British Tamil students from across the United Kingdom have released a joint statement, denouncing the attack on the secretary of the Jaffna University Student Union.
In a statement released on Saturday, student organisations deplored the “brutal act of violence that seeks to terrorise Tamil youth”, after Paramalingam Tharsananth was assaulted by a gang, alleged to have been linked with Sri Lankan army intelligence.
The student was due to speak at a remembrance event in Jaffna University, marking three years since the massacre at Mullaivaikkal.
Signed by 12 British university Tamil societies and the Tamil Youth Organisation UK, the statement goes on to say,
"The attack marks yet another attempt by the Sri Lankan state, through intimidation, aggression and sheer violence, to deny Tamils the very basic of rights – the right to mourn our dead.
Justice is paramount. However, reflecting on over sixty years of genocide faced by the Tamil nation, we view this attack as another in that continuum. We note with dismay and abhorrence that it will no doubt be met with injustice and impunity.
Our thoughts are with our brothers and sisters in the North-East who continue to face this genocide today."
See the full statement and list of signatories below.
British Tamil youth condemn the attack on Paramalingam Tharsananth - the secretary of Jaffna University Student Union
"On this day of remembrance, as Tamils around the world come together to mourn the genocide of 2009, a brutal attack was launched on a Tamil student at the University of Jaffna.
Paramalingam Tharsananth, a third year student at the Faculty of Art, and the Secretary of the Jaffna University Student Union, was attacked with iron bars by a gang widely believed to be linked to the Sri Lankan Army's intelligence unit. He has been admitted to hospital with serious head injuries.
Defying the Sri Lankan military's orders prohibiting the marking of the massacre at Mullaivaikkal, Paramalingam Tharsananth, along with his fellow students had organised a remembrance event at the university, and was due to address it, before he was attacked.
We the undersigned Tamil youth and student organisations of the UK, condemn and deplore this brutal act of violence that seeks to terrorise Tamil youth in the North-East of the island of Sri Lanka.
The attack marks yet another attempt by the Sri Lankan state, through intimidation, aggression and sheer violence, to deny Tamils the very basic of rights – the right to mourn our dead.
Justice is paramount. However, reflecting on over sixty years of genocide faced by the Tamil nation, we view this attack as another in that continuum. We note with dismay and abhorrence that it will no doubt be met with injustice and impunity.
Our thoughts are with our brothers and sisters in the North-East who continue to face this genocide today."
Brunel University Tamil Society
City University Tamil Society
International Tamil Society Imperial College London
International Tamil Society St George's, University of London
King's College London Tamil Society
Queen Mary University of London Tamil Society
Middlesex University Tamil Society
London Metropolitan University Tamil Society
London South Bank University Tamil Society
School of Oriental and African Studies Tamil Society
Tamil Youth Organisation - UK
University College London Tamil Society
University of Hertfordshire Tamil Society
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