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Tamil protests cost the Met almost £8 million
Justin Davenport and Amar Singh19.05.09
Demonstrations by pro-Tamil supporters have cost the country's largest police force almost £8 million.
Met Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said the protests, which have been going on for 43 days, meant the force was “extraordinarily stretched”.
“We have to provide such a level of resources that it is reducing policing on the streets of London,” he said.
He suggested government intervention was needed to create “some kind of exit strategy”.
Speaking to the home affairs committee, Sir Paul said the cost of policing the Tamil demonstrations — “just short of £8 million” — was more than the cost of policing the G20 protests, which came to £7.2 million.
About half of the total, £3.72 million, was for additional policing costs, including overtime. Sir Paul added: “Whatever the rights and wrongs of any demonstration, it has to be said that policing that demonstration is a huge drain.”
Commander Bob Broadhurst added that one problem faced by police was the lack of a spokesperson for the demonstrators and another was their “ability to mobilise hundreds, and yesterday thousands, in a very short space of time, which overwhelms police resources.”
He added: “When that happens they tend to put their women, children and babies at the forefront, which makes it difficult for us to use force.”
Ten pro-Tamil demonstrators were arrested and about 25 police officers were injured in clashes outside the Houses of Parliament last night. One officer suffered a broken nose.
The protests have angered commuters travelling to and from Westminster. Jess Bourne, 45, an academic, said the demonstrators should be forced to leave.
He said: “It is awful. Someone needs to just move them on. They are taking up valuable police time and causing a disturbance.
“I can appreciate what they are doing, but I would not go to their country and have a demonstration like this.”
Adrian Dixon, 49, a civil servant who works in Whitehall, said: “It has gone on far too long. They should have been stopped after two or three days. It is a nuisance when they sit in the road and there should be legislation to say they can't be there for more than a day.”
Meanwhile, after Sri Lanka declared victory in the 26-year war against Tamil Tiger rebels, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he hoped there would be a “historic” opportunity to build a lasting peace but warned Sir Lanka that it must tackle a grave humanitarian crisis.
Mr Miliband said: “Our primary concern remains the immediate humanitarian crisis and the long-term political and economic peace and stability of Sri Lanka.”
Demonstrations by pro-Tamil supporters have cost the country's largest police force almost £8 million, it was revealed today.
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson said the demonstrations, which have been going on for 43 days, meant the force was "extraordinarily stretched".
And he suggested the protests required Government intervention to create "some kind of exit strategy".
Speaking in front of the Home Affairs Committee, Sir Paul said the cost of policing the Tamil demonstrations - "just short of £8 million" - was more than the cost of policing the G20 protests, which came to £7.2 million.
About half of the total - £3.72 million - came from additional policing costs, including overtime.
"We have to provide such a level of resources that it is reducing policing on the streets of London," he said.
"Whatever the rights and wrongs of any demonstration, it has to be said that policing that demonstration is a huge drain."
He said it was "damaging our performance" and led to a "lack of policing on the streets of London", adding: "At this moment in time we are extraordinarily stretched."
Commander Bob Broadhurst said one problem faced by police was the lack of a spokesperson for the demonstrators and another was their "ability to mobilise hundreds, and yesterday thousands, in a very short space of time, which overwhelms police resources.
"When that happens they tend to put their women, children and babies at the forefront, which makes it difficult for us to use force."
Ten pro-Tamil demonstrators were arrested and about 25 police officers were injured in clashes outside the Houses of Parliament last night. Mr Broadhurst said one officer suffered a broken nose.
The angry scenes took place just after midnight as police moved demonstrators off a busy road opposite Parliament where they had been staging a sit-down protest since yesterday afternoon.
On Sunday, the rebel Tamil Tigers conceded defeat in their bloody 25-year conflict with Sri Lanka's government which has claimed an estimated 70,000 lives.
Nimalan Seevaratnam, who is on the seventh day of a hunger strike and at the heart of the protests, said the clashes were prompted by reports, which he insisted were inaccurate, that Tamil Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran had been killed in Sri Lanka.
He said the arrests and injuries overnight were "an unfortunate thing".
"When they see this news, they couldn't control their anger and had to do something more than what they had done," Mr Seevaratnam, 41, said.
"The obvious thing was to break the barrier.
"It's very emotional for us when more than 50,000 people are dying. The people went into the street. None of the structures were damaged.
"They felt very angered when they see the papers reporting the Tamil Tiger leader dead when we know that's not the truth.
"He is the Robin Hood of the Tamils. He has long life and he will live much longer than anyone thinks."
Mr Seevaratnam also insisted that he wanted "justice to prevail" and did not want to see a repeat of the disturbances.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said the 10 protesters were arrested for a variety of public order offences.
The clashes happened just a few hours before Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapaksa told his parliament that the entire country was unified for the first time in 30 years, following the government's defeat of the Tamil Tiger rebels.
Protesters have been demonstrating in Parliament Square, with several going on hunger strikes.
They have also held marches through the capital to highlight the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka.
Yesterday they moved en masse at around 4pm from the grassy area in the square to occupy parts of Bridge Street and Westminster Bridge, a major thoroughfare through central London.
Traffic in the area was diverted and a large police presence gathered around the protesters, with police helicopters seen circling above Parliament Square.
Rangadesch Palasooriyakumar, 29, from Mitcham, south west London, said he was at the front of the crowd as police began moving the protesters back into the square.
"Police started pushing us back, and people were falling over each other on the road. This caused a lot of anger and upset."
Reader views (68)
Ah- Ha.8 M pounds is more that 5 times what the UK gave Sri Lanka as aid in the past 2 years in total. I wish the tamils in London- most of whom have never stepped on Lankan soil- plead with the scottish PM (Gordon Brown) to give this 8.0M to help build their native land.
Britan- you are now paying the price for employing only tamils in your mission in Colombo- which saw hordes of tamils move to the UK. What you sow is what you reap. That principle never changes.You sow decent in other lands- it will hit you back in your own backyard if not door step
Mr Millibad - I agree with your comment that this is a good opportunity for Lanka to build a lasting peace- but also note that this is not possible with the high degree of hypocracy practised by the EU & other western nations.
- Romesh, Melbourne- Australia
If the police complain about policing money.. why dont ethe government make the god damn action and force troops into the srilankan forbidden zone. There you will find whats going on and the truth.
- Keshan, London
As a British Tamil, I agree that the Tamil protests now need to stop and we need to look to rebuild Sri Lanka as the beautiful, peaceful country it once was. However, comments, or rather gross exaggeration, such as those by Alaha Jude (a Sinhalese Sri Lankan) who suggests that the protests in Parliament Sq are "so aggressive and violent" make me wonder whether some Sinhalese are capable of living honestly, openly and harmoniously with the Tamils.
Meanwhile, comments such as those by Fanfan suggesting that the Tamils are married to a benefits culture are more an indictment of his/her way of thinking. Ever heard of annual leave? We prefer to use ours to save our race. You can use yours to strip off in Ibiza or whatever it is you do.
- A Better Future, London
these people are doin all this for a reason. if everyone just puts their heads together and thinks logically what the real problem might be and help us out then i am more than 100% sure that these protest will stop even though it will never owe us back for all the lives that have be tooken away by the srilankan president. we as in the tamils know that the president knows what is happenin in srilanka but your just not takin action because all you did to support this war will be reavealed!!!
- Lavanya, toronto
Where shall we send the bill?
- Bernard Parke, GUILDFORD
The government must designate a place for demonstration.
To do so outside Parliament is inconvenient for the workers, drivers and businesses of london.
Perhaps they can demonstrate within trafalgar square.
They should be bordered in so policing will be more manageable and far less costly to the taxpayer.
- Gibbs, london
Here we go. They have already violated the Law of the land. Displaying Tamil Tiger flags violate UK Terroristm Act. I have noticed these demonstrators are so aggressive and violent and have created havoc in the heart of the city.
Every day i pass this place to my work and look at the distruption they have brought to our city. It cost £8m. Waste of tax payers money.
Good luck British government.
- Alaha Jude, kingston, UK
I know they have genuine grievances, and I sympathise with their aims, but they have disrupted the centre of London quite long enough. I live in the area, and I've already missed a couple of appointments, been diverted to the other side of the river, and had to advise visitors to avoid the area just because of the disruption. Its time to tell them all to move on - there are other ways of making their voices heard, and I am not the only one losing patience with them.
- Sara, London
Hows about a counter demonstration say this Saturday?
- E.Reed, Bournemouth,UK
I find the language used by the demonstrators very strange. Genocide, ethnic cleansing? Are these not the same words which were used to describe the actions of the Late Prabhakaran, the leader of the LTTE?
60% of Colombo population is non Sinhalese. Only 40% is. The 60% are Tamils and Muslims. Yes, that is correct. So if there is such discrimination and violence against Tamils, why would the Tamils continue to live in Colombo?
Sri Lanka is a country open to all religions and ethnic backgrounds. Muslims, Tamils and Sinhalese live happily for the most part. Under the perversed ideology of the LTTE, thousands of innocent people have been killed and injured. There will be peace in Sri Lanka. People deserve it. Only hinderance is the Tamil community living in Western countries. They have been happy to sponsor terrorism in Sri Lanka whilst enjoying the benefits and welfare offered by Western Countries.
What would you think if people were demonstrating in favour of Taliban or Al-Qaeda? Yet, the LTTE has committed far worst atrocities. Put an end to these demonstrators and save our tax money.
- G Perera, London
David in Italy. Only a minority of Tamils want a separate State, the majority wish to live in harmony in a democracy, so how they got there is of no relevance. Plus they were not forced labour. Also, you cannot ask me to deal with any issues that relate to the actions of YOUR ancestors. Mine were toiling in the fields and the factories to achieve a better life for their offspring, not the World's refugees.
- Danny, London
get rid of them!!! send the bloody lot back now...the war is over!!! they shoould be maor than happy to go home...its one rule for them...another rule for us(British people)!!!
- Mark, Sidcup
Dear Tamil protesters. Sadly the police will not do anything to make you go away, so British workers will. Please bear in mind that we, Londoners, unlike you, have to go about our business and work so we can pay for your substantial benefits and you can continue to sit on your backsides. If you won't let us get to work, no more benefits! That should do the trick.
- Fanfan La Tulipe, London
"Hunger strikers in Parliament Square warned that the world risked creating a “Tamil Hamas” if it did not respond to the situation."
I thought the Tamil Tigers were worst terrorists than Hamas. They have done more suicide bombings than any other terrorist group.
Does a 'Tamil Hamas' mean that they will now scale down their ruthlessness ?
- Rajiv, New Delhi, India
What sort of people take children along and risk serious injury to them.
Why are they not at work?
- Keith Hawke, LANCASHIRE ENGLAND
It seems people need to decide what they want from the police!!!
G20 - majority white middle england... everyone cries out at police action and brands it a disgrace
Tamil protests - foreign/british tamil people...everyone wants them beaten and forced off the street and out of country!
what a fair and hypocritical country we live in!
- Jh, London
Namilan Seevaratnam should be arrested for incitment.A Tamil hamas indeed? What the hell was the LTTE then?
The Tamils in Parliament Square will not be satisfied until the British Army has invaded Sri Lanka on behalf of the LTTE. Their shrieking infantile whinging has shown them up for what they are and anyone who turns up to the demo with babes in arms and pushchairs should be prosecuted for child neglect.
- Mike B, London
Mick, Watford...well said.. why are the police kowtowing to these people. it has gone on long enough. Our government or people are not responsible for what goes on in Sri Lanka.
- Lin, LONDON ENGLAND
Usually protests in central London are for one day only, then its someone elses turn next time. If they got a bit more organised and did the occasional, peaceful protest maybe they'd get a bit of sympathy and support.
Causing chaos in central London isn't going to help anyone.
Which brings me onto the water cannons issue. How come we don't use them, when they're often used on the continent? Must be a highly effective way of breaking up protests that have turned violent or gone past their sell by date. Might be more and more needed with the state of the economy, mps, high unemployment etc and summer just around the corner.
- Pat, London
May I bring it to the attention of my fellow countrymen
in England,that it was the British that took the Tamils from southern India to Ceylon (SRI LANKA) to work in the tea plantations (Our great great grandfathers)
When you say that it is not our problem,I am afraid to say the problem is ours.
I hope that Politicians in the future will think twice before making decisions as it will be future generations that will pay the consequences.
Sir Winston Churchil made the right decision in going to war against Nazi Germany,we have benefited with 65 years of peace in Europe.
- David Nigel Braham, Milan Italy
rajan , london UK
before spewing out that statement , wouldnt you prefer to start with an apology to everyone that is going to be late home from work ,AGAIN, tonight ?
- Clive, london
rajan , london UK
right . fair enough statement , but can please make an explaination of why you have to do what you are doing to thousands of normal people trying to get to and from work around the westminster area . why do you have to make them
(those who are not politicians ) late ?
why should they be inconvenienced ?
- Neil, london
Where's kettling when we need it?
- Martin, Teddington
Seeing, on my way home last night, that the Tamils had blocked the road again, I was hoping that finally the Police would move in and get them out of the way.
Apart from the fact that they are asking for help on something that in no way concerns us or our government, they started the demonstration illegally, have continued to wave banned flags representative of a terrorist organisation, and therefore seem to have no regard for their adopted home's rule of law.
Good riddance.
- Ml, Westminster, London
Rajen
It's not our war not our problem there has never been independent Tamil state on the island so the aggressors are the LTTE.
It is an internal Sri Lankan issue and the majority on the island want no part of the armed struggle.
- Duncan, Kent
My sympathy is exhausted. Stop disrupting normal people trying to get home and address your concerns in a peaceful and non disruptive manner.
- Bruce, London
My husband was caught in this yesterday and could not drive out of it for hours. As he is self employed this ruined his earnings for the day. I am all for demonstrating but do you need to block the roads, people need to earn a living and ambulances need to make their way around the capital. You will not win any sympathy with the public with your actions.
- Claire, London
To Simon, London UK.
Count me in. I know a nice restaurant over in Trastevere where we can relax after the demo.
- Anthony, Esher, Surrey
Kay, you don't sound like a very nice person. Look these people are a bit of a pain but at the same time a lot of horrible things are happening to their people right now. Also, how do you know that they are bogus asylum seekers and benifit parasites? I have in the past met some sri lankans and they seemed like nice people to me.Still,as I said you are not very nice,are you.
- Gary, London
Water cannons effectively stop the need for police being hands on and sends this mob home wet and miserable and more importantly unhurt. Getting really tired of these demo's, if they believe in their homeland so much, they should go back there and use democratic means to bring change.
- Jeremy Lawrence, London
Tamil protestors have shouted slogans at me and the thousands of other commuters who pass through Parliament Square twice a day for the last couple of months. On a few occasions we've been severly delayed because them. I have never been to Sri Lanka and have absolutely no influence over what happens there - nor do our politicians. I would imagine most other commuters are in the same position and most of us have a thousand different things in our life to worry about, never mind the plight of the Tamils. Sorry guys.
Why not protest outside the offices of the FO, the DfID or (here's a crazy idea) even the Sri Lankan embassy in Hyde Park Gardens?
PS I'm thinking about arranging a protest against excessive MPs expenses this Thursday. The protest will take place at the junction of Vias Enna and Montepulciano in the centre of Rome. Anyone want to join me?
- Simon, London, UK
Rajen,
Now you have come up with a different reason that you guys are protesting for the reasons you have mentioned below. A month ago you wanted the SL Army to stop the genocide on Tamils and no one in that Group asked the LTTE to drop their arms and let the trapped people go.
Your group will come up with another reason in few more days.
You are welcome to express your thoughts but within your limits- Disgusting actions like blocking roads and jumping into Thmaes are not acceptable.
DO IT IN A DECENT WAY. Respect other Londoners and don't disrupt their day-to-day life.
- Gee, Herts UK
These people cannot be allowed to disrupt our city. Use water cannon r bring in the army if the police are unable to deal with them.
- M Wilkinson, London UK
Soon this lot will be saying that they are being treated unfairly and will demand a separate state for Tamils. As the majority of these bogus asylum seekers and benefit parasites are based in London there will be demands for London to become a Tamil Eelam. The whole saga of war mongering, terrorism, suicide bombing and Mafia dealings(which is already rife here) will become a part of life in London. So be be prepared for a terrorist movement for London Tamil Eelam in a few years!!!!
- Kay, Harrow Uk
Quite frankly they can demonstrate all they like, apart from the fact of the huge bill we are having to pay for the policing if it. What I am getting more and more angry about is the disruption they are causing to everyone. They are causing an obstruction for which we have laws, so they should be safely on the green and not in the road causing choas to the whole area. I'm getting serious hacked off coming out of work each evening not knowing whether I'm going to catch my train or not because suddenly all the roads get closed off and everything in the area grinds to a halt. As I have a dependent Mother to look in on before I get home every evening, this is making my day longer and longer so what little sympathy I had for them has now completely gone. They must have wonderful employers to allow them so much time off work!
- Sue, Orpington, Kent
Whats it got to do with us.
They can buy tickets to colombo and protest to the govt there.
Or better still relax and drink a nice cup of Ceylon tea with a slice of cake.
- Ashgl, UK London
Ok, this is getting beyond a joke. Fair play to these guys for having the cojones to stand up to plod, but they are disrupting a major junction in the capital. They are not winning any friends with this type of protest.
Also, if reports are to be believed, the conflict in their homeland is coming to an end - although that was reported about ten years ago too, but has rumbled on regardless. Perhaps they would be better off protesting outside their worldwide embassies?
And I don't think the incumbents of SW1 are paying much attention to the outside world at the moment, as they are too wrapped up in gazing at their own navels, counting their bath plugs and holding on to their expense accounts for the next 12 months.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland
The Tamils who protested outside the parliament are rightly concerned about their fellow tamils in Sri Lanka. The govt in Sri Lanka has orchestrated a violent, ruthless and abusive war against the Tamils. This was under the guise of war on terror. 10 000 tamils are dead another 20 000 thousand injured. 300 000 tamils lives in internment camps. 1 million tamils have left the country.
We were the victims of systematic abuse by the government over the years and continue to do so. The sinhala people killed by the LTTE pale in comparison to the thousands we have lost. But every life is valuable, tamil or sinhala.
Sri Lanka is celebrating victory over what? They claimed to have liberated their own people after killing thousands of them. Even now instead of reaching out to the tamils, they are drunk with victory. Are they letting media into the coutry? Does Sri Lanka have any free democratic institution. It is a despot terrorist govt. If one calls LTTE terrorists, then I wouldnt hesitate to call the Sri Lankan govt the same. The elected govt have used much more brutal methods.
- Rajan, London, UK
What about my human rights. I am a cancer patient having daily treatment and who cannot get to the hospital on my own. I am fed up with being sick in the car and not being able to get home after treatment. My husband has had to be left in the car whilst I try to get on the tube train. Each day travelling into London has been a nightmare for myself and other patients because of Parliament Square being allowed to be used in this way and I am fed up with it. No other country would allow this to continue. Another nightmare journey awaits me today.
- Elissa, London, U.K.
The Sri Lankan government should be congratulated for defeating these terrorists and the Tamils in London should shut up, go back to work, obey British law and stop irritating the British people any more than they already have done. The British government should also now deport all Tamils who do not hold British passports.
- Anthony, London, W2
What are Westminster Social Services doing, standing by while these people blatantly use their small children as shields against the police, in the same way their terrorist brethren used civilians as a shield against the Sri Lankhan government? Photos of the crush yesterday showed the poor mites obviously terrified - they should be taken into care immediately.
Someone should tell these "protestors" that Britain is no longer a colonial nation. What do they expect us to do - send a gun boat? Those days are long gone. With our economy the way it is we would be hard pressed to send a rowing boat. Your counties problems are yours - not ours. Just go home!
- Phil, London
Typically the comments reflects the ignorance and bigotry of the inept readership.
The UK has only managed to "keep up its grandeaur" appearances by pilfering countries like Sri Lanka.
We have a saying and so do you ...what goes around comes around.
Now if only we could deport the whites from the US, Canada, Oz, NZ and wherever else you have taken you syphillis ridden bodies to in the name of "civilisation".
- Anjie, UK
I've got an idea for these Tamils. Get the water cannons out, stick them on a load of London bendy buses to LHR then throw them on a flight back to Sri Lanka....EASY!!!!!!
you are not our problem.........
- Jonny, London
Why are the police not enforcing the law forbidding protests here? I wonder if the G20 aftermath is connected?
- Martin, Teddington
They are cluttering up the streets. Must be got rid of, it looks appalling infront of the tourists, who we need more.
- Adam, LONDON
They are cluttering up the streets. Get rid of them
- Alan, LONDON
The Sri Lankan Govt defeated the rebels thanks to money and arms from China. The UK is insignificant, these days. We are just a holiday camp for anyone who wants an easy life, due to the policies of the liberal-left establishment.
- Danny, London
Steve, You are right. I am a Tamil who is ashamed of these Prtoester's act. These people are bringing bad name to the entire Tamil community living in Britain.
As you said significant number of them holding British Passports and and have no respect to this country.
Another bunch fear that they will get deported to Sri Lanka soon as the war is over and there's no valid reason to support their asylum claim in the UK!
- Gee, Herts, UK
That such scruffy and unpleasant demonstrations are a constant eyesore merely reflects the rubbish government sheltering a few hundred yards away.
Because they are not white, these supporters of terrorism half a world away are tolerated
to deface our Parliament Square. What are Tamils doing in London anyway ?
As usual we look gutless & are a target for any & every foreigner who supports terrorism .
Martin
- Martin, Bracknell England
I am a white Englishman. Philip of Taunton is correct my wife is Singhala her sister is very happily married to a Tamil guy. In Colombo everyone lives together there is of course a lot of mistrust because of what happened in the past but thats as far as it gets and no one wants to return to those days. The demonstrators here and in other parts of the world do not want to have to return to Sri Lanka as life is much easier here and they have no legal reason to stay.The politicians here are only interested in getting the Indian vote so they will not say anything that may jeopardize that. Sri Lanka will now give the Chinese a port for their navy as they seem to be the only country to back them in a war with a terrorist group not rebel fighters like our media call the LTTE. Given the chance to wipe out the Taliban in Pakistan what would YOU think stupid question as we all know the answer. As the song says give peace a chance
- Neil, blackpool
The Tamils there should accept that their 2movement" has been beaten and has little sympathy. Maybe they should go home and help rebuild the damage done by their group if they cared so much. Sitting on a grassy square in London is not doing any good to anyone.
- Maurits, London, UK
So over here we have LTTE supporters protesting outside parliment saying we haven't done enough to support them, yet over there we have the other side protesting outside our embassy saying we supported the LTTE too much. Sounds like we've hit the balance point exactly and therefore pleased no one at all. Can't win, time to just utt out and leave them to it. in the meantime, the police need to clear the streets of london.
- Barry, woking, GB
Well the fighting is over now and these people should go back to there homes and jobs. They must understand that the Goverment will do nothing to help them as they do nothing for anyone only themselves. Time to admit defeat and go home. I work in Piccadilly and when I left work last night the traffic was solid fortunately I go in the opposite direction but feel very sorry for anyone trying to get home this must stop and let London life get back to normal.
- Linda Cliff, London
As a Sri Lankan, it is proud to say that all terrorists have been beaten, rewarded with what they have asked for. Anyway now if you study how the Sri Lankan society treat the displaced Tamil people, you will learn what nonsense this Tamil demonstrators are saying. Poor Sinhala and Muslim villagers are the ones now sending donations to the Tamil people. Sinhala people do not hate or discriminate the Tamils. Tamil people who protest outside your parliament have not send any cent to the displaced Tamils. Anyway now Thanks to your politicians, you have invited an unnecessary trouble to your door step.
It is also amazing to note that even environmental/green protesters are not allowed to stay such long time, though they are yelling for a Global problem.
- Polbanda, Colombo, Sri Lanka
Presumably if the anti war protesters wished to demonstrate in Parliament Square they will now now need permission from the Tamils as Boris has given over control of this area to the Tamils.
It was claimed by the Sri Lankans that the Tamils were using women and children as human shields. The protesters claimed that as the Police knew there were women and children present no action should be taken against them.
- Dave, London
The Met stuck between a rock and a hard place with this one, but its important to recognise the differance between a legally approved demonstration like G20 and this. These people had to be moved
- Barry, woking, GB
Enough is enough. What the Tamils are doing by creating this disgusting "show" in Parliament Square, as well as the 700 to 800 Tamils who "protested" at the Frankfurt Main Station yesterday, is only stirring up hatred towards them. The Singhalese (and 95% of the Tamils)only wanted a peaceful country, the Tamils wanted their own "Kingdom" within Sri Lanka. Why??? The so called demonstrators in Parliament Square should be given a deadline of one day to dispurse otherwise I suggest moving in the Army and the Tanks.
- Wq (Ex Pat), Frankfurt, Germany
I have been to Sri Lanka yearly over the past twenty years. Tamils and Muslims are the majority in Colombo and live peacefully among the Sinhalese who are the majority in the rest of the country. Elam activists have been terrorizing this beautiful island for over thirty years. It is time to heal the wounds and move on
- Kevin Smith, Los Angeles, USA
By all means, yes they can do that as long the British government can tolerate them. Nothing can or will change what is hapenning in Sri Lanka. These guys are no more Sri Lankans. They are British. These guys are paid to demonstrate by LTTE terrorists living in Britain. This is for their own survival. Why not British government sell a patch of the land in front of the parliament to LTTE supportes, so that the cash strapped government can earn a decent sum of money.
- Lalith, London
In this time of recession what must we look like to valuable foreign tourists? Move them on and do the job properly.
- Bj, London
I wrote in these columns yesterday and wanted to see the end for this drama at Parliament square. I do not know what our Police are doing or have been asked to do. We have seen many protests in our country but have never seen appalling and indecent ones like this. These people are misusing the values of our free society. This is not a protest. According to Speaker of the Commons these people have been given permission to have 50 people but there are thousands, food stalls, tents etc etc. How ugly this is?
As wrote yesterday I worked in Sri Lanka for 27 years. I have friends from all communities in Sri Lanka and they are lovely people. It is a paradise and I spend winter there every year. I do not see the so called hatredness among communities. True that there are frequent security checks in Colombo as Sri Lanka has been facing the most ruthless terrorists in the world. This is very common in any such place.
What UK should now do is that help Sri Lanka in achieving reconciliation, rebuilding and give due credit for them for their hard work and not to try to marginalise Sri Lanka internationally by adopting short sighted and naive policies which unfortunately is the salient feature of the UK since 1997. We must remember that Sri Lanka is one of the 12 countries which voted for us at UN when we initiated Falklands war. All other countries voted against us!
Sri Lankans are proud of their British heritage and so we must reciprocate.
- Philip Dulverton, Taunton, UK
These 'Tamils' are well out of order.This is not our problem.If they feel so passionately about their country I suggest they move back there.
What really baffles me is the fact that a good percentage of them hold 'British' passports.What a joke this country is!
- Steve, London
They are demonstrating here because UK Cause this ethinic problem by given power to Srilankan sinhalese, thats why tamil people being killed everyday, these people are desperate, we worrying about our every day routine but they worrying about their people, lives and dead.
- Yanasegaran, UK
Mick, Watford. Perfectly said.
- Joanna, london
Deport them.
- Frank, Home Counties, England.
The Tamils involved in the civil war were responsible for the murder and maiming of many thousands of innocent people. Indeed if reports are correct this continued even when their defeat was inevitable. All of this against the will of the electorate. One has to question the motives therfore of those weho demonstrated in London and in the process bringing chaos to travellers and causing physical injury? Could it be that the hotheads want to continue the fight in the UK? If so they need to recognise they have been offered shelter and succour in a society that welcomes the chance to help those who face danger and persecution in their homeland. Don't abuse that welcome. Demonstrate by all means but in a peaceful and cooperative manner with the authorities of their new home. If this is not acceptable then the forces of law and order should arrest and judiciary should try those who are not prepared to behave in the manner required in this country. If found guilty they should be sent back to whence they came,no matter what generation and irrespective of the clamour of the "human rights" brigade.
- John Boy, Chelmsford Essex
Why on earth are these people being allowed to disrupt thousands of peoples lives month after month? It's an absolute disgrace that the Police just let them get away with bringing London to a standstill week after week. Quite honestly any sympathy I may have had for their cause has long since disappeared.
What on Earth they think the UK Government can do about a civil war in Sri Lanka (which is now over according to reports..) is beyond me. Send in the troops? Who's side would we be on? Tamil tigers (some say terrorists), or the Sri Lankan Government? Either way someone gets upset..
Anyway the Police need to toughen up - DO YOUR AND JOB MOVE THESE PEOPLE ON - give London back to Londoners and stop kowtowing to the noisy minority
- Mick, Watford
People who want to help the suffering Tamils of north Sri Lanka should be demonstrating outside the premises of the LTTE apologists and fund-raisers who live in London and who led Sri Lankan Tamils into the hell that has just ended. They should also be raising money & resources for organisations like the Red Cross who are helping the refugees, not wasting their time on this pointless film drama being staged outside Parliament.
- Candidly, Kandy, Sri lanka
