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More than 20,000 demonstrators protested in solidarity with Eelam Tamils in Chennai this week, calling for economic sanctions on Sri Lanka.
Protestors from over 150 organisations gathered by Egmore Rajaratnam stadium with placards and banners, chanting slogans calling for an independent Tamil Eelam.
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V Prabhakaran from the Tamil Youth and Students Federation told the Tamil Guardian,
“The protest delivers a strong message to the international community that Tamil Nadu is in full support with Tamil Eelam.”
The protestors, who demanded that Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa be blocked from addressing the United Nations General Assembly, also burnt several effigies of Rajapaksa throughout the rally. Rajapaksa subsequently addressed the UN, where he condemned “ill conceived agendas” from the UN Human Rights Council which launched an investigation in to mass atrocities on the island this year.
Amongst the demands made were calls for the UN investigative team to be allowed in to India and for Tamil Nadu fishermen to be protected from attacks from the Sri Lankan navy.