Thousands demonstrated March 28 in Sydney, Australia, against an offensive by Sri Lankan authorities that has killed 2,700 civilians and displaced hundreds of thousands more since January.
Following formal independence from the British in 1948, the majority Sinhalese authorities imposed language and cultural restrictions on the Tamil minority. Facing harsh repression, Tamil resistance eventually developed into armed struggle. The Sri Lankan military continues to violently target Tamil civilians.
Responding to a recent ceasefire request, authorities stated military operations would continue until the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam are defeated. The government has blocked aid shipments to roughly 200,000 civilians under the pretext that they could be used to smuggle weapons to the LTTE.
According to one march organizer, “… the sole agenda of the government of Sri Lanka is to wipe out the Tamil population.” An international poll of Tamils showed overwhelming support for and identification with the resistance. All oppressed peoples have the right to self-determination—and the right to fight for it.
