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 British
Tamils protest in front of the offices of the United Nations High Commission
for Refugees (UNHCR) 23.02.2009
British Tamils demonstrated today in front of the London
Offices of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR),
demanding urgent intervention of the UN to stop the genocide of Tamils in
Sri Lanka.
Concerned by the dire situation of their brethren in the North of Sri Lanka
and the hitherto lethargic response by the UN, Tamils of all ages took part
in the protest. The
slogans of an energetic and loud protest, accompanied by placards carrying
harrowing pictures of the genocide in the Tamil homeland, attracted the
attention of the staff at the UNHCR and passersby, many of whom stopped to
listen and receive leaflets.
The protestors demanded that the UN take action rather than hide behind
words in
bureaucratic press statements.
The Chairman of the British Tamils Forum stated in his letter to the UN
Secretary
General that “The visit of Sir John Holmes, Under Secretary General for
Humanitarian
Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, to Sri Lanka this past week has
dismayed the
Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Tamil Diaspora. The Under Secretary’s visit is
being viewed
as a “white wash” of the atrocities being committed by the Government of Sri
Lanka
(GoSL). His statements at the press conference in Colombo were, in some
cases, the
complete opposite of the ground reality, for example the statement that
there was “good
co-operation” between the GoSL and UN agencies in the assistance provided to
the
Internally Displaced People (IDP) is patently false. The GoSL has in reality
hindered and
intimidated the UN at every turn, revoking work visas and throwing out of
the country
those who are critical of the government or outspoken about the conditions
faced by the
IDPs.”
 
The slogans shouted and the placards carried by the protestors included,
"UN! Stop the Genocide"
UN! Send Food and Medicine
UN Failed to Stop Genocide
Rajapakse's Safety Zone = Adolf Hitler’s Concentration Camp
Rajapakse Kills Tamils! UN Kills Truth!
Zone for Safety! Feast for Military!
We need Trust! No need for Tricks!
UN whitewashes Sri Lanka's Slaughter!
UN! UN! No More Words! We Need Action!
Tamils want Freedom
Tamils want Justice
Tamils want Tamil Eelam
At the end of the peaceful protest, the attached memorandum was handed to
the High
Commission calling on the UN to:
1. Demand an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka and initiate peace talks
2. Require that Sri Lanka allow all necessary humanitarian assistance and
access by
international humanitarian organisations and UN Agencies to the Vanni
3. Place the Sri Lanka issue on the Security Council’s Agenda
4. Urge the GoSL to allow an international human rights monitoring mission
under the
auspices of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
The protest, organised by the British Tamils Forum, will continue until the
UN
recognises the legitimacy of the Tamil's demand and act impartially.
- Ends -
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Protest on 31st Jan 2009
Published by British Tamils Forum, UK
.JPG)
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