Tamils in UK Condemn Sri Lankan Presence at Olympics Opening Ceremony

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presence in London was rumoured, but not confirmed.

(LONDON TamilNet) - Protesting against the participation of Sri Lankan athletes and the presence of the Sri Lankan delegation for the 2012 London Olympics, Eezham Tamils in the UK gathered in hundreds at Aspen Way, London on Friday, expressing their opposition to the legitimacy given to the Sri Lankan state that is accused of committing genocide.

Sources in London, citing the British police, said that the Sri Lankan delegation did not attend the opening ceremony out of choice. However, the delegation invited by the IOC, were not compelled by the UK authorities not to attend.

Speaking to TamilNet, Sasithar Maheswaran from the TCC-UK said “The British government ought to take note of the sentiments expressed repeatedly by the Tamils on the streets. An EU wide travel ban against current and previous leaders who have committed the crime of genocide against the Eezham Tamils is long overdue.”

“While these protests show that the UK allows freedom of speech and right to demonstrate, their repeated occurrences with respect to the credibility given to Sri Lanka also highlight UK’s disregard for the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide,” he added.

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s presence in London was rumoured, but not confirmed.

Another protest happened near Marshgate lane, near the main entrance to the Olympics Park. However, the demonstrators had to assemble 200 yards before the promised venue as the police prevented them citing security reasons.

Tamils also gathered at the site in Stratford where Gobi Sivanthan is entering his 6th day of hunger strike, to convey solidarity with the youth activist’s protest.

Sivanthan, who has undertaken the hunger strike with five demands with special attention to the “ongoing genocidal land grabs”, called for a UN referendum among the Eezham Tamils as a nation to exercise sovereignty over their homeland.

“Eezham Tamils are denied their rightful place in global celebrations such as the Olympics because a self-serving world order is determined to assist the Sinhala nation to commit the ultimate crime of genocide against us,” Sivanthan told TamilNet.

Separately, conveying solidarity with Sivanthan’s demands and remembering Black July, a demonstration was also held at Lausanne in Switzerland on Friday.

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romesh July 29, 2012 7:46 pm (Pacific time)

srilanka was the first democracy to be almost overrun by a group of ruthless terrorists. i'm all for people who stand up injustice. srilanka was saved by these crims. the acts of ethnic cleansing and mass murders were committed by the Tamil tigers. there is overwhelming evidence for this.i find it hard to sympthise with the tigers since their hands are tained with blood

Tim King: As usual Romesh you are completely full of it, does the GoSL pay you well? I hope so.

July 29, 2012 2:17 pm (Pacific time)

Editor: I agree with your comment. For instance: I am open for hispanics to come to the U.S.,I think their culture adds to the community overall, but when I mentioned a decade ago that the mexicans should fight against the tyranny of their government instead of running to another country, I was called racist. My kids are 1/4 hispanic by the way. I am now watching the mexicans protest and fight back, and I say to myself "they should have done this ten years ago when I mentioned it" But I am racist so whatever huh? I'm impressed when people stand up for their rights, it is a good thing to do.

serenjustice July 29, 2012 9:29 am (Pacific time)

YEAH STAND UP FOR TERRORISTS!! Who were "rightful" enough to muder a buss ful of innocent young monks. Love how London's letting people rally up for a cause that supports a deadly terrorist group under the "pretense" of an innocent rebel facade. I have seen better theatricals at a primary school play.

Editor Their friends and loved ones were murdered by terrorists, you have the roles reversed.

serenejustice July 29, 2012 9:22 am (Pacific time)

YEAH STAND UP FOR TERRORISTS! who have the guts to murder bus full off innocent young monks! Even my tamil friends agree that sri lanka is better off with the end of the war.

Editor: You are full of it, another Sinhala racist, your Tamil friends eh?

For 30 yrs people were suffering worthlessly, and senseless over a piece of mud...oh sure bring out the "facade of a genocide" under the pretense of gaining land and access to a seaport.

Editor: The facts are on the table, the history is know, and you are writing fiction.

Sure the foreigners will fall quickly for any theatrical with a board labeled "genocide".

Editor: 160,000 people disappeared, no big deal to you because you aren't one of them. .

Let's access the bigger picture shall we. I bet half of those carrying the boards have either never been to sri lanka or hasn't been in sri lanka in years. More or less, most of the kids of the terrorist group's hierachy goes to boarding school in london, amid all the luxury, while they kidnapped and used the poor Tamil's living in jaffna in the war. The Tamils who actually "suffered" are actually serene with the peace.

Editor: I resent your placing suffering in quotes, you are just an agent of the GoSL.

concerned July 28, 2012 10:54 pm (Pacific time)

These bunch of sad lunatics with flags of guns and bullets are at it again. Get a life. If you are in Enland, live like the english and integrate into the English society. Stop thinking monoethnic and racist.

Editor: What part of the Tamil struggle don't you understand? They were massacred and commemorating and refusing to forget. People who forget the suffering of their own are fairly worthless and self centered wouldn't you say? I'm impressed when people stand up for their rights, it is a good thing to do.

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Tamils in UK Condemn Sri Lankan Presence at Olympics Opening Ceremony

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