• Gallery: Tamil protesters besiege central London
• Paul Waugh blog: Who says protest doesn't work anymore?
• 70,000 killed in 33-year conflict

Reader views (118)

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M&S should stop funding the genocide against Tamils, by building factories and infrastructure in Srilanka. Where is their so called,'Fair trade & Sustainability' policies..? This situation proves that M&S doesn't have such a practise & these all are marketing stunts of the company to attract loyal british consumers. Tat is not a long way for British consumers to realise this & M&S will be lost favourite to British High streets.

- Sean Pillai, Leicester, UK

Solutions proposed during last 52 years
1. 1957 Regional Council
2. 65 District Council
3. 70 4 Autonomus states
4. 79 Dictrict Development Council
5. 83 Provincial Level Decentralisation
6. 85 District Council without executive power
7. 862 Provincial Council in North & Reconstituted Eastern Province
8. 87 North & East merged Provincial Councils
9. 89 Election to demonstrate support for LTTE
10. 92 Parliamentary Select Committee Reports
11. 95 Devolution Package for all the provinces
12. 2003 Interim Self�]Governing Administration
13. 2005 Post Tsunami Operational Management Structure

All were rejected or unilaterally abrogated or eye washed by SINHALA SRI LANKA Government.

So, only the ONE and LAST solution is free TAMIL LAND FROM SINHALA SRI LANKA>

- Thiyagar, Sri Lanka

If a government wants to fight against a militant group, it can do so. But Sinhala gov is waging a war against the innocent Tamil people for last 30 yrs. Tamils want to live under our own governance. We had our own kingdom before the Europeans came. Britain gave the whole country to the majority Sinhala race. We just want our self-rule back. If a government opens fire on it's citizen, bombs their traditional homeland as if it is another country and impose economic bans upon people, that Gov can not call them as their citizen N can't claim sovereignty over their land. They wiping out our people silently & systematically. We will keep knocking on the good hearts of Intenational community till our people and land are freed. We do not wanna cause any harm to anyone. When someone come to your traditional homeland and kill your people just because they are powerless minority. What will you do? We will keep knocking..... would you all just open your eyes and see what's really going on in a land where no international body or free media to witness what is really going on. 50years ago our population was about 3,500,000. Today, after 50years, our population has gone down to 3,000,000. People are either killed or forced to fled from their homeland where we llived for thousands of years.
STOP THE SILENT & SYSTEMATIC GENOCIDE
LET US LIVE IN OUR LAND FREELY

Thanks.

- Surya, London, UK

If anyone is under the impression that the Sri Lankan government's military offensive is "against the Tamil Tigers" then you are mistaken. This is a an attempt to ethnically eradicate the Tamil people from their homeland of Sri Lanka.

- Jhass, Toronto, On

@ John. First of all Tamils have all the rights to be treated equally, without any grants from anybody.

Without any doubt, GENOCIDE against Tamils started after SL became independent, and that's all documented and can be proven: the statistics don't lie.

Afcourse when genocide against Tamils happens, they will fight back, and yes with the LTTE as their representatives.

It is simply not likely that the LTTE can brainwash tens of thousand Tamils around the world in all those different democratic countries.

It is the love for our people who are suffering that brings us together.

- Kirejan, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Srilankan government is killing Tamil people over 26 years. Tamils were forced to take arms by Srilankan government.Then LTTE fights for Tamils freedom. They are not terrorists. Tamils want peaceful life.Nowadays the government want to Destroy Tamils, that only they want right now.Now we hope immediate cease fire and medicines, foods must suply through NGO's.

- Prakashini Kamalanathan, Quebec, Canada.

International leaders should act fast to stop this genocide and protest. What are they waiting for? This should end. There should be solution to this ethnic war. Since they have different languages,culture,religion. They should themselves. Two state will solve all the problem. What's everyone waiting for? Rest of the people to be killed?

- Michael Yates, London, UK

The LTTE international terrorist network has been engaged in unopposed propaganda for the last 35 years against Sri Lanka. The masterminds behind this are all the Tamils who were educated in Sri Lanka free. They had a lot of priviledges granted by the British which they thought were rights but wanted more and more. They have engaged in lies , deception and creating false history to suit their selfish agenda. This includes bribing politicians with vote blocs, active lobbying of media and people of influence. The biggest crime is brainwashing the younger generation of Tamils so they can be whipped upto a frenzy with emotions out of control.They are fed just the LTTE propaganda from birth. The LTTE in Sri Lanka carry it to the extreme of creating child soldiers and suicide bombers. The present demonstrations are not to save any civilians but to save the brutal LTTE so they can keep sacrificing more children, kill and murder thousands not only in Sri Lanka but spread like a cancer to the entire world.

- John, Sydney

@ tamilarasi,

All we are asking is to stop the killing at anyone not just the tamilians or srilankans. But as of now there are lot of Tamil civilians getting killed. So Srilankan government should stop this atrocious actions against innocents on the name of killing the terrorists.

- Vidhya, Bangalore, India

It shocks me how some people leave comments on here which are simply out of ignorance and lack of knowledge of the real situation! tamil people are being raped, stabbed, tortured etc in Sri Lanka and some of you have the audacity to ask why such protests are being held. Its just sad to see that some people do not care what happens to other people unless it is happening on their doorstep. As a teenager i hope that i do not ever become as selfish or simply cold-hearted as some of the people in this world

- Anonymous, croydon

Let their voice heard to the PM. British citizens, It is nothing against you. So calm down. These protesters are asking their relatives right. UK has to do a lot in this respect as it is the country which gave freedom to Sinhalese and put he Tamils in tragedy in SriLanka.

- Nathan, Thailand

All these protests are simply to save the LTTE (a banned terrorist organization)and its leader - Nothing to do with the civilians whatsoever. The civilians are being used as human shields by the LTTE in its last battles, so lets protest for the LTTE to stop killing Sri-Lankans, not Sri-Lanka to stop killing tamils.

- Tamilarasi, Melbourne

Well done again, the Met, for such restrained policing, despite all the provocation from the protestors.
You are a shining example of policing to the rest of the world.
I hope that at the protest on Saturday the protestors are less violent and offensive.
How the police keep their cool in the face of such outright hostility from protestors and public alike amazes and impresses me.

- Gill, caterham surrey

Who the hell do these people think they are. If they want to jump into the Thames - let them jump and don't bother to rescue them. If any European country has demonstrators like this Human Rights go right out the window and they bring in the Water Cannon. What lily livered politicians we have. We true brits are being well and truly flushed down the swanny!

- Louie, London South East

How I agree with Steve, London, Last week there were police in full riot gear,plus mounted police charging protesters. Something wrong somewhere.

- Nic, London, London, England

Oh come on . . . what have things come to if the MET cannot handle a couple of thousand protesters ? ? ?
Have the police never heard of riot batons and plastic bullets?
They really need to pull their finger out and get a grip of these idiots, because if they do not, this situation will only encourage other trouble making hoods to do likewise.
Looks like the MET are nothing but a bundle of big girls blouses ! ! !

- Eoin Mcgreeghan, Derry, NI

Sri Lanka was ruled by us for more than two hundred years. There were two kingdoms but we put them together to make our administration easier. Democracy never worked in Sri Lanka because the majority are the Sinhalese. Tamils have been oppressed for more than 60 years and they are treated as second class citizens. We are to some extent responsible for the crisis in Sri Lanka therefore the Tamils have the right to protest. Tamils are highly intelligent and well educated people and they didn't go to other countries as refugees before the problems started. Tamils living in the UK are very hard working population. There are many academics, doctors, accountants, business leaders and many other professionals from the Tamil community significantly contributing to our economy. This gives them the right to protest. War in Sri Lanka is no longer an internal War. Sri Lanka has become a football ground for China and India. Five thousand people being killed just within three months is a very serious issue. China is not allowing this matter being discussed in the Security Council. China is supplying all the heavy weapons for the war.80% of the Chinese ships go through the waters of Sri Lanka and they want to protect their interests. India also wants to dominate Sri Lanka to secure their interests. Both are supporting the Sri Lankan government to wipe out Tamils just to dominate the region. UK is a permanent member in the Security Council. Tamils are sensible to protest here.

- Richard Dixon, London

For any Tamils reading this - your organisations had done your cause a huge disservice today.

All people and all communities have the right of legitimate protest, but NO community has the right to illegal protest, nor to hold British policy to ransom as Tamil protestors are now trying to do.

- Danny, London

I find it absolutely disgusting that there are some people who have commented here that think that Britain has nothing to do with this conflict. Little over 60 years ago the British ruled Sri Lanka and brought Tamils from India to work on tea plantations in the North and East where a sizeable Tamil population had been in existance for centuries and had a separate kingdom. Yet when they left they joined the Tamil kingdom to the Sinhala kingdom which had greater power due to a larger population and so the Tamils were treated as 2nd class citizens in thier own country! The situation worsened due to the continuous sanctions imposed on the Tamils by the extremist Sri Lankan gvmt (run by the Sinhala majority). The LTTE was set up to fight for the Tamils who were left without a voice and who were always sidelined! The Sinhalas saw this as a major threat and convinced the world that they were terrorists and in turn they turned into terrorists again leaving the poor defenceless Tamils without protection. These people are now caught up in one of the worst humanitarian crisis in the world and are being killed in their thousands! Those fortunate to survive are being starved, tortured, kidnapped, raped and mutilated! Many have family/friends here and friends of mine have recieved bad news regarding thier loved ones. They are expressing their concern by protesting against the mass genocide of Tamils! Let their voice be heard! Let us hope and pray that the UK,USA and India listen to them!

- Patel, London, United Kingdom

Vel Ottawa - 1948? That means you had 60 years to sort it out. Not our problem anymore. You are big boys and girls now, get on with it without pointing fingers.

- Dave Davies, Basingstoke

According to the latest UN reports LTTE (whose these protesters are represent) is keeping 10000 civilians as a human shield and even today the Amnesty International claimed the LTTE has been preventing the civilians movement.
There is absolutely no genocide against Tamils in Sri Lanka and there are many Tamil MPS and even many Tamil Ministers and huge number of local representatives.
These are a bunch of LTTE supporters who trying to use the British government as a proxy to prevent final attack on LTTE terrorists by the Sri Lankan forces.
It is a shame that the London Met had allowed and doing nothing to stop these illegal demonstration.

- Sahan Perera, London

For those who ask "what does this have to do with us?": The answer is EVERYTHING. It is we who merged the Tamil and Sinhala nations together (the Dutch and the Portuguese before us ruled these two nations separately). It is because of us that the Tamils became a minority in their own lands. No sooner had we left than the Sinhalese started their slaughter of Tamils - the anti Tamil pogrom in 1983 is classified as GENOCIDE by the International Commission of Jurists. I was there when it happened and I saw how the Sri Lankan govt aided and abetted the pogrom. Successive Sri Lankan regimes have shown a blatant disregard for the welfare of Tamils - it even blocked Tsunami aid to the Tamils! I say Britain should intervene to liberate Tamils and give them back their INDEPENDENCE - that which we took away from them when we colonised the island. It is our duty!

- Peter Manick, London, UK

This isn't a British problem any more, the Sri Lankans couldn't wait to be self-governing !

Do the Tamils (ex-Indian immigrants to Ceylon), as immigrants in the UK, now demanding a Tamil state within the UK, as they are in Sri Lanka ?

If they are, they should be arrested and deported to Sri Lanka, if they are not then they need to support their own in Sri Lanka, not here.

Either way, they shouldn't be causing trouble in OUR country.

- Cap, London

quote from a protester: "We wanted to continue our protest in the road but they started kicking and hitting and pushing us to move. They gave us no warning that they wanted to move us. I saw an old woman get kicked by a policeman."

As an impartial observer, this seems to be an identical outcry to that of the Tamil Tigers when the Sri Lankan Government took back terrorist territory: "we were doing nothing! (throws up hands) then they came and shot at us! i saw genocide!

If the Tamil immigrants to this country want general sympathy for their cause, i suggest that they do three things:

1. Stop supporting the LTTE. And don't whine or argue with that statement.

2. Stop exaggerating and twisting the truth to your purposes like that student just did; big lies when found out make even small truths unpalatable to others

3. Please stop behaving like hooligans. This is your adoptive homeland now. Adapt.

- Sally Silver, Stanmore, UK

The LTTE has killed countless innocent men, women and children. Anyone marching and fundraising for this murderous organisation should be ashamed.

- John North, London, UK

Where are all the domestic British pro Palestian supporters??? Why oh why do they care so little about our cause????

- Dave, London, UK

Get the water cannon out and flush them down the thames. My England oh what has happened to you

- Grim Reaper, Hell

still disgusted, London - i didn't give any money to Comic Relief. and i still don't give a stuff about the TAMILS.

- Jonny, London

Some of the Views are same as BUSH's

do not understand the global probelm and keep their head under the sand!

- Janard Kandiah, surrey

Very sad to see that the British Government watching the Genocide of Tamils without doing anything. British is responsible for the current Tamil-Sinhala conflict because it was British who merged the Tamil kingdom and Sinhala kingdom, and when they left they handed over the whole nation to Sinhalease.

Now, the Sinhala government killing Tamils in mass scale. More than 100,000 killed since 1948, and more than 4000 killed in last three months.

An immediate sanction on Sri Lankan government should be applied. UN lead or commonwealth lead force need to be used to ensure the safety of the Tamils from Sinhala thugs and military. In fact, Tamils must be allowed to govern their own as they did before the British time.

- Vel Velauthapillai, Ottawa, Canada

What the hell have we got to do with this? Protest legally and peacefully, but illegal protests in support of a terrorist organisation are a big no no.

- Robert, London

This discrimination of Tamils started since Sri Lanka gained indepedence from Britain and Britain has a moral responsibility for creating this issue in the first place. Banning LTTE has given Sti Lankan govenment a free license to wage a war on innocent Tamil civilians and kill scores of people including woman and children on daily basis. Perhaps Shan should realise this is genocide of Tamils by Sri Lankan government and it's military. That�s why Sri Lankan govt is not allowing any media or independent organisations into the war zone.

- Manicks, London, UK

Only in the UK, a banned terror group holding a demostration,no wonder we are the laughing stock of the world.Politicians that think they are Gods,cant even make a decision to have terror groups arrested in the middle of the capital,what a weak pathetic goverment we have,an easy target for all.

- David, london

Mr.Peter Manick, everyone has the right to protest. But there are rules and regulations which you can raise your point. This is Britain and we are British. It is a shame that you forgot good old brutishness. No one can stage a protest illegally and disrupt day to day operations.
I have been to this magnificent country called Sri Lanka for many times and many Tamils lives outside of North and east where war is going on and living with Sinhalese without any issues. These are the supporters of the LTTE who we proscribed as a terrorist organisation, whose is responsible for countless number of atrocities. Do we need surrender our selves to these terrorists? There are nearly100,000 Tamil civilians kept by LTTE as a human shield to delay the final onslaught by the Sri Lakan Army. Today the UK secretary general had demanded the LTTE terrorists to release these innocent Tamil civilians. Read the related news before comment.

- Jeff Collins, Hays

Dear All


Hlep the Tamil , we are asking what is ours

we want freedom as any other people

- Janard Kandiah, surrey

Mr.Peter Manick, everyone has the right to protest. But there are rules and regulations which you can raise your point. This is Britain and we are British. It is a shame that you forgot good old brutishness. No one can stage a protest illegally and disrupt day to day operations.
I have been to this magnificent country called Sri Lanka for many times and many Tamils lives outside of North and east where war is going on and living with Sinhalese without any issues. These are the supporters of the LTTE who we proscribed as a terrorist organisation, whose is responsible for countless number of atrocities. Do we need surrender our selves to these terrorists? There are nearly100,000 Tamil civilians kept by LTTE as a human shield to delay the final onslaught by the Sri Lakan Army. Today the UK secretary general had demanded the LTTE terrorists to release these innocent Tamil civilians. Read the related news before comment.

- Jeff Collins, Hays

Chris of Brighton,
Sri Lanka doesn't have a benefits culture. The majority of Tamils are well educated, hardworking people. In fact, next time you're in a hospital emergency room, say hello to the Tamil doctor who will no doubt be treating you.

- Disgusted, London

tamils are protesting here because it was started by the british and still nourish by them. why should they bloke when the sri lankan tamil humanitarian problem was initiated by other countries for a discussion in UN? tamils are killed by not only srilankan government but so many other governments as well. india, pakistan,china,japan,EU,USA etc. they are supporting srilankan government by giving funds and arms as well. Do you know this weekend srilankan govt used poisonous gas and killed 1500 innocent civilians.

- Amby, london, uk

Esvie, Tamils are welcome is SRI LANKA. They want to take over Sri Lanka hence the WAR! They wanted Jaffna and we gave it to them and now they want more and more.

- Sri Lankan, Fulham

What I find amazing is that they are allowed to fly their illegal terrorist flag in England, yet my local firebrigade in England, had to take down their England flag during the last world cup.

- E Sullivan, London

They have the right to protest in London. If Brown government wants, it can stop this 21st century Genocide of the Tamils. When Gordon talks about stopping deaths by poverty, he should concentrate on stopping these Tamil people being starved , bombed and poisoned and massacred by the Srilankan government. All right thinking people should lend support to this protest to stop the Genocide! Do we want to watch while another Rwanda is going on?

- Peter Chalk, london

It is unbelievable, there are some people who are selfish and self centred , Tamils are not jobless, their soul are taken away. tAMILS DO NOT NEED FAT LAND, THEY WANT THEIR LIFE LIKE YOU, THEY ARE HUMANS TOO, police have obligations too enforce law, thats their duty, so on what gorund tax money is wasted and also people have freedom to express, may be some people never lost anybody thats what they are so arrogant but there are people who lost their family members crying for help where everyone out there who can help turn a blind eye. it is the time for somebody who is in power to do something for dying people befre Tamil eelam become a grave yeard

- Cathy, london, UK

The Tamils have every right to protest. It is outrageous that the Sri Lankan Govt. be allowed to perpetuate the systematic GENOCIDE of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Britain has a responsibility to act given its role, as former colonial master, in merging the Tamil nation with the Sinhala nation when they took over as colonial power from the Dutch. It is because of us Brits that the Tamils became a minority in their own lands. It is therefore our duty to act. Throw Sri Lanka out of the Commonwealth - sever cricket ties with them. Refer Sri Lankan leaders to the ICC. It is the least we can do for the Tamils.

- Peter Manick, London, UK

Stop their benefits!!

- Chris, Brighton, England

UK is responsible for this mess in Sri Lanka. There were two kingdom in Sri lanka. One for Tamils and one for Sinhalese. The British unified it for their own administrative convenience and left the country in 1948. Since then Tamils have been treated as second class citizens in Srilanka and the Sinhala Srilankans have been conducting Genocide war against the innocent Tamil people. At present the Sri Lankan government is using banned cluster bombs and poison gas against the Tamil people. It is UK�s duty to see to that Tamils gets their Independence which was taken away and given to the Srilankans. It is time to stop this genocide by the Srilankan terror state.

- Lin Gopi, London, UK

Why are they protesting in England? Shri Lanka is independent and I distinctly remember all the promises made on independence day of how much better things would be once they got rid of the British. If they think so much of their country why are they not in India which is their mother country and so much closer?

- Fred, Horsham

Why are these people disturbing life in streets of London? Someone wrote about gas been used in Srilanka. UK/US coalition used gas in Iraq and Afganistan. Although UK citizens have opposed it and UK govt pretends that it has not doing anything wrong, it is proved that it was used. Saddam was gassed out of his den. Srilanka got all his ideas from west.

- Prasad, sidcup

Why are they protesting in London? And assuming that the British MPs can resolve the issue? At least protest on your own continent or at the EU HQ.

Also, why would we want to help a banned terrorist organisation??

- Sarah, London

We have given them a second chance and offered many things to them generously, given them money, shelter and education and life� thinking these are genuine refugees. Now it seems these are supporters of terrorist organisation which is banned by British law!

Amila you are correct! These people destroyed once the Perl of the Indian Ocean by waging a bloody civil war, the LTTE (which these people are crying for/ representing by holding flags) had assassinated Sri Lankan President, Indian prime Minister, first Tamil Foreign Minister and countless other politician and ordinary civilians! Now they have openly broken the British law!
Mr foreign minister and Ms Home Secretary it�s your responsibility to upheld the Law and order of this country!!
Further, we would like to know why the Metropolitan police allowed these terrorist supporters to continue the protest and disrupt the normalcy in London!!!! For the financial damage they have done, either these protesters should pay back to the treasury or the failed metropolitan police should paid back to the treasury!
Save the England from these goons!!!

- Shan, London

I find the ignorance and hypocrisy of British people laughable. They sit in front of the TV and pledge money for causes such as Comic Relief and the recent tsunami - where Sri-Lanka was one of the worst countries hit - from the comfort of their living room. They give themselves a pat on the back and think: "Good on me, I've done my bit!" And then, when they are confronted with the very people whom, just a few years ago, they helped so generously, they say: "This isn't our problem, who cares, let them go back to Sri Lanka."

The reason they are not protesting in Sri Lanka is because 70,000 Sri Lankans have been murdered and thousands more raped and mutilated since the genocide began.

But then, who cares, right Joanna? What does it have to do with you, right Dave?

Ignorance and apathy - a dangerous cocktail.

- Disgusted, London

- Still Disgusted, London

most of them screaming 'we want tamil eelam' and waving LTTE flags.. LTTE is a banned terrorist organisation in UK. these jobless people must be living from the fat of the land. they are preventing normal people going to work and making the tax payer pay extra for the emergency and police services who had to be in altert cos of their 'jumping to river' nonsense. High time UK goverment do something about these type of poeple

- Surinda, Wimbledon - UK

Mr Alen,

We ve done so many protest with peace way. Did u ever hear about that? No is in it.
After the people came on the streets blocked the roads..then u came to know the purpose of the protest. Go and read in www.tamilnet.net or watch aljazeera(English version)..because they r the only media who brings atleast some photos of the inoccent tamil people from the area which has been announced by the Stupid Srilankan goverment SAFTY AREA ZONE...

Do u know that???

- Umesh, Groningen,The Netherlands

Maybe some of those out there who are so obsessed with Gaza will see that there are other things happening in the World; but Israel isn't involved with this one so perhpas they don't really give a damn (?)

- Alan, London

im also the person from srilanka. I have a manner. So i know this stupid srilankan government trying to destroyed all tamils from srilanka. please help anyone to alive

- Perera Fenando, uk

Toronto, London, Melbourne.. LTTE supporters ... disrupt traffic, supporting terrorism, self immolation, inventors of the suicide vest, suicide bombings, hiding behind civilians, kill Tamil political rivals... they should have just jumped into the Thames.. better yet, they should go to Sri Lanka and join the civilians already being held hostage by the group they are advocating.. shield their leaders with their own bodies

- The International, Pudriyakuputttttthi

The Tamils emigrated to then Ceylon and now demand part of that country be ceded to them and prior to now have committed some pretty horrific atrocities against their host country but the tide turned and are now getting their comeuppance.
Please tell me that couldn't happen in the UK could it?

- Edward John Reed, San Bruno USA

Why or why do we allow such demonstrations? since when is this our problem? Another huge bill for the tax payers

Why dont they go back and protest at home if they feel soooooooooooo strong about it

I am not interested and I dont wish to pay the bill as a tax payer

- London Eye, london

What has it got to do with us?

- Paul, London, UK

My family and I annually visit and give aid to orphans in Sri Lanka-regardless of creed and origin because we are so deeply saddened by the country's plight. The true number of deaths through the civil war is apparently nearer the 100,000 mark. We cannot sit back and pretend that this brutal war is nothing to do with us. The Sri Lankan government is determined to crush the Tamil Tigers once and for all, but as many innocent Tamils are being used as human shields by the Tigers, it is a lamentable situation. Thousands of Tamil families have been displaced and many innocent lives have been butchered in this hellish war. Only visiting this beautiful country with its remarkable people, ravaged by civil strife, can one fully understand how horrific the situation really is. It amazes me that so little is reported in the west of the brutality going on. We have a duty to help.

- Anna Stewart, Mallorca, Spain

I do not understand why they let the demonstrators fly their flag as it is illegal in this country!

WHY AREN�T THE COPS DOING ANYTHING??? LAST WEEK A LEGAL DEMOSTRATION HAPPENED THE POLICE WAS PREWARNED ABOUT IT AND SOMEONE ENDED UP DEAD!!!
HOW COME NOTHING IS HAPPENING TO THESE PEOPLE.... IT IS ALMOST AS IF THEY SUPPORT IT�

I THINK IT IS SO SO SO SAD THAT THE EXTREMIST MINORITY POPULATION RULES THIS COUNTRY�

It s so sad as if an illegal protest happened and every one who was protesting was ENGLISH!!!! Will the coppers be this compassionate and tolerant? IT IS SO STUPID AND UNFAIR....

- Sri Lankan, Fulham

The LTTE was previously a terrorist cell.

Do Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes comments mean he also supports the Taliban?

- John Smith, LONDON

Darfur is a much better place than Vanni.

British Govt. is partly responsible for making the Tamil minority defenceless.
Tamils were let swept out from their traditional homeland.
This is the dream of consecutive Sinhala-Buddha regimes for last 61 years.

International community has succumbed to the intimidation by Colombo.

- Sencholai, New Hamburg, Canada

Cap London,...
You are right, this isn't a British problem... But surely everyone is allowed to voice their opinions, and exercise their rights to protest?? And that is exactly what these Tamil people are doing. And to be honest, I don't really think you understand what is going on in Srilanka. The tamil people are protesting in London to stop the killing of innocent civilians in Srilanka and to call for an immediate ceasefire....innocent people do not deserve to die....for any reason.

As far as i know, this has been a peaceful protest, with no arrests being made, which in itself says alot.

And so what if they are disrupting the roads for a while, its not as if the roads aren't already congested in London!

I would also like to add, everything we read in the papers isn't always true. Unless you have been in the war zone yourself, you have no idea how bad the situation is in Sri lanka.

- Ash, London

prashan fernando said,LTTE was banned many countries and they are terrorists,the sl government bombing the tamils,one thing he should know,when the LTTE attacking the colombo by airplanes their main target war army power,not the civilians..if they are terrorists why they wouldn't kill the people? It means they are not a rebels to kill the people,they fight for their right to live in sl.

- Esvie, london uk

Over many hundreds of years our people fought to make this a land of the free so to speak.I'm getting sick of all these people moaning the fact that we dont do enough to make their land free.why cant they go back and fight to make their homeland free.
I wonder if there was a 3rd world war how many would fight for this country,not many but they easily take dole....etc

- Paul Fitzgerald, coventry,england

I am tired of every group airing its dirty washing in London. Palestinians, Israelis, Tamils, Iraqis, Afghanis. As a Briton and a Londoner, I am sick and tired of these people disrupting my life. London is now the protest capital of the world. The Tamil community (once peaceful) have brought shame on themselves. They have also angered most Londoners who simply want to go about their business and are prevented from doing to. They should not be surprised if Londoners now have little sympathy for their cause.

- Anthony, London

It is interesting to contrast the enthusiasm with which the Metropolitan Police baton charged innocent Countryside Alliance demonstrator outside Parliament a couple of years back with their kid gloves treatment of this lot.

- C Walker, Milton Keynes

Please,let them through to play with are hopeless MPs.

- David, london

This demonstration is not against for the british government or british people,this is against for sri lankan government beacuse they are using the poison gas to kill the innocent people. if there's anyone one knows whats going on on the warzone? there are no reporters to be allowed in those areas to know the fact,its a hidden genocide going on srilanka.

- Kajan, london uk

Why they need to protest on the bridge and stop everything?
Are they mental?
This way,they don't deserve any simpathy.

- Alen, london

Britain has become a safe haven not only for the innocent Tamil refugees but for the Tamil terrorists. Now they have openly broke the British law by staging a protest illegally and displaying banners of a proscribed organisation the LTTE. who can guarantee that there won't be a Tamil separatist movement in United Kingdom in future? Its better to deal without now rather than later... Further, Home Office wants to find any illegal immigrants, why don't you search the visa status...you can find more than 100 illegal immigrants here...Save the Britain

- Amila Wickram, London

A SHAME THE THAMES IS NOT SHARK INFESTED!!!!!

- Pauli, LONDON

- Daveb, london
Looting and enslaving - what era do you hark from matey?? What 'fortune' are you talking about? The year is 2009.

The last time I looked we had a national debt three times as much as we had after WWII! BTW sunshine the people demonstrating on the streets of London are supporters of a proscribed terrorist organisation.

Check out the write up on Wikipedia for a list of these peoples criminal activities.

- Frank, Home Counties, England.

Chemicals have never been used by the Sri Lankan Army they actually discovered canisters of nerve gas in Tiger dens in the liberated areas. The tamils who protest at this rally stand to loose their claims for asylum if there is peace in Sri Lanka and therefore want the war to continue. By demanding a ceasefire the Tamil Tigers can regroup rearm and go back to fighting. The real tragedy is the way in which the Police allowed a banned terror group to take over London and display their logos which is banned under the UK Terrorism ACT, It makes you wonder if the Police would have shown the same sympathy to an islamic terror group should they have behaved in a similar fashion to the Tamil Tigers in London.

- Tina Edwards, London

They created havoc in Sri Lanka for 30 years and now they create havoc in London. In Toronto they disrupted traffic. In Melbourne they attacked SL rally and damaged Sinhala shops. Let those countries who harboured terrosits and mollycoddled them learn the hard way.

- Bhumi, Melbourne Australia

we have no authority in sri lankla, and that means we have no responsibility either. if anyone thinks we have, let them dig into their own pockets; thought not.

- Jules_London, london

SO JUMP ALREADY.

- Dee Jay, Fleet Hampshire

Wow nobody knows what�s going on in the world. I mean, thinking about it, what British tax payer�s money hasn�t been in a secret hidden war? Make�s me sick.

- Adam, London

"This morning the protesters were joined by Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes".

Rent-a-mob joined by rent-a-gob. Well done! Anthing for publicity.

- Haskey, London SE1

Dr Kosgoda, London... Using your analogy the problems in the UK are of Roman making; they ruled the British Isles for over three hundred years, perhaps we can get the Italians to take responsibility for the current mess we are in... Where does the UK draw the line on these matters, the UK cannot and should not, be held accountable indefinably..

- Ade, London

70,000 Sri-Lankans have been killed since this civil war began. The Sri-Lankan government has systematically attacked Tamil Tiger strongholds knowing that innocent civilians are being used as human shields. I am a British Tamil and support neither the Sri-Lankan government - which has used whatever means necessary to end this war - nor the Tamil Tigers, who have turned on the very people in whose name they say they are fighting.

However, the breathtaking ignorance of some of these comments(Sue, Johnny and Sarah)beggars belief. Tamil men, women and children who have nothing to do with the Tiger movement have been mutilated, raped and orphaned over the years. Yet when the tsunami occurred you all put your hands in your pocket and gave generously. Tell me, is it easier to offer a hand knowing that these poor people are at a safe distance? God forbid they should be on your doorstep pleading for help.

Shame on you and shame on your hypocrisy.

- Disgusted, London

To DaveB,
So tell me, how many years are we supposed to still feel guilty for previously having an empire for? Shall we go and ask the Italians who had a Roman Empire if they still feel guilty about it? I think not.
I don't know if you have noticed but there is a recession on and this country is becoming less wealthy and less powerful as each day passes, or would you like to see the growing unemployed population of the UK lowered by getting them to join the Army and die in a foreign country fighting another of someone else's wars?
Why not? Thatcher nearly got the conscript cards printed up when the Falklands War was on.

- Paul, london

This is a British problem,they brought the Tamils to Sri lanka(Ceylon)from India to work in the plantations.

- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy

I am ashamed by some of the comments here to call myself a proud British Citizen. Protest is to demand the UN Security council to bring immediate ceasfire. SL defence website says only 600 tigers left last month since then there is been 800 tigers killed on the same website. So where did the 200 come From, the Tamil civilians?
For those of you who is asking to do the protest in SL. If they can live with that freedom there, they wouldn't even be here. Please read the SL Thamils History, they been oppressed by the SL government since 1956. The peaceful protests and fast till death for 30yrs went on deaf ears then the arm struggle started in 1979. how many peace proccesses, how many governments. Same Story!!! everytime...

- Londoner, London

I hope the home office are looking at CCTV footage to determine how many of them are illegal immigrants.

- Raminder Bhalla, Northolt

They have every right to protest we live in a multicultural society,many of those Tamils have families and friends in sri lanka who will be or have been victims of the sri lankan governments genocide against the Tamil population,of course thay are concerned,and yes the British government can at least reflect the concern of all its citizens by making representation to the sri lankan government,many Tamils in the UK would have voted for the government.

- Kev, London-UK

It "may not have anything to do with us" as people keep saying - but OTHER conflicts are more fashionable with the media, like Palestine and Georgia.

Sri Lanka was a colony, and the Britsh were behind the beginnings of this ethnic struggle. The innocents are being killed now, and we turn a blind eye.

- Jay, London

As for the Tamil demonstrators I think they are misguided if they think our government cares about the Sri Lanka situation. After all I'm sure they will want the tax revenues from the arms sales.

- Peter, Leigh on Sea

Cap, London.. Is this not British Problem. Briton ruled Ceylon more than 100 years. They were the root cause of the issue. They should try to resolve the issue instead of giving taxpayer's money to Sri Lanka as a donation to killing Tamil people. European union funds the SL Govt to kill innocent people. If Sri Lanka Govet kill the real LTTE people we would be happy. But the Srilankan Govt shell the chemical bombs and cluster bombs on displaced innocent people. Even a small pet died, British people are worrying. But in Srilanka hundreds of Tamil people are killed evryday. No one cares..

- Dr Kosgoda, London

Most of the comments so far have been astonishing: Paternalistic at best and Patronizing at worst. These demonstsrators are only highlighting their plight - an almost forgotten war. The Israeli-Palestinian coflict is not the only war that warrants street theatre - as some of you detractors wold like us to believe.
I wish there were more demonstrations about other wars too. It isnt only Muslims who have territorial and propretorial issues.

- Herbert Agyemang-Duah, St. Albans ; Engand.

I didn't even know we were at war in Sri Lanka

- Nick, London

Why don't the police wade in and sort this out?They didn't hang about last week.
Mmm,I wonder why?

- Steve, London

As this is a free country,as they wanted to jump into the Thames then they should have been allowed to

- Brummie, birmingham

So they wanted to talk to Crash Gordon. Believe me, they're not the only ones ! Why assume they have some sort of priority over the British population?

- Marianne, SW France

This isn't a British problem, so why are these terrorists able to operate in our Capital ?

They should be arrested and jailed in Sri Lanka if they like the place so much !

- Cap, london

LTTE is a banned TERRORIST organisation in many countries. The demonstrators are surely sympathisers of the LTTE as many are seen with the red flag of the LTTE.
Firstly, these demonstrators should be locked up in London as pro terrosists or sympathisers of terrorists.
Secondly, for disrupting the traffic and conducting an unauthorised protest.

- Prashan Fernando, Colombo, Sri Lanka

daveb - please keep your liberal imperialism and bed-wetting post-colonial guilt to yourself. Bring out the water cannon - nothing to see here.

- Dan, London

Tey chose to leave Sri Lanka and became British citizens if they feel so strongly about this they can go back to Sri Lanka and fight their cause nobody here is stopping them from protesting in their own country

- Rae Campbell, Bearsden Scotland

You only have to look at one of the related articles accompanying this story to see how much sympathy I have for their plight.

The article is titled: Tamil Tiger bomber kills 10 in Sri Lankan mosque.

Enough said.

The police want to round them up and dock their benefits to the sum of the cost of policing this, and for the RNLI callout.

- Jock, London

maybe we should have just arrested them all and send them back? Or maybe they were exercising there right to protest?

- Disappointed, UK

Should never have been allowed as it's nothing to do with us....why are these people disrupting our country with issues happening in theres...if they're that concerned move back and leave us to live our lives

- Sarah, London

If the protest is illegal clear it or is there one rule for one community and another for another.

- Mike, London

Some threatened to jump en masse into the Thames...well let them jump. I'm sure this would be liberty or something like that.

Then to be more serious : the only way to stop a Civil war is when one side wipes out the other. That's why its called a war.

- Terry. B, Toulouse, France

If these people feel this way then perhaps a demonstration in Sri Lanka would be more appropriate.

And Ethan. Keith Price has been very quiet recently since I had a �1k wager with him over that beardy wierdy hate preacher who won't be leaving England any time soon. Much like his beloved NuLabour, Keith is all mouth and no action.

- Jimbob, Kensington

They didn't ask permission for the demonstration beforehand. All they've done is disrupt the whole of the Westminster area when people are trying to leave the area/get to work. If they want to protest, let them do it in Sri Lanka. If I emigrated to Greece I wouldn't give care what was happening in Britain. Wouldn't that have been the purpose of emigrating in the first place, because I had given up on, and had no time for my own country?

- Sue, Orpington, Kent

glad to see that so many managed to turn up mid week. obviously not many have jobs to go to.
i doubt whether they would turn up and demonstrate on the day they collect their benefits........
what has this got to do with us!!!!! who cares.

- Jonny, London

Thats true. UK can not do anything in the short term. This conflict will take its own course. But UK and the rest of the countries that cater to the international arms market can certainly try and put a cap to the availability of arms to any one who has the slightest bit of complaint. We need some internation 'gun control' laws or else we will see the equivalent of the american incidents where deranged gunmen can go around shooting people at will.

And yes Mark, you are right. Britain doesnt rule India anymore and hopefully never will. But unless you have been living on moon for past 20 years you should know that this is a Sri Lankan problem and not an Indian one. I wish I could say with the same conviction that the Indian govt had nothing to do with it.

- Navin Bhardwaj, London, UK

To Dave Davis, this has everything to do with us, we are a rich and powerful country with influence at the U.N and with this privellege comes a responsibility to the rest of the world... after all we made our fortune from looting and enslaving, so really we have to "give back a little"from time to time

- Daveb, london

Sri Lanka's conflict has nothing to do with the UK. This protest should not have been allowed to go-ahead, never mind on a week day!

- Darren, london

Doesn't this constitute high treason ??

- Jc, Lancs

So they wanted to speak with David Milliband or Gordon Brown? These people must be desperate.

- Tim, London

While I appreciate the cause of these demonstrators, wanting to vent their frustration about a situation going on in their homeland, how can it be right that the our Government & Police allow have allowed this?
Yet they would NOT allow UK citizens to demonstrate last week against our own Government!

- Understandably Concerned, London England

And we are responsible how? What influence do we have in Sri Lanka then? Do we still run the place?

We seem to be getting the bill for Policing this demo but it seems to me to be completely pointless. Good Gord if you want to protest why not protest at the surveillance state, innocents having their DNA held, CCTV up the wazoo. Darfur perhaps or maybe the current sleazy government -there's a lot to be furious about but this? Need some explanation here.

Oh can I just say that Keith Price from Luton will probably be along shortly to say how wonderful Labour ministers are and how they should all have publically funded fifth or sixth (or more even) houses.

- Ethan, UK

And where was famed Human Rights Activist, Lauren Booth? No where to be seen of course - her human rights campaign only extends to criticism of Israel.

- Robert Fraser, Paddington, London

So this was an illegal demonstration, but the Police allowed it to grow and then block the roads during rush hour. Why? Weren't they arresting people last week for blocking the highway around the City? What is the UK supposed to do anyway, we no longer rule India.

- Mark, London

What has this got to do with us? Nothing

- Dave Davies, Basingstoke

Why ? What has Sri lanka to do with us ?

- Joanna, london

Britain has become a safe haven not only for the innocent Tamil refugees but for the Tamil terrorists. Who they have create criminal gangs like "Jaffa Boys", "Eastham Boys".. etc who deals with money laundering, extortion, Drug dealings and etc... Now they have openly broke the British law by staging a protest illegally and displaying banners of a proscribed organisation the LTTE. If this trend continues for another few decades who can guarantee that there won't be any Tamil separatist issue in United Kingdom?

- Peter Hais, London

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