300,000 reasons for Tamil solidarity

The Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) launched 300,000 Reasons, a campaign to raise awareness of the plight of up to 300,000 Tamils interned in military-run camps in Sri Lanka, on November 6.

The campaign highlights the appalling conditions faced by the imprisoned Tamils, who lack adequate access to water, food, proper sanitation and healthcare in the camps. 300,000 Reasons also urges the Australian government to raise these humanitarian issues and allegations of human rights abuse at the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in late November.

ATC spokesperson Sara Nathan said she hoped the campaign would shift attention away from the hysteria of border protection to the root cause of why asylum seekers are fleeing Sri Lanka in the first place.

"The Australian government needs to play a compassionate leadership role in our region by helping to address the causes of why people are fleeing Sri Lanka and risking their lives in boats that are barely sea worthy to come to Australia."

[For more information visit www.300000.com.au or phone Sara on 0412 236 703.]

From GLW issue 817