(Lanka-e-News- 13.April.2016, 11.30PM) The UK Labour Party has reaffirmed its strongest possible support for the Tamil people, both in the UK and in Sri Lanka, at a packed Tamils for Labour event in the Houses of Parliament in UK
Almost 200 members of the Tamil community attended a meeting hosted by the Vice Chair of the Tamil All Party Parliamentary Group (APPGt), Joan Ryan MP, on Monday 11th April, which was addressed by leading figures within the Labour Party, including the Leader – Jeremy Corbyn MP, Shadow Chancellor – John McDonnell MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary – Hilary Benn MP and the Senior Vice Chair of the APPGt – Siobhain McDonagh.
In a wide ranging speech discussing human rights abuses, war crimes accountability, and the need for a political solution for the Tamil community, Jeremy Corbyn said that the “Labour Party is committed to the needs of and justice for the Tamil people”, including their demands for “self-determination”. Mr Corbyn also said that the UK Government should take human rights considerations into account when trading with other countries, including Sri Lanka.
The Shadow Foreign Secretary raised particular concern regarding the reports of torture and disappearances committed against the Tamil people and also said that the “Tamil voice needs to be heard and to be recognised in a new political settlement.”
All Labour MPs who spoke paid special tribute to the work of the Tamil community in the UK and the tremendous contribution they have made to the country’s way of life.
Sen Kandiah, Chair of Tamils for Labour, said:
“I was delighted by the turnout on Monday. The event highlighted the tremendous support there is within the Labour Party for the Tamil cause and for our legitimate demands for truth, justice, accountability and self-determination in Sri Lanka.
The Labour Party has always stood up for the Tamil people and we need them now, as much as ever, given the serious concerns we have regarding the regarding the on-going cases of human rights abuses on the island and the lack of respect for the Tamil people’s fundamental rights and freedoms.
We are now only weeks away from London Mayoral, Local and Scottish and Welsh Assembly elections, on May 5th, so I urge all members of the Tamil community to vote Labour so that our voice can continue to be heard.”
* Tamils for Labour was founded in 2006 and is the largest party political Tamil group in the UK.
(This is a press release of the Tamils for Labour in UK)
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by (2016-04-14 01:36:13)
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2 discussion on this news
Labour party is bankrupt and discarded by many Britishers. They are trying to woo the tamil voters which is a sizeable number in UK. Labour party whose leader led the invasion of Iraq along with Bush bombing its infrastructure and killing millions of innocent Iraquis has no right to talk about Human Right violations. Former leader Milliband tried to save Prabakaran the leader of the LTTE the most ruthless terrorist outfit and was rejected by British people. LTTE is the one who introduced suicide bombers and the whole Europe is today threatened by ISIS bombers. Does Corbyn want terrorism to flourish.
-- by citizen on 2016-04-14
Dear Mr. Jeremy Coryin, Before you can help minorties in your former British colonies, please, please, please put your house in order back in Britain.Who are you trying to imprress. Are you on afishing trip for the votes of minorities living in your country?How many minorities in Britain are undereducated and dirt poor living in shoddy government-subsidised houses year after year?Or roaming the streets?Why are so many minorites in Britain underemployed or longterm unemployed?Why hasn't Britain ever appointed a Tamil in Britain as the Lord Chief Justice, a top Cabinet Minister, Secretary of a Whitehall Ministry, head of a government department, a high commissioner to an important foreign ally or as head of Scotland Yard? Sri Lanka, on the other hand, has done all of this with its minortoes. They are some of the most higly edicated citizens in their motherland.Please do yourself a favour and find yourself more important work to focus on.The minority vote will never get you elected as the next British PM. Even the "minority" Scots threw the Labour Party out in the last general elections.You know that very well.
-- by R. Hood on 2016-04-14
