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.

This year marks 16 years since the genocide perpetrated by the Sri Lankan military against Tamils trapped in the government designates 'No Fire Zones'. 169,796 people remain unaccounted for. The Sri Lankan government deliberately restricted access to necessary food and medical supplies in the war zone and created inhumane conditions for internally displaced Tamils in de facto internment camps. 

See our live X coverage of the event here.

The event was opened with a moment of silence to remember the Tamil victims killed by the Sri Lankan state in the final phase of the armed conflict.

Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West, said “the scale of human right abuses has not stopped” in Sri Lanka.

Thomas noted that the UK government sanctioned Sri Lankan war criminals earlier this year but there is an “awful lot more” that needs to be done for justice.

Uma Kumaran, MP for Stratford and Bow, recounted how tens of thousands of Tamils brought “London to a standstill” in 2009 in protest of Sri Lanka’s genocide against the Tamils trapped in Mullivaikkal.

Kumaran added that the UK government took a “significant step” in sanctioning senior Sri Lankan officials earlier this year. She went on to say that she will continue to press for Sri Lankan perpetrators to be referred to the International Criminal Court.

She also noted that Tamil asylum seekers who were stuck in Diego Garcia for over 1,000 days, were granted refuge by the UK government. The settlement was granted after years of complex legal battles and struggles in conditions that the United Nations sharply criticised. 

Louie French, MP for Old Bexley and Sidcup, expressed his support for the Tamil community and said he will work constructively with the new government to ensure Tamils get justice for the genocide.

Neil Hudson, MP for Epping Forest, said he will work with the UK government to help the Tamil quest for justice and peace.

Siobhain McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Morden, said she remembers the way the Tamil community came together in 2009 to protest Sri Lanka’s bombardment of the No Fire Zones in Mullivaikkal. She added that the UK’s sanctions may seem like a “small step” but it gives hope for more success in the future.

Sen Kandiah, Chair of Tamils of Labour said that the UK’s sanctions are a “first step” in achieving justice and accountability. He said he hopes the government will continue to work on more positive steps. He added that genocidal acts against Tamils have been happening for decades and “without accountability, there can be no peace.”

Mahinthan Sivasubramaniam, the Deputy Prime Minster of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) highlighted that there is "no space for a domestic accountability process" as human rights abusers continue to live "carefree" in Sri Lanka. 

Sivasubramaniam also called on the UK government to take the lead at the UNHRC in drafting a resolution that calls for the referral of Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court. 

Shivaahnee Raveenthiran, Advocacy Officer at PEARL, said that as the lead of the Core Group at the UNHRC, the UK government are in a crucial position in making sure that Sri Lanka is held to account. She called on the UK to push Sri Lanka to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act, return occupied lands and demilitarise the Tamil homeland.

Raveenthiran called on the international community to reject Sri Lanka’s "ineffective domestic mechanisms", including the Office for Missing persons, and the proposed Truth and Reconciliation Commission. 

Raveenthiran went on to urge the UK to take steps to introduce or support resolutions at the Security Council to refer Sri Lanka to the ICC.

Roslyn Rennie, Head of Accountability at Freedom from Torture, said that they still receive referrals from Sri Lanka to this day. She added that an overwhelming majority of their clients are Tamil.

Mathusha of the Tamil Youth Organisation said that the “pain of our people didn’t start in 2009.” She added that the UK government must lead on bringing justice and freedom to the Eelam Tamils.

Yvonne Schofield Campaign Director at the Sri Lanka Campaign for Peace and Justice said that although 16 years have passed since the genocide, “justice remains out of reach”. She noted that Sri Lankan war criminals continue to enjoy impunity which is why international action is essential.