Diaspora Tamils condemn Sencholai Attack

[TamilNet, Thursday, 17 August 2006, 06:17 GMT]
Diaspora Tamils around the world held protest marches and vigils to condemn the aerial attack of Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) that reportedly killed 61 schoolgirls in Mullaithivu in Vanni, Tuesday. Participants urged the international community to intervene to stop the atrocities of Sri Lanka armed forces and paramilitaries against Tamils in the Northeast, organizers said.



In Norway, Tamil Youth Organization (TYO) organized a meeting in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 11.00 a.m. and handed over a memorandum to Raymond Johansen the Deputy Foreign Minister and Jon Hanssen-Bauer , the special Peace Envoy to Sri Lanka.

Swiss Tamil Forum, a confederation of 26 Tamil organizations, held a procession in Geneva and handed over a memorandum to Phlip, D.O.Brien, the Regional Director, UNICEF, Wednesday.

More than 3000 people, including many schoolchildren took part in the 1.5 km procession, which started at the Geneva Main Railway Station 3.00 p.m. and ended at the UNICEF Head Office. 61 schoolgirls wearing white blouses signifying their dead counterparts, tied their mouths with black bands led the procession holding candles.

Well known Human Rights Activists, Rev. Fr. Immanuel and C.V.Kirubaharan from International Tamil Human Rights Organization handed over the memorandum and explained the current situation in Sri Lanka.

Phlip D.O.Brien and Wivima Belmonte, Chief Communication Section received the memorandum, expressed their concerns and promised to get an immediate reply from the secretary General of UN, the organizers said.

In Belgium, a protest meeting was arranged in front of the EU parliament, 1.05 p.m. Wednesday.

Protests were organized in Germany on Wednesday and in England, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands, France and Italy on Tuesday.