Tamil Protest still going strong

As reported on Indymedia yesterday, a large group of protestors had massed on Westminster Bridge, London, angry at the recent repression of the Tamil people by the Sri Lankan government and the lack of British support.

Eyewitnesses claim that their numbers have swelled to 3000 at one point, and that about 400-800 protestors had stayed during the night. Attempts were made by the police to confiscate the Tamil flags that they were waving which resulted in minor skirmishes breaking out. At least one protestor was seen to jump from the bridge but was picked up by the river police. The justification for this was that the police wrongly thought the flags were displaying the logo of the Tamil Tigers, which they consider to be a banned 'terrorist' organisation.

The protestors had originally gathered at Parliament square but were moved on by force as the police stated that they had not "saught permission" to demonstrate there, which is how they came to be on Westminster Bridge.

During the night however, the police moved the protesters back to Parliament square when it became clear that their numbers were too strong to contain and that they weren't going to be leaving in a hurry. A policeman was quoted by the mainstream media as saying;

"we're hoping that they'll get cold or hungry soon and go home"

The protestors however had different ideas;

"We intend to stay until the British Government puts pressure on the government of Sri Lanka to stop the offensive against our people"

The demonstration was originally organised by Students and members of the British Tamil Forum, but was soon joined by many with family links to Sri Lanka and others showing solidarity with the Tamils, including families and young children.

A call has been made for anyone in the area to go to Parliament Square to give support to the protestors and try to put an end to the mass slaughter of innocent civilians by the Sri Lankan government in the Tamil region.

Links: British Tamils Forum | Previous Indymedia Report