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TYO UK and Tamil university societies call on UK government to recognise Tamil genocide

The Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO) -UK and 24 Tamil university societies call on the UK government to recognise the Tamil genocide and refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court (ICC). 

In a joint statement, marking the 12th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, they said: 

“Despite the passing of twelve years the perpetrators and architects of the Tamil genocide remain free shielded from justice and being held accountable for their heinous acts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.”

“The Sri Lankan state’s genocide on the Eelam Tamils reached its height in May of 2009. The failure of international bodies and institutions to prevent genocide of the Tamil people resulted in one of the most heinous genocides of the 21st century,” they added. 

The statement comes as Tamils in the North-East and across the diaspora mark 12 years since the massacre at Mullivaikkal, where tens of thousands were killed in a genocidal military offensive by the state which indiscriminately shelled hospitals and schools. 

The organisations made the following calls to the UK government: 

1) Recognise the ongoing genocide of Eelam Tamils perpetrated by the Sri Lankan state;

2) Supporting the Referral of Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court or the creation of an ad-hoc Tribunal that will investigate the charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes levelled at the Sri Lankan state;

3) Supporting a political solution that will address the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil nation based on their right to self-determination.

Tamil society signatories are:

Aston Tamil Society, Cambridge Tamil Society, Essex Tamil Society, Birmingham Tamil Society, City Tamil Society, Hertfordshire Tamil Society, Brunel Tamil Society, Coventry Tamil Society, Keele Tamil Society, Kings' College London Tamil Society, London School of Economics Tamil Society, Queen Mary Tamil Society, Leicester Tamil Society, Loughborough Tamil Society, Liverpool Tamil Society, Nottingham Tamil Society, Royal Holloway Tamil Society, Southampton Tamil Society, Surrey Tamil Society, Sussex Tamil Society, Tamil Student Initiative, University of East Anglia Tamil Society, Warwick Tamil Society and York Tamil Society.

Read the full statement here

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