The event started off with welcome message and a one-minute silence (known as Agavanakkam) to pay respect for the Tamil victims whose Right to Life (Article 2 of the Human Rights Act 1998) was brutally taken away by the Sri Lankan state.

BTF delivered a eulogy for the late Thedsanamoorthy Kirupananthan (Kirupa Master). He was a valuable hardworking and dedicated member of BTF, who had been advocating for over a decade, for the freedom and the rights of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka.

There were performances, mainly by Tamil youths, from across the world including Britain, India and Sri Lanka:

• Flute, Thavil, Veenai and Naathaswaram musical performance
• Bharathanatyam and folk dance performances
• Vocal performance
• Presentation on Thai Pongal & Self-Reliance in Tamil Heritage
• Miruthangam, vocal and violin musical performance
• Veenai performance

UK cross party Members of Parliament including a Minister and Shadow Ministers personally joined this event and were introduced by their Tamil constituents. Attendees included The Rt Hon Theresa Villiers (Vice Chair APPGT), Paul Scully (Minister of State and Former Chair of APPGT), The Rt Hon Sir Ed Davey (Leader of the Liberal Democrats and Vice Chair of APPGT), Elliot Colburn (Chair of APPGT), Bob Blackman (Vice Chair of APPGT), Wes Streeting (Vice Chair of APPGT), Navendu Mishra and Steve Baker.

The UK Parliamentarians gave messages of well wishes to the Tamil community for Thai Pongal and reassured their commitment calling for truth, justice, and accountability for the atrocities committed against the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, whilst condemning the demolition of the University of Jaffna Mullivaikkal Memorial monument.

The Prime Minister, Boris Johnson’s Thai Pongal video message was played followed by video messages from The Rt Hon Keir Starmer (Leader of the Labour Party), The Rt Hon Stephen Timms (Vice Chair of APPGT), Siobhain McDonagh (Vice Chair of APPGT), The Rt Hon Robert Halfon (Vice Chair of APPGT), Janet Daby, Sam Tarry (Vice Chair of APPGT), James Murray, Claudia Webbe and Former Minister of Foreign & Commonwealth Office, The Rt Hon Alistair Burt (Written message).

The event ended with a thank you message from British Tamils Forum (BTF) followed by a video of a singing performance of a famous Pongal song.

We sincerely thank all for making this a successful and uplifting event. The event will be available for viewing on our website and YouTube channel soon.

Self-Reliance in Tamil Heritage Event

“புத்தகங்களை எரிக்கத் துணிந்தவர்கள், மனிதர்களையே எரித்துவிடுவார்கள்” ஹெயின்றிச் ஹெயின் (ஜேர்மானியக் கவிஞர், எழுத்தாளர், இலக்கிய விமர்சகர்)

யாழ்ப்பாண நூலகம் 31 மே 1981ல் எரிக்கப்பட்டு இன்று 39வதுஆண்டை எட்டியுள்ளது. சிறிலங்கா அரசின் மூத்தஅமைச்சர்களால் தென் பகுதியிலிருந்து கொண்டு வரப்பட்டசிங்களக் கும்பலொன்றினைக் கொண்டு இத் தீவைப்புநடாத்தப்பட்டது.

நூலக புத்தகங்களுக்கு வேண்டுமென்றே தீயிட்டழித்த இக்கொடுமையான நிகழ்வானது, சிறி லங்கா அரசின்தமிழர்களுக்கெதிரான இன இழிப்பு வரலாற்றில் ஒரு முக்கியநிகழ்வாகும். தெற்காசியா எங்கும் தேடக் கிடைக்காத தொன்மைவாய்ந்த, போற்றிப் பேணப்பட வேண்டிய ஏராளமான நூல்கள்மற்றும் ஆவணச் சுவடிகள் திட்டமிட்டு தீயிட்டழிக்கப்பட்டமையால்தமிழர்களின் விலைமதிப்பற்ற கலாச்சாரப் பாரம்பரியபொக்கிசமொன்று சிறிலங்கா அரசினால்நிர்மூலமாக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

நூல் நிலையத்தை அண்டிய பகுதிகளில் அன்று எவ்விதஆத்திரமூட்டும் சம்பவங்களும் நடைபெற்றிருக்கவில்லை. யாழ்மாவட்ட பொலிஸ் தலைமைச் செயலகம் நூலகத்திலிருந்துகண்ணுக்கெட்டிய தூரத்திலேயே உள்ளது. முன்னாள்அமைச்சர்களான காமினி திசநாயக்காவும் சிறில் மத்தியூவும் தீவைப்பு சம்பவத்தை முன்னின்று நடாத்தியுள்ளார்கள். இவை யாவும்தீயிடல் சம்பவம் நன்கு திட்டமிட்டு (intent of genocide) தமிழர்வரலாற்றின் ஆவணப்படுத்தலை  அழிப்பதற்கென்று நிகழ்த்தப்பட்டகலாச்சார இனப்படுகொலை என்பதற்கு சாட்சி பகர்கின்றன.

கடந்த 70 வருடங்களாக தமிழர்களுக்கெதிராக நடந்து வரும்இனப் படுகொலையை ஒரு சர்வதேச நீதிப்பொறிமுறையின் மூலம்வெளிக் கொண்டு வந்து நீதி நிலைநாட்டப்பட வேண்டும்என்பதனையும் சிறிலங்காவில் வடக்கு கிழக்கு வாழ்தமிழர்களுக்கு சர்வதேச அங்கீகாரத்துடனான ஒரு பாதுகாப்புபொறிமுறை உருவாக்கப்பட வேண்டும் என்பதனையும் பிரித்தானியதமிழர் பேரவை வலியுறுத்துகின்றது.

The Australian Tamil Congress (ATC), the British Tamils Forum (BTF), the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), the Irish Tamil Forum (ITF), the Solidarity Group for Peace and Justice (SGPJ-South Africa) and the United States Tamil Action Group (USTAG) will be hosting a virtual joint worldwide May 18 – Mullivaikkaal Tamil Remembrance Day on Monday, May 18th 2020, to commemorate the 11th year anniversary of the loss of tens of thousands of innocent Tamil civilians, Maveerar and Tamil national heroes in Mullivaikkaal, Sri Lanka during the last stages of the war.

The 2-hour live event will start promptly at 5 PM for UK/Ireland, 12 Noon Eastern Standard time for US and Canada, and 2:00 AM (19th) Sydney, Australia. Due to time differences, some of the Australian remembrance day event will be a recording of their live event (Monday 7PM to 8 PM AEST) earlier on that day.

This worldwide event will start with a moment of silence conveyed online from Australia, UK, Canada, Ireland, South Africa, USA and other parts of the world, to pay tribute to the innocent lives lost. Following this, the worldwide participants will lay flowers and light candles to pay respect to those who lost their lives in various phases of the Tamil Genocide, including the mass atrocity crimes committed by Sri Lanka state forces in the #no_fire_zones leading to Mullivaikkaal. We also lend our support to the Global Campaign: “Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day,” (details to follow) which calls for lighting of candles at 18:18 on May 18 in remembrance of the lives lost.

Following the paying of respect, the leaders of ATC, BTF, CTC, ITF, SGPJ-SA and USTAG will speak with special emphasis on the continuing thrust for justice and accountability for atrocity crimes perpetrated towards the end of the war, and the expectations from the victimized Tamil community for stronger actions by the governments around the world towards the path of finding truth and restorative justice to the victims.

Tamil devotional songs and dances will be featured from various countries. Live or video messages will also be shared by many elected officials and prominent human rights defenders from key countries.

The webcast link that will allow thousands of global Tamil diaspora participants to join the proceedings will be emailed closer to the event. Interested participants are invited to send their requests for webcast links to the respective country organizations as listed below.

Contact details are as follows:

Mr. M. Manokaran

Chairman – Australian Tamil Congress

T: +61 300 660 629

E: Mano_manics@hotmail.com

Website: www.australiantamilcongress.com/en/

Twitter: @austamilcongres

Mr. V. Ravi Kumar

General Secretary – British Tamils Forum

T: +44 (0) 7814 486087

E: news@britishtamilsforum.org

Website: www.britishtamilsforum.org

Twitter: @tamilsforum

Mr. Sivan Ilangko,

President – The Canadian Tamil Congress

T: +1(416) 240 0078

E: President@canadiantamilcongress.ca

Website: https://www.canadiantamilcongress.ca

Twitter :@ctconline

Sutharsan

Irish Tamils Forum (ITF)

T: 00353 899592707

E: irishtamilsforum@gmail.com

Pragas Padayachee

Solidarity Group for Peace and Justice in Sri Lanka (SGPJ– South Africa)

E: pregasenp@telkomsa.net

Mr. S. Seetharam

President – United States Tamil Action Group (USTAG) (formerly USTPAC)

T: +1(202) 595 3123

E: Seetha73@hotmail.com

Website: www.ustpac.org

Twitter: @UstpacAdvocacy

MPs from all political parties and the leader from faith groups attended the event to remember those killed in the attacks.

Mullivaikkal 10th Annual commemoration day:

Date: Saturday 18th of May 2019, evening from 2.00 PM till 5.00 PM

Location: TRAFALGAR SQUARE, London WC2N 5DN

(Nearest underground station- Charing Cross)

We shall gather together to pledge to seek justice for the Genocide, call for international investigation, change the structures to prevent reoccurrence.

Contact
British Tamils Forum (BTF)
‪

02088080465, 07814486087, 07734397383, 07943100035, 07508365678, 07974726095, 07769770710‬, 07888 709739

Date: 23 July 2018

Time: 6 PM – 8 PM

• Cycle of violence repeats (Pogroms 1958, 1977, 1983, Massacre 2008 – 09); Several commissions set up in the past, but no one held accountable.  This culture of impunity perpetuates violence, continuing even after the end of the war in 2009 (2011, 2012, 2013 & 2018 March). Repeated cycle of violence take place due to the lack of political will to address impunity and failure to reform institutions and structures.
• Options for the International community to address accountability & justice.

Nearest underground station: WESTMISTER (DISTRICT LINE & JUBILEE LINE)

CONTACT: 02088080465, 078 1448 6087, 075 0836 5678, 078 2544 8753

* REGISTRATION REQUIRED FOR ATTENDANCE. PLEASE EMAIL YOUR NAME AND CONTACT DETAIL.*

EMAIL: info@britishtamilsforum.org

As in the past six years, the commemoration event, co-ordinated by British Tamils Forum in the UK, brought together British Tamil people to remember their loved ones who perished in the Mullivaikkal Genocide in 2009.

Following a protest march from Waterloo Place to Richmond Terrace opposite the Prime Minister David Cameron’s residence, a vigil meeting was held and it began with the participants lighting candles in silence to remember those innocent Tamil people killed. Across the world, there were similar events were held to remember this painful time for the families of those killed.

At the last year’s event, there was wide optimism among the international community that the change of government in Sri Lanka in January 2015 would pave way for an international independent investigation into the genocide and justice for the victims. This year’s event was held when those optimisms have evaporated as the international community has come to realise that the change of government has not resulted in any change with respect to justice for the victims of genocide or in respect to a political solution to the Tamil National question.

Human rights defenders, British Parliamentarians and people who support the call for justice to the Tamil people, attended and addressed the event. The Members of APPG for Tamils James Berry MP, Wes Streeting MP, Gareth Thomas MP and Bob Blackman MP, Paul Scully MP and the GLA member Cllr Keith Prince reiterate the need for an international independent investigation in Sri Lanka during their speech at the vigil meeting.

The leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn MP, Gavin Barwell MP, Jackie Doyle Price MP, Virendra Sharma MP, Tom Brake MP, John Mann MP, Joan Ryan MP, Mike Gapes MP, Stephen Timms MP, Roger Evans, Charles Tannock MEP, Syed Kamall MEP sent sympathy messages to the British Tamils Forum.

In a written statement and a video message, the leader of the Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn MP said, “my thoughts today are also with the wider Tamil community who have shouldered injustice for decades and remain resolute in their determination for justice”. Mr Corbyn has vowed to “stand” with the Tamil community “in the search for truth, justice, accountability and reconciliation, and of course the right of self-determination within Sri Lanka”.

The chair of the APPG for Tamils’ James Berry said “Sirisena has promised a lot but delivered almost next to nothing.” He called on the Sri Lankan government to produce evidence of lands released, set up a tribunal as promised to the international community and end on going torture in the country. James said, “it is not a time to take pressure off Sri Lanka.”

Gareth Thomas said, “we still hear huge human rights problems coming from Sri Lanka.” He promised to raise these concerns in the House of Parliament on behalf of the Tamil constituents in Harrow West.

The vice-chair APPG for Tamils’ Wes Streeting said, “there can be no peace and reconciliation unless there can be truth, justice and accountability.” He also said, “there can be no hiding place for people who committed those unspeakable crimes during the Sri Lankan civil war, the crimes that can only be reasonably considered as genocide.”

Bob Blackman said, “my view is that the people that committed war crimes must answer for these not in Sri Lanka but at The Hague.

The British Tamils Forum’s general secretary V Ravi Kumar said, “the Sri Lankan state is leading a shadow war on Tamil people to divert our struggle and the Tamil people should be aware of this and not fall this discreet approach.” Mr Ravi Kumar also said, “the Tamil homeland is still continuing to be occupied by the Sri Lankan military, mushrooming Buddhist temples / monuments of conquests in the Tamils’ homeland, destruction of their cultural landscape, torture and rape against our people under the indefinite detention of the Tamil people without trial continues.”

The absence of a comprehensive list of the 18,000 people taken away at the end of the war and the fate of the missing 146,679 were kept in the limelight at the event.

The closing speech was deliver by the British Tamils Forum woman activists Chandrika recapped our memories of the last few days, weeks and months of Mullivaikkal in 2009.

The Tamil people will never forget their kith and kin killed by the Sinhala state and will not relent until an international independent investigation is conducted, the perpetrators of the genocide are held to account and justice is served.

The march commenced at the Embankment beside the River Thames at 1pm and snaked through famous London landmarks of Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Green Park, Park Lane and Marble Arch to reach the Hyde Park for a rally at 4.30pm. As the front of the march was reaching Hyde Park protesters were still joining the march near its starting point at Embankment.

Protesters of all ages including children waving Tamil Eelam National flags and flags of the Union Jack shouted slogans including, ‘Britain Act Now – Immediate and Permanent Ceasefire in Sri Lanka’, ‘Stop Killing Tamils’ and ‘Food & Medicine – Sri Lanka’s weapons of War’.

As with recent protests the second and third generation young British Tamils were at the forefront and orchestrating the protest. The ocean of red and yellow (Tamil Eelam national colours) accompanied by beating of drums, drew the attention of bystanders and tourists who photographed the march while many of them were curious to find out more about the protest.

“The largest gathering ever of Tamils in London where two in three Tamils in the UK took part is an indication of the outrage felt by Tamils at the Sri Lankan state for its genocide of Tamils and the International Community for their equally brutal inaction” said a spokesperson from the British Tamils Forum who organised the protest.

As another first for Tamil protests, all mainstream broadcast media and many of the print media and news agencies were present covering the event.

The Metropolitan Police provided assistance with efficient traffic control while showing sensitivity and respect for the feelings of this large and peaceful gathering of Tamils. “We have never seen anything like this before” said an officer in charge, overwhelmed by the orderly mannerism of such a mass number of protesters. 

Some quotes from the speakers at the rally:

Miss Raji Nesarajah of the Tamil Youth Organisation

All we are asking is that our government take the initiative and bring about a UN resolution to implement an immediate and permanent ceasefire. 

We will channel our passion & persistence into achieving a ceasefire and bringing to a halt the killings.

Virendra Sharma MP, Chairperson, All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPG-T)

We have managed to speak to Dr Varatha Rajah, who is one of two doctors, who are caring for the injured and the sick in Vanni, Sri Lanka.

Dr Rajah has confirmed what we always feared that there are more than 300,000 innocent civilians within the no-fire zone. There is an acute shortage of medicines, there are no antibiotics; there is grave risk that diseases will spread, particularly amongst children, due to lack of proper sanitation.

Dr Rajah has confirmed the SLA forces are firing from 800m from the makeshift hospital. He said and I quote, “I can see them with my bare eyes. Yes they are using RPG and firing at us.” We are now convinced that there is an immediate danger facing civilians from indiscriminate shelling. We call for permanent ceasefire at the UN Security Council not tomorrow but NOW.

We must work together, not just the British Government but the whole international community must come together.

Duncan Chapel – Respect Party

On behalf of George Galloway, we stand against the complicity of the British government with the Sri Lankan Government’s Genocide in what should be an independent Tamil homeland. The British Government is still shaking hands with the Government of Sri Lanka. They are helping to arm and train the Sri Lankan Army.

The symbolism of the two brave hunger strikers – they symbolise the anger against the Sri Lankan government and the refusal of the Labour government to act. The British government must make a firm stand against the aggression towards the Tamil people.

Mrs Pathmini Sithamparanathan MP, Tamil National Alliance

More than 200,000 of you have gathered here today to protest against Sri Lankan state genocide against the Tamil people to demand freedom to Tamils. These are positive steps, clearly indicating the Tamils’ strength and potential. After this demonstration we expect more effective action is required from the UK government to bring about an immediate and permanent ceasefire.

The GA report submitted in March states that the population in the Vanni is over 300,000 while the Government of Sri Lanka continues to understate this figure – Has the SL government planned to exterminate the unaccounted Tamils?

Jeremy Corbyn MP, Islington North

I first spoke in support of the Tamils in July 1983, in Hyde Park just after the riots then, 26 years later, we are still meeting, still marching and still demonstrating. Well over 200,000 people are here and I can still see marchers walking along Park Lane (towards Hyde Park). It is sad that I still can’t see more people from other communities. People must wake up and demand NOW for an immediate ceasefire. Process of sanctions must also be followed.

I am surprised that many people are still happy to holiday in Sri Lanka knowing that a few miles away there are 200,000 Tamils imminently facing bombardment.

How can the UN Security Council call an emergency meeting with just 2 hours notice in response to North Korea setting off an unarmed missile that did not attack anybody – Why no special meeting now to condemn the deaths of so many Tamil people?

I do appeal to all the other communities and people of this great city of London to come together and join in this condemnation of the attacks, the murders and the killings, tragically gone on for so long of many beautiful lives of innocent people in the Tamil heartland.

Andrew Pelling MP, Croydon Central

No decent government can wage war on their own people and commit genocide. The (British) Government is going to the UN next week with Tamils to ask for action. But the time has come to stop the talks, it’s time for the British government itself to act straight away to impose economic sanctions and to ban the sale of arms which is being used to kill (Tamil) people today.

Cllr Ms Dora Dickson

British Tamils are exercising the democratic right to protest peacefully. We don’t want another Darfur, or another Rwanda. We must have a ceasefire.

Kieran Arasaratnam (A Tamil Merchant Banker who climbed Mt.Kilimanjaro to raise awareness of Tamils’ plight)

I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 4 days, almost 25 hours ago I was there at the top.

18 years ago my brother was brutally killed in front of my eyes. When my father went to the Sri Lankan Army camp in search for justice he was tortured for six months, 18 years later I’m asking the International community to do something about it. I kept quiet, thinking that they would do something about it, but I have been naive, I cannot sit and do nothing anymore. I did this for my people. International Community – Please wake up!

Martin Luther King once said, You die when you stop fighting for freedom, You die when you stop fighting for peace, You die when you stop fighting for genocide. My friends, I only want to die once. 

Tim Martin, Director, Act Now

I have lived in the Vanni (in the north Sri Lanka) during the good times of peace and the bad times of war. I have lived with the daily airstrikes and multi barrel rocket launchers from Sri Lankan Air Force. I have lived with the fear of going to sleep at night not knowing if I will ever wake up. I have lived with the fear of the government of Sri Lanka’s Deep Penetration Unit. This is the fear that Tamil people have to live with all of their lives. 

In Sri Lanka, there is no safe place for Tamils.

Cllr Julian Bell, Leader of the Labour Group in Ealing

I would like to congratulate everyone who has been in Parliament Square this week, I have been with you every day, and it has been an excellent effort to focus the eyes of the world on this resolution that we need desperately. We need an emergency meeting at the Security Council right now – This IS an Emergency!

These flags that you hold today are the Tamil National Flag. I would be happy to tell the Police and others, the difference between the national flag and the flag of the LTTE.

Message from Dr Rachel Joyce (Conservative Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Harrow West)

Today I call on the British Government and the British media to do much more to help. The government must work in the UN and in the Commonwealth to put direct and firm pressure on the Government of Sri Lanka. 

The British media must also start to report this crisis in a fair and balanced way. You would not know from the media that there is a humanitarian catastrophe in Sri Lanka. 

We need a ceasefire NOW. We need humanitarian aid to be allowed in NOW. And finally, we need negotiations to a lasting solution that must be acceptable to the Tamil people.

Statement from British Tamils Forum on 11 April 2009 – Excerpts of Speech

Britain has a moral responsibility to redress the blunder it made, by leaving the minority Tamils to be butchered and slaughtered by successive governments of Sri Lanka. We are seeking a homeland not just because we want to assert our right for self-determination, we need a homeland because we need security.

Often in the media, this conflict is reported as something that is taking place between two parties – the Government of Sri Lanka and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Let’s not forget that Mr Prabaharan, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was only 4 years old when the first anti Tamil riots took place in 1958, in which hundreds and thousands of Tamils were killed and their assets were looted. Mr Prabaharan was a young boy when the state sponsored colonisation was carried out – throughout the 1960’s. 

We the British Tamils are asking our Government – what is next? We do not want any more statements from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. We want action! We want the opposition politicians to hold the Government to account. Let’s tell the Government of Sri Lanka that it is no more an internal matter but an international crisis. It is about time that our Government and the International Community understand the urgency and apply the principles of ‘responsibility to protect’. The need of the hour is a ceasefire. We call on our Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary to show leadership in securing a resolution at the United Nations to implement a ceasefire immediately. Not tomorrow! Not next week!! – But today and now!!! – Because tomorrow, will be too late.

The Full text of the Statement released by British Tamils Forum is available at:

Mr Pathmanathan of the British Tamils Forum addressed the crowd with the Statement in Tamil.

Following on from the speeches Sivatharsan Sivakumaravel, one of the youths on hunger strike, was wheel chaired to the rally by his fellow students and friends. He was joined by MP Simon Hughes, who has been handling negotiations with the youths since Monday. Simon Hughes MP, described the youngsters protesting at Parliament Square as “Amazing, brave and extremely honourable group of young people, many of them students, who are absolutely the role models everybody would wish for, for their daughters and their sons.” MP Hughes highlighted the persistency of the youngsters to have demanded that political action is implemented within the next 10 days. As a result, MP Simon Hughes, conveyed that four meetings had been scheduled for next week, between UK MPs, MEPs and members of the Tamil Youth, including Sivatharsan Sivakumaravel, with

• United Nations in New York 
• The office of President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton
• European Parliament in Brussels
• Commonwealth Secretariat in London.

Sivatharsan Sivakumaravel, in a brief address, re-iterated that “Our hunger strike has not ended and it will not end until a permanent solution is reached. We need your support, your strength is our strength.”

The rally came to a close at 6pm with the following declaration made by the Tamil Diaspora:

In the Vanni region of Sri Lanka, over 300,000 of our brothers and sisters, encircled by the genocidal Sri Lankan armed forces in a narrow strip of land, are facing an imminent possibility of large scale massacre. We the British Tamils together with the World Tamils are determined and stand united to pressure the international community to end the hostilities and implement an immediate and permanent ceasefire through a United Nations Resolution.

Press_Release_-_Historic_Show_of_strength_in_support_11_apr_09  

Statement from BTF on 110409

– Ends –