Protest Draws Attention to Plight of Eelam Tamil Detainees in Tamil Nadu

Protest outside Indian High Commission, India Place, London, WC2B 4NA, on 3rd of July between 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Members of the May Seventeen Movement

(LONDON) - A pair of detention centers have gained the notorious title of 'India's Guantanamo'. Chengaqlpattu, and Poonthamalli prison camps, are viewed by a Sri Lankan refugee advocacy group, May Seventeen Movement, as illegal refugee detention prisons.

Members of the May Seventeen movement are protesting to improve their status as disconnected refugees. The Eelam Tamil detainees are conducting a hunger strike in Chengalpattu camp and some are in critical condition. They are asking India to recognize their rights as refugees under international law.

The Tamil Coordinating Committee has issued a news release calling attention to a hunger strike and quest for justice on behalf of these Sri Lankan Tamil refugees.

Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who were trying to flee the genocidal regime and ended up at the Indian and Tamilnadu State Government's oppressive hands.

Approx. 27 refugees are still under illegal custody with no trial expected for years.

Sexual harassment, physical and verbal abuse by the officials are comment and regular. These poor people are denied international refugee rights. The May Seventeen movement is requesting solidarity from all human activists in their struggle.

Londoners have a chance to help these detainees by supporting their cause at the protest this week.
It will be held outside of:
Indian High Commission,
India Place,
London, WC2B 4NA,
on 3rd of July from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Nearest tube stations: Temple and Holborn.

The Tamil Coordinating Committee, says it is due to the actions of these Sri Lankan government, that so many Eelam Tamils lost their lives and relationships. However these survivors are seeing continuing suffering in India.

They ask the Indian Government to immediately intervene and discharge these people from the refugee camps and to assist them after they are released from the camp. The group can be reached at may17@mail.com, the phone number is +91 9600781111

Partly translated from Hindi with Google Translations and edited by Tim King

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