TYO activists raise public awareness in London (above, top), Sydney (below) and Paris (far below). Tamil youths in London, Paris and Sydney marked the anniversary of ‘ Black July ’ in recent days with activities to raise public awareness of the mass killings of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Members of the Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO) in Sydney and London handed out leaflets at central locations, while in Paris they organised blood donations and participated in a march. On Friday Tamil youths in Sydney handed out leaflets and spoke to members of the public passing through Martin Place, an iconic...
British Tamils held a candle light vigil Saturday evening opposite the Prime Minister’s official residence, 10 Downing Street, to remember victims of Sri Lanka’s 1983 ‘Black July’ anti-Tamil pogrom. Six days of mob violence, organised by ruling politicians and abetted by Sri Lanka’s security forces, which began on July 23 that year killed over three thousand people, and emptied the capital, Colombo, of Tamils. On Saturday, a thousand British Tamils dressed in black and carrying black flags and Eelam national flags, held a vigil between 6 and 9 pm, with lit candles and banners commemorating...
Activists from the Tamil Youth Organization (TYO) in Canada extended their “G for Genocide Campaign” this week, going door to door in Toronto’s North York region to raise awareness of Sri Lanka’s mass killings of Tamils. Activists handed out copies of the recent Channel 4 documentary, ‘Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields’ to members of the public and collected signatures for a petition calling for international action. “We are meeting Canadians in their homes, informing them of Sri Lanka’s atrocities and abuses, as well as international inaction, and encouraging them to sign a petition today and to...
A charity dinner held last weekend by the Tamil Diaspora in Malaysia raised a whopping million Ringgit (US$330,000) to support the humanitarian efforts of Tamil Forum Malaysia (TFM). The funds will be used to support Tamils affected by the war in Sri Lanka, as well as Tamil refugees in Malaysia. The second half of the sum was raised on the night. (above) Malaysian politician Dr S Samy Vellu (r, seated) with GTF President Rev S J Emmanuel (l, seated) Children staged cultural performances at the well attended dinner at the prestigious members-only Golf Club. Malaysian politicians, academics,...
“Are you shopping at Big Bazaar or Mega Mart or Spencers? Check the product label. If it is from Sri Lanka, it is made of the blood of Tamils,” reads a pamphlet distributed by activists of ‘May 17 Movement’ in Chenai, Tamil Nadu. On Saturday, members of the ‘May 17 Movement’ stood outside popular shopping malls to garner the support of the upper class for their campaign against genocide of Tamils in Sri Lanka. The members, clad in white T-shirts, on which were printed slogans highlighting the human rights violation in Lanka, held placards which read - boycott Sri Lankan products, cricket...
Sri Lankan embassy officials attempt to counter Tamils protesting against war crimes with a display of their own purporting to show how the military saved Tamil civilians. One day each year foreign embassies and some government institutions in Berlin throw their doors open to the general public to show their premises and promote their tourism potentials. This year the annual ‘All Nations Festival’, which has been organised for over decade by the German Foreign Minister, was held July 2. However, Sri Lanka’s efforts this year were confronted by an uncomfortable reality – German Tamils...
An athletics meet for students from Tamil schools across a number of Germany's states was held in Munich on Saturday 2 July, pathivu.com reported. The event began at 10am with the raising of the Tamil Eelam flag and the lighting of the ceremonial flame. Participating students marched in with their school colours ahead of the races, long jumps and other athletic events Winning students were awarded points along with medals, with those schools with the highest number of points also being awarded victory cups. Krefeld Tamil School won the event with 555 points, Meerbusch Tamil School came second...
The Arts and Culture Council of the Canadian Tamil Youth Alliance (CTYA) presented its much anticipated annual dance competition on Sunday June 19 at the prestigious John Bassett Theatre. ‘Thaalam’, the interuniversity and college dance competition featuring youth dancers from across Canada, and was hosted with various Tamil Students Associations (TSAs) from academic institutions across the country. Teams put on energetic and colourful performances, cheered on by supportive contingents from their respective institutions. A common theme was the celebration of the Tamil identity and homeland. “...
Tamil activists leafleted Saturday outside the Rose Bowl cricket ground in Hampshire where Sri Lanka is playing the third and final test match against England, to raise further awareness of war crimes in the final months of the island’s war and to build support for a cricket boycott . Activists of the Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO-UK) set up banners opposite the giant wickets at the ground’s entrance, and handed out leaflets and chatted with arriving spectators. Amid press reports of poor ticket sales and restricted capacity for the Rose Bowl test match, the TYO staged a short and...
British Tamil sports teams competed at the 20th annual sports festival on May 29 for trophies in football, volleyball and netball. The event was hosted by the British Tamil Sports League (BTSL), which took it over from the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO). The BTSL , formed in 2004 to manage leagues for Tamil Diaspora football tournaments, now also conducts those for volleyball and netball. The British Tamil Sports Council ( BTSC ), whose chairman presented winners with their prizes at the day’s end, is another. Many of the teams competing trace their heritage, reflected in their names...