British Tamils want Tamil Eelam as a separate state for Tamils in Sri Lanka


(British Tamils Forum, 20 11 2008) - Thousands of people, largely Tamils and some British NGOs (Non-Governmental Organisation) participated in a demonstration outside the UK Parliament at the Parliament Square between 3.30pm and 6.30pm, on Wednesday, 19 November 2008. The day was chosen as it is the Prime Minister’s Question (PMQ) day, Wednesday to have the attention of the maximum number of Members of Parliament. Thousands of people, some with school children and babies in push-chairs turned up weathering the British winter.

There were three purposes for the demonstration, namely

• To request the British Parliament to demand the Government of Sri Lanka to stop the genocide of Tamils
• For the British Parliament to recognise Tamils” right to self-determination in their homeland in Sri Lanka
• For the British Tamils to stand in solidarity with the Tamils of Tamil Nadu , to stand shoulder to shoulder with the people of Tamil Nadu in their uprising to support the Tamils of Sri Lanka and to thank the people of Tamil Nadu for their unwavering support for the Tamils of Tamil Eelam

British Parliamentarians from different political parties attended the demonstration to show their support and most of them spoke to the crowd through loud hailers in support of the British Tamils’ demands. Rt. Hon Keith Vaz MP, Hon Virendra Sharma MP and Chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils, Hon Siobhain McDonagh MP, Hon Susan Kramer MP, Hon Andrew Pelling MP, Hon Tom Brake MP, Hon Joan Ryan MP and Hon Barry Gardner MP were some of the Members of Parliament who attended and spoke to the crowd. Hon Siobhain McDonagh MP, Hon Joan Ryan MP & Hon Virendra Sharma MP & Hon Andrew Pelling MP Hon Tom Brake MP

Drums and loud hailers were used to chant in support of the Tamils in Sri Lanka and that the British Tamils want Tamil Eelam as a separate state for Tamils in Sri Lanka. Leaflets were handed out to the general public with the aim to make the British public more aware of the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka and the atrocities carried out by the Sri Lankan State against the Tamil Community in Sri Lanka. Placards and banners were held by people both in English and Tamil. Some of the English banners read as follows:

• STOP THE GENOCIDE OF TAMILS IN SRI LANKA
• RECOGNISE TAMILS’ RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION
• THANK YOU TAMIL NADU - BRITISH TAMILS
• GREAT NATION - TAMIL NADU, GRATEFUL PEOPLE - TAMIL EELAM
• BRITAIN, IMPOSE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST SRI LANKA
• UN, IMPOSE ARMS EMBARGO AGAINST SRI LANKA
• EU, GSP+ IS FUNDING THE WAR

Various media agencies attended. Interviews were conducted by telephone for BBC. Tamil Radio Stations around the world and Private TV Companies who produce programs for mainstream international TV Companies like Aljazeera were also present. Indian press and TV stations also covered the demonstration. At 6.30 pm the crowd left in phases to reduce congestion at stations and public transport points. Metropolitan Police who were involved in policing the event declared it as a very successful, well organised and peaceful event without any reported incidents.

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