03 March 2009
The United Nations Agreement on Human Rights states, amongst other things, that individuals have the “right to life”, “the right to equality before the law” and “the freedom of assembly and association”.
The United Nations Agreement on Human Rights forbids, amongst other things, “torture and inhumane degrading treatment”, “arbitrary arrest and detention” and “hatred based on race, religion, national origin, or language”.
Sri Lanka, however, being one of the 192 countries of the United Nations, has broken its agreement to abide by the Geneva Convention, by mercilessly launching a massive military campaign to exterminate every Tamil in Sri Lanka, for one reason and one reason only; they are Tamil.
Since the start of 2009, more than 3000 Tamils, most of who are innocent civilians, have been executed. All the hospitals in the areas of conflict have been fired upon, several times, destroying them and killing already wounded patients who went to seek medical help, as well as doctors and nurses. The small number of surviving doctors living amongst the civilians have set up make-shift hospitals in schools, temples and churches, but without adequate medical facilities.
The Sri Lankan government is doing everything in its power to thin down the Tamil population, including refusing the access of medical aid and food into the war zones and banning international aid groups, such as the ICRC, from providing essential care to the injured and dying Tamils.
As the genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka continues to escalate, we cannot just sit by as Tamils of the international community and watch our brothers and sisters back at home being butchered on a daily basis.
As British Tamils, we have a duty to do all we can to stop the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka and to save our people. After attempting many different strategies to bring an end to this horrific war with little success, international Tamils have decided to chance their tactics and launch an attack on the Sri Lankan economy.
Each Sri Lankan product that is purchased contributes towards financing the arms and ammunitions that are being used to slay our Tamil people back at home. As Tamils, by buying these products, we are contributing towards the complete annihilation of our own people.
Consequently, to cause a downturn in the Sri Lankan economy, all Sri Lankan products must be boycotted for the next 100 days. Listed below are a few products which must be avoided:
1. Food items by Larich, Maliban and Nestle milk products
2. Food items that are imported by Sri Lankan Tamils and packed in Britain.
3. Garments made in Sri Lankan and sold in supermarkets such as Marks and Spencer and footwear including Bata
4. Products made from rubber and coconut
5. All forms of tea grown in Ceylon.
6. Medicinal products
7. Fish, fish products and vegetables
2. Food items that are imported by Sri Lankan Tamils and packed in Britain.
3. Garments made in Sri Lankan and sold in supermarkets such as Marks and Spencer and footwear including Bata
4. Products made from rubber and coconut
5. All forms of tea grown in Ceylon.
6. Medicinal products
7. Fish, fish products and vegetables
Investors are also being requested to stop purchasing bonds, treasury bills and shares in corporations as well as saving their earnings in Sri Lankan banks. This will directly affect the foreign reserve that the Sri Lankan government uses to by weapons from other countries in its genocidal war on Tamils.
Before buying any product, consumers are advised to ask the retailer if the product is from Sri Lanka. If it is, buying it is not only costing the consumer money, but is also costing Tamil lives.
Many retailers are willing to cooperate but are asking for the consumers to conduct the boycott, and then they too will stop buying Sri Lankan products. We appeal to the few importers of Sri Lankan products to the UK to give this matter their urgent consideration and seek alternative sources of similar products in South Asia.
This appeal, if successful, could bring down the Sri Lankan economy and salvage thousands of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Every Sri Lankan product that is bought by each individual consumer is serving to help the Singhalese to defeat the Tamils so every British Tamil must make these diminutive sacrifices to pressurise the Sri Lankan government to stop the war.
Let us all work together as a community, the Tamil community, to ensure that soon, very soon, our people back at home can live with the serenity, self - respect and equality that they deserve.
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