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U.K. Tamils protest against bombing

LONDON: Hundreds of British Tamils held a protest outside the Parliament complex here demanding an end to what they described as “indiscriminate” bombing of Tamil areas by Sri Lankan forces.

They carried banners in English and Tamil calling for the British government’s help in seeking an end to the bombing.

“Britain — help now. Diplomacy can wait. Starving people can’t,” said one banner. Another highlighted the plight of the “2,50,000 displaced Tamils” and asked: “What are we waiting for?”

A spokesman for the British Tamil Forum, which organised the protest, claimed that more than 6,000 people from across Britain joined the protest — the latest in a series of such demonstrations held in London.

He said protesters were drawn from all faiths —Christians, Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims.

A number of MPs also extended their support.

“We wanted to draw attention of the general British public who are largely unaware of the state terrorism that has been unleashed against the Tamil civilian population back in Sri Lanka. Most people were flabbergasted when they heard that the government of Sri Lanka is bombing its own people,” said Suren Surendiran, the Forum’s media spokesman.

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