‘Bombs rolling in the air’ - Remembering the Navaly church massacre

On this day 29 years ago, the Sri Lankan air force dropped 13 bombs on St Peter’s Church in Navaly. More than 140 sheltering Tamils, who were encouraged by the military to seek refuge at the church, were killed on the spot. At least 13 children were amongst the dead, with many more succumbing to injuries later as the local hospital was swamped with the wounded.

Meet the British Tamils running to become UK Members of Parliament

With the 2024 UK General Election set to take place on July 4, more British Tamils than ever before have been named as candidates with a range of Britain’s political parties. The Tamil Guardian caught up with the candidates this month, as they vie to become one of the UK’s first-ever British Tamil parliamentarians.

UK parties discuss sanctions and taking Sri Lanka to the ICC at first ever British Tamil hustings

Ahead of Britain’s general election on 4 July, representatives from the Conservatives, Labour and Green Party addressed the first-ever British Tamil hustings, as they all pledged to work towards justice and accountability for mass atrocities in Sri Lanka. The event, hosted by the Tamil Guardian and British Tamil Alliance, took place in Westminster, London last week, as party representatives laid out their vision for the country and shared commitment to the British Tamil community. Deputy Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell of the Conservative Party, Shadow Minister for Asia Catherine West of...

Labour Party reiterates pledges to Tamils and calls to refer Sri Lanka to ICC

Senior figures within the Labour Party addressed an event to mark Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day at the Houses of Parliament this month, where they reiterated pledges to British Tamils and called for Sri Lanka to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Eelam Tamil rights activist wins Korean human rights prize

The 2024 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights by the South Korean May 18 Memorial Foundation has been awarded to Tamil women's rights activist Suganthini Mathiyamuthan Thangaras. Suganthini, who is with the "Amara" organization , has been fighting for the rights and empowerment of war-affected women in Tamil Eelam against the repression and suffering caused by the Sri Lankan government and its security forces. She is a survivor of sexual violence and of the 2009 Mullivaikkal genocide. “She stands as a symbol of courage and hope for the numerous women who have lost everything to the military,” said...

Tamils gather at Mullivaikkal to mark 15 years since genocide

Thousands of Tamils have gathered in Mullivaikkal, Mullaitivu, the area where tens of thousands were massacred by the Sri Lankan government in the final days of the armed conflict fifteen years ago.

15 years today - A massacre in Mullivaikkal

The Sri Lankan military overruns the last remaining ‘No Fire Zone’. TamilNet receives a final phone call before it loses all communication with its correspondents in the field.

US Congress members welcome historic resolution calling for Tamil Eelam independence referendum

Members of the US Congress reiterated their support for a landmark resolution this week, calling for an independence referendum for Eelam Tamils and recognising the genocide committed against them by the Sri Lankan state. Shortly after introducing the resolution and speeches on the Congress floor, members addressed an event at the Library of Congress. Over 100 Tamils from across the United States and around the world were in attendance to mark the occasion.

US Congress resolution calls for Tamil Eelam independence referendum

A landmark resolution was introduced to the US Congress calling on the United States to work towards an independence referendum for Eelam Tamils and recognise the genocide committed against them by the Sri Lankan state. The resolution, introduced by Representative Wiley Nickel, is the first of its kind to be brought to the US Congress. It comes as Tamils marked 15 years since the Mullivaikkal genocide this week, with May 18 commemorated as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day worldwide. The resolution calls for the “nonrecurrence of past violence, including the Tamil Genocide, by supporting the...

'It is a genocidal war' - Father Francis Joseph from inside the No Fire Zone

On May 10, 2009, Catholic Priest Father Francis Joseph wrote to the Pope from inside the No Fire Zone, calling on the Church to break its silence on the massacre of Tamils.

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