Tamils and supporters rallied outside the State Library of Victoria on July 19 to demand justice for the people who were murdered by the Sri Lankan army and buried in mass graves at the town of Chemmani in northern Sri Lanka.
The rally was called by Tamil Eelam Solidarity.
More than 400 bodies have been found at Chemmani, which is one of many places where mass graves have been discovered in predominantly Tamil areas of Sri Lanka.
Tamil Eelam Solidarity media spokesperson Sai Dhiruselvam told the protest: “The mass graves at Chemmani are not isolated crimes. They are evidence of atrocities that have never been properly investigated and for which no one has been held accountable.
“For decades, successive Sri Lankan governments have promised truth and justice while protecting the military commanders and political leaders responsible for enforced disappearances, torture and mass killings.
“The current National People’s Power government came to office promising a new direction. Yet, nearly two years later, Tamil families are still waiting for justice while those responsible for some of the gravest crimes remain beyond the reach of the law.
“Each new body uncovered at Chemmani is another reminder that thousands of Tamil families have spent decades searching for answers that successive governments have failed to provide.”
Tamil Eelam Solidarity is calling on the United Nations to establish an independent international investigation into the Chemmani mass grave and other mass grave sites across the Tamil homeland.
It is also calling for those responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity to be brought to justice.
Dhiruselvam said Australia had a responsibility to reassess its relationship with Sri Lanka. “For years, Australian governments of both major political parties have prioritised border protection cooperation over human rights.
“Australia has continued its close relationship with successive Sri Lankan governments despite decades of unresolved allegations of war crimes, enforced disappearances and systematic human rights abuses.
“Australia should stand with the families demanding truth and justice—not with governments that continue to deny accountability.”
