Tamil societies in universities across London have come together to hold 'Breaking the Silence' - a fortnight of exhibitions aimed at raising awareness about the war crimes and genocide comitted against the Tamils in the North-East.

The campaign, consisting of posters, petitions and leaflets, was created by university Tamil societies, and will be displayed at each of the universitiies over the fortnight.

The event is held to coincide with Tamil Remembrance Day, on 27th November.

The Tamil societes are also holding a special, Youth Remembrance Day event for those who died in the struggle for Tamil Eelam, on Friday.  

The partnership of Tamil societies consists of eight London universities:

Imperial College London, Brunel University, Kings College London, University College London (UCL), Southbank University, City University and Queen Mary's University London.

This year, students at Imperial College London's Tamil society launched the 2011 'Breaking the Silence'.

Held on 21st and 22nd November, at the student Union and Junior Common Room, within the Sherffield Building, organisers at Imperial Tamil Society exhibited a variety of petitions, posters, and presentation on the allegations of war crimes and genocide, as well as screening the documentary, 'Sri Lanka's Killing Fields', first broadcast on Channel 4.

Art work depicting the horrors faced by Tamils was also on display.

The stall attracted plenty of attention with over 500 leaflets, highlighting the nature of crimes committed against the Tamils, were handed out to fellow students. 

Speaking to the Tamil Guardian after the event, organisers explained their motivation,

"We want to promote awareness about the war crimes committed by the Srilankan government and army, and get people to sign our online petition [calling] for an independent investigation."

Writing in Imperial College London's student paper - Felix, student, Visakan Balakumar commented on 'Sri Lanka's silent genocide'.

"The Sri Lankan civil war has its roots in decades of discrimination against the Tamils by successive governments, voted in by the Sinhalese majority. Any attempt by Tamils to peacefully protests against the state’s discriminatory policies, resulted in numerous anti-Tamil riots, in which thousands were killed by mobs."

"Despite the UN calling for an “independent investigation” into the bloody climax of the war in 2009, the Government has dismissed all international concerns as “preposterous”.

"The Sri Lankan Armed Forces have committed many heinous war crimes and human’s right violations. However, as in Rwanda and Srebrenica, the World chose to stand back and watch in 2009. Please do not let murderers and war criminals go unpunished. Please help us break the silence."

Imperial College's Tamil society, officially known as the 'International Tamil Society', stands as one of London's oldest univesity Tamil societies, having been founded 22 years ago.