Tamils urge UN to probe alleged mass graves

Thousands of Tamils demonstrated outside the United Nations' European headquarters in Geneva on August 17 in support of a call for an international probe of alleged mass graves in Sri Lanka.

Protesters wearing head bandages splashed with red waved banners and gave out leaflets bearing slogans including “Stop the genocide of Tamils” and “Recognise Tamil struggle for freedom”.

In a letter, protest organisers have urged UN human rights commissioner Mary Robinson to investigate the alleged burial by Sri Lankan security forces of several hundred bodies in the country's Jaffna peninsula.

As many as 500 Tamil civilians have disappeared in the northern peninsula, the Tamil heartland, since the military drove anti-government rebels to nearby jungles and took control in May 1996.

The rebels are fighting for an independent homeland for the Tamil minority, accusing the majority Sinhalese of widespread discrimination in education and jobs. At least 54,000 people have been killed since fighting started in 1983.

In their letter to the UN human rights subcommittee responsible for monitoring countries' protection of minorities, officials of the French branch of the Tamil Centre for Human Rights claim that the country's human rights situation is deteriorating and say an investigation is urgently needed.

UN human rights spokesperson Jose Diaz said the subcommittee would need more evidence for an inquiry to be considered. It would also have to be approved by the full UN Commission on Human Rights, which meets in Geneva in the northern spring.

The demonstration was organised by the International Federation of Tamils and timed to coincide with a UN human rights meeting.

Organisers estimated a crowd of up to 10,000 gathered on the square in front of the UN building to listen to speeches by activists.

“The international community has to recognise that genocide is going on and has to be stopped”, said Ponrajah Anton, coordinating secretary for the International Federation of Tamils.

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