Tamil Australians Protest Against CHOGM
- Wednesday, 06 November 2013
Consortium of Tamil Associations' spokesperson, Mr. Siva Sivakumar, said that Victorian Tamils will conduct a peaceful protest from 5PM next Monday, 11 November 2013 five days before the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Sri Lanka.
The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) has made no progress towards an effective accountability process for the serious and widespread atrocities committed during the civil war. The heavy military presence in the predominantly Tamil areas, and continued arbitrary arrests, intimidation and killings are the main reasons for the Tamil youth fleeing Sri Lanka on leaky boats, to places like Australia. “We have written to the Australian Prime Minister asking him to reconsider his decision to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Sri Lanka from 15th -17th
of November 2013. Australia can use the commonwealth summit to put pressure on Sri Lanka, not only to bring peace and reconciliation in the war-torn country, but also to see an end to the Tamil exodus from that country” said Mr. Siva Sivakumar. The rally on Monday is being organised by the Australian Tamils in Victoria to raise awareness among the Australian public to the tragic situation in Sri Lanka. They do not get the truth from the Australian Government, or from the brutal Rajapaksa regime in Sri Lanka. Mr. Siva Sivakumar said that Australia’s presence in Colombo may be construed as an approval for the continuing human rights violations by the current regime.
of November 2013. Australia can use the commonwealth summit to put pressure on Sri Lanka, not only to bring peace and reconciliation in the war-torn country, but also to see an end to the Tamil exodus from that country” said Mr. Siva Sivakumar. The rally on Monday is being organised by the Australian Tamils in Victoria to raise awareness among the Australian public to the tragic situation in Sri Lanka. They do not get the truth from the Australian Government, or from the brutal Rajapaksa regime in Sri Lanka. Mr. Siva Sivakumar said that Australia’s presence in Colombo may be construed as an approval for the continuing human rights violations by the current regime.
Sri Lanka is run by Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, a man who is responsible for what the UN calls war crimes and crimes against humanity, at the end of the civil war in 2009. His military deliberately murdered at least 40,000 innocent Tamil civilians lured by the Army to so-called safe zones. They
also continue a long running campaign of persecution against the Tamils.
also continue a long running campaign of persecution against the Tamils.
Mr. Siva Sivakumar said the protestors on Monday are calling on the Australian government to reconsider its decision to attend CHOGM in Sri Lanka. Australia should put pressure on Sri Lanka to agree to an independent inquiry into the war crimes and crimes against humanity, as cited by the UN, and call on the Rajapaksa regime to end a campaign of murder, rape, jailing, torture and other crimes against Tamils.
'BOYCOTT SRI LANKA: DON’T LET CHOGM HIDE GENOCIDE” RALLY
Where: State Library of Victoria, Corner of Swanston and Latrobe Streets, Melbourne
When: 5PM Monday, November 11, 2013
For further information contact Campaign for Tamil Justice Press Office on 0400 597 351 or 0404
894 591
'BOYCOTT SRI LANKA: DON’T LET CHOGM HIDE GENOCIDE” RALLY
Where: State Library of Victoria, Corner of Swanston and Latrobe Streets, Melbourne
When: 5PM Monday, November 11, 2013
For further information contact Campaign for Tamil Justice Press Office on 0400 597 351 or 0404
894 591
