in Sri Lanka"!!!

At the end, when the flight was called, I went round to shake each one's hand. One of them, a policeman, grabbed my hand and would not let it go. Struggling to suppress tears which were welling up, he said "Doctor, all of us are deeply concerned at what we have been asked to do. Please donâ€™t hold it against us or Malaysia."

I gave him a big hug and said "Of course I will not"

Not prepared to run the risk of a repeat performance in Singapore (where I knew Bogollagam was - having got there to persuade Malaysian Tamils to come to Sri Lanka to invest there!!), I decided to cancel the Singapore meeting and returned to Australia, where the harassment continued at Immigration here in my native Brisbane airport.

This will be raised in the Australian Parliament.

Regards and thanks for you effort which is much appreciated Brian

Sydney protest March 28th

2009-03-25T18:10:00.000+10:00

From Sydney Tamil Youth

Dear All,

Sydney Tamil Youth have organised a demonstration in Sydney on Saturday the 28th of March. The demonstration will begin at MARTIN PLACE. We urge all Australian Tamil's to attend MARCH FOR FREEDOM as we unite as one to have our voices heard.

As the blood of thousands continues to lubricate the gears of state-sponsored genocide, the fate of the Tamil people tethers on the brink of extermination at the hands of Sri Lankan armed forces.

In these darkest of hours, we call upon the people of Australia to join us on Saturday 28th March as we protest the carnage of ethnic cleansing & voice our aspirations for self-determination.

Please take the time to attend this event and to pass this on to every person you know, urging them to take part as well.

DATE: Saturday 28th March

TIME: 11 am to 1 pm

STARTING PLACE: Martin Place

Through the power of our voice, let us open the eyes of the world, break the shackles of our oppression, and forge the foundations of liberty and equality.

CANADA: Over 150,000 Tamils attended...

SWITZERLAND: Over 50,000 Tamils attended...

BELGIUM: Over 40,000 Tamils attended...

Our time is now.

Sri Lanka crisis: A statement by concerned Australians

2009-02-26T15:08:00.000+10:00

We are Australian citizens who share a deep concern about the escalating civilian crisis in Sri Lanka.
We call on the Australian government to demand the Sri Lankan authorities and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam declare an immediate ceasefire.
We are deeply concerned about the lack of medical staff and aid agencies serving the estimated 250,000 civilians trapped in the conflict zone.
In September 2008, the Sri Lankan government evicted United Nations and international aid agencies from these areas. While the local Red Cross is still operating within the conflict area, their presence is threatened by the ongoing conflict.
The departure of international witnesses within the conflict area will remove accountability for all parties to the conflict.
The Sri Lankan government has also issued orders to doctors and other health staff to leave the conflict area immediately.
We demand the Sri Lankan government allow international monitoring and medical and aid agencies unrestricted access to the conflict zones immediately.
In direct violation of the Geneva Convention, civilian hospitals in the conflict zones have repeatedly come under aerial bombing and shelling. Furthermore, on 2 February 2009 the Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse stated that everything outside a government declared safety-zone is a military target and no exception will be given to medical facilities. We urge the Australian government to demand the Sri Lankan government stop the aerial bombing of hospitals and both parties cease placing civilians in direct cross fire in all areas.
Foreign and domestic media have been banned from entering the conflict zones since January 2008, when the government unilaterally withdrew from a cease-fire and commenced its military offensive. Without independent reporting, it is impossible to separate fact from propaganda by all parties to the conflict.
We call on the Australian government to pressure Sri Lankan officials to permit independent journalists unrestricted access to the conflict zones.
Furthermore, we recognise that the Tamil citizens of Sri Lanka have been subject to ethnic discrimination by successive Sri Lankan governments since Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948.
We acknowledge that all people, including the Tamils, have the right to self-determination and must freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.
We acknowledge that a military solution to this conflict will not bring lasting peace to Sri Lanka. With the intention of ensuring long-term peace, we call on the Australian government to lead political negotiations that recognise the legitimate aspirations and protects the human rights of all Sri Lankans.

Signatories include:

* Mr. Julian Burnside, AO QC, Victoria
* Prof. Wendy Bacon, Professor of Journalism, University of Technology, NSW
* Prof. Chris Nash, Professor of Journalism, Monash University, Victoria
* Mr. Antony Loewenstein, Independent Journalist and Author, NSW
* Dr. Peter Slezak, University of New South Wales, NSW
* Prof. Damien Kingsbury, Associate Professor, Deakin University, Victoria
* Hon. Ian Cohen, Member of the Legislative Council, NSW Parliament, NSW
* Hon. Lee Rhiannon, Member of the Legislative Council, NSW Parliament, NSW
* Mr. Jeff Loewenstein, Barrister, Victoria
* Prof. Stuart Rees, Emeritus Professor, Director, Sydney Peace Foundation, University of Sydney, NSW
* Mr. Jake Lynch, Director, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney, NSW
* Mr. David Feith, Tertiary Education Lecturer, Victoria
* Ms. Karen Coffield, Maternal & Child Health Nurse, Victoria
* Mr. Michael Brull
* Prof. John Whitehall, Paediatrician, Queensland
* Dr. Bobby Sundaralingam, Radiologist & Nuclear Medicine Physician, Victoria
* Dr. Ananth Sundaralingam, Senior Emergency Registrar, Victoria
* Ms. Sue Bolton, Convenor, Socialist Alliance, Victoria
* Dr. Brian Senewiratne, Consultant Physician, Queensland
* Ms. Nesa Arumugam Eliezer, Freelance Writer and Author, Victoria
* Mr. Nimalan Karthikeyan, Doctoral Candidate, Centre for Peace & Conflict Studies, University of Sydney, NSW
* Mrs. Gayathri Prathapar, Justice of Peace and Accountant, NSW
* Dr. Gareth Beal, Associate Lecturer, Creative Writing, Macquarie University, NSW
* Mr. Chris Riseley, Project Manager, Australian Volunteers International, Victoria

Non-Australians supportive of the Sri Lankan Crisis Statement:

* Ms. Karen Parker, JD, Specialist in Humanitarian Law and NGO Rep. UN
* Prof. Peter Schalk, Professor in History of Religions, Uppsala University, Sweden
* Mr. Michael Otterman, Visiting Scholar, Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, University of Sydney, NSW and author of ‘American Torture’

Click here for complete list of signatories. If you want to sign this statement, please leave a comment on this page or email fastuntoaction@hotmail.com as soon as possible with your name and title.

Sri Lankan Crisis Statement

2009-02-17T17:06:00.004+10:00

Despite international calls for a cease-fire, the conflict in Sri Lanka continues to escalate.

The district health official in the conflict zone has stated that 40-50 Tamil civilians are dying each day. Most recently the Sri Lankan government issued orders to doctors and other health staff to leave the conflict area immediately.

In an attempt to put an urgent stop to the humanitarian catastrophe, a group of young Tamil Australians have written a ‘Sri Lankan Crisis Statement’ for the wider Australian community to sign.

From 2 March 2009 we will take it to the media and the Australian government to raise our concern for this largely unreported war.

If you want to sign this statement, please leave a comment on this page or email fastuntoaction@hotmail.com as soon as possible with your name and title.

Please forward it to other contacts who maybe interested in signing this statement.

[Download Statement for printing]

STATEMENT

We are Australian citizens who share a deep concern about the escalating civilian crisis in Sri Lanka.

We call on the Australian government to demand the Sri Lankan authorities and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam declare an immediate ceasefire.

We are deeply concerned about the lack of medical staff and aid agencies serving the estimated 250,000 civilians trapped in the conflict zone. In September 2008, the Sri Lankan government evicted United Nations and international aid agencies from these areas.

While the local Red Cross is still operating within the conflict area, their presence is threatened by the ongoing conflict. The departure of international witnesses within the conflict area will remove accountability for all parties to the conflict.

The Sri Lankan government has also issued orders to doctors and other health staff to leave the conflict area immediately.

We demand the Sri Lankan government allow international monitoring and medical and aid agencies unrestricted access to the conflict zones immediately.

In direct violation of the Geneva Convention, civilian hospitals in the conflict zones have repeatedly come under aerial bombing and shelling. Furthermore, on 2 February 2009 the Sri Lankan Defense Secretary Gotabaya Rajapakse stated that everything outside a government declared safety-zone is a military target and no exception will be given to medical facilities.

We urge the Australian government to demand the Sri Lankan government stop the aerial bombing of hospitals and both parties cease placing civilians in direct cross fire in all areas. Foreign and domestic media have been banned from entering the conflict zones since January 2008, when the government unilaterally withdrew from a cease-fire and commenced its military offensive. Without independent reporting, it is impossible to separate fact from propaganda mitigated by all parties to the conflict.

We call on the Australian government to pressure Sri Lankan officials to permit independent journalists unrestricted access to the conflict zones.

Furthermore, we recognise that the Tamil citizens of Sri Lanka have been subject to ethnic discrimination by successive Sri Lankan governments since Sri Lanka gained independence in 1948.

We acknowledge that all people, including the Tamils, have the right to self-determination and must freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

We acknowledge that a military solution to this conflict will not bring lasting peace to Sri Lanka.

With the intention of ensuring long-term peace, we call on the Australian government to lead political negotiations that recognise the legitimate aspirations and protects the human rights of all Sri Lankans.

Signatories:

Wendy Bacon, Professor of Journalism, University of Technology, Sydney
Chris Nash, Professor of Journalism, Monash University
Antony Loewenstein, Independent journalist and author
Damien Kingsbury, Associate Professor, Deakin University

If you want to sign this statement, please leave a comment on this page or email fastuntoaction@hotmail.com as soon as possible with your name and title.

Protest in Canberra on Friday 20th of February

2009-02-17T11:25:00.002+10:00

Timor Leste: Nobel Laureate appeals for Immediate end to hostilities in Sri Lanka

2009-02-16T12:24:00.000+10:00

PRESIDÊNCIA DA REPÚBLICA GABINETE DA PRESIDÊNCIA

DEPARTAMENTO DE COMUNICAÇÃO SOCIAL

English
Press Release

Nobel Laureate appeals for Immediate end to hostilities in Sri Lanka

The long bloody civil war in Sri Lanka seems to be climaxing in a surge of violence.

Like many in this region, I have been following these developments with growing alarm. A military
outcome is possible and commentators talk of the civil war coming to an end. Those who speak glibly of an end to conflict, however, show little understanding of history, human nature or what constitutes real peace. There will be no long term peace in Sri Lanka if this war is prosecuted by either side to the bitter end without regard to human dignity or humanitarian responsibilities and if the principals remain > blind to the need for dialogue to achieve a sustainable bi-lateral long-term settlement for the good of all Sri Lankans.

I fear for Sri Lanka at this juncture. From personal experience I know that civil war generates frightening emotions of hatred and revenge that are immensely destructive. This was Timor-Leste's experience in 1975. Families and communities were torn apart, social and political relations were damaged for generations, trust was shattered. Timor-Leste still suffers the effects of that conflict even though it happened over 30 years ago and lasted only a few weeks.

I call on the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE to cease fire immediately and for both parties to
allow full and free access to the conflict area by humanitarian agencies and independent media. Both parties should also fully respect the Geneva Conventions and refrain from targeting civilians or utilising them for military purposes. The people already traumatised should not be forced to remain or move against their will. These measures will save precious Sri Lankan lives. The Sri Lankan government should show mercy and not press its military advantage. Such a gesture might also salvage some respect and trust to serve as the basic for the political settlement that must occur whatever the final military balance of power.

I call on the LTTE to seek a political settlement of Tamil grievances through dialogue. Dialogue is not treachery and can work. Many years ago my colleagues chastised me for proposing dialogue with our enemy. They were wrong. Timor's history is evidence that, creatively and skilfully utilised, dialogue is a potent instrument for change and justice.

If invited, I am prepared to assist in any way that might contribute to a peaceful settlement of this sad conflict in the interests of all Sri Lankans.

Jose Ramos-Horta, Nobel Peace Laureate, President of Timor Leste
Dili, 9 February 2009

Tamil Protest in Brisbane, Australia, February 4th, 2009

2009-02-15T17:17:00.000+10:00

Click to Play

The Tamil minority in Sri Lanka is now under savage military attack and the Sri Lankan army advances on the Tamil Eelam provinces, indiscriminantly slaughtering Tamils who mainly live on the north and east of the island.

This is a video record of a protest organised by Brisbane's small Tamil community on February 4th -- Sri Lankan Independence Day.During the same period thousands of Tamils had mobilised around the world especially in England and Canada.Similar protests were held in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne.

For background information on the situation in Sri Lanka for Tamils go here .

Formats available: Quicktime (.mov)

NEW ZEALAND: Auckland March Against Massacre of Tamils in Sri Lanka

2009-02-13T16:33:00.000+10:00

By Cameron Walker

On the 4th of February Auckland's Tamil community held a demonstration against the Sri Lankan Army's (SLA) massive onslaught on the North of Sri Lanka. The 4th of February is Sri Lanka's Independence Day. Over the past month hundreds of Tamil have been killed as the SLA mercilessly shells and bombs cities and towns controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Around 300,000 civilians are trapped in the jungles of North East Sri Lanka, unable to return to their homes. In the town of Puthukkudiyiruppu, a hospital full of war refugees was shelled by the SLA over several days. Reports of other atrocities have come to light but it is hard to gain a full picture of events because the Sri Lankan government has restricted access for journalists to the conflict zone. The Sri Lankan government has declared this to be the 'final assault' on the LTTE, with no possibility of peace talks or a negotiated settlement.

When I arrived at Aotea Square just after 3pm I was surprised to see that a crowd of 200-300 people, mostly Tamil, had already gathered. The march wasn't scheduled to start until 5pm. I commented to my Tamil friend Anne about the size of the crowd and she said "if they don't turn up today they would never turn up. It's that bad". I asked if the situation in Sri Lanka was a bit like Gaza in the jungle and she answered that it was very similar. I detected similar passion, anger and sadness among the Tamil crowd as I had among the Palestinians on the march against Israel's assault on Gaza a few weeks earlier. One demonstrator held a large sign reading 'Gaza and Sri Lanka are on the same planet. UN can't you see us?'. Members of the Tamil Youth Organisation distributed a book of harrowing testimonies of Auckland Tamils about the killings of family members in Sri Lanka by the SLA. Plenty of stickers and pamphlets were also handed to passers-by.

At 5pm the crowd, which had since grown larger, marched down Queen Street to chants of 'Sri Lankan Army stop killing Tamils' and 'New Zealand help us'. Large banners denounced Sri Lanka's state terrorism. Some demonstrators carried portraits of the LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran and chanted 'LTTE for Tamils' and 'Prabhakaran our leader'. While the LTTE's authoritarianism makes me weary of offering them support, I can easily see why Tamils in both Sri Lanka and abroad see the Tigers as their liberation movement. Since the independence of Sri Lanka, Tamils have been vicioulsy discriminated against by racists from the dominant Sinhalese ethnic group. The Tigers use of armed struggle as a tactic for an independent Tamil homeland gained a huge amount of support following the 1983 'Black July' massacres of hundreds of Tamil civilians by racist mobs backed by Sri Lankan security forces. The LTTE are condemned as 'terrorists' around the World by the same governments, such as the USA, Israel and Britain, who have no qualms about providing the Sri Lankan Army with military aid, weapons and diplomatic support that helps rain death on Tamil communities.

After a brief sit down and moment of silence at the bottom of Queen Street the crowd turned around and made its way back up to Aotea Square for a rally. At the square a young Tamil man introduced the speakers in the Tamil language, followed by translations into English of the introductions by Nirupa from the Tamil Youth Organisation. The first speaker was Kafeba Mundele, a Congolese man who has been active in supporting refugees living in Auckland. Drawing on his personal experiences and the long standing opression of poor people in Africa, Mr Mundele said that it is "hard to be a slave in your own country" and hard to sleep while bombs were dropping. He emphasised that we all have to continue speaking out as long as the Tamil people are abused and denied freedom. Well known activist John Minto, from Global Peace and Justice Auckland, denounced the assault on Tamil communities and the silence of New Zealand's National led government on the conflict. Maire Leadbeater, from the Indonesia Human Rights Committee, said that this was "a very dark time for Sri Lanka" and also condemned the silence of the NZ government on injustices happening around the World. Maire said that her group strongly supports the right of all people to self determination, whether they be West Papuans suffering under Indonesian Military control or the Tamil people in Sri Lanka.

Joe Carolan from Socialist Aotearoa angrily reflected that Sri Lanka's official name is 'The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka'. "That should be torn down" because socialism is "about working people coming together, no matter whether they are Protestant or Catholic or Sinhalese or Tamils" he declared. The oppression of Tamils by Sinhalese racists removed any right Sri Lanka had to call itself 'socialist'. As an active trade unionist he apologised on behalf of the New Zealand trade union movement because trade union leaders had been slow to take up the issue of the conflict in Sri Lanka. Joe received a massive cheer from the crowd when he declared his support for the "Tamil liberation movement, the LTTE".

Patrick Brown, from the Communist League, said that Sri Lanka's fight for independence from the British was a struggle that united both Sinhalese and Tamils and was an inspiration to people around the World. He commented that the "New Zealand government's silence" on the killing in Sri Lanka "speaks volumes". Both Labour and National governments happily sign up to the US 'war on terror' and thus do not care about the plight of people around the World being terrorised in the name of 'anti-terrorism', such as the Tamils.

After Patrick finished his speech, Nirupa invited me to speak. Using the loudest and most passionate mike voice I could muster, I spoke about how angry I was when I read about the SLA bombing a hospital full of war refugees. This atrocity reminded me of other heinous abuses committed by the Sri Lankan armed forces, such as the 2006 bombing of a school that killed 61 Tamil school girls. "While committing all these atrocities how does the Sri Lankan government and its Western backers, such as the US, Britain and Israel have the audacity to call the Tamil people terrorists" I continued. I ended my speech with a quote from, the US political prisoner, former Black Panther and journalist, Mumia Abu-Jamal: "Conventional wisdom would have one believe that it is insane to resist this, the mightiest of empires. But what history really shows is that today's empire is tomorrow's ashes, that nothing lasts forever, and that to not resist is to acquiesce in your own oppression. The greatest form of sanity that anyone can exercise is to resist that force that is trying to repress, oppress, and fight down the human spirit...".

The rally ended with speeches by Dr Rasalingham and Mr Sundarajan from the Tamil community. Dr Rasalingham spoke in both Tamil and English condemning Sri Lanka's assault on the country's North and stressed that we must never stop lobbying against abuses committed against the Tamil people. Mr Sundarajan gave a stirring speech declaring that Tamils would "never surrender" in their fight for an independent homeland.

Brisbane Tamil meeting

2009-02-13T16:30:00.001+10:00

by Dave Riley
BRISBANE: Thirty five people packed into the Brisbane Activist Centre here on February 13th to hear Dr Bian Seneviratne speak on the present situation in the Tamil regions of Sri Lanka. Seneviratne who was born into the majority Sinhala population of the island is a world renowned activist for Tamil rights. He told the overwhelmingly Tamil audience that the situation is dire in Sri Lanka and that it was urgent to build on the recent wave of international protests organised by Tamil exile communities around the world.

The local Brisbane community had previously marched in protest through Brisbane streets on February 4th, Sri Lankan Independence Day. The meeting was a follow up discussion organised by the Socialist Alliance of which Seneviratne is a member.

After watching video of the massive protests in London and Toronto, discussion focused on what to do next. The gathering decided to establish an ongoing campaign group and initiate a sign on statement as well as to carry the issue onto university campuses.

Anyone interested in supportying the campaign should contact Andrew on 3831 2644 or check out the Tamil solidarity web resource at http://tamilsol.blogspot.com/

MELBOURNE _Hidden War: genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka

2009-02-08T14:58:00.000+10:00

Public meeting
7PM Thursday Feb 19
At the old church hall, 10A Hyde St Footscray

Featuring a speaker from the Tamil Youth Association PLUS graphic film footage from Sri Lanka and from massive protests supporting Tamils across the globe.

Photo from <http://www.flickr.com/photos/tamilsydney/>
Genocide of the Tamils is occurring in Sri Lanka. Over 250,000 Tamils are displaced and in the firing line of the Sri Lankan Army. Aid workers have been ordered out, hospitals and churches fired upon. Around the world Tamils and supporters are demanding an end to the massacres and justice for the Tamils.
For info phone 0401 990 964 / 0425 230 597 / 9639 8622

Brisbane: The Tamil Struggle Against Genocide

2009-02-08T13:50:00.001+10:00

Featuring Dr. Brian Sinewiratne, Pro Tamil Activist

PLUS graphic film footage from Sri Lanka and from massive protests supporting Tamils across the globe.

Thurs February 12th, 6.30pm Brisbane Activist Centre
74 b Wickham St. Fortitude Valley (map)

Tamil meal available from 6pm

Stop the Attacks on the Tamil People -- Cross Canada Candlelight Vigils - February 4

2009-02-08T12:51:00.002+10:00

The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) has unilaterally abandoned the internationally mediated ceasefire agreement and has engaged in aerial bombings and artillery shelling of civilians in an intense war on the Tamil minority in the country. This war, which has killed as many as 70,000 Tamil civilians has become more brutal. In 2008 alone, thousands of civilians were killed.

According to former UN Human Rights Commissioner, Louise Arbour, "The most fundamental rights of people to be secure in their persons and homes are being violated almost daily.... There is an urgent need for the international community to monitor the unfolding human rights situation, as these are not merely cease-fire violations, but grave
breaches of international human rights and humanitarian law". She went on to say that the "weakness of the rule of law and prevalence of
impunity is alarming."

This devastating war has internally displaced over 500,000 Tamils and the Government of Sri Lanka has expelled all local and international NGO's from the war affected areas in the North. They have also placed an economic embargo on all food, medicine, fuel and other essential items reaching the civilians in the affected areas, creating a humanitarian disaster.

The Government of Sri Lanka has banned all reporters from the affected areas and has led a campaign of persecution against journalists.

Reporters Without Borders has expressed outrage at the Sri Lankan government after they censored the BBC World Service reporters in the country and after the murder of prominent editor of the Sunday Times, Lasantha Wickrematunga. Wickrematunga, in his last editorial,
published after his death said he knew that he was being targeted by the government. "When finally I am killed, it will be the government that kills me", he wrote. The lack of access to international monitors is making it impossible to know exactly how many innocent civilians
are being killed.

The Canadian Peace Alliance calls on the government of Canada to:

» Condemn the Government of Sri Lanka and call for an end to all attacks on Tamils
» Call on the Government of Sri Lanka to immediately allow international aid organizations and NGO's to bring emergency assistance to the civilians affected and to support the internallydisplaced Tamils
» Call on the Government of Sri Lanka to support the right to a free press and allow journalists into the affected areas.
» We also call upon the United Nations to condemn the Sri Lankan government's human rights violations and apply pressure on the Sri Lankan government to stop its genocidal war on the Tamil people.

Stop the Attacks on Tamils

On February 4th there will be events all over Canada calling for an end to the attacks on Tamils. The Canadian Peace Alliance stands in solidarity with the Tamil people and demands that the Government of Canada immediately call on the Sri Lankan government to end its attacks on civilians. For more information please see:
http://www.canadiantamilcongress.ca/

South Africans demonstrate against Sri Lanka's Genocide of Tamils

2009-02-06T17:55:00.001+10:00

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 04 February 2009, 17:19 GMT]
Representatives of the African National Congress (ANC) and South African Communist Party (SACP) Wednesday took part in a demonstration that called for an immediate end to the Sri Lankan military aggression against Eezham Tamils. The demonstration was held around the Durban City Hall on February 04, 2009, coinciding with Sri Lanka’s independence day. South African Muslim Network, Minority Front and members of the South African community also rallied against the war in Sri Lanka.

The protesters carried placards and banners and shouted slogans of solidarity with Eelam Tamils and condemned the Sri Lankan Government (GoSL) for its genocidal attacks on Tamil civilians, as well condemning the Indian Government for supplying arms and assistance to the GoSL.“India stop supplying arms to Sri Lanka”, “Vaazhga Tamil Eelam!”,“Sri Lanka stop killing Tamils”, “Sri Lanka stop Genocide of Tamils” were some of the calls from the public.

Moulana Ismail Cassimjee from the South African Muslim Network, Mrs Shameem Rajbansi of the Minority Front, Mr Sizwe Langa from the SACP, Mr Roy Chetty of the Socialist Movement Indaba, Mr Mickey Chetty of the South African Tamil Federation, Mr Saber Jazbai called for the immediate cessation of the war on Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Mr Roy Chetty, who referred to the Up-Country Tamils in Sri Lanka said the Tamil working class was living there "in a sub-human level”.

Moulana Cassimjee drew parallels with the Palestinian issue and condemned the Sri Lankan Government for killing innocent mothers and children and bombing medical institutions. He questioned the silence of the world.

Mr Mickey Chetty of the South African Tamil Federation conveyed to the crowd that India has a responsibility to stop the killings of Tamils carried out by the government of Sri Lanka.

Mr M.K Eelaventhan, a former Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian, criticised the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s manifesto that does not recognise the Tamils as an entity and quoted South Africa’s icon Nelson Mandela. “The time comes in the life of any nation when there remain only two choices: submit or fight”, he then added, “We will fight”.

Mr Jazbai, an expert on international law charged that the Rajapaksa regime should be tried for war crimes and raised a doubt whether South Africa was supplying Rooivolk helicopters to the Sri Lankan Government. He appealed to the South African Government to stop all trade and act immediately.

A letter of solidarity on behalf of the Mayor of Mgungundlovu, Mr Yusuf Bhamjee was read by Mr Ajen Bookhan, ANC member of Moses Madiba Region. A memorandum issued by the Solidarity Group for Peace and Justice in Sri Lanka was handed over to Ethekweni Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo, representing the South African Department of Foreign Affairs who expressed his concern over human rights violations against Tamils in Sri Lanka.

The Solidarity Group for Peace and Justice in Sri Lanka, Tamil Co-ordinating Committee of South Africa, South African Tamil Federation, The Arutpa Kazhagam of South Africa were the Tamil organisations that took part in the demonstration.

Chronology:

04.02.09 South Africans demonstrate against Sri Lanka's Gen..

04.02.09 Australian Tamils mark February 04 as Black Day

50,000 Tamils jam Toronto to protest ‘genocide’ in Sri Lanka

2009-02-02T18:17:00.001+10:00

TORONTO:In their biggest show of strength in the western world till date, over 50,000 Tamils took to the streets here Friday to protest against the “genocide of innocents in Sri Lanka’s conflict zone.”

Carrying banners, placards and shouting slogans in icy conditions, the protesters formed a human chain in downtown Toronto from 12 noon to 6 p.m to highlight the “plight of innocent Tamils” at the hands of Sri Lankan forces.

Extended over many kilometres, the human chain jammed the city centre and threw traffic into chaos.

They called upon the world community to prevail upon Sri Lanka to stop the “genocide of innocent Tamils “ in the name of fighting terrorism.

Representing the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) and various other bodies, the protesters distributed leaflets which read: “We want peace, help us,” “Join us to stop the genocide,” and “Then Luanda, now Sri Lanka.”

CTC spokesperson David Poopala Pillai said: “Sri Lanka was fooling the international community by talking about a political solution. They are on the path to wiping off Tamils.”

He said Sri Lanka was lying to the world by saying that the retreating LTTE was targeting innocent civilians.

“We call upon the world community to stop the genocide. India as our fatherland has to step in save Tamils,” he said.

Thayan Raghavan Paranchothy, spokesperson for the organisers, said they had received chilling video accounts from the “conflict zone to show the barbaric treatment of Tamils” by Sri Lankan forces.

“Sri Lanka is carrying out a systematic genocide of innocent Tamils who are seeking shelter under trees. They are being lured into so-called safe zones which are then being bombed by Sri Lankan forces,” he said.

“On January 26, Sri Lankan artillery bombed a so-called safe zone, killing over 300 innocents and injuring thousands. Hospitals are being bombed and the injured are dying unattended,” said Paranchothy who also runs the biggest Tamil Vision International television channel in Canada.

The human chain converged on the historic Union Station before dispersing with an appeal to the world to stop “the genocide” by Sri Lanka.

Canadian MP Jim Karygiannis, which represents Toronto’s Tamil-dominant constituency of Scarborough-Agincourt in parliament, also came out openly in support of the Tamils Friday.

Taking the Canadian government to task for not pressuring Sri Lanka to protect innocent Tamils, he said, :When will this government do more than just issue press releases and immediately take the action needed to protect the innocent people of Sri Lanka?”

There are about 300,000 Sri LankanTamils in the Toronto area - their biggest concentration anywhere outside the South Asian island nation.

New Zealand Tamil Protest

2009-02-02T14:59:00.000+10:00

From: TYONZ MEDIA <tyonzmedia@gmail.com>
Subject: Tamils to Protest in Auckland- Feb 4th 2009!!!
To: tyonzmedia@gmail.com
Received: Monday, 2 February, 2009, 12:08 AM

Dear All

The Tamil Community in Auckland is organising a rally and march in Auckland on February 4th 2009. This is the Sri Lankan Independence Day, but the start of the oppression of the Tamil people.

We urge you to join with us to show your opposition to the genocide going on in Sri Lanka.

Date- February 4th 2009

Time- 3:00PM- 7:00PM (march starts at 5:00PM)

Location- Aotea Square

Please come along and encourage all your friends to come also.

The Tamil people desperately need your support!!!

Thank you

Nirupa George

Media Liaison Officer

TYONZ

125,000 British Tamils march in protest of the continued genocide of Tamils by the Government of Sri Lanka

2009-02-02T11:56:00.001+10:00

, This report comes from British Tamils Forum. What is happening in Sri Lanka at the moment is comparable to the attack on Gaza but has received less than 1% of the attention.

A massive c125,000 Tamils in the UK and friends came together to march in London on 31 January 2009 to highlight the plight of an estimated 350,000 Tamil civilians caught up in the unrelenting onslaught by the Sri Lankan armed forces. Regarded as one of the biggest marches in London, the demonstrators showed impressive solidarity with their brethren facing deadly peril in Sri Lanka. The march proceeded peacefully. It was remarkable to note the high proportion of British born Tamils participating. The protest, which was arranged in less than a week by Action Committee Against Genocide of Tamils, an umbrella body made up of several Tamil organisations, commenced at 1pm at Millbank, Central London and continued till Temple Place where it ended at 6pm.

Hundreds of Tamil civilians have been killed and maimed over the past few days by indiscriminate aerial bombing (including cluster bombs) and artillery attack. With the monsoon rains in full force, the civilians’ torment is further magnified by the lack of food, shelter and medical assistance. The wounded are being left without medical treatment. The Norwegian Foreign Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, in a statement issued on Tuesday 27 January said his government condemned the ongoing war in Sri Lanka, which has caused “unacceptable sufferings to the civilians,” in the country.

Utterly horrified by the carnage unfolding in Sri Lanka, the peace marchers called on the international community to prevail on Sri Lanka to bring about an internationally sponsored immediate permanent ceasefire to be followed by peace negotiations. Showing much emotion, they also called on the international community to provide urgently needed humanitarian relief to the many thousands of civilians suffering untold misery. The emergency requires blood, medicines, medical equipment, sanitation, food supplies and temporary shelter to be delivered immediately to save the lives of the civilians.

So far, despite calls for an immediate ceasefire by the UK, EU and many other countries, the Sri Lankan regime has refused to do so and continues its onslaught with impunity. The Government of Republic of South Africa stated on 30 January “…we therefore urge both parties to return to the negotiating table as soon as possible. The announced ceasefire should be permanent and thus create conditions for parties to consult their respective constituencies freely and regularly.”

The African National Congress (ANC) in its recent statement said that “…the continued conflict in Sri Lanka has been cited on the human rights watch international monitoring mechanisms as a conflict now reaching genocidal proportions”

The peace campaigners also called on the international media to expose the truth about this unfolding humanitarian catastrophe by getting around the cynical methods the Sri Lankan government has employed hitherto to suppress the truth. After banishing the international media, the NGOs and the UN agencies from the conflict zone and silencing the local media by assassinating leading journalists, the current hard-line Sri Lankan regime has succeeded in suppressing the truth emerging about what is widely accepted as a genocidal war against the centuries old Tamil civilisation in Sri Lanka. Spending millions of dollars on public relations, the Sri Lankan regime has attempted to, and in many instances succeeded in hoodwinking the international media.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay: “…. It is the Government’s duty to provide safety to all Sri Lanka’s citizens, whatever their ethnic origin or political views,” Pillay said. “That means not only protecting civilians during military operations in the north, but also ensuring space for journalists and human rights defenders to seek out the truth and expose abuses”

Over the last few weeks the civil war in Sri Lanka has severely intensified. As the Sri Lankan occupying Army continues advancing into the north, Tamils civilians have been cornered into a 250 square kilometre area of land. The International Red Cross estimates that a quarter of million Tamil civilians trapped in the ‘safe zone’ continue to face indiscriminate aerial bombardment and a lack of access to any basic food, sanitation or health care. Whilst the government claims to have designated this area as a war-free zone, the UN has repeatedly stated that there has been continued aerial bombardment of the area, with bombs falling on hospitals and ambulances. Over 450 people are thought to have died within the last 8 days, with many more seriously injured. Despite this the government has banned all aid from entering the area, along with NGOs and media, and has refused to enter into a ceasefire.

Witnessing the plight of their fellow Tamils in Sri Lanka, British Tamils came together to show their outrage at the humanitarian crisis. Wrapped up in gloves and scarves, the protesters braved the bitterly cold weather and descended upon Millbank, Central London, at 1pm to begin the protest march. The march led them past the Houses of Parliament, finishing at Temple Place at 6pm. The tens of thousands of Tamils filled the streets for all the eye could see. Public transport towards Millbank was overwhelmed by the sheer number of protesters. The tube services had to resort to dropping people two or three stations away, but protesters were not deterred and walked miles to arrive at Millbank.

In light of the urgency of the situation the protest was only arranged less than a week ago, with leaflets being handed out a few days later. Given such short notice, the size of the crowd is a testament to the outrage of the Tamil people. The supporters came from all around the UK and even from across Europe. The crowd included British Tamils from every generation, from children right through to their grandparents, as well as Tamils from every aspect of British life, such as doctors, lawyers, accountants, engineers and businessmen and women. In an overwhelming show of solidarity for the cause, Tamil shops, businesses and Tamil Schools around the country remained closed during the hours of the protest. Several organisations, such as the British Tamil schools and UK university societies (e.g. Kingston Tamil School, University of Nottingham Tamil Society) and the Tamil Youth Organisation were present to express the views of second generation British Tamil youths.

The protesters marched behind a large banner reading ‘Call for immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka! Stop bombing Tamil civilians. Sri Lanka! Allow Humanitarian Aid’. They were adorned with t-shirts that read slogans such as ‘STOP Sri Lanka’s GENOCIDE of Tamils’ and ‘FREE TAMIL EELAM’ as well as carrying banners and placards that had messages such as ‘International Community what are you waiting for?’ and ‘LTTE are sole representatives of Tamils’. The procession included women dressed in blood-stained clothes crying out their anguish as well musicians bringing the crowd together. Some protesters carried a coffin as a vivid symbol of the carnage that is occurring at present. As the crowd marched they expressed their indignation, collectively shouting ‘Stop killing Tamil people!’, ‘We want a ceasefire!’ and ‘We want Tamil Eelam!’ Despite the icy winds, the very young and very old alike raised their voices and chanted till the very end.

A petition was handed over at the British Prime Minister’s official residence 10, Downing Street by a selected few members of the organisers. The covering letter stated “As members of the British public and as Tamils, we urge you to act in fairness and justice to enforce an immediate ceasefire utilising all the possible tools at the disposal of the British Government. The situation in Sri Lanka is no longer an internal conflict but is now under the jurisdiction of international law as a consequence of the gross human rights infringements that of 500,000 innocent civilians as reported by International Committee of the Red-Cross (ICRC) and other United Nations Agencies. There must be no confusion that these violations are not simply the causality of a civil war but rather explicit contraventions of the United Nations charter by the government of Sri Lanka. As a result, we feel that there must be multilateral action, led by the British Government supported by the UN, to facilitate an immediate and lasting ceasefire and supply humanitarian aid”

Several MPs accompanied the protesters, such as Mr Simon Hughes (Lib Dem, North Southwark & Bermondsey), Mr Andrew Pelling (Independent, Central Croydon) and Mr Keith Vaz (Labour, Leicester East & Chairman of the Home Affairs Select Committee), expressing their own anguish and frustration at the recent events in Sri Lanka. While addressing the large crowd Mr Keith Vaz, stood on top of Temple Place, stated that he had just spoken to Mr David Miliband and conveyed the strength of feeling displayed today by c125,000 UK Tamil protesters. Mr Vaz stated that he urged Mr Miliband to call upon the British government to stop the war in Sri Lanka and went onto say that the ‘democratic rights of the Tamil people should be recognised by the Sri Lankan government’. Mr Vaz also stated that the UK’s UN ambassador had indicated to his Sri Lankan counterpart about UK’s intentions of approaching the Security Council if Sri Lanka does not consent to a permanent ceasefire. Mr Vaz concluded urging the ‘Indian government, in the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi, to call for peace’.

Sri Lankan Tamil MPs belonging to the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), Mr Sivajilingam and Mr Jeyanthamoorthy spoke movingly about the long suffering civilians and the need for a permanent negotiated solution between the warring parties. Mr David Pararajasingham spoke on behalf of the British Tamils Forum. He discredited reports that the LTTE is preventing civilians from leaving and stated that ‘it is the will of the people to stay with the LTTE. The people are scared of being murdered, raped and tortured by the Sri Lankan Army’. He concluded by saying that ‘Tamil Eelam is not negotiable, but Eelam will negotiate’.

Despite the magnitude and passion of the crowd, the protest was peaceful. The crowd was ably managed by 500 volunteers from a range of British Tamil organisations, under the supervision of the Metropolitan Police. Chief Inspector Mr Blanchard of the Metropolitan Police said that the protest march was largely a success except for a couple minor incidents. He also said generally it was in good spirit and the stewardship of the organisers was very helpful.

www.tamilsforum.com

2009-02-01T18:20:00.000+10:00

Source TamilSydney