Tamil Nadu politicians called on the Tamil diaspora to mobilize against Sri Lankan president Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s appearance in Scotland, heading a high-level delegation to the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

Seeman, Nedumaran and Vaiko addressed the Tamil community in recorded videos, calling for the President to be held accountable for numerous war crimes committed during the final stages of the armed struggle when Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s served as Defence Secretary under his brother, then-President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Sri Lanka’s military offensive in 2009 stands accused of executing surrendering Tamils, sexual violence and the deliberate shelling of hospitals.

Mass protests are scheduled to take place on Monday, November 1 as Scottish Tamils are in the midst of a widespread publicity campaign calling for Rajapaksa to face justice for genocide.

Seeman

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In his message, Seeman, Chief coordinator of Naam Tamilar Katchi said, “if [Gotabaya Rajapaksa] came and went freely, without any hindrance or resistance it would indicate that the Tamil people have forgotten the massacres of 2009” adding, “we must show him our fierce opposition, that our goal is one, that we will never stop fighting for our liberation.”

“We will never forget our sisters, brothers, children, and parents [...] Isaipriya and Balachandran [...] who were systematically massacred by Gotabaya Rajapaksa and his family dynasty [...] we fight for them.”

“Every year we struggle to knock on the doors of the international community and the hearts of like-minded people to seek justice [...] ahead of Gotabaya’s visit, I ask you to protest.”

Nedumaran 

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Prominent Tamil politician Pazha Nedumaran issued a call for the Tamil diaspora to protest in Glasgow, calling for the President to be held accountable for genocide.

Vaiko

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In his message, Vaiko, General Secretary of MDMK called for accountability against, “Mahinda Rajapaksa, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, Sri Lankan army chiefs Kamal Gunaratne, Jagath Jayasuriya, Sisira Mendis and many others for the genocide that massacred millions of Eelamites.”

“Apart from those who were massacred, what is the status of the tens of thousands of missing Eelam Tamil youth? Are they alive? It remains unknown even to this day,” he said. 

Twelve years since the final stages of the war in 2009, “Sri Lanka continues to commit human abuses, such as kidnapping, unlawful detention and torture.” 

“In this context, we learn that Gotabhaya Rajapaksa was invited to attend the [.COP26] conference in Glasgow.”

“I urge the Eelam Tamils ​​living across Europe to unite in the crusade against Gotabaya.”