Tamils march in Geneva on Human Rights day

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 08 April 2003, 11:52 GMT]
Thousands of expatriate tamils from United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sweden, France and other European countries, Monday, joined a march to the United Nations (UN) building in Geneva where sessions on Human Rights issues are being held at the UN, Tamil daily Uthayan from Jaffna reported.

The march started at the Geneva Main Railway station and a public meeting was held at the end of the march in front of the UN Human Rights Commission building, reports said.

The marchers demanded that,

• Tamil Nationality, Tamil homeland and Tamils' right to self-determination should be recognized,
• Bans on LTTE who are the sole representatives of Tamils should be lifted,
• Forces occupying Tamil lands under the pretext of High Security Zones should vacate their positions,
• Fishing restrictions on Tamil fishermen should be removed, and
• Until a final settlement is reached Tamil refugees in other countries should not be repatriated,

reports further said.

Mr. Anton Balasingham, Political Advisor to Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the leader of the LTTE peace negotiation team, hoisted the Tamil eelam flag. Albert and head of the Swiss office Kulam addressed the audience. Mr. Anton Balasingham spoke at the conclusion of the meeting.

Adele Balasingham personally signed copies of Tamil version of her book "The Will to Freedom," to meeting attendees, papers reported.

Expatriate Tamils have been participating in similar events regularly from 1982 to highlight the human rights violations against Tamils in Sri Lanka by the security forces and the impunity enjoyed by the members of security forces from prosecution.