Pro-SL Tamil protestors besiege UNICEF office
- Thursday, 13 February 2014
Hundreds of people belonging to various Tamil nationalist outfits, led by the May 17 Movement, were arrested after they attempted to besiege the UNICEF office in Adyar condemning the UN for not ordering a transparent international inquiry into the genocide of Sri Lankan Tamils during the final stages of conflict in the island in 2009.
The protesters condemned sending of cricket bats and black boards rather than life saving medicines to the affected civilian areas in the island nation which led to further loss of lives.
The protesters began gathering in the service lane leading to UNICEF office in Kasturibai Nagar in Adyar at around 10 am while the police protection was strengthened at the venue by South Chennai joint commissioner of police S Thirugnanam.
The police barricades prevented the protesters from marching past the service lane and laying siege. The protesters burnt flags bearing the symbols of the UN besides holding placards condemning the continued inaction of the UN over the genocide.
Thirumurugan Gandhi, Coordinator, May 17 Movement, said the UN’s failure to prevent the war was exposed by the Petrie Report released during November 2012. “However, the UN continues to be a mute spectator and party to the crime. The human rights violation in Sri Lanka and the deliberate ignorance of UN officials including UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon, his then Chef de Cabinet Vijay Nambiar and Under secretary for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes should be investigated”, he said.
He said the proposed international independent investigation recommended by UNHRC was neglected by Ban Ki-Moon, who denied justice to Tamils. He also urged the UN to implement the recommendations of Panel of Experts on accountability in Sri Lanka. The demand comes barely two months after that of the Permanent People’s Tribunal, based in Rome, which concluded its last session at Bremen, Germany, indicting Sri Lanka for the genocide.
Courtesy - New Indian Express
