Malaysian Tamils demand war tribunal against Sri Lanka
Tamils in Malaysia have demanded a war tribunal against Sri Lankan leaders. Even though the government dissuaded them from staging protest rallies, nearly 5,000 Malaysian Tamils gathered at one of the country’s iconic Hindu temples, Batu Caves Murugan Temple on Sunday to protest acts of ‘genocide’ against Tamils in Sri Lanka.
The Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC), a constituent of the ruling Barisan Nasional alliance, has urged the government not to back a Sri Lanka-sponsored resolution at the UN on the current developments in the country.
Vanni civilians held back in Ki’linochchi in thousands
Sri Lanka Army (SLA) continues to detain thousands of civilians in its internment camps in Kilinochchi without sending them on to the camps in Vavuniyaa, sources in Vavuniyaa said.
SLA, in its final assault on Mu’l’livaaikkaal, has herded thousands of persons including non-combatants who had been working in the political and judicial wings of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, in vast overcrowded camps which lack basic facilities, the sources added.
‘We are the Tigers,’ roars despairing Tamil diaspora
You buried me in my land. O’ Enemy! Where will you bury my land?’ The words of Sri Lankan Tamil poet Kasi Anandan could speak for the country’s nearly one-million strong Tamil diaspora. The LTTE may have given up arms, but the diaspora has not surrendered.
Be it London, Toronto or Washington, the diaspora’s rage is growing with every report on the unfolding humanitarian crisis, the large-scale detentions and disappearances.
More than 20,000 Canadian Tamils assemble in Toronto to mourn civilians killing in Sri Lanka
More than 20,000 Canadian Tamils descended on the Ontario assembly in Toronto in black to mourn “killing of innocent Tamil civilians by Sri Lankan military” on Friday.
In their speeches, Tamil leaders vowed not to rest till “Tamil Eelam (homeland) is achieved”. Organisers said that the military defeat of the Tamil Tigers does not mean the end of the Tamil struggle for their independent homeland.
Tamil diaspora seeks war crimes trial against Sri Lanka leaders
The Tamil diaspora in Canada has demanded the setting up of an international tribunal to try Sri Lankan leaders for ‘war crimes against innocent civilians’.
Addressing a press conference here Tuesday, Tamil leaders said Canada should back the demand by the European Union and the UN Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) for an international panel to investigate war crimes in the conflict.
(2nd update – Video added) “We Want Cease-Fire” – Tamils block streets outside Westminster
More than 30,000 protestors spilled out to stage a sit-down protest at the south east corner of Parliament Square at its junction with Whitehall and Bridge Street. Demonstrators have broken through police lines and are blocking roads around Parliament. More people are joining in. Thousands of Tamil demonstrators demanding an immediate ceasefire blocked streets outside parliament today, Monday, as soon as they heard the mass killing in Vanni. Close to thousands were killed from midnight to noon today. Casualty figure expected to rise rapidly as the war continues. More than 4000 Tamils are chanting against Sri Lanka and calling to end the war immediately.
French organisations vote, unanimously support Eezham Tamil independence
Exercising their right of free expression, 67 registered social welfare organisations of diaspora Tamils in France, took a pioneering democratic step of secret ballot on Saturday and unanimously declared support to the independence war of Eezham Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka, said Ki Pi Aravinthan in Paris. The Paris declaration read that in supporting the cause of Eezham Tamils, it has infallibly adopted the will and spirit of the Vaddukkoaddai Declaration of 1976 that was overwhelmingly mandated by Tamil voters in 1977, and was in line with the ideology behind the declaration of American independence, the Republic of France in 1789 and the UN human rights declaration of 1948.
Is there UN acquiescence for a military solution – V. Rudrakumar at New York rally
Mr V. Rudrakumar, the Legal Adviser to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam delegation at the Norwegian sponsored Peace Process gave a speech at the mega rally in New York on April 17, 2009. Rudrakumar in his speech question whether there is U.N. acquiescence for a military solution to the Tamil national question. “We have been told that the GoSL will not agree to a ceasefire.
Mega-rally in front of UN building in New York; more than 5000 participate
More than 5000 were seen at the mega-rally organized by Tamils of North America (Canada and USA) in front of United Nations building in Midtown Manhattan in New York City on Friday, April 17. The Mega Rally that started off in front of the United Nations Head Quarters at 10.00 AM lasted till 2.30 PM. Banners carrying LTTE emblem, Tamil Eelam’s red and yellow flags mingled with USA and Canada flags were seen everywhere in that rally.
