Tamils across the world held demonstrations and rallies highlighting the ongoing genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka and urging the international community to intervene to stop the suffering of their kin and kith back home.
Washington
Nearly seven thousand U.S. and Canadian Tamils filled the Ellipse at the southern perimeter to the White House on Saturday February 21, as a show of solidarity with the more than 250,000 Tamil civilians undergoing daily aerial bombardment and artillery attacks in Vanni.
Nearly seven thousand U.S. and Canadian Tamils filled the Ellipse at the southern perimeter to the White House on Saturday February 21, as a show of solidarity with the more than 250,000 Tamil civilians undergoing daily aerial bombardment and artillery attacks in Vanni.
The rally, organized jointly by the US-based activist group, Tamils Against Genocide (TAG) and several local organizations, drew a record crowd, dewarfing the "hurriedly arranged" counter-rally organized by supporters of Colombo, an AFP report said.
A memorandum submitted to the State Department South Asia official demanded:
Publicly condemn the atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan government.
Ask the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to allow unfettered access for international humanitarian aid agencies and journalists into the conflict zone.
Exert political, economic or other pressure on Sri Lanka for an immediate ceasefire.
Use your goodwill with Sri Lanka’s neighbors to exert pressure on Sri Lanka, and, together with the co-chairs bring about an immediate ceasefire.
Help find a political solution where the Tamil people living in Sri Lanka and exiled in other countries are allowed to determine the terms of coexistence with the Sinhalese state based on the universally accepted principle of self-determination.
Geneva
More than 15,000 Diaspora Eelam Tamils from all over Europe gathered in front of the UN office in Geneva in Switzerland Friday, February 20 voicing their demands calling the Sri Lanka government of stop the war on Tamils at once.
The representatives of the Eelam Tamils youth organizations handed a memorandum to the officials of the UN, during the demonstration.
The demonstrators began their march from the park next to Geneva Railway Station bearing placards showing slogans such as, ‘We want Tamil Eelam’, ‘Our Leader is Pirapaharan’ and ‘Sri Lanka Government stop the war!’
The demonstrators paid their homage to Murukathasan who had immolated himself in front of the UN office in an attempt to draw the attention of the world to the unending sufferings of the Vanni Tamils in the artillery barrage and bombings by the armed forces of Sri Lanka.
Oslo
The demonstrators paid their homage to Murukathasan who had immolated himself in front of the UN office in an attempt to draw the attention of the world to the unending sufferings of the Vanni Tamils in the artillery barrage and bombings by the armed forces of Sri Lanka.
Oslo
Hundreds of Norwegian Tamils including many youngsters gathered in front of Norwegian parliament Monday, February 23 where they urged Norway government to help bring about a ceasefire immediately to stop the genocide of Tamils in Vanni.
Tamil Youth Organization (TYO), which organized the demonstration in which members of Norway political parties addressed the gathering, submitted a memorandum to Norwegian parliament.
“Sri Lanka government has unleashed a merciless genocidal war on the Tamils creating a humanitarian disaster in Vanni and we are demonstrating here today to stress the need to stop the war on the Tamils immediately,” TYO representatives said.
Paris
Thousands of Tamils marched in Paris on Saturday, February 28 to denounce the Sri Lankan government's genocide of the Tamils.
TYP, who organised the march said over 7000 people came together to protest against Sri Lanka’s genocide of Tamils..
The marchers shouted slogans such "EU impose a truce", and "The Sri Lankan president is a murderer", and "Stop the Tamil genocide".
The marchers shouted slogans such "EU impose a truce", and "The Sri Lankan president is a murderer", and "Stop the Tamil genocide".
