Hundreds of British Tamils held a night-long “vigil” at Trafalgar Square, central London, to press their demand for an independent international investigation into allegations of human rights abuses against the Sri Lankan Government.
In a letter to British Prime Minister David Cameron, delivered to Downing Street, the British Tamil Forum (BTF) which organised the vigil with other local groups urged him to intervene to facilitate such an investigation.
A UN report, it said, had “concluded” that there was “credible evidence to institute an independent inquiry into the conduct of the war in Sri Lanka”.
No confidence in probe
The letter said that the Tamil people had “no confidence” in the Sri Lankan Government’s ability to conduct an impartial probe alleging that previous commissions of inquiry appointed by the Government had “proved ineffective and a sham”.
“It continues to defy calls for an inquiry despite irrefutable and compelling evidences including video recordings showing cold blooded summary executions of prisoners of war,” it added, describing the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), appointed by the Government, as “an attempt to deflect mounting international calls for an independent inquiry”.
Protesters, who waved placards and raised slogans, were addressed by MPs from the three main parties — Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats — besides representatives of human rights groups, including “Stop the War Coalition”.
“As Tamils, we have been waiting for two long years to this day, seeking justice for our dead, injured and orphaned in many thousands,” said Father SJ Emmanuel., president of the Global Tamil Forum.
Suren Surendran, official spokesman for BTF, said his group planned to step up its campaign to “seek justice”.
