According to UN statistics, more than 2,800 Tamil civilians, including hundreds of children have been killed in the first two months of 2009. In the last week the Sri Lankan government have announced that they are launching a final offensive to crush the resistance of the Tamil people completely.

Saturday 25th April, assemble 1pm at Haymarket, top of Northumberland Street to march to Grey's Monument for a rally.

Called by Tamils living in Newcastle, supported by Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! (FRFI) and Tyneside Community Action for Refugees (TCAR)
What's Happening?
There is a war of liberation fought by the Tamils against the brutal Sri Lankan state. Tamils in the Tamil homeland are struggling for their very survival. Sri Lanka is using cluster bombs on civilian targets. International humanitarian agencies such as ICRC and UNHCR are not allowed to operate in the area. Every single hospital has been bombed by the Sri Lankan Government. There are no medical facilities. There are no food supplies. No media is allowed to witness this genocide.

Why Is It Happening?
In February 2002, a ceasefire agreement was signed between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Tamil Tigers. Several rounds of talks took place, but reached a deadlock due to the Government's intransigence. In January 2008, the Government unilaterally withdrew from the ceasefire agreement. Military aggression was stepped up with indiscriminate bombing. The Government is aiming to wipe out the Tamil Tigers and keep Tamils enslaved in concentration camps.

What's the Background?
Sri Lanka - formerly known as Ceylon, is made up of two nations (Sinhala and Tamil). During the British occupation they unified the two nations for administrative convenience. In 1948, the British Government handed over power to the Sinhalese, and immediately the Sinhalese Government disenfranchised 1 million Tamils. Sinhala Governments began to oppress Tamils in language, culture, education, jobs, civil liberties and implemented a systematic occupation of the Tamil homeland. Tamils tried to find redress by peaceful and democratic means for 30 years. But all were suppressed by brutal military might. As a last resort Tamils were forced to take up arms in self defence.

Who Are Tamil Tigers?
The Tamil Tigers (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) have been fighting for self determination of Tamil people in Sri Lanka since 1976 with the mandate from the Tamils. By 2001, the Tamil Tigers had liberated 70% of Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka. Yet they looked to resolve the matter by peaceful means. In 2002, with Norwegian mediation, a ceasefire agreement was signed between the leader of the Tamil Tigers and the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka. The international mediators accepted the Tamil Tigers as the authentic representatives of Tamils in Sri Lanka. The agreement stipulated that there should be no interference by armed forces in the Tamil homeland. The Sri Lankan Government never stuck to its side of the bargain.

Thousands have been protesting around the world against the actions of the Sri Lankan Government. Join the march and rally in Newcastle this Saturday, called by Tamils living in Newcastle and supported by Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! (FRFI) and Tyneside Community Action for Refugees (TCAR).

Saturday 25th April, assemble 1pm at Haymarket, top of Northumberland Street to march to Grey's Monument for a rally.