A CRICKET TOUR THAT DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE TAMIL PEOPLE OF SRI LANKA

A CRICKET TOUR THAT DOES NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE TAMIL PEOPLE OF SRI LANKA (ALL PICTURES BY TAMILNET)

Sri Lankan Tamils yesterday (jULY 23 2014) demonstrated outside the stadium in Glascow, Scotland, where the official opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games was held last night. More than a 1 000 Tamils from all over Europe gathered in Glascow to protest against the attendance of the Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapakse, at the official opening ceremony and the participation of the Sri Lankan team in the Commonwealth Games. But Rajapakse did not pitch up because of the embarrasment he would have suffered. The protest by the Tamils was held to highlight the continuing violation of the human rights of Tamils in Sri Lanka and their quest for a referendum to decide their own future. Following the massacre of between 70 000 to 100 000 Tamils by Sri Lankan Government and soldiers in 2009, the plight of Tamils has degenerated with the colonisation and sinhalisation of the Tamil areas in the North and East of the island country over the past five years. The eviction of Tamils from their lands, the rape of women, and the murders of Tamils continues today. The United Nations Human Rights Council is currently investigating the war crimes committed against the Tamil people. The Commission has been initiated by Dr Navi Pillay, the South African lawyer who is the chairperson of the Human Rights Council. SOUTH AFRICAN CRICKET OFFICIALS AND PLAYERS FAIL TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST THE VIOLATION OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OF THE TAMILS IN SRI LANKA It's, therefore, a sad commentary that we in South Africa still continue to have sporting ties with Sri Lanka. The current cricket tour is a clear indication that Cricket SA, its officials, and players care too hoots about the human rights of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. Please read the following article by TamilNet about the protest in Glascow on Wednesday, July 23 2014. The pictures are also by TamilNet.

Eezham Tamils uphold national identity at Glasgow while Rajapaksa evades event [TamilNet, Wednesday, 23 July 2014, 18:14 GMT]

Over a thousand Tamils from across the UK gathered outside the Celtic Park venue in Glasgow, Scotland, where the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games was taking place, to remember the victims of Sri Lanka's genocidal pogrom of Black July 1983 and to condemn participation of Sri Lanka in the event. However, Sri Lanka's President Rajapaksa, who was scheduled to be present at the event, evaded it owing to fear of protests reports say. The Tamils, who gathered with the national flag of Tamil Eelam in huge numbers, were treated cordially by the Scottish police, activists present at the demonstration said.

July 23 marks the 31st anniversary of the start of the Black July genocidal pogrom under the UNP regime. The victims of that pogrom as well all the Tamil victims of Sri Lanka's protracted campaign of genocide were remembered at a special vigil at the site. Most of the participants had traveled more than nine hours by coach from London and other parts of Britain. The demonstration saw a large presence of youth and children upholding the Tamil Eelam national flag.

The protesters were also seen holding banners that calling on Scotland not to entertain genocidal Sri Lanka and that "Referendum for Independence is a Right of Every Nation". Tamils noted the irony of Scotland, a nation that is to imminently hold referendum for independence, playing host to athletes from Sri Lanka, a country that's committing genocide against the Tamil nation which is also struggling for a referendum on independence. Speaking to TamilNet from the demonstration, Tamil youth activist Sasisthar Maheswaran said "It is necessary to emphasise the need to remember the victims through demonstration of resistance and rather falling into the traps of Establishments that simply want Tamils to mourn for victims outside empty buildings."