Tamil Justice

Dear Kevin Rudd,

See below for your consideration…

1. We Tamil expatriates of Srilanka have adopted this great nation as our home and live safely, abiding laws that are bound by this nation, for this we are grateful to the Governments of Australia.

2. We Tamils have integrated into the manier societies across this nation and have brought our rich and vibrant culture with many other attributes that co-inside with what is renound as a multicultural society.

3. Many of us have chosen this nation as home not out of a want but rather a need to survive striving for peace and security.

4. You will well be informed by neutral parties such as UN and ICRC of the situation that is daily occurring in the island which we once called home.

5. Without elaborating who is in the right and who is not, as a democratic nation that strive for peace it is our expectation that your government has an obligation as a developed nation to address the plight of the suffering.

6. A permanent ceasefire is what we ask. Why? We wish to see our families whom are less fortunate live in peace after 25 years of battle, blood shed, tears and losses that are astronomical.

7. As a minority we were never be in a position to bargain nor will we be ever in a position to demand. You Sir are begged to save lives prior to the obliteration of our families by elements whom have do not know the definition of human rights, genocide or peace.

8. Indirect diplomacy of making statements are brushed under the carpet as you may have seen for the past few years. You have heard and seen enough to do more…

9. No human life is superior to another. Peace, harmony and happiness is what we humans want in life not much more… all should deserve this not just your citizens.

10. Please do the needy at a time where desperation, suffering and pain have reached and will soon exceed levels witnessed during the holocaust, should there be the continual silence and inaction from the international community including your government.

Yours truly
Very concerned Tamil citizens of Australia.

************* over 3600 views ***************

Let us once again reiterate : this is NOT the forum to express your views about the LTTE. This is going to be a forum we, as Tamils and Australians are going to use to make our Government call for an immediate ceasefire. 

Our only concern is the civilians. Individuals may have political views, but  as a collective this is not a forum for that.

We have no issue with an educated debate. Nonsense will be deleted.

To all those that flew in from Melbourne and Brisbane – thank you so much. 

Also – if anyone has any information about the support rally that was held in Melbourne, please post us a comment. 

Watch this space for an online petition.

Dear All,

We the Australian Tamil Students have decided to end the ‘Fast Unto Action’ campaign, after having achieved what we had hoped to.

The Australian Government has not called for an ‘immediate ceasefire’, however balls have been set in motion, with many having helped in the background.

So thank you for all your support and well wishes. It has meant a lot. We understand there were about 2000  people at Martin Place last night. This amazing show of solidarity is in itself a great achievement. 

We will keep you posted on further developments, but you can be rest assured that we will continue to, with all our energy, put an end to the suffering of the people we love back home.

The Sri Lankan Government has ruled out a ceasefire , but we believe in the power of the people. And it can be achieved.

This blog site will continue for now as one that campaigns for ACTION.

Watch this space

- Australian Tamil Students

31 January 2009

The Prime Minister

PO Box 6022
House of Representatives
Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600

Dear Prime Minister Kevin Rudd,

We young Australian Tamils representing the Australian Tamil community started a political fast on Wednesday 28 January 2009 calling upon the Australian government to support calls for a cease-fire between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Sri Lankan government.

Today, we entered the fourth day of our fast in Sydney.

We appreciate our government’s press release issued yesterday highlighting the critical need to provide medical supplies and essential support to those affected in the conflict areas and urging both sides to ensure frequent delivery of humanitarian supplies.

We also appreciate our government considering additional humanitarian assistance to help alleviate the suffering of those in Northern Sri Lanka.

However, we still believe that an urgent and stronger call must go out for an immediate cease-fire. The bloodshed is increasing and we feel an end to this can only be achieved if all parties enter a negotiated settlement.

To date, several leading aid organisations and some governments have condemned the Sri Lankan government’s attacks on civilians and openly called for a cease-fire.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre [27/01/09]:
In an official statement said that his government condemned the ongoing war in Sri Lanka which has caused “unacceptable sufferings to the civilians,” in the country.

Former U.S. Deputy Associate Attorney General Bruce Fein [24/01/09]:
“There can be no difference of opinion over the fact that what is happening to Tamils in Sri Lanka is a clear-cut case of genocide.”

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier [22/01/09]:
“They have been completely cut off from international aid for more than 10 days…The most important thing now is to negotiate a ceasefire.”

We urge you to treat this with the utmost priority. There are many members of the Australian Tamil community who are directly and deeply affected by the continuing violence in the north and east of Sri Lanka.

We represent them; the hurting Australian Tamils who are losing hope every day.

You represent us; the Australian people who love humanity and support peace.

Please speak up for us.

Regards,

Participants,
Fast unto Action Campaign
Australian Tamil Students, NSW

Web-blog of protest – http://fastuntoaction.wordpress.com/

Phone: Mr Myuran Elango – 0411290413; Dr Sam Pari – 0433428967

********** 620o signatures collected ***********

We will be organising an online petition tonight

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE on 31 January 2009 – http://fastuntoaction.wordpress.com/

HUNGER STRIKE ENTERS DAY FOUR –

Protest continues against Sri Lankan Genocide

A hunger strike calling on the Australian government to condemn the attacks on civilian populations and support calls for a ceasefire in Sri Lanka today reaches a critical day four.

The young Tamil Australian protestors, stating they will continue to fast until the Australian Government responds to their requests, are determined to push on despite desperate pleas from concerned family and community members.

Last night alone, over a 1000 supporters and well-wishers gathered at Martin Place, Sydney to join in requesting the Australian Federal Government to acknowledge the unfolding humanitarian crisis, amidst intensified bombing by the Sri Lankan government forces on territory held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

“Why won’t the Australian government do something? Can’t they see my child suffering?” asked the mother of one of the participants.

“My family is concerned for my health, but I am here to represent the hundreds of thousands of Tamils stuck in the conflict zones. No one seems to care about their welfare,” said Kanna Manoharan. “I hope Mr Rudd hears our appeal and recognises our hunger for a ceasefire,” he added.

” I read Mr Stephen Smith’s press release yesterday, but he has not said anything different to what he has said before,” said Arunn Waran, a 19 year-old student enduring the hunger strike. “A strong message of an immediate need for a cease-fire should be sent to the Sri Lankan government in order to end this bloodshed,” he added.

SBS radio and television, 2UE radio, Associated Press, Sydney Morning Herald and ABC have been just a few of the media outlets that have paid visit to the strike to interview participants and supporters.

Organised by the Australian Tamil Students (ATS), a national coalition of tertiary students, the protest, which aimed to bring light to the intolerable silence and lack of international condemnation to the unfolding genocide in Sri Lanka, initially started at Martin Place, Sydney but has had to be moved indoors for logistical reasons and health concerns of the participants.

The campaign started only days after the Sri Lankan military is said to have killed 300 Tamil civilians in an agreed “safety zone”, where government ministers had earlier instructed people to take shelter, promising safe refuge.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says a quarter of a million are trapped within 250 sq km of intense combat with virtually NO medical care available:

“Hospitals and ambulances have been hit by shelling and several aid workers have been injured while evacuating the wounded. The violence is preventing the International Committee of the Red Cross from operating in the region,” said ICRC’s Jacques de Maio, further adding that they did not receive security clearance to evacuate 200 critically wounded people, who now face certain death.

The United Nations has also expressed deep concerns: “The lack of access for independent monitors, humanitarian workers and the media only adds to concerns that the situation may be even worse than we realise.” – Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.

Web-blog of protest – http://fastuntoaction.wordpress.com/

Please go and show your support. They are now on their 4th day and are refusing to stop.

Thousands of demonstrators tried to make their voices heard in Toronto Thursday night, demanding Canada’s government help bring an end to ongoing bloodshed in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lankan and Canadian-born protestors gathered on University Avenue, numbering over 2,000 and calling for an end to a 25-year civil war that’s claimed the lives of hundreds and injured thousands.