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.
The submission was organised by the International Centre for the Prevention and Prosecution of Genocide (ICPPG) and took place amidst a series of global events commemorating Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. Held annually on May 18, the day marks atrocities of 2009, during which tens of thousands of Tamil civilians were killed by the Sri Lankan military in the final weeks alone, events that are increasingly recognised as a genocide.
The petition was signed by survivors of torture and sexual violence at the hands of Sri Lankan security forces, families of the forcibly disappeared, and ICPPG volunteers who have long campaigned for international action. It calls for concrete measures from the British government to ensure accountability for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during and after the war.
The petition outlines the following key demands:
1. The United Kingdom must officially recognise the genocide committed against Tamils in Sri Lanka.
2. Sri Lanka should be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
3. Travel bans and asset freezes must be imposed on individuals responsible for war crimes against Tamils.
4. War criminals must be barred from holding diplomatic or official positions.
5. The UK must take a leading role in establishing an independent international investigation.
6. Steps must be taken to establish an international tribunal.
7. Recognition of the Tamil genocide.
The petition follows the UK’s recent imposition of sanctions in March 2024 against key Sri Lankan military officials credibly accused of human rights violations.
