Tamils in Australia demand accountability and justice on Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day

Tamils in Australia commemorated the Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day with a remembrance event in Sydney. 

300 Tamils gathered outside Sydney Town Hall to demand accountability and justice for the massacres at Mullivaikkal. 

"We came together not just to mourn, but to resist, to remember, and to demand justice," the Tamil Refugee Council said. 

Speakers at the event included, Reeta Arulruban, a survivor and witness to the genocide at Mullivaikkal. Arulruban gave an account of what she experienced in those final months of the conflict. 

David Shoebridge, Senator for NSW, expressed his support for the Eelam Tamil struggle. He called for justice, protection of refugees and the recognition of genocide. 

Shovan, an activist from the Students for Palestine, drew parallels between Gaza and Tamil Eelam, highlighting the occupation and violence the Palestinians and Eelam Tamils face.

"We will keep speaking until justice is done. We are not victims - we are a nation rising," said Renuga Inpakumar, the spokesperson of the Tamil Refugee Council. 

Kanji - a porridge of rice and water - was served at the end of the event. Serving kanji has become a form of memorialisation for the Tamil nation. 

See more photographs below: 

 

 

 

 

On the same day, another event took place at the Blacktown High School in Sydney auditorium where thousands came to commemorate Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day.

The remembrance began at 5:30 p.m. with the ceremonial lighting of the common flame by Balasingham Baskaran, brother of Balasingham Mukundan, known as Captain Ilango.

The Australian Aboriginal flag was raised by Tamil Coordination Committee activist Navendrarasa Kalirasa, the Australian national flag by New South Wales MLC Anthony D’Adams, and the Tamil Eelam national flag by Mrs. Tamilnila Yogasingham, daughter of Captain Yogan, Yogasingham Azhagudurai. The lighting of the memorial torch followed, led by Tamilselvan Selvakumar, brother of Captain Alikumaran, who survived the horrors of Mullivaikkal as a 14-year-old.

Youth representatives joined in lighting memorial flames, and a public altar served as the focal point of the evening, with attendees lining up to offer private prayers and floral tributes in solemn silence.

A moving dance performance was followed by a bilingual presentation by young Tamils, who eloquently narrated the painful and unbroken history of Tamil Eelam, alternating between Tamil and English to engage a wide audience. 

Tamil Australian children then delivered short but powerful speeches, recounting the tragic events of Mullivaikkal and its enduring legacy on the Tamil nation. 

A range of dignitaries addressed the gathering, offering messages of solidarity. 

These included New South Wales state councillor Hugh McDermott (MP for Prospect), Warren Eric Kirby (MP for Riverstone), Senator David Shoebridge of the Greens, Councillor Damien Aitkins, and Kurdish community representative Ms. Dilvan Bircan. Each expressed support for the Tamil struggle for justice and remembrance.

The programme concluded at 7:30 p.m. with the ceremonial lowering of the national flags and the recitation of a collective pledge affirming the community’s commitment to justice and memory.

In keeping with tradition, Mullivaikkal kanji - a simple porridge symbolising the suffering and perseverance of Tamil civilians trapped in the war zone - was served to all attendees. 

 

Hundreds also gathered in Melbourne, where tributes were paid to the tens of thousands of Tamils massacred in Mullivaikkal.

The programme commenced at 6:00 p.m. and was led by young activist Ms. Laksika Kannan. The communal flame was first lit by Mr. Ratnam Krishanth, a survivor of the Mullivaikkal genocide. This was followed by the ceremonial raising of flags: the Australian national flag by social activist Mr. Senthilnathan, and the Tamil Eelam national flag by Tamil Coordination Committee activist Mr. Ramesh Bala.

The remembrance flame was lit by Ms. Pulaparithi Kamalraj, who was just two years old during the 2009 massacre and survived the horrors of the conflict. Attendees then lined up to lay floral tributes at the memorial, offering their respects to those who were killed.

The tributes were followed by a devotional dance performance by students from the Melbourne Dance School, choreographed by dance instructor Mrs. Meena Ilangumaran. Ms. Chanuja Sureshkumar then presented a moving poem recalling the memories and anguish of Mullivaikkal.

The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Vasanthan Anandaraja, Chief Coordinator of the Tamil Coordination Committee, who reflected on the ongoing significance of May 18 as a day of collective mourning and political resolve. He emphasised the importance of preserving memory, resisting ongoing denial, and continuing the struggle for justice and Tamil self-determination.

The event concluded at 7:30 p.m. with the ceremonial lowering of the flags and the collective recitation of a pledge, reaffirming the community’s dedication to truth, justice, and remembrance.

As is tradition, kanji was distributed to all attendees.