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SL independence sanctioned Tamil genocide say Australian Tamils

Dismissing Sri Lanka's celebration of Independence day on 4th February an act that sanctioned the state's genocide of Tamils, Australian Tamils came together in condemnation at the 65 years of genocide that has ensued.

Together with trade union activists, members of the Tamil Coordinating Committee - Australia, raised the Eelam Tamil flag in Geelong, Australia, to protest against what they described as the "international lie of independence in Sri Lanka".

Speaking to Tamil Guardian, Dominic Santhiapillai of the TCC-Australia said:

"Since Feb 4th, 1948 successive Sri Lankan governments have attempted to wipe out the Tamil nation through various pogroms and acts of genocide... The citizenship act in 1948, the Sinhala Only Act in 1956, the republican constitution of 1972 and the burning of Jaffna public library in 1981 are just a few key examples of the steps taken by the state towards this genocide."

"By raising the Tamil Eelam flag on this day, we wish to make clear that to us, Sri Lankan independence is meaningless. It only led to more oppression and only made the state wiping out the Tamil identity even easier. So today we feel it's important to remember the Tamils who died at the hands of the Sri Lankan state, its army and its supporters, and the fact that this oppression of the Tamil nation continues."

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