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Home > Struggle for Tamil Eelam > Tamil Refugees & Asylum Seekers > Against Racism - Swiss Federation of Tamil Associations
Against Racism
Swiss Federation of Tamil Associations
Protest Meeting 1991
We are met here today to protest against the increasing outbreaks of racism in many parts of Europe. We are met here today to express our solidarity with the efforts being made to prevent racism raising its ugly head again in Europe. On behalf of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam I wish to say to you that we are with you in this joint struggle against this social evil.
Racism is evil. It attacks a human being simply because he or she comes from a different race, has a different colour, and a different cultural background. It is a human tragedy that many Tamils who fled from Sinhala racist attacks in the island of Sri Lanka and who sought refuge here in Europe now face racist threats here as well.
A month ago, a Tamil girl was murdered in Germany. She was murdered because she was a Tamil. Such instances must not be repeated. Racism is a social evil that must be stamped out.
The liberal conscience of the people in Europe must be heard loud and clear. We must express our disgust and revulsion at these racist attacks and at those who perpetrate and encourage these attacks. At the same time, we must work to remove the underlying causes which has led to the influx of refugees in Europe.
Governments and non governmental organisations must join hands in finding a just solution to the oppression of peoples in their own homeland. It is this oppression which compels them to leave their homeland and seek refuge in Europe.
Take the case of the Tamils. There are today more than 120,000 Tamil refugees in Europe. They are here because for more than 40 years the racist Sri Lanka government has systematically discriminated against the Tamil people. The racist Sri Lanka government deprived the Tamil people of employment in the State sector. The racist Sri Lanka government prevented qualified Tamils from entering universities. The racist Sri Lanka government drove Tamils out of their land and colonised their homeland. The racist Sri Lanka government organised genocidal pogroms against the Tamil people from time to time and thousands of Tamils have been killed for no reason other than that they were Tamils.
Report after report from human rights organisations have set out details of the genocidal attack launched by the racist Sri Lanka government against the Tamil people in the island of Sri Lanka. Countries in Europe have had to shelter the refugees fleeing from this genocidal onslaught on the Tamil people. They have had to bear the cost of these actions of the racist Sri Lanka government. But at the same time, it is this very same racist Sri Lanka government which is often propped up by some European governments with aid and arms. This foreign aid to racist Sri Lanka not only spills Tamil blood in Sri Lanka but also brings Tamil refugees in Europe. The time has come to stop aiding racism because racism anywhere threatens stability everywhere.
The time has come for the international community to openly recognise the right of the Tamil people to live in their own land, free from the oppressive rule of a racist Sri Lanka government. It is this open recognition of the Tamils' right to self determination which will pave the way for peace in the island of Sri Lanka. And with peace the climate will be created for the return of Tamil refugees to their homeland. Yes, the time has come to cry halt to racism - both in Europe and also in the island of Sri Lanka - and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam express their solidarity with the worldwide efforts being made to that end.
