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Dozens of Tamils arrested as they blockade Parliament Square
Amar Singh11 May 2009
More than a thousand Tamil protesters blocked the roads surrounding Parliament today in the latest demonstration against Sri Lanka.
Police arrested 36 protesters as they were overwhelmed when the crowd surged from Parliament Square on to roads to begin a sit-down protest they warned could go on all night.
Protests have been taking place in the square for more than a month over civil war in Sri Lanka, but protesters say the decision to cause “as much disruption as possible” came after the UN described the situation in the north of the country as a “blood bath”.
A stand-off with police was expected as Tamil students said they were prepared to block the road for “as long as it takes”. Harry Premachandralal, a 19-year-old economics student from Croydon, said: “We have it confirmed that 350 innocent civilians have been killed by the Sri Lankan army... Our sources say up to 1,000 people have been killed.
“We decided to charge at the police this morning to turn heads. There were only about 15 police officers at the front of the square and they weren't prepared for us.” He added that the British Government must do more to encourage a ceasefire.
Raadaniya Pararajasingan, 19, a student from Dartford, said: “The police lost control. They tried to stop us but we are very angry. We have been here for 34 days and Sri Lanka are still killing our people. Britain must do more.”
Hundreds of protesters shouting slogans took up several junctions surrounding the House of Commons. At mid-day they fell silent for one minute to honour victims.
The Sri Lankan army has denied shelling the safe zone for civilians. However the UN confirmed that at least 378 people were killed over the weekend.
Reader views (43)
I can only pitty with the above commentors WQ and Gerard Mano for their ignorance judgement.Do they know what is "Humanatarian" forget about ltte & Rjapaksha. This is the voice made for the helpless innocent civilians life & their safety. Do these people read the report of independant witneses. The ICRC says it "unbelievable human Catrosphe" Please try to Be a human.
- Sam Kannan, Germany, 15/05/2009 12:53
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No work today then ?
- Grim Reaper, Hell, 15/05/2009 11:53
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This demonstration is in breach of the law. Presumably the Met have decided to let it run, in a show of "you didn't like what we did at the G20 so let's see how you like it when we go hand-off". Well, a bit of discretion is great, but I think the time has come to tell them to shift. They should be given a clear requirement to disperse, 24 hours to do so, then removed.
- Bryan Armstrong, London, 15/05/2009 11:53
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Why the UN is only counting the dead?
Why aren't they doing anything to save lives?
Will they be doing this if their own house was on fire and their children were trapped inside?
Will they be only releasing statements?
The world leaders should open their eyes.
I know we do not have oil in Sri Lanka but we have thousands of lives and each one counts and each one is precious than anything else.
- Christus, Borehamwood, 15/05/2009 11:53
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These Tamils do not appear to realise that Londoners have had enough of them. There are now tensions between Londoners and the Tamil community. They have no right to bring London to a standstill day after day and it is time that the riot police were deployed to arrest them and remove them. Those that are seeking asylum should be taken to detention centres and removed from the UK. It they cannot obey the law, they have no place here.
- Anthony, London, 15/05/2009 11:53
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No doubt that if it had been indigenous British protesting the police would be in there with boots and batons flying.
- Fred, Horsham, 15/05/2009 11:53
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No matter what these so called deciples of 'FREEDOM FIGHTER' do, cicus, acrobats, TT (temper tantrum) there will be NO CEASEFIRE. LTTE can try a wide range of tricks, they will never get their eelam anywhere in the world. NO CEASEFIRE. THE GAME IS OVER VERY SOON, JUST LESS THAN Km2 TO FINISH THE JOB! TERROR OUTFIT WILL BE ERADICATED.NO CEASEFIRE.
- Gerard Mano, vancouver, canada, 15/05/2009 11:53
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we are not against any goverment or public, we are trying to cross the message to the goverment and britain has the right to do more on sri lanka situation. britain merged two nation (sinhala nation and tamil nation) together when they were rule the world after that all this problem started. you did the mistake you have to correct it. i have the map which is drwan by british in early centuray, showing they were two nation.
- Sanjee, London, 15/05/2009 11:53
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I was recently in Sri Lanka for a month and pendelled between Badulla, Kandy and Colombo. One is not aware that there is a "war" going on, although in the North there is. The tamil demonstrators in London should go back to their own Country and cause disruption. They are not wanted in the UK. These are organised protests orchestrated by the Tiger Tamil offices based in France and the UK. If the normal Tamil in the street do not fall in with their wishes, they have to expect dire consequences. The Tamils are also only protesting to hype up the situation to be able to remain in Britain as asylem seekers to cream the financial benefits. It disgusts me. GO HOME AND FIGHT YOUR OWN WAR IN YOUR COUNTRY AND LEAVE US ALONE.
- Wq (Ex Pat), Frankfurt, Germany, 15/05/2009 11:53
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Funny how the police come down hard on the G20 protesters and let this lot bring a major part of London to a standstill. Selective policing?
- David, Isle of Wight, 15/05/2009 11:53
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Funny loads of people on this very forum lay into the Police for being heavy handed. Know that isnt good enough and they should be getting stuck in!!!!
Hypocrisy not democracy in action!
- Not Exactly A Looney Lefty!, The real world, 15/05/2009 11:53
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E J Crossland, ROTHERHAM.UK in reply to your comment "WHY DON'T THEY DEMONSTRATE IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY WE CAN'T STOP IT, IT'S NOT CEYLON" How would protesting in Sri Lanka Help, They would be killed if they tried something like this in Sri Lanka. Also what good would it do protesting for outside help in a country that does not allow foreign journalists to enter let alone report, and thirdly they would not be doing this it they felt that britain which has a very prominent position in world Politics could not do anything. Your comment is ridiculous and ignorant
- Vishnu, London, UK, 15/05/2009 11:53
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If these Tamils are really concerned about civilans, they should not be holding flags of a banned organaisation like LTTE. Is the real reason for these protests actually to protect the refugee status of people in western countries? If these people really care then ask LTTE to stop first.
- Dt, London, UK, 15/05/2009 11:53
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What a waste of time and drain on the economy.
- Schweigen, London, UK, 15/05/2009 11:53
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Why do we put up with these students and others. It is most inconvenient to the public. Get them out from there
fast by force if necessary. The university exams are running this month, yet this student finds time to protest instead of sitting at home and studying. If overseas Srilankan students are involved in this, they should know they are breaking their visa regulation. If they do not behave deport them. We have nothing to do with their countries plight. Don't go back to history.
- Gary, London, 15/05/2009 11:53
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All the sleezebags in House of Commons couldn't give a stuff about the Tamils. All the Tamils are doing is angering the local populus who are working around the Westminstr area and who keep having to walk to their main line stations because all the roads are at gridlock. Afraid they're going to get nowhere (no pun intended).
- Sue, Orpington, Kent, 15/05/2009 11:53
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The rebels are only holding on as hard as they are in the hope that these 'protesters' can badger the world's governments into saving their backsides! If these people want the shelling to stop and innocents to stop dying as "collateral damage" then they should stop encouraging the rebels to believe they might be saved from the consequences of their own actions.
- Rogan, Irving, 15/05/2009 11:53
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This is another precedent that the LTTE is going to set - i.e. inflicting casualties amongst their own civilians so as to get international sympathy.
Just like the Taliban recently took an entire village hostage, there will be other groups who will do exactly what the LTTE is doing when they are cornered.
The International Commnunity can pretend that it is the governments fault - until they are faced with exactly the same situation elsewhere in the world.
- Schweigen, London, UK, 15/05/2009 11:53
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WHY DON'T THEY DEMONSTRATE IN THEIR OWN COUNTRY WE CAN'T STOP IT, IT'S NOT CEYLON
- E J Crossland, ROTHERHAM.UK, 15/05/2009 11:53
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John Gilhooly, London. Say what you mean John! If these were British protester their would not touch the ground. NO, if these were white people their feet would not touch the ground. Do you now see what political correctness and all Loony-Labour "isms" were really about? It's wake-up time.
- Mike, London, 15/05/2009 11:53
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what, are they back again? WHY ?????
- Marianne (Uk National And Tax-Payer), SW France/London, 15/05/2009 11:53
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Where are the G20 Police when you actually want them? They don't need to use the level of violance that they did against the Climate Camp and the like, they just need to remain firm and control this ILLEGAL protest.
- Barry, woking, GB, 15/05/2009 11:53
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And i thought it was illegal to protest in Parliament Sq!!! Why do the government and police roll over 'because it might be bad press'!!!
They are waving the flag of a banned terrorist organisation...come on commissioner ...get some balls and get them out the sq, the british government have enough on their hands sorting out this country to do anything for anyone else!
- Jh, london, 15/05/2009 11:53
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Since when did the UN views or comments matter? I seem to remember they were supposed to be protecting the people of Darfur who are far more deserving of protection than the scumbags of the LTTE. Sooner they are finished off the better and then the protesters can go back home to the self inflicted warzone that they are supposedly fleeing so that they can operate businesses of questionable legality to fund their buddies back home.
- Jon, London, 15/05/2009 11:53
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Why are we allowing supporters of a banned terrorist group to demonstrate anywhere in our country, let alone near Parliament? These so-called 'protesters' are raising money for suicide bombings and other crimes against humanity.
- John North, London, UK, 15/05/2009 11:53
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Apologies to the London commuters and the public for the disruption caused.
Please put up with this as there are matters of greater significance taking place in Sri Lanka. Innocent civilians are being slaughtered like cattle. Unarmed tamils are being killed, illegally detained in concentration camps and abducted.
Events akin to Rwanda, Darfur and Congo are taking place in Sri Lanka. So far the body count is 9000 and counting with another 25000 injured. This is out of a prewar population of 400 000. About 10% of the tamil population in the North Vanni region are dead or injured.
Sri Lanka is a memeber of commenwealth and a former British colony. It is a country heavily dependent on aid and handouts. It's main allies are China, Pakistan and Iran, countries with dubious human rights records. There is no press freedom in Sri Lanka, media are banned from the war zone. Times and Channel 4 journalists have been deported from there as they dared to provide an impartial account of the human rights abuses.
Britain is a permanent member of the UN security council and a becon of democracy. The British govt and people have a moral duty to intervene. If this is not successful at least remove Sri Lanka from the commenwealth and impose economic sanctions. Remember Zimbawae/Iraq/Iran/North Korea. It is inhumane to ignore the genocide taking place at present.
Once again my sincerest apologies on behalf of the British Tamil community.
- Selva, London, UK, 15/05/2009 11:53
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UN is not functioning to their mandates. When news is reported about genocide killings in SriLanka, UN and the IC are keeping their eyes and the ears shut. IS this called democracy? Why UN classifying the children as terrorists? Because of this UN is not stepping up their pressure to save the children from the war zone.
India is behind the atrocity in Sri-Lanka. The election manifest stated by Sonia Gandhi is full of lies. The country that gave birth to world leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi, Neru, Indra Gandhi is now heading towards taking human blood in their hands. Gandhi has stated “respect the human values and never harm anything”. Today India is giving arms to GoSL and they are firing banned heavy weapons on the innocent lives. World Community stand up and see the atrocity that’s taking in place on the innocent civilians....animals is also killed. Where is peace???
- Josh, London UK, 15/05/2009 11:53
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This was all caused by the BRITSH GOVERNMENT, by not dividing the power equally when it left srilanka in the first place. Its their duty to put it right!
How can the world watch on as the srilankan government shells its own civilians. This is just another Rwanda in the making.
- Nathan, London, 15/05/2009 11:53
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thanks for publishing the protest,however please do get
the genocide of tamils by srilanka exposed to the world
via your media...
- Nimalan Seeva, london, 15/05/2009 11:53
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Funny the police aren't breaking heads with the "tamils".If that were a peaceful British protest their feet wouldn't touch the floor!
- John Gilhooly, london,uk, 15/05/2009 11:53
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I thought you needed permission to demonstrate within 1 mile of parliament, why is this being allowed to happen, are we now setting a precedent that any group with a grievance can now turn up in Parliament Square and bring Central London to a standstill. Was it not long ago that a women was arrested standing by the Cenataph, which is about 50 metres from where these people are now, for reading the names of soldiers killed in Iraq, she was arrested under anti terror laws.
- Steve M, LONDON, 15/05/2009 11:53
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Do they really believe that creating chaos in the heart of London is going to help their cause?
- Scotty, Cambridge UK, 15/05/2009 11:53
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I thought protests were banned around Parliament?
I guess its only the British that are banned; that explains the difference between the G8 protesters and Tamil protesters.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 15/05/2009 11:53
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‘Waiting is painful. Forgetting is painful. But not knowing which to do is the worse kind of suffering’. Londoners - citizens of conscience, why do you remain blind to the plight of the suffering? Are we so blinkered that we place our liberty and welfare before the lives of the helpless, whilst they’re tragically losing theirs? Has Churchill’s victory on 8th May been in vain or have we learned so little from history? At this eleventh hour, thousands of ethnic Tamils are being killed, mercilessly attacked by land, sea and air in a Sri Lankan government orchestrated genocide. Demonstrating for these innocent civilians is the least we could do, it is what gives voice to our democracy.
- Reuben Socrates, London, UK, 15/05/2009 11:53
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I think you'll find that the difference between the Tamil protests and that of the G20 protests is that the Tamils are being peaceful and are not a threat. That is why the police are not "attacking" them.
Yes, they are causing a disturbance but they are not attacking police or trashing buildings.
- Realist, London, 15/05/2009 11:53
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In SriLanka, war against TAMILSM (minority Tamils), not on Terrorism. There is War Without Witness.com
- G.Chayan, Jaffna, SriLanka, 15/05/2009 11:53
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Yet another circus by Tiger Terror International Inc. These people should read what D B S Jeyaraj wrote in the latest issue of "Frontline" on the manipulation of diaspora by the LTTE.
It is no secret that the LTTE is the main cause for all these problems. If they let the civilians go then there will be an automatic ceasefire and no civilian deaths. Instead these people are shouting "we want Tamil Eelam" and "our leader Prabhakaran". What a shame!
Above all there are numerous UK politicians patronising these events in the guise of protecting human rights and minority rights just for the sake of getting Tamil votes in their ballot boxes. Who is deceiving whom?
We, Tamils must understand that the time has come for the LTTE now to stop all its violence and stop running after mirage of Tamil Eelam which has never been in existence or will never be viable. They must now disarm and surrender as requested by the UNSG. There are opened windows for them in the democratic process. The diaspora should think rationally and give up partisan and hatred politics of the LTTE. They should remember that there are millions of Tamils living very happily among Sinhalese and Muslims.
Therefore, the need of the hour is to disown LTTE propaganda and strengthen the hands of the Sri Lankan government to achieve peace and unity in Sri Lanka. I as a Tamil doubt very much that the international community has understood this bitter truth.
- Kugan Sathkunanathan, London - UK, 15/05/2009 11:53
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Is this all really necessary, while i feel for the people of SRI LANKA, I dont see what else we can do, when even our journalists are not even allowed to enter the country, hope the people on the london transport kept their cool stuck in the jam.
- Sorraya, croydon, 15/05/2009 11:53
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I have no problem with a peaceful protest but these people seem to be intent on screwing up Londoners as much as possible and it is all pointless. The British Government and the UN can do absolutely nothing to stop the Sri Lankanan Govt from finishing this war. Isn't it time for the Police to stop appeasing these people and get London back to work?
- David Burns, Beckenham, 15/05/2009 11:53
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Good luck to them,it seems the only way the powers that be and the war industry will ever be made to realise that the action of killing innocent civilians of any race or creed is totally unacceptable is mass civil disobedience.At the same time i have noticed a different attitude from the police towards the sri lankan demonstrators as opposed to those of the g20,i wonder why!How ever i wish them well.(the demonstrators not the authorities)
- Kev, London-UK, 15/05/2009 11:53
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The Tamil Tigers have given a new meaning to the phrase "Women and children first". It now means put women & children in the front line to try to save their "heroic" leaders. Despicable.
- Candidly, Kandy, Sri Lanka, 15/05/2009 11:53
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Tamils should protest outside the Chinese embassy instead of disrupting our economy. After all, recently supplied Chinese military equipment has proven decisive in defeating the Tamil Tigers - all for the price of a new Chinese Navy base on the island.
- J Totten, London, 15/05/2009 11:53
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Why aren't these people speaking out for the tamils who are being used as human shields by the Tamil Tigers. These people should be moved off they are using the democratic freedoms on this country to cause chaos for law abiding British citizens.
- Tina, London, 15/05/2009 11:53
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