Tamil diaspora organisations across the world commemorated Tamil Genocide and Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day noting the tens of thousands of Tamil civilians who perished during the Sri Lankan government’s relentless shelling and bombardment of civilians during the end of the armed conflict.

In a joint statement, Tamil diaspora organisations noted that the Sri Lankan state’s “stranglehold on the Tamil people has intensified”.

The statement further recognised the continued “suffocating military occupation, intimidation, and surveillance to imposing legal bans on diaspora Tamils and organisations by denying rights to social activities, including mourning and memorialising the dead”.

The statement also recognised the nearly 300,000 survivors of the Mullivaikkal Genocide and that across the globe the Tamil diaspora lit candles at exactly 18 hours and 18 minutes to homage to the victims of this genocide. The diaspora further renewed its commitments to demand justice for genocide.

The organisations which co-signed this letter include:

- Australian Tamil Congress (ATC)

- British Tamil Forum (BTF)

- Maison du Tamil Eelam France (MTE)

- Irish Tamil Forum (ITF)

- National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT)

- Norwegian Council of Eelam Tamils (NCET)

- Solidarity Group for Peace and Justice (SGPJ – South Africa)

- United States Tamil Action Group (USTAG)

 Their statement was supported by parliamentarians, dignitaries, and Tamil diaspora representatives from across the world.

Read more here: Australian parliamentarians demand justice for Tamil genocide

Britain

Rajnish Kashyap, General Secretary & Director, Hindu Council UK (HCUK) expressed his solidarity with the Tamil community and demanded that the UK government and the UN "guarantee a full international inquiry, action to support the human rights of Tamils in Sri Lanka and justice for all the families and communities of the Tamil diaspora". He further called for an immediate end to "all encroachment of their religious and heritage sites" by the Sri Lankan government.

Ravi Kumar, the General Secretary of the British Tamils Forum (BTF), maintained the need for  Tamil unity in its pursuit of justice for genocide.

Melissa Dring, the campaign director at Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice Ltd (SLCPJ) maintained that Tamils in Sri Lanka "are continuing to fight for their right to remember are facing increased threats, intimidation and harassment by Sri Lankan state" and noted that, "the SLCPJ stands with them and will not rest until there is peace and justice".

British MPs from all parties also marked the memorial.

Stephen Kinnock MP, Shadow Minister (Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs), called for a fully-fledged international independent investigative mechanism and noted: "there's actually a lot that the British government can do in terms of bilateral and unilateral actions". He noted both Magnitsky sanctions as well as the need the rethink the favourable tariff arrangements, known as GSP plus.

Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Liberal Democrats, similar noted on the GSP plus that, "they do not deserve these trade preferences. They should be taken away". He concluded his statement by maintaining the need to continue to push pressure on both Britain and Sri Lanka and maintained his commitment to do so.

Elliot Colburn MP, Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPG T), highlighted the passage of the latest UN resolution but maintained "we do need to see more action" and called for targeted sanctions on Sri Lankan officials. He further added, "we also must leave no options off the table including the potential for an ICC referral as well".

Read more here: British politicians demand sanctions and international justice on Mullivaikkal anniversary

Canada

Professor Sri Ranjan, Chairperson - National Council of Canadian Tamils stated:

“Canada is home to the largest diaspora of Eelam Tamils outside of our homeland. Recently, the Ontario Provincial Parliament in Canada unanimously passed Bill 104 proclaiming the week from May 11 to 18 as the "Tamil Genocide Education Week". This provides a space and an opportunity for hundreds of thousands of Tamils to share their memories with others. These proclamations add strength to our call to recognize the ongoing Tamil genocide."

Read more here: Canadian Prime Minister and politicians remember the Tamil Genocide

France

Thiruchoty, Maison du Tamil Eelam France stated:

Ever since Sri Lanka gained independence Tamils were targeted in many ways. They were victimised by the state. This can be described as ethnic cleansing, crimes against a people can be also taken as a crime against humanity, that's why we say it as Genocide.

America

Anuradha Mittal, executive director of the Oakland Institute, highlighted that Sri Lanka's military efforts were "driven by genocidal intent" and detailed the findings of their latest report which noted the continued persecution Tamils faced and the ongoing land grabs.

Read more here: ‘Endless War’ - Oakland Institute decries Sri Lanka’s continued militarisation

On May 18, Rep. Debra Ross and the Co-Chairs of the Caucus Rep.Bill Johnson, Rep. Danny K Davis & Rep. Brad Sherman introduced a resolution honouring the 12th anniversary of the end of the war in Sri Lanka.

Read more here: US Congress introduces resolution calling for international mechanism for crimes committed in Sri Lanka

Switzerland and Norway

Biro Diawara, Programme Manager of African Meeting for the Defense of Human rights (RADDHO), maintained that now was the "time for the international community to take responsibility for ending impunity in Sri Lanka".

Vithushan & Aparna, Switzerland Tamil Action Group (STAG), maintained their determination to "restore the fundamental rights and self-determination of Tamils in Sri Lanka" whilst also noting the oppressive structures of Sri Lankan society.

Steven Pushparaja, Norwegian Council of Eelam Tamils (NCET)
The North and East of the island is the traditional homeland of the Tamils. Tamils as a nation have their inalienable right to their self-determination. Nobody has the right to compromise on the inalienable and fundamental rights of the Tamils
 

Read more here: Swiss MPs call for 'international justice' and 'end to impunity' in Sri Lanka

Read the full joint statement here.