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JNU students hold Mullivaikkal vigil, draw parallels between Tamil and Palestinian genocides

Students and activists at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi held a candlelight vigil this May to commemorate the genocide of Tamils in Mullivaikkal, marking the 16th anniversary of the mass atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan state in May 2009.

Petition submitted to UK Prime Minister urging Tamil genocide recognition
On the 16th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal genocide, British Tamil activists submitted a petition to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, calling for the official recognition of the Tamil genocide and urgent steps toward justice and accountability.
British politicians commemorate Tamil genocide in UK Parliament

British politicians commemorated the 16th anniversary of the Tamil genocide at an event at the  Houses of Parliament earlier this month.

Tamil workers at Elephant Pass protest as Sri Lanka reels from salt crisis
Tamil workers at the Elephant Pass Saltworks have entered the second week of protest, demanding redress for poor working conditions and managerial misconduct, as the island faces a severe salt shortage.
Rule of law replaced by rule of the underworld, warns Sinhala extremist

In a stark warning over the deepening lawlessness in Sri Lanka, Wimal Weerawansa, a known Sinhala nationalist and former parliamentarian, has condemned what he describes as how the island's criminal underworld has come to run it.

Tamil fishermen assaulted by Sri Lankan Navy, police refuse to take complaint
A formal complaint has been submitted to the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) following the brutal assault of three Tamil fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy personnel in civilian clothing in the coastal village of Kallaru, located in Tharmapuram, Kilinochchi.
Sri Lankan state resumes push for controversial mineral sand extraction in Mannar
Despite public opposition and election promises, the government has begun steps to permit mineral sand mining in Mannar, sparking local outrage and allegations of betrayal
Public meeting held in Trincomalee over controversial ‘Pooja Bhoomi’ land in Kuchchaveli
A public meeting was held on 26 May 2025 at the auxiliary conference hall in Kuchchaveli, Trincomalee, to address the growing controversy surrounding land designated as “Pooja Bhoomi”, a term often associated with sites earmarked for Buddhist religious use in the Tamil homeland.
Buddha statue installed near historic Murugan Temple sparks outrage in Amparai
The installation of a Buddha statue near the historic Ukantaimalai Murugan Temple in Ampara has sparked public outrage and fears of Buddhisization among the local Hindu community
Sri Lanka revokes controversial land acquisition gazette following Tamil resistance


The Sri Lankan government has revoked a gazette notification that would have enabled the mass appropriation of land across the Tamil homeland, following sustained opposition from Tamil political leaders and civil society.

Jaffna Bar Association calls for unconditional repeal of PTA with no replacement

The Bar Association of Jaffna has issued a firm rebuke of Sri Lanka’s notorious Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), calling not only for its immediate repeal but also rejecting any efforts to repackage repressive legislation under a different guise.

Occupation Watch - 25 May, 2025

Sri Lanka’s military continued to entrench its presence in Tamil civilian life, using tourism, religious festivals, humanitarian aid, and donations to schools to advance Sinhalisation and sustain military occupation across the Tamil homeland.

Batticaloa

Far-right Sinhala nationalists disrupt Tamil Genocide memorial

Rava gang atrocity in negomboA solemn indoor memorial event in Negombo earlier this week to mark the 16th anniversary of the Tamil Genocide was met with hostility as protesters affiliated with the far-right organisation Sinhala Ravaya shouted slogans and hurled abuse at the entrance.

City of Toronto approves motion to build a Tamil Genocide monument in Scarborough

The Toronto City Council unanimously passed a motion on May 22 for the city to work with the Tamil community to build a Tamil Genocide Monument in Scarborough.

The motion was brought forward by Parthi Kandavel, city councillor for Scarborough Southwest, and seconded by fellow councillor Josh Matlow, representing Toronto-St. Paul’s.

Father of LTTE’s first fallen fighter, Lieutenant Shankar, passes away in London
Selvachandran Sinnathurai, the father of Lieutenant Shankar, the first fighter from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to be killed in the Tamil armed struggle, passed away in London earlier this month.
In Pictures - May 17 Movement marks Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day in Chennai
Hundreds of Tamils gathered at Besant Nagar beach in Chennai on 18 May 2025 to mark Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, commemorating the tens of thousands of Tamil civilians massacred by the Sri Lankan state during the final stages of the armed conflict in Mullivaikkal in 2009.

World News

Namibia marks Herero and Nama genocide for first time with memorial day

Prisoners from Herero and Nama tribes

Namibia has held its first Genocide Remembrance Day to commemorate more than 70,000 Herero and Nama people killed by German colonisers in the early 1900s. 

The Herero and Nama genocide, which took place from 1904 to 1908, is described by historians as the first genocide of the 20th Century. 

Far-right Israelis storm Al-Aqsa and UNRWA compound during Jerusalem day march

Al-Aqsa Mosque

Far-right Israelis have stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and a UN facility for Palestinian refugees during the controversial annual “Flag March” which celebrates Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem.

UK signs deal to cede sovereignty of Chagos Islands to Mauritius
DG

Sir Keir Starmer has signed an agreement to hand over sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius in a deal that will cost £101 million per year.

India hails killing of top Maoist leader as activists raise alarm
At least 27 members of India’s Maoist insurgency were killed in Chhattisgarh last week, including senior leader Nambala Keshava Rao, also known as Basavaraju, marking what Indian Home Minister Amit Shah called a “historic breakthrough”. 
China backs Pakistan’s ‘sovereignty’ following Kashmir clash with India
China has reaffirmed its support for Pakistan’s “national sovereignty and territorial integrity” in the wake of one of the most severe military escalations between India and Pakistan in decades, as tensions mount over Kashmir.
UN warns 14,000 babies could die in Gaza in the next 48 hours without aid

UN Tom

The UN's humanitarian chief, Tom Fletcher has said that 14,000 babies could die in the next 48 hours if aid is not let into Gaza.

Libya fighting eases after truce announced

abdulhamid dbeibah sitting


The worst fighting in Tripoli for years calmed down today after the government announced a ceasefire. 

Clashes broke out on Monday night after reports that the leader of the Support and Stability Apparatus (SSA), Abdelghani al-Kikli, was killed. After calming Tuesday morning, the fighting reignited overnight. 

PKK to disband, potentially bringing an end to decades of conflict in Turkiye

Kurdistan Workers Party fighters standing beside each other

PKK, also known as the Kurdistan Workers Party announced plans to disband and disarm, potentially bringing 40 years of conflict with Turkiye to an end. 

UN experts call for international intervention to end genocide in Gaza

gaza

Escalating atrocities in Gaza present an urgent moral crossroads and States must act now to end the violence or bear witness to the annihilation of the Palestinian population in Gaza – an outcome with irreversible consequences for our shared humanity and multilateral order, UN experts warned, demanding immediate international intervention.

Israel to ‘occupy Gaza’ as cabinet approves new intensive Israeli operation

Netanyahu with hand up

The Israeli cabinet has approved plans to expand the war on Gaza and remain in the enclave for an unspecified amount of time. Benjamin Netanyahu said the new offensive will be an intensive military operation aimed at defeating Hamas. 

Netanyahu stated in a video message on X that Gaza’s Palestinian population “will be moved, for its own protection”.

UK in talks with France and Saudi Arabia on recognition of Palestine
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy revealed on Wednesday that the UK is in discussions with France and Saudi Arabia over the recognition of a Palestinian state, ahead of a UN conference in June.
Rwandan arrested in US over genocide charges

DOJ

Faustin Nsabumukunzi, 65, was charged with covering up from US authorities his role as a local leader in Rwanda when the genocide began in 1994. An estimated 800,000 Tutsis were killed during the three-month-long genocide.

DRC seeks to remove former president's immunity over alleged war crimes

Kabila standing at podium in front of flags

Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are seeking to lift the immunity of former President Joseph Kabila so that he can face trial on charges of supporting a rebel uprising in eastern DRC. 

Houthi fighters down $200m worth of US drones

parked reaper drone

In recent weeks Yemen’s Houthi armed group has shot down seven US Reaper drones worth over $200m.

The drones destroyed between 31 March and 22 April mark Washington's most significant material loss. 

Tensions escalate between India and Pakistan following Pahalgam attack
Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated sharply following a deadly attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, on 22 April, which left at least 26 people dead.
Ex-South African Foreign minister urges global reform to enforce ICJ Gaza ruling

Naledi Pandor smiling

Speaking to the Anadolu Agency on Monday, Former South African foreign minister Naledi Pandor renewed urgent calls to reform the United Nations. 

Pandor was the foreign minister when South Africa filed a genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in December 2023.

'Together, we must uphold multilateralism,' says China's Ambassador to India

China’s ambassador to India, Xu Feihong, signalled a renewal of China-India ties, in the aftermath of US-imposed tariffs on countries around the world.

Israel sacks deputy commander over killing of 15 emergency workers in Gaza, denies cover-up

The Israeli military on Sunday announced the dismissal of a deputy commander following an internal investigation into the killing of 15 emergency workers in Gaza on March 23 2025. The investigation found “several professional failures” but denied any attempt to conceal the incident.

Tunisian court hands prison sentences to opposition figures

President Kaid Saeid in front of books

On Saturday, a Tunisian court sentenced dozens of opposition figures on national security charges. 

Forty people were being prosecuted in the trial, which started in March. Over 20 have fled abroad since being charged and have been sentenced in absentia. 

Al-Shabab fighters attack strategic Somalia town

Somali Armed Forces standing

Al-Shabab fighters are claiming to have seized control of Adan Yabaal, a town in central Somalia, on Wednesday. 

Adan Yabaal is situated about 220 kilometres north of Mogadishu and serves as the logistical hub for government forces.