Thousands gather in London to commemorate
third year remembrance of Mullivaikkaal
Massacre
Monday, May 21st, 2012
Strongly condemning the continuous human rights violations perpetrated by the Sri Lankan government against the Tamil people in the island known as Sri Lanka, British Parliamentarians from all sections of the British political parties, political activists of Tamil Naadu, India and Human Rights Activists urged the UK government and the international community to act without further delay to establish an international independent investigation into Sri Lanka’s conduct of the war that ended in May 2009.
Speaking among thousands of Tamils who gathered in London’s Trafalgar Square on Saturday 19th May 2012 between 5.00pm – 8.00pm to commemorate the third anniversary of Mullivaikkaal massacre, the British Parliamentarians warned of boycott of the Commonwealth Summit in Sri Lanka in 2013 by the British Government, if there was not enough progress made soon by the Sri Lankan government in implementing the positive recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). They also called for an international independent investigation to address the inadequacy of the LLRC on investigating war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations against the Sri Lankan regime.
The event had been organised by the British Tamils Forum (BTF). Ravi Kumar of BTF opened the event welcoming the gathering. He spoke of the callous manner in which the Sri Lankan government was making the war affected Tamils suffer in the North and East and their continuing structural genocide operations in the Tamil people’s homeland in the name of development.
A memorandum also was submitted to the British Prime Minister David Cameron, requesting him to initiate an independent international investigation into the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Sri Lanka and deliver justice to the people massacred in the war against the Tamil people. Specifically, the memorandum declares that, “the Tamil people cannot and will not let their land be taken away by the Sinhalese. We appeal to the international community to wake up to the structural genocide that is unfolding in the island of Sri Lanka”.
Among those who attended the event and delivered speeches were Conservative MP for Ilford North and Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group of Tamils Lee Scot, Labour MP Barry Gardener for Brent North, Liberal Democrat MP for Bermondsey & Old Southwark and Deputy Leader of Liberal Democrat party Simon Hughes, Councilor for Redbridge Cllr Alan Weinberg, Executive Member of the National Union of Teachers Martin Powell-Davies, Barrister and International Human Rights Expert Margaret Owen OBE, Dr. Andrew Higginbottom of Kingston University, Deputy Mayor of London Baroness Victoria Borwick, Indian film Director Gowthaman, National Coordinator of Tamil Solidarity Manny Thain and Tim Martin of Act Now. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian Mr S. Sritharan also attended the event and delivered a speech that stressed the importance of sustained efforts on all fronts to win the rights of Tamil people.
community for letting the Tamils down, saying that there is a responsibility on world leaders to deliver justice for the Tamil people. Barry Gardener MP said that arrival of Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksha to the UK and the Commonwealth Conference of 2013 in Sri Lanka should not happen unless there were prospects of tangible improvement in human rights on the ground, while Dr. Andrew Higginbottom in his speech called for the self-determination for Tamil people, and said which remains the key to peace in Sri Lanka.
Describing the crimes committed by the Sri Lankan government as ‘genocide’, Ken Livingstone, Former Mayor of London and MP for Brent East said that the recent UN resolution was only a first step in the process of establishing a truly independent and international investigation into Sri Lanka’s conduct of the war.
third year remembrance of Mullivaikkaal
Massacre
Monday, May 21st, 2012
Strongly condemning the continuous human rights violations perpetrated by the Sri Lankan government against the Tamil people in the island known as Sri Lanka, British Parliamentarians from all sections of the British political parties, political activists of Tamil Naadu, India and Human Rights Activists urged the UK government and the international community to act without further delay to establish an international independent investigation into Sri Lanka’s conduct of the war that ended in May 2009.
Speaking among thousands of Tamils who gathered in London’s Trafalgar Square on Saturday 19th May 2012 between 5.00pm – 8.00pm to commemorate the third anniversary of Mullivaikkaal massacre, the British Parliamentarians warned of boycott of the Commonwealth Summit in Sri Lanka in 2013 by the British Government, if there was not enough progress made soon by the Sri Lankan government in implementing the positive recommendations of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC). They also called for an international independent investigation to address the inadequacy of the LLRC on investigating war crimes and crimes against humanity allegations against the Sri Lankan regime.
The event had been organised by the British Tamils Forum (BTF). Ravi Kumar of BTF opened the event welcoming the gathering. He spoke of the callous manner in which the Sri Lankan government was making the war affected Tamils suffer in the North and East and their continuing structural genocide operations in the Tamil people’s homeland in the name of development.
In his message to the event, the leader of the opposition in the UK Parliament and the leader of the Labour Party, Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, reiterated his party’s call for an international independent investigation into the conduct of the war during the final months. Mr Miliband urged the Sri Lankan government to co-operate with the United Nations to implement the recommendations of the LLRC report, while warning that the lack of progress in this matter would force Britain to review its representation at 2013 Commonwealth heads of Government Meeting in Sri Lanka.
A memorandum also was submitted to the British Prime Minister David Cameron, requesting him to initiate an independent international investigation into the war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Sri Lanka and deliver justice to the people massacred in the war against the Tamil people. Specifically, the memorandum declares that, “the Tamil people cannot and will not let their land be taken away by the Sinhalese. We appeal to the international community to wake up to the structural genocide that is unfolding in the island of Sri Lanka”.
A large number of people were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans demanding an international inquiry into war crimes allegations against the Sri Lankan government, condemning the Sinhala colonisation, militarisation, harassments, abductions, rape, murder and restrictions in Tamils’ Homeland.
Among those who attended the event and delivered speeches were Conservative MP for Ilford North and Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group of Tamils Lee Scot, Labour MP Barry Gardener for Brent North, Liberal Democrat MP for Bermondsey & Old Southwark and Deputy Leader of Liberal Democrat party Simon Hughes, Councilor for Redbridge Cllr Alan Weinberg, Executive Member of the National Union of Teachers Martin Powell-Davies, Barrister and International Human Rights Expert Margaret Owen OBE, Dr. Andrew Higginbottom of Kingston University, Deputy Mayor of London Baroness Victoria Borwick, Indian film Director Gowthaman, National Coordinator of Tamil Solidarity Manny Thain and Tim Martin of Act Now. The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Parliamentarian Mr S. Sritharan also attended the event and delivered a speech that stressed the importance of sustained efforts on all fronts to win the rights of Tamil people.
Throughout his speech, Lee Scott MP pledged his continuous support until Tamil people achieve the justice they deserve. Speaking at the event, Simon Hughes MP castigated the international
community for letting the Tamils down, saying that there is a responsibility on world leaders to deliver justice for the Tamil people. Barry Gardener MP said that arrival of Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksha to the UK and the Commonwealth Conference of 2013 in Sri Lanka should not happen unless there were prospects of tangible improvement in human rights on the ground, while Dr. Andrew Higginbottom in his speech called for the self-determination for Tamil people, and said which remains the key to peace in Sri Lanka.
Urging the UK government to recognise the genocide that took place in Sri Lanka, the Conservative MP Robert Halfon for Harlow , said referring to the UN Human rights Council respolution passed in March 2011 “If Sri Lanka does not implement the recommendations of the ‘Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission’ by the time it meets again this September; I believe that Britain should boycott the 2013 Commonwealth Summit in Sri Lanka”, while another Conservative MP Rt Hon Grant Shapps for Welwyn Hatfield, called for an independent thorough and credible investigation into accusations of violations of humanitarian and human rights law during the conflict.
The Liberal Democrats MP Paul Burstow for Sutton and Cheam, in his message expressed hope that the recent report by the UN Panel of Experts would lead to an international inquiry similar to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.
Describing the crimes committed by the Sri Lankan government as ‘genocide’, Ken Livingstone, Former Mayor of London and MP for Brent East said that the recent UN resolution was only a first step in the process of establishing a truly independent and international investigation into Sri Lanka’s conduct of the war.
Member of the European Parliament, Jean Lambert said, “the independent investigation into alleged crimes remains of utmost importance”.
Labour MP Gareth Thomas for Harrow West and Conservative MP Rt Hon Grant Shapps for Welwyn Hatfield underlined the necessity of establishing an independent inquiry into the war crime allegations against Sri Lanka, while conservative MP Stephen Hammond for Wimbledon urged the Sri Lankan government to implement the recommendations of the “Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission” quickly and fully.” Commenting on the continuing human rights violations in Sri Lanka, Stephen Hammond said, “Persecution of the Tamils must stop. Civil administration and full political rights must be restored. The freedom of expression, movement and assembly must be allowed freely and fairly without fear”.
