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Tamil Protest on Westminster Bridge

Dec | 06.04.2009 14:08 | Policing | Repression

Tamil protestors block Westminster bridge.

About 200 Tamil's -many carrying Tamil Tiger flags are currently blockading Westminster Bridge (Parliament end)- small police presence seems to be waiting for instructions/support, buses backed up across the bridge, loud but peaceful.

Dec

Additions

TSG are out now in force

06.04.2009 15:33

Westminister bridge is blocade and so too is vauxhall. TSG have just arrived in number.

a


protest in wesminiter

06.04.2009 19:29

there are more than 5000 tamil protesters now. not 200

kanthan


update-9pm

06.04.2009 20:12

it is clear to make out that the statement above referring to "tamil tiger flags" is inaccurate. the tamil tigers are recognised by uk govornment as a banned terrorist organisation. the flags which are being flown is merely the flag of the tamils. there are similarities but it is not the same as the tamil tiger flag which it is effectively a crime to fly in the uk.

the demo started today in response to a very recent massacre on the island which is called "sri lanka" (not by tamils as this is a sinhalese name).

the reason the protest spilled onto westminster bridge is that the police were trying to implement a kettle (cordon around the demo) in parliment square where the demo was originally.
_now_ (9pm) the police are kettling the demonstrators on westminster bridge and not letting anyone go. about half of the demonstrators are youngsters on their school holidays.

this demo was not organised by the british tamils forum but by tamil youth groups acting independantly of it. however the british tamils forum is organising a demo meeting at the embankment at 1pm on sat 11th april. for more information see the website.

please note the author of this post is not a representative of the british tamils forum but merely a concerned individual.

update-9pm
- Homepage: http://www.tamilsforum.com


no to terror listings

06.04.2009 20:13

21.12 colleague on site informs me

police have now let water in after a pat down search. they have brought out some helmets as if to clear but it doesn't look like they have the numbers (maybe they are on holiday after last week). earlier one protestor jumped off the bridge but got picked up by the river police. peaceful atmosphere, people have mainly been sitting down but more recently some standing up.

what will it take for the tamil protestors in london to get their actions into the papers?

Avocada
- Homepage: http://newsov.org


Comments

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update

06.04.2009 15:42

Over two hours in still several hundred protestors blocking the bridge. All vehicle traffic across it has long since stopped, chanting is continuing, a Tamil Tigers flag is flying from the statue of Bodica. About 20 police have cordoned the demo off off but are making no attempts to break it up. Pedestrian traffic continuing as normal. Remains peaceful.

Dec


peaceful demo

07.04.2009 05:20

I've been here for nearly 14 hours. Still on the scene. It has been peaceful and the police have been great. Expect this demo to last the day, maybe longer. flags are being waved, chants made and bodicka looks great sporting the flag...holding it proud. Peace to the tamil people should come soon. enjoy your day...i need sleep!

arav


8.33am

07.04.2009 07:33

...came past this morning and westminster bridge is still closed off/.//

Crack


@avocada

07.04.2009 09:32

Actually, this action is on today's mainstream papers: The Times, Daily Telegraph and The Guardian. Just check websites

hertader


Chemical weapons used by sri lankan forces

08.04.2009 10:31

Here's a link written by someone who attended the demo and got information. I think this should be on the indymedia front page. The use of chemical weapons does not seem to have been reported but that was the reason for the demo. More info to follow from source in India.

 https://london.indymedia.org.uk/articles/1095

normantebbit
mail e-mail: thismango@googlemail.com