The British Tamils Forum (BTF) along with its sister organisations observes the annual Mullivaikkal event on 18 May 2021. The event takes place from 5.00 pm till 7.00 pm (GMT), with the ceremonial lamp-lighting taking place sharp at 18:18. During the height of the war the Sri Lankan State, while bombarding the safety zone, completely cut off all supply routes of food items to Mullivaikkal, obviously, to starve people to death. People at Mullivaikkal had to survive only on what was locally called “kanchi” – rice cooked in coconut milk. As this kanchi is full of reminiscences of wartime life at Mullivaikkal around May 2009, It will be included in the proceedings as a symbolic gesture reminding the sufferings of those trapped in the Mullivaikkal. Like in the past, this remembrance event is held with the participation of many global Tamil diaspora organisations, political leaders, dignitaries and human rights activists.
British Tamils Forum and its sister organisations in the diaspora has made substantial progress in impressing upon the international community that the current political climate in Sri Lanka has added a new urgency to the need of finding a protective mechanism to the deteriorating ethnic problem. The High Commissioner of HRC report on Sri Lanka dated 27 January 2021 warns that the failure of Sri Lanka to address past violations has significantly heightened the risk of human rights violations being repeated. The UNHRC resolution 46/1 on Sri Lanka dated 23 March 2021 allows evidence collection in Sri Lanka to develop possible strategies for future accountability processes for gross violations of human rights or serious violations of international humanitarian law in Sri Lanka, to advocate for victims and survivors, and to support relevant judicial and other proceedings, including in Member States, with competent jurisdiction. These are the proof of the pudding as to how hard BTF and other diaspora Tamil organisations have been working for the freedom of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
It is common knowledge that the Tamil community in Sri Lanka has suffered repeated “cycles of violence” at the hands of the Sri Lankan State since independence. The part played by the international community as passive onlookers encouraged Sri Lanka to step up its violence against Tamils. The history of violence culminated in the genocidal massacre of Tamils in 2009 at Mullivaikkal. Encouraged by the passivity of the international community to all its oppressive measures, the Sri Lankan government has
intensified surveillance, intimidation and arrests of Tamil activists – an added threat to the freedom of expression and assembly.
The freedom to mourn and commemorate the dead is denied to the Tamils by destroying symbols of memory erected by Tamils remembering those killed in the war.
British Tamils Forum calls on the international community to take protective measures against the atrocities being committed against Tamils in Sri Lanka and establish justice by restoring fundamental rights and the legitimate aspirations of Tamils.
The Tamil people have been commemorating the 18th day of May every year as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day from 2010. In order to commemorate the twelfth anniversary, we urge all, wherever you are in this globe, to take a moment to light a candle or a lamp on the 18th May at 18 hours (6 pm) 18 minutes in your homes or workplaces to honour and remember the victims of Tamil genocide.
Let’s solemnly remember our fallen brethren and resolve to do everything possible to free our people suffering from the oppression of the Srilankan state.
Further details will follow.
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