Tamils mark 'Black Day' across Eelam as Sri Lanka celebrates Independence Day

Protests were held across the North-East today as Sri Lanka's 77th Independence Day was marked as a 'Black Day' by Eelam Tamils.

Demanding justice for the genocide of Tamils and the right to self-determination, the largest of these protests were seen in Batticaloa, Jaffna and Kilinochchi as thousands of people took to the streets carrying black flags and banners. 

"The declaration of a Black Day by Tamils is a grim reminder that we lost our political freedom 77 years ago. It was also the day of Sinhala hegemonic rule imposed on Tamils", said a statement released by the Association for Relatives of the Enforced Disappearances (ARED).

It went on to detail how Tamil politicians had protested for decades, peacefully, for justice but the demands were met with military repression and state terrorism. Sinhala leaders have over time promised change for Tamils but those promises have not seen the light of day, the statement added.

Kilinochchi

 

In Kilinochchi, the Northern and Eastern Disappeared Association were joined by Members of Parliament Sivagnanam Shritharan, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, and Selvaraja Kajendran, as well as businessmen and members of various civil organizations.

The protesters put forward the following demands:

1. International justice for enforced disappearances.

2. Immediate release of Tamil political prisoners.

3. An immediate halt to Buddhist Sinhala colonisation.

4. Immediate cessation of ongoing land grabs in the Tamil homeland.

5. Immediate halt to the appropriation of Tamil homeland resources.

6. Immediate withdrawal of the military from the Tamil homeland.

7. International inquiry into the Tamil genocide.

8. Stop the intimidation of civil activists.

9. Stop the harassment of journalists.

10. Return of occupied land.

11. Recognition of our rights to homeland, nationhood, and political self-determination.

12. Recognition of the North and East as the Tamil homeland.

13. International recognition of the Vadukkoddai Resolution.

14. An internationally overseen referendum in the Tamil homeland to determine its future, in accordance with international norms.

Black flag in the black day protest Black day protest in Kilinochchi and Batticaloa

 

Black day protest in Kilinochchi and Batticaloa

Black day protest in Kilinochchi and Batticaloa

Black day protest in Kilinochchi and Batticaloa

Black day protest in Kilinochchi and Batticaloa

Black day protest in Kilinochchi and Batticaloa

 

Batticaloa

The protest in Batticaloa saw the participation of the three district leaders from Trincomalee, Amparai and Batticaloa. Relatives from the Families of the Enforced Disappeared Association, as well as G. Sreenesan, Member of Parliament and the parliamentary group spokesperson of the Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), former MP P. Ariyanethiran, civil society activists, and a large number of the public also participated.

However, due to a court injunction obtained through the Batticaloa Police Headquarters, this protest was delayed and eventually forced to start at the Siththi vinayagar temple in Sengaladi.

Black day protest in Kilinochchi and Batticaloa

Black day protest in Kilinochchi and Batticaloa

 

Nallur, Jaffna

Meanwhile in Nallur, Jaffna, several Tamils gathered outside the memorial to Lt Col Thileepan to wave black flags in protest.

Uniformed Sri Lankan police officers watched on from a nearby rickshaw.

 

 

University of Jaffna

Students at the University of Jaffna also held a protest at the main campus.

The Sri Lankan national flag that was flying on the main flagpole of the university was lowered by the students, and a black flag was hoisted in its place. At the same time, black flags were also flown around the university campus.

Black day protest in Kilinochchi and Batticaloa

 

Jaffna University students protest over black day

Jaffna University students protest over black day

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