Tamil Diaspora marks 25th anniversary of Black July

Tamils across the world gathered to commemorate the 25^th anniversary of Black July, the week in 1983 that saw a state sponsored pogrom kill over 3,000 of them killed in Sri Lanka.

Events were held in the US, UK, Canada, South Africa, Netherlands, Australia, and New Zealand, among other countries.

Over 2,000 British Tamils gathered in front of the parliament last Wednesday to commemorate the deaths during that week of violence in Sri Lanka in July 1983. Age, religion, and gender were no barrier as the whole spectrum of Tamils, from grandparents to babies in push chairs, attended the candlelight vigil between 8pm and 10pm.

Although the British parliament was in recess, a few parliamentarians turned up to show their support. Leaflets were handed out during rush hour at various points to raise awareness among the British Public of the continuous human rights violations carried out by the Sri Lankan government.  

In Canada approximately 350 people filled the Nepean City Hall, Ben Franklin Place, Ottawa, to capacity last Wednesday. The event was marked by a minute of silence for the victims who lost their lives in the pogrom and was followed by the Canadian national anthem sung by children.

Thanks were given to the people and the countries that helped the victims of Black July and those displaced by the pogrom. Canada was thanked by many speakers for opening its doors to over 250,000 Tamils fleeing Sri Lanka after July 1983.

Prayers were held by multi-faith religious leaders for those who lost their lives during the pogrom.

An audio visual presentation on the Black July pogrom was made, in which the recorded footage of the actual events and testimonials from some of the victims were presented.

Victim Testimonials were also presented by prominent community members on their personal harrowing experiences during those fateful days in July.

Members of the Tamil community overwhelmingly signed up for blood donation under the "partner for life" national campaign in gratitude for the kindness offered by Canada in providing a safe haven for Tamils

Also on Wednesday, Tamils in Netherlands gathered in Amsterdam to commemorate Black July. The event, jointly organised by the Tamil Women’s Organisation and the Tamil Youth Organisation, included a photo exhibition showing the suffering of Tamils at the hands of successive Sri Lankan governments and a street drama by the youth to provide further explanation to the locals who were observing.

People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL), a US-based advocacy group, held a rally at Russell Senate Park, Washington, last Thursday and the rally was attended by over 600 participants from several U.S States.

Two U.S. Congress members, through letters of support read at the rally, recognized the American Tamils' effort highlighting the human rights crisis in Sri Lanka.

The rally was held in partnership with the U.S. Campaign for Burma (USCB), which commemorated the “8.8.88 Uprising” in Burma, in which thousands of peaceful protestors calling for the restoration of democracy were killed by that country’s armed forces.

Participants called for the U.S. government’s help in ending the human rights crisis in Sri Lanka by advocating for U.N. human rights monitors on the ground.

The rally concluded with a vigil to commemorate the victims of Black July, in which survivors of the pogrom shared their experiences.

Others read the testimonials of survivors, performed commemorative songs and recited poems in honour of the victims.

More than 600 South African Tamils assembled at the Kharwastan Temple Hall in Chatsworth,South Africa to observe the 25th anniversary of Black July on Friday, 25 July.

African National Congress (ANC) Member of Parliament, Sisa Njikelana from Gauteng Province, delivered the key note speech, comparing developing situation in Sri Lanka to those in Rwanda and Brundi.

An audio visual presentation of events that unfolded in July 1983, and clippings illustrating the human rights violations against the Tamil people were shown to the audience. South African Tamil youths gave dance and music programs that included Tamil Eelam songs.

Asserting that South Africans are prepared to express their opinions publicly, Mr Sisa said: "[t]he looming tragedy of global inertia in situations such as Sri Lankan conflict is a matter of grave concern. The same occurred in Rwanda and Burundi – the world was just watching and dilly-dallying whilst humans were butchering each other. There are times whereby my observation leads to one conclusion i.e. the conflict in Sri Lanka is not a priority to some of the key global players and therefore may just have to be “shelved” for the time being."

Australian Tamils held three events, beginning with a rally at the heart of Sydney Friday morning, followed by a protest meeting, and on Saturday afternoon a photographic exhibition in Melbourne at the State Library Forecourt, opposite the Melbourne Central Railway Station.

More than 200 Australians assembled in Sydney City on Friday to protest the Sri Lankan State sponsored genocide towards Sri Lanka's Tamils.

Police cordoned off main roads in the city as the demonstrators made their way beating drums at 10:30 a.m. Covering their mouths with black cloths to symbolise the oppressed cries of the Tamils' and participants finished the demonstration with the cries of "The charge is genocide; the struggle is for freedom!"

The rally shut down several key transport arteries as it moved from State Parliament House towards Sydney Town Hall.

The rally commenced with a testimony from Mrs Nalayini Santhra who shared her experience of Black July, where rioters supported by the government threw burning tyres upon her father and brother, burning them alive. She was 17 years old at the time.

After the rally, participants moved to the Sydney suburb of Burwood, and assembled at Burwood Park, where many Tamil organisations of Sydney, under the leadership of the Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations, held a peaceful protest meeting held from 12 – 2 pm.

Speaking at the event representing the Eelam Tamil Association, Dr. Victor Rajakulendran said, “Eelam Tamil association believes, a political solution, recognising the Tamils of Sri Lanka as a Nation, their entitlement to claim the territory they have historically occupied as their homeland and their right to self-determination can only, put an end to this, 60 years long suffering of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. Therefore on this important day for the Tamils, I appeal to the Australian government and all the peace loving Australians, to make every effort to find that political solution and save the Tamils in Sri Lanka from State sponsored Terrorism.”

On Saturday afternoon Tamils in Melbourne gathered at the State Library Four Court, in front of the Melbourne Central Railway Station to commemorate Black July and draw the attention of the Australian public to the plight of Tamil people in Sri Lanka.

A photographic and video exhibition organised at the steps of the Library Four Court attracted the attention of the Australian public. A Tamil youth band provided the entertainment at the exhibition site.

In New Zealand also the New Zealand Tamil Medical Association (NZTMA) and the Tamil Youth Organistion (TYO-New Zealand) organised a blood donation drive, and on Friday held a vigil marking the event.