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| Photograph from uktamilnews.com |
Tamil protesters brought the Champions Trophy semi-final India vs Sri Lanka to a halt yesterday after the pitch was invaded on two occasions by protesters carrying Tamil Eelam flags and placards.
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| Photograph NDTV Sports |
The first protester ran on, carrying a placard reading '40,000 Commonwealth Citizens massacred by Rajapaksa' with a Tamil Eelam flag draped around his shoulders, and dodged stewards for quite some time before he was rugby tackled to the floor.
Later in the afternoon, up to 6 protesters carrying the Tamil Eelam flag invaded the pitch, suspending play once again.
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The pitch invasions took place as hundreds of Tamils joined activists from the 'Boycott Sri Lankan Cricket' campaign to stage a demonstration outside Swalec stadium in Cardiff calling on countries to suspend sporting ties with Sri Lanka, and support a call for an international, independent investigation into the mass atrocities of 2009.
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| Photograph Tamil Guardian |
Following the attacks on young Tamil #BoycottLKA activists by Sri Lankan cricket fans outside the Oval on Monday, a palpable sense of outrage and seething anger remained apparent within the wider Tamil protesters.
Anxious to avoid a repeat of Monday's violence against the protesters, police officers were careful to keep the Sri Lankan cricket fans away from the Tamil protesters, who were stood directly opposite the main entrance to the stadium, by channeling Sri Lankan fans through another exit.
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| Photograph Tamil Guardian |
An official from the South Wales police force told Tamil Guardian yesterday that two individuals had been arrested. Activists report that further arrests were made later in the day, including that of two Tamil males.
Meanwhile, the assaulted #BoycottLKA activists, with bruises still apparent, carried on with their awareness campaign undeterred.
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| Photographs Tamil Guardian |
After the match, #BoycottLKA activists caught up with the legendary Indian cricketer, Sunil Gavaskar, at the end of the match to discuss their concerns about the on-going genocide of Tamils in the North-East of the island of Sri Lanka.
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| Photographs Tamil Guardian |
Meanwhile several protestors had entered the stadium with placards, Eelam flags and leaflets, distributing them amongst the thousands of spectators, many of whom stopped to take photos with them.
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Responses from Indian cricket fans, many intrigued after witnessing the pitch invasions, had been particularly warm all day, said the activists to the Tamil Guardian.
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| Photographs Tamil Guardian | |
Sri Lanka lost the game to India, who will play England in the final on Sunday.
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| Photograph Tamil Guardian |
Speaking to Tamil Guardian last night, one of the organisers Thusiyan, reflected on the campaign this year:
"It's over for now, but we're already planning for the next time Sri Lanka plays in the UK. Tamils having been protesting against the inclusion of Sri Lanka in international cricket for decades.. In fact, the first time Tamil protesters invaded a pitch was before I was even born!"
"It's definitely been a very eventful campaign.. for good and bad reasons! We are in close touch with the police regarding the violence that happened on Monday, and are keen that those responsible for the violence are prosecuted."
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| Photographs Tamil Guardian |