“To stay quiet is as political an act as speaking out.”
Arundhati Roy, Author and Activist
The plight of the silenced can only be alleviated when enough are listening. Those suffering in Sri Lanka are stifled from speaking. Please lend them your voice.
This section contains addresses of key policy makers and news agencies along with sample letters and useful guides.
This section contains a timeline depicting the historical background of the Sri Lankan conflict. Spanning from the pre-colonial era to present day events, the timeline allows the user to gain valuable insight into the causes of this conflict. (Launch Flash Timeline...)
Short documentary on Black July and links to other related videos. (view feature video...)
| Related Videos: |
| Tamil Abductions: An SBS Dateline production on the recent abductions of Tamils in Sri Lanka. |
| Sivaram: Violence against Journalists (Part 2, Part 3): Film about the silencing of free speech through death and intimidation. |
| Shadow War: The emergence of 'paramilitaries' and their impact on the cease fire. |
| Still Photographs |
Articles on the recent acts of persecution against the Tamil minority. (complete list of articles...)
| Related Links: |
| Touched by Tragedy: An Australian medical doctor teaching in the North East puts forth his first-hand view of the situation. pdf |
| I am not a Terrorist: The high price Tamils are forced to pay for basic human rights. |
| No Middle Way for Militant Monks: The role played by the Buddhist clergy in this conflict. |
A flash animation containing a series of observations depicting the events of July 1983 and its implications. Many of the quotes in this section are sourced from independent journalists and international witnesses.
There are several accounts of Tamils attributing their escape from death, to their Sinhalese and Muslim neighbours. We are grateful to those who risked their own lives to allow Tamils to hide in their homes.
The 1983 anti-Tamil pogrom produced an exodus of Tamils who fled to all parts of the world. Our appreciation extends to countries, such as Australia, for welcoming us, and providing a safe home to live in.
We appreciate your thoughts, suggestions and queries. Please send us your feedback.
Stories from witnesses and victims from around the Globe (TBA).
Did you or someone you know get affected by Black July or any other incident? Tell us your story.
We remember the 3000 lives that perished;
the 150, 000 rendered homeless;
the refugees who fled to all parts of the world.
We remember the victims of July 1983;
the unspeakable tragedies endured by them;
each innocent, but for the crime of being born Tamil.
We remember the victims of today;
those left without recourse to law or aid...
...and finally, we remember that hope for the helpless
lies in the strength of our voices.
Kosovo: The Global Significance of Independance: Bruce Fein is the founder of the American Freedom Agenda and lecturer at the Brookings Institute, argues that in the long run separate statehood create greater stability.
Sri Lankan Security accused of Aid Massacre: The Sri Lankan Government has been accused of a high level cover-up over the 2006 murder of 17 aid workers by local security forces. A local human rights group says local police shot the 17, most of whom were Tamils, with the complicity of senior officers.
13/03/08:
Disappearances in Sri Lanka: A Human Rights Watch report, charging the Government of Sri Lanka with perpetrating the highest number of enforced disappearances in the world.
18/01/08:
Human Rights in Sri Lanka: An [audio] interview with Human Rights Watch representatives; Sunila Abeyesekara and Fred Abarahams on CPR Worldview.
24/11/07:
Killing For Peace: A [video] segment from the acclaimed foreign affairs series The Unreported World. An overview of the current state of affairs and the history of the civil war.
Sri Lanka won't accept human rights monitors: By Bharatha Mallawarachi, Sydney Morning Herald (15/10/2007).
Sri Lanka rights activists quit panel in protest over killings: AFP (15/10/2007). Four top Sri Lankan activists have quit a human rights panel in protest over the government's failure to stop extra-judicial killings, abductions and illegal arrests.
Karuna still engaged in child recruitment: A weekly monitoring report by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission lists a number of events linked to the Karuna group.
Amnesty International calls on UNHRC to address violations: Amnesty International (04/11/2007). Public statement by Amnesty International outlining the growing concerns over press freedom, protecting citizens and combating impunity.
Once seen as neutral, aid workers fight perceived bias: By Peter Apps (31/08/2007)
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