Protests against the Sri Lankan Civil War

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Between 2008 and 2009, major protests against the Sri Lankan Civil War, often referred to as the Tamil protests by news media, took place in several countries across the world, urging national and world leaders and organisations to take action on bringing a unanimous cease fire to the Sri Lankan Civil War, which had taken place for over twenty-five years. Tamil diaspora populations across the world expressed concerns regarding the conduct of the civil war in the island nation of Sri Lanka. The civil war, which took place between the Sri Lankan Army and the separatist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is believed to have killed over 100,000 civilians.[1] Protesters and critics of the Sri Lankan government alleged the civil war to be a systematic genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Sri Lankan Tamil minority in Sri Lanka.[2]

Protests protests began in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in 2008 where organisations, politicians, celebrities and student associations appealed to state and national governments to intervene and stop the civil war in Sri Lanka. The goal of the protests was to persuade organisations and political leaders to intervene in the Sri Lankan Civil War and establish a ceasefire, appeal to humanitarian aid organisations to provide resources to the affected areas of Sri Lanka, support the creation of Tamil Eelam, and remove the LTTE from lists of terrorist organisations. After the government of Sri Lanka declared defeat over the LTTE on 18 May 2009, protests continued in several cities, urging governments to undertake a war-crimes inspection in Sri Lanka. The protests took several forms, including human chains, demonstrations, rallies, hunger strikes, and self-immolation.[3]

Following increasing protests and outcries in Chennai and other cities in Tamil Nadu,[4] predominantly peaceful demonstrations were held concurrently across the globe by the Tamil diaspora, mainly in national capitals, central business districts, near embassies and high commissioner offices, and sites of national or supranational government. Protesters ranging from several dozens to several thousands gathered in the cities of Delhi,[5] Bangalore,[6] Singapore,[7] Kuala Lumpur,[8] London,[9] Paris,[10] Brussels,[11] Berlin,[12] The Hague,[13] Zürich,[14] Geneva,[15] Oslo,[16] Toronto,[17] Montreal,[18] Vancouver,[19] Ottawa,[20] Sydney,[21] Melbourne,[22] Canberra,[23] Auckland,[24] Wellington,[25] New York City,[26] Washington D.C.,[27] and Durban.[28] The protests invoked "anti-Tamil" protests by the Sinhalese diaspora and racial clashes between the two in certain cities, especially in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Notable locations

Australia

In Australia, several protests took place in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. Over a thousand protested during Sri Lankan foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama's visit to Australia on 14 October 2008.[29] The protest took place in Canberra outside the National Press Club. The protesters accused the Sri Lankan government alleging attack on civilians and the prevention of aid by the United Nations reaching affected areas. In response to the protests, Australian foreign minister Stephen Smith stated that he raised the concern of the violence amid the civil war. He also assured that Australia insists that military means will not solve the problem and that a political solution can only result in the ending of the war.

After several local demonstrations, mostly in Sydney, larger protests were organised within Australia during the month of April 2009, with the most significant one being the non-stop protest in Sydney. As of April, 60 rallies and protests had occurred across Australia.[30] On 11 April, three Australian protesters began hunger strikes, like those concurrently occurring in Ottawa and London. The hunger strike ended on 17 April.[31][32] On 17 April, a "March for Peace" took place in Canberra.[33] On 13 April, protests took place in front of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's residence in Sydney, urging him to call an immediate ceasefire.[34] Several hundred protesters rallied in North Sydney urging Joe Hockey, member for North Sydney, to take the concerns of his constituents to the Australian Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. Similar protests occurred on 22 April, as over 600 protesters converged outside Julie Owens's office to voice their frustration at the lack of action by the Australian Labour Government in preventing thousands of Tamil civilians from allegedly being killed by the Sri Lankan Military.[35] A "Boycott Sri Lankan Products" campaign was launched in Sydney during the last week of April. The demonstrations occurred with a few roads being closed down to make way. The protests were paused for ANZAC Day on 25 April.[36]

In three separate occasions, some Sinhalese Australians were targeted in hate crimes, such as acid attacks and home invasions, in Sydney on 10 May 2009.[37]

Canada

Main article: Protests against the Sri Lankan Civil War in Canada
Protesters blocking the Gardiner Expressway in Toronto on 10 May 2009

A series of demonstrations and protests took place in major Canadian cities. The aim was also to create awareness and appeal to leaders, notably the Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, the President of the United States, Barack Obama and the Consulate General of Sri Lanka in Canada, Bandula Jayasekara, to take action in ending the conflict. Several Tamil Canadian citizens and business-owners from different parts of Canada and the United States took part in major protests set up in Toronto and Ottawa, while smaller scale demonstrations took place in Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary.

The first notable demonstration took place on 28 January 2009 in front of the Consulate of Sri Lanka in Toronto involving a few hundred people. The following day, several thousands gathered in front of the Consulate of the United States in Toronto to appeal to the Government of the United States to take action on ending the civil war. A 5-kilometre (3.1-mile) human chain of several thousands of citizens took place the next day along major streets in Downtown Toronto. There after, demonstrations began to escalate in size and occurred on Parliament Hill in Ottawa for sometime, until returning to continue in Toronto.

India

In India, protests took place primarily in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Protests, rallies, human chains, strikes and demonstrations have continuously taken place throughout the South Indian city of Chennai by lawyers, politicians, activists, student groups, celebrities, and many organisations. The aim of the protests was to urge leaders, such as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu M. Karunanidhi, Tamil Nadu opposition J. Jayalalitha, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee to intervene and stop the Sri Lankan Civil War and stop any diplomatic assistance or relations with the island nation. Among the first to protest was the Nadigar Sangam, who staged a one-day hunger strike involving several celebrities from Tamil cinema in September 2008.

With regard to sentiments among those deceased in the war, several individuals had self immolated themselves on various days. Those who self immolated themselves were Muthukumar, Murugathasan,[38] Amaresan,[39] Pallapatti Ravi,[40] Gokularathinam, [40] Tamilvendhan, [41] Sivaprakasam,[42] Raja,[43] Ravichandran,[44] Ramu,[45] and Sivanandam.[46]

Norway

Norway had acted as a peace mediator in Sri Lanka prior to it being asked to leave by the Sri Lankan government of Rajapakse which ended the ceasefire in 2006 after alleging multiple violations by the LTTE. Pro-LTTE Tamil communities and organisations within Norway organised large protests including ones outside the Parliament of Norway Building,[47][48] Inkognitogata 18,[49] and other parts of Oslo.[50] There were also protests outside the Sri Lankan embassy where a few protesters broke into the embassy, making it the first violent movement in Tamil diaspora protests across the world. Although no one was hurt, it did cause severe damage to the Embassy of Sri Lanka.[51] Hundreds of Tamils gathered in Bergen, organising a 48-hour famine protest starting on 20 November.[52]

United Kingdom

Protesters in Parliament Square, London in January 2009

The largest of the protests occurred in the United Kingdom. Protests were organised by the British Tamil Forum, a prominent diaspora organisation and a key association organising of the event, aiming to encourage British intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War. The first protest began on 18 January 2009 with around 9000 British Tamils in front of 10 Downing Street in London, participating in a mass vigil.[53] A larger scaled protest occurred on 31 January 2009 which attracted a crowd of around 150,000 Tamils.[54]

On 6 April an ongoing protest began, which continued into the middle of May. The next major protest took place on 11 April 2009, which attracted more than 200,000 Tamils.[55] While the protesters diminished in numbers later on in the day, a number of people took place in non-stop protests on the streets, similar to protests that occurred in Canada.[56] Two British Tamils, 21-year-old Sivatharsan Sivakumaravel and 28-year-old Parameswaran Subramanyam, went on hunger strike.[57] On 11 May, the protesters in Parliament Square "spilled through police lines" causing roads to be blocked, with the protesters "noisy but peaceful."[58] Protests had left the City of London Police with a cost £7.1 million.[59] The British Human Rights Act grants everyone the right to gather with others and protest.[60]

In October 2009 the Daily Mail falsely claimed that a police surveillance team had been watching the two hunger strikers discovered that Subramanyam had been secretly eating McDonald's sandwiches with the help of clandestine deliveries.[59] Subramaniyan denied the Daily Mail's allegations, calling them "entirely baseless" and a "conspiracy to defame the Tamil struggle".[61][62] He stated that he also had medical proof.[61] The police refused to discuss the allegations.[61][62] The false claims were widely reported in the Sri Lankan media, allowing the Sri Lankan government and its supporters used them to condemn the Tamil protesters.[63][64][65] Subramanyam then took legal action for libel against the Daily Mail and The Sun, which had repeated the false claims. He won the settlement in June 2010.[66][67] The newspapers accepted that the claims had been "entirely false", apologised to Subramanyam and paid him £77,500 in damages.[68][69]

It was discovered that the United Kingdom sold arms to Sri Lanka worth over £13.6 million in the last three years of the conflict, contravening the 1998 Code of Conduct on Arms Exports by the European Union that restricts business with countries facing internal conflicts or with poor human rights records and a history of violating international law. Several members of parliament expressed anger at the development. Four committees in the House of Commons expressed concern in a joint statement that arms made in the United Kingdom were fired on civilians during battles in Sri Lanka. In their annual report, the cross-party committees on arms export controls recommended the government should review all arms exports to Sri Lanka following the crackdown on rebels. The MPs also questioned the government's commitment to tackling corruption and bribery and called on ministers to investigate what British-supplied military equipment was used in the campaign against the Tamils.[70][71][72]

A number of protesters, such as Jan Jananayagam of Tamils Against Genocide, reiterated to the BBC that Tamils lived under "existential threat" in North Eastern Sri Lanka, that delayed recognition of genocidal acts cost lives, and that based on its record in Rwanda, the United Nations had not proved that it alone could defend Tamil people.[73]

See also

References

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  2. ^ Name: * (23 January 2009). "Sri Lanka: Genocide of the Tamil minority | Green Left Weekly". Greenleft.org.au. Archived from the original on 18 July 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "In front of U.N office in Geneva aTamil youth has self-immolated himself today – CNN iReport". Ireport.com. 13 February 2009.
  4. ^ https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2009/02/indi-f05.html
  5. ^ http://www.socialism.in/index.php/protesters-in-new-delhi-bangalore-and-chennai-joined-hundreds-of-others-around-the-world-on-8-april/
  6. ^ http://www.socialism.in/index.php/protesters-in-new-delhi-bangalore-and-chennai-joined-hundreds-of-others-around-the-world-on-8-april/
  7. ^ http://www.thebalitimes.com/2009/02/06/rare-singapore-‘protest-over-sri-lanka-war’/
  8. ^ [1] Archived 25 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8007858.stm
  10. ^ https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/5191085/French-arrest-200-protesters-in-Paris-Tamil-demonstration-on-Sri-Lanka.html
  11. ^ http://www.arabnews.com/node/322125
  12. ^ http://www.expatica.com/de/news/Thousands-of-Tamils-protest-in-Berlin_161092.html
  13. ^ http://archief.wereldomroep.nl/english/article/tamils-demand-justice-hague-protest
  14. ^ https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=29023
  15. ^ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/feb/19/tamil-suicide-protest-geneva
  16. ^ http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2009/04/200941335616257400.html
  17. ^ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/tamil-protesters-end-blockade-on-major-toronto-highway-1.829118
  18. ^ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/tamils-protest-at-busy-montreal-intersection-1.848120
  19. ^ http://jnarvey.com/2009/04/27/globe-post-tamil-protest-in-vancouver-the-tigers-are-back/
  20. ^ https://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2009/04/21/tamil_protesters_urge_ottawa_to_help_stop_war.html
  21. ^ http://www.voanews.com/a/a-13-2009-05-23-voa10-68816062/413175.html
  22. ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-04-08/tamil-supporters-stage-protest-in-melbourne-cbd/1645790
  23. ^ https://web.archive.org/web/20090421235607/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/18/2546312.htm. Archived from the original on 21 April 2009. Retrieved 21 April 2009. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  24. ^ https://www.greenleft.org.au/content/new-zealand-march-against-massacre-tamils
  25. ^ http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0902/S00335.htm
  26. ^ https://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=30296
  27. ^ http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/jUc4to2ThL9/Sri+Lankan+Tamils+Protest+Civilian+Deaths/4DBzuap_yE9
  28. ^ http://www.hindustantimes.com/world/protests-in-durban-against-genocide-of-tamils/story-iyqGVOP62mY4LwVY3tMD8M.html
  29. ^ "Australian Tamils protest Sri Lankan foreign minister Rohitha Bogollagama's visit in Canberra". Tamil Sydney.
  30. ^ "Sydney's George Street to be Closed for 'Boycott Sri Lanka' Campaign Launch". Tamilnational.com. 26 April 2009.
  31. ^ "Hunger Strikers continue their protest in Canberra". Tamilnational.com. 13 April 2009.
  32. ^ "Three Australian Tamil youth are on FAST UNTO ACTON". Tamilnational.com. 10 April 2009.
  33. ^ "'March for Peace' in Canberra on 17th April; hunger strike past 100 hours". Tamilnational.com. 15 April 2009.
  34. ^ jayabalan (16 April 2009). "Tamils protest outside Australian PM's house". Indian Express.
  35. ^ "Australian Tamils to Rally in North Sydney – 23nd [sic] April 09". Tamilnational.com. 22 April 2009.
  36. ^ "Australian Tamils Pause Demonstrations for ANZAC Day". Tamilnational.com. 24 April 2009.
  37. ^ http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-05-18/sri-lankans-petrified-after-sydney-acid-attack/1686912
  38. ^ "Murugathasan Immolated Infront [sic] Of The Un in Geneva in Protest of Tamil Sufferings". Lankanewspapers.com. 13 February 2009.
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  40. ^ a b "55 yr old DMK sympathiser immolates for Tamils cause". News.webindia123.com. 25 February 2009.
  41. ^ Jain, Nishank (9 February 2013). "CoolAge – College Life on the Go". Aol.in.
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  43. ^ "08.02.09 Diaspora Tamil dies in self-immolation urging Obama to stop Colombo's war". TamilNet.
  44. ^ "07.02.09 Congress cadre immolates himself to death protesting party inaction". TamilNet. 7 February 2009.
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  47. ^ "No more excuses in waging the war – Protestors in Oslo". Tamilnet.com. 7 April 2009.
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  50. ^ Tamil Protest in City Centre Archived 23 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  51. ^ "Protesters break into Sri Lankan embassy in Oslo". Reuters. 12 April 2009. Retrieved 7 June 2009.
  52. ^ "http://www.sibernews.com/20081121162.html". Sibernews.com. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  53. ^ "18.01.09 9000 British Tamils gather in protest against war on Tamils in Vanni". TamilNet. 18 January 2009.
  54. ^ "31.01.09 British Tamils stage largest ever march protesting genocide, mandating Tamil Eelam". TamilNet. 31 January 2009.
  55. ^ "The Leading Tamil Eelam Online Site on the Net". tamileelamonline.com.
  56. ^ "AFP: Truce call as 100,000 rally in London Tamil protest". Google.com. 11 April 2009.
  57. ^ "The Leading Tamil Eelam Online Site on the Net". tamileelamonline.com.
  58. ^ "Tamil protesters take to streets". BBC News. 11 May 2009. Archived from the original on 14 May 2009. Retrieved 12 May 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  59. ^ a b "Sorry". Daily Mail. Archived from the original on 11 October 2009. Retrieved 9 October 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  60. ^ "Right to protest". Government, citizens and rights. Directgov. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
  61. ^ a b c Natarajan, Swaminathan (9 October 2009). "Protest Tamil denies burger claim". BBC News. Archived from the original on 12 October 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2009. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  62. ^ a b "Tamil hunger striker: I did NOT break my fast". London: Daily Mail. 10 October 2009. Retrieved 10 October 2009.
  63. ^ "Hunger striker's £7m Big Mac: Tamil who cost London a fortune in policing was sneaking in fast-food". The Official Government News Portal of Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 28 July 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  64. ^ "Hunger striker's £7m Big Mac: Tamil who cost London a fortune in policing was sneaking in fast-food". Ministry of Defence (Sri Lanka). Archived from the original on 12 October 2009. Retrieved 29 July 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  65. ^ "Pro-LTTE hunger striker tucks into Big Macs". Daily News, Sri Lanka. 10 October 2009. Archived from the original on 20 January 2012. Retrieved 29 July 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  66. ^ "Tamil hunger striker wins damages over burger claims". BBC News. 29 July 2010. Archived from the original on 29 July 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  67. ^ "Hunger striker wins burger-munching libel case". Washington Post. 29 July 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2010. [dead link]
  68. ^ "Parameswaran Subramanyam". Daily Mail. London. 29 July 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  69. ^ "Parameswaran Subramanyam – Apology". The Sun. London. 29 July 2010. Retrieved 29 July 2010.
  70. ^ "Britain sold arms to Sri Lanka during Tamil Tiger conflict". The Daily Telegraph. London. 2 June 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  71. ^ "British guns 'fired at Sri Lanka civilians' – Channel 4 News". Channel4.com.
  72. ^ Prince, Rosa (19 August 2009). "UK arms used against civilians in Sri Lanka and Gaza". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  73. ^ "BBC Newshour interview Tamils under existential threat". YouTube. 12 February 2009.

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