Tamil Justice

Message from “Act Now” Amnesty International to supporters on the  work done this year to promote human rights and increase awareness of the issues faced by Tamils in Sri Lanka

Dear Friends,info.actnow@gmail.com
Site: www.act-now.info

As we fast approach Christmas we on behalf of Act Now would like to thank all our members and supporters who have helped out on our campaigns throughout this year, whether turning up on frozen demonstrations, Vigils or handing out leaflets outside stores selling Sri Lankan products. As a human rights group we are concerned with protecting the rights of individuals of all in Sri Lanka but predominantly of course Tamils. Without your help, given limited resources we could not have had the impact we have had.

This year has been extremely hectic, at the beginning of the year we were involved in the protests calling for a ceasefire in the war that was raging in northern Sri Lanka. Tim Martin (Director Act Now) went so far to go on a 21 day hunger strike in Parliament Square. Although it was not possible to achieve a ceasefire awareness of the Tamil cause reached a new level.

At the end of the ’shooting war’ we launched our Yellow Ribbon campaign to highlight the plight of some 300,000 innocent Tamil civilians held against their will in detention camps. Although some have been released new reports came out that confirmed that a further 200,000 had still not been re-settled since before 2006! The campaign will continue until all IDP’s are released and rehoused with unrestricted movement.

Most important of all we recently launched the Boycott Sri Lanka campaign. Since then we have been joined by Global partners and the GSP+ concession looks as if will be withdrawn through all our efforts! For us economic pressure is the only key to open up the Sri Lankan Government (GoSL) to begin meaningful negotiations with Tamil Representatives for a political settlement. A successful boycott campaign will reduce GoSL’s capacity to buy arms and/or feed their people and will lead to thousands of struggling Sinhalese workers clamouring for respite.

We wish everyone has a great Christmas and a happy New Year and pledge to redouble their efforts to campaign for peace and justice for Tamils next year. This will only succeed if we all work together.

Best Wishes

Tim & Graham
Act Now
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