The British Tamil Forum is coordinating a rally and a meeting on Saturday 18 May 2013 (the 4th Year Remembrance of Mullivaikkal Genocidal Massacre). Saturday commencing from North Carriage Drive, Hyde Park at 1pm (Closest Station: Marble Arch) and terminating in Waterloo Place at 5pm (Closest station: Piccadilly Circus).
Tamils all over the world will ever remember that the Mullivaikkal massacre was the climax of the continuing genocide inflicted on Tamils by the Sri Lankan government since independence.
The blatant refusal by the Sri Lankan government to give ear to the recommendations of the UN, together with its gross arrogance towards international institutions like Amnesty International, Human Rights watch and UNHCR has created an impasse in delivering justice to the victims and finding any meaningful solution to the Tamil grievances.
The BTF; having focused its attention on the current political situation in Sri Lanka, emphasises the need to boycott CHOGM to be held in Sri Lanka. BTF’s main concern is that if CHOGM-2013 is convened in Sri Lanka, automatically allow Mahinda Rajapakshe , who is already accused of Human Rights violations , War Crimes and ( a continuing ) Genocide to hold the chair of the Commonwealth for the next two years. This will not only be disgraceful to the Commonwealth and Britain, but will also create a permanent blot in their history. BTF demands that Sri Lanka be “suspend”. from the Commonwealth outright, in the backdrop of its records on human rights, war crimes and the continuing genocide.
It is ridiculous as well as painful to find that Cameroon has decided to attend CHOGM in Sri Lanka, hosted by Mahinda Rajapakshe, who acts with a dictatorial attitude (in the name of democracy) in every aspect.
Dignitaries and leading politicians from India, Sri Lanka and parliamentarians along with their counterparts in the UK will grace this occasion.
*A statement by British Tamils Forum
Chandra / May 17, 2013
BTF: If you really want to have an impact and remember the thousands of innocent people brutally massacred, please don’t carry the Tiger flag. Everyone on the march please dress in full white. Begin to send a message of peace and unity. Justice will follow. It will take its time, but it sure will.
Instead, if you march with the flag of the Tiger, send a political message of revenge, all you will achieve is further strengthening the position of this racist regime.
/
manisekaran / May 17, 2013
I have to agree with you Chandra.
/
Ajith / May 17, 2013
If you talk about the peace and unity, then Tigers also should be part of it. Tigers are part of our family and part of our Nation and part of our liberation struggle. We Tamils supported them, encouraged them and they genuinely fought for Tamils. It is now very clear from what is happening in Sri Lanka that Tigers were not the barriers for peace and unity. True peace and unity can reach only when both parties really believe honestly that we need peace and unity to thrive without further destruction. It is our duty to respect all those people who sacrificed their lives for a true cause. It is true that Tigers lost their war, the Sri lankan government won the war but that does not mean they are right and we are wrong. The government celebrates its victory but we know hundreds of their fighters lost their life and still there is no peace and unity. We should respect those poor Sinhala youths who lost their life for wrong cause. We know what happened to our people and our fighters on that day and we have to remember this day for ever because their lives are taken by force not in the name of peace and love, but as a symbol oppression.
It is wrong to assume that Tiger Flag send a political message of revenge. Tigers never fought against Sinhala people, they fought against the oppressive regimes for right cause.
/
Native Vedda / May 17, 2013
Ajith
“Tigers never fought against Sinhala people, they fought against the oppressive regimes for right cause.”
Are you sure?
/
Ajith / May 18, 2013
Yes
/
Native Vedda / May 19, 2013
Ajith
I have just banged my head on a hard rock.
The Anuradhapura massacre under the Boe tree was the first massacre in the mid 1980s which was carried out to please the Indians, culminated in Thimbu Talks.
Since then many Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims were massacred in cold blood or bombed to pieces.
Indeed if LTTE had not killed innocent Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims the very people would have saved VP and his men.
On the one hand we are forced to listen to Sinhalese war crime deniers. On the other there are those LTTE war crime deniers.
/
Striped Chaos / May 18, 2013
Not a single genuine Tigress in our jungles, the Native Vidda knows it very well.
/
Uthungan / May 19, 2013
Native Vedda
Why do you expect Ajit to reply, when he is shedding crocodile tears for the poor Sinhalese youths when he knows why the Tiger Supremo decided to not let the Tamil people exercise their franchise as they chose and thus ensure their indefinite oppression.
/
Native Vedda / May 19, 2013
Uthungan
Tiger Supremo also made deal with President Premadasa to kill innocent Tamils whilst the President himself was on a killing spree.
/
Kk / May 18, 2013
It is unfortunately you can’t understand the truth ,tigers fight for for their power I nstead of real needs for real Tamil person end of the day so call independent general Tamil people struggle in their life with brutal ltte regime more than ever some people willingly some people not willingly sacrifice their life for so called independent Tamil Elam , now it is all over people coming back to their normal life there’re fore don’t bring bullshit ideas agin to suffer for future Tamil generation ,you guys made a big mistake and sufferr enough let future genarRion to live pecefully
/
Cholar / May 17, 2013
@ Chandra
” please don’t carry the Tiger flag. Everyone on the march please dress in full white”
tiger flag not belong LTTE it’s represent Tamils any where in world it form Chola dynasty REF: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chola_dynasty
/
Chandra / May 17, 2013
What makes you think that the Tamils of Sri Lanka are from chola tribe? Weren’t the pandiyans the true Tamils? And when did Tamils in SL adopt tiger flag, from LTTE, right? It is not easy to fool the world on this one and claim the flag is not the LTTE.
/
Cholar / May 18, 2013
@ Chandra
“
What makes you think that the Tamils of Sri Lanka are from chola tribe? Weren’t the pandiyans the true Tamils? ”
you mean after 12th century (Jaffna kingdom) ………. before that ????? you will find the answer .
“It is not easy to fool the world on this one and claim the flag is not the LTTE”
yes absolutely right , for more detail you can ask Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal
/
Nelun Gunasekera(nee Jayewardene) / May 17, 2013
I am sri lankan- tamil +sinhala) living in this island which has so much beauty.My family has lost so much by having a relations(on both sides) leave due to the politically unstable situ that existed.EVERYONE HAS A SHARE IN THE MISERY OF ALL THE PEOPLE SPECIALLY THOSE IN THE NORTH-MY COUSINS. THE MAJOR MISERY WAS CAUSED BY ONE GROUP OF TAMILS WHO HAD BRAWN AND DID NOT USE THEIR BRAINS THAT IT WAS THERE OWN PEOPLE WHO SUFFERED THE MOST.THE SAME TIME SOME SINHALA GROUPS -WHO HAD THE SAME FEELINGS AND BRAWN -DID NOT USE THEIR BRAINS MADE IT MISERABLE FOR THE SINHALA COMMUNITY-SPECIALLY IN THE VILLAGES.WHY?TRUE-SUCCESSIVE GOVERNMENTS MADE TERRIBLE MISTAKES WHICH AFFECTED THE MINORITY GROUPS -MAINLY THE TAMILS , BUT IT AFFECTED THE SINHALESE LIVING IN THE TOWNS IN THE SAME WAY, SPECIALLY IN THE EDUCATION FIELD-WHETHER YOU HAD QUALIFIED FOR UNIVERSITY IN JAFFNA,OR COLOMBO BECAUSE OF STANDARDISING THE STUDENT WITH 4 A’S DID NOT GET MEDICINE BUT AN OUTSTATION CHILD GOT THE PLACE WITH A LESSER GRADE.TERRORISM ON BOTH SIDES HAS NOT SOLVED ANY OF THE PROBLEMS.TOTALLY UNNECESSARY LOSS OF SRI LANKAN LIVES.WHAT IS SAD WE IN SRI LANKA AND THOSE OUTSIDE HAVE NOT LEARNED OUR LESSON.PROTEST AND CELEBRATION ARE A MUST.WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THE ISSUES?HOPEFULLY THE PROTEST IN LONDON WILL PUT FORWARD SOME SUGGESTIONS WHICH COULD BE IMPLEMENTED FOR THE GOOD OF ALL,THE REMEMBERANCE DAY IN COLOMBO SHOULD REMIND US THAT BOTH GROUPS LOST LIVES WHICH COULD HAVE BEEN PUT TO GOOD USE.’END OF THE WAR’SHOULD BENEFIT OUR MULTI-RELIGIOUS AND MULTICULTURAL COUNTRY.IF THE LEADERS DON’T DELIVER THEY COULD BE REPLACED BY THE VOTE-MAKE YOUR DECISIONS,SRI LANKANS AND BE COUNTED.
/
manisekaran / May 17, 2013
I understand your positive message, but suggest the steps and course of actions when Srilankan governments ( alias sinhalese governments) not ready for meaningful political devolution.
/
JimSofty / May 19, 2013
Manisekaran:
If your origin is Sri Lanka, why Tamilnadu is fighting for you ?
/
manisekaran / May 19, 2013
No I am from Tamilnadu, I back for the rights and dignity of our brothers in Srilanka.
/
Native Vedda / May 19, 2013
manisekaran
“I back for the rights and dignity of our brothers in Srilanka.”
Why?
The Hindians continue to grab and occupy my cousins land all over India. Why don’t you back their cause as well?
/
Nelun Gunasekera(nee Jayewardene) / May 19, 2013
Very important to think that it is a Sri Lankan Government and not a Sinhala Government.tHE PEOPLE HAVE TO DIG OT INTO OUR POLITICIANS MINDSThe Media must help by pushing the Sri Lankan identity since NO ONE IS PURE SINHALA OR PURE TAMIL WE ARE A MIXTURE AND THE SOONER WE REALISE THIS AND PASS IT ONTO THE CHILDREN OF THE NEXT GENERATION THE BETTER.AFTER ALL THE BUDHDHA WAS A HINDU YOU CANNOT TAKE THAT AWAY FROM HIM.HIS PHILOSOPHY IS FOR PEACE LOVING PEOPLE. MOT JUST FOR THE SINHALESE.ANYONE WHO PUSHES FORWARD VIOLENCE AND DESTRUCTION HAS NO RELIGION-PLEASE BE MINDFUL HE CAN BE THE RICHEST PERSON OR THE POOREST-HE/SHE DOES NOT BELONG TO ANY RELIGION OTHER THAN THEIR OWN SELFISH PHILOSOPHY/RELIGION.SRILANKANS DON’T BE MISLED AND HOODWINKED.MOVE FORWARD.
/
Anna / May 17, 2013
Oh Britain…. U should be disgraced of your past and now your present by allowing the BTF to raise the flag of a terrorist group on your soil! It was a long haul for The Tamils in this country ( SL).. Now there is peace though nothing to brag about.
And to the Tamil diaspora – fight for your people, their rights, find a solution sans THAT flag! Because the moment you raise that flag, it shows the world who you really are – that flag has bought more misery and death to the Tamils in this country, if you cared enough you’d know that by now… After 30years you the diaspora stil dreams n believes in a separate state.. And that by far is a clear indication that you USE your own people to suit your agenda!
U don’t care n you never will learn just like the modayas!
/
ONE / May 17, 2013
For Gods sake without a thread of hope no person in that procession is going to put that flag down or take that emblem away.
/
David Blacker / May 17, 2013
Then they will continue without hope.
/
ONE / May 17, 2013
The Original Sanskrit Swastika is still displayed in Hindu homes across the west but the inverted German Swastika is banned in Europe.
Similarly the Chola flag will never be banned because of a few Gaas Gembas and Sinhala Buddhist bigots and their cohorts want it.
Like the 83 riots the mistake is Sri Lankans are too narrow minded by calling every Tamil a terrorist when the war is over . Modayas never learn. On top of it money talks and they have it with respect.
/
Anna / May 18, 2013
“Like the 83 riots the mistake is Sri Lankans are too narrow minded by calling every Tamil a terrorist when the war is over “……
I know for a fact that a Monkey is talking!
/
ONE / May 18, 2013
Hello fascist donkey since you are unable to face the facts tell that to your supporters the yellow monkey moon.
/
Anna / May 19, 2013
These facts you talk about,, go preach it to your brainwashed supporters. You got ur head buried so deep in the past, it clouding ur vision mate.. Just sad… Follow the rest n continue without hope too and do find another outlet to let out your frustrations and accusations.. Taking it out on This page is not cool, it’s more childlike.
/
ONE / May 19, 2013
Shoo Shoo.
Oh so you are coming clean ah? ;)
No side is right to be on any side hope you got that.
Never disperse another’s guest as it does not make sense.
/
David Blacker / May 21, 2013
Just because the LTTE flag has a tiger on it doesn’t make it a Chola flag :D Perception is everything, and if you want to pretend that that is the Chola cause being supported in those protests, well living in fantasy land always was part and parcel of the Eelam cause.
/
Kalu Malli / May 17, 2013
Well said Chandra. If not we will see the usual suspects and their antics in glorifying LTTE terrorism.
This seems to be more like a sour grapes protest than a true protest against any type of violation. The diaspora invested in this Eeelam project, timewise and financially, only to see its demise. Hence the sour grapes mentality.
/
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran / May 17, 2013
Mourn for all the dead. Remember the foolishness, meanness and immorality that led to these deaths.
Remember those who are no more, died in the name of a label and a brand name. Remember that they were humans beyond their labels and brands. Remember more the living who survived with various physical and other disabilities. Pay your tribute to the dead by contributing your mite for the upliftment of the survivors- the kith and kin of the dead. Remember that there were no victors in this war. All were losers. Each one of us lost a part of us as humanity, in the battle fields.
The victory parade being organised by the government is not what we need. What we need is a Remembrance Day. Let the BTF do what the government in its infinite stupidity is incapable of doing!
Organise a Remembrance Day for all the war dead and all the war survivors in London.
This would be revolutionary.
Is the BTF capable of such a grand humane act?
Dr.Rajasingham Narendran
/
Dev / May 17, 2013
Why not organize one yourself?
/
Ganga / May 18, 2013
Because Dr Narendran does not claim to represent all Sri Lankan Tamils, the BTF does.
/
Pottavadei / May 18, 2013
Will you trail, like a bullock?
/
Ganga / May 19, 2013
Please write in grammatically correct English.
/
ONE / May 17, 2013
80% of Obumer’s top administrators are Jewish. The Pom’s turned American poodles listen to their master’s voice.
cMoron felicitated the BT calling them professionals and responsible citizen’s because of the £2billion turnover and employment of 150k by 1500 businesses just before the mayoral elections. The Tamils alone were able to sway 35 seats in favour of the mayor so what have they received as present cMoron attending the CHOGM.
Saddam and Gaddafi befriended the Poms and they were lynched. There is no law on earth for the Poms but for others. BTW the Poms have always favoured the Sinhalese because it is easy to swing underdogs.
/
crazyoldmansl / May 17, 2013
Mahinda Rajapaksa and his clan enjoy the confidence of the whole world and the world bank and the United Nations. Soon he will be the global candidate for the post of UN secretary general. His only competition will of course be our dearest Dr. Dayan.
/
Roy / May 17, 2013
I hope the Muslims don’t protest against the BBS at the same place.
/
Panama / May 18, 2013
After decades of funding and supporting murder and mayhem, torture, terror and genocide,the Tamil diaspora are portraying themselves as innocent victims. The bleeding heart MPs and councilors in London and Toronto turn a blind eye to history because they need their votes.
Today the diaspora will demonstrate in London. Displaying the flag of a banned terrorist organisation is illegal but the police won’t stop them. The brainwashed young among them, who have never set foot in Sri Lanka and know nothing of what Prabhakaran and the LTTE did to the Tamil people, will be screaming as loudly as ever.
/
Ram / May 18, 2013
Those Terrorist-loving MPs (from all political parties) would be in tow, alongside the people who have to sell their books (Frances Harrison, and maybe even that Weiss(or is it wise) guy from Australia, and the event will be covered at length by the truth-loving Ch 4.
I wonder whether Amnesty International will make an appearance seeking funds for their ‘humanitarian’ work as they did in Toronto.
/
Catstevens / May 18, 2013
Can I join you guys carrying a picture of Osama and shout “Bin Laden Our Leader” or do I need to get permission from the Metropolitan Police first?
/