REFUGEE

MEMBERS of the Hampshire Tamil Association are planning a protest in Southampton this weekend against the treatment of Tamil communities in Sri Lanka.

Since the fall of the Tamil Tiger rebel groups in May this year, tens of thousands of people have been held in refugee camps by the Sri Lanka government.
Only this month has the Government promised the United Nations that it will release the people, but aid agencies fear that they are not going to be supported on their return to their Tamil regions.

Members of the Hampshire Tamil Association will take to the streets of Southampton on Saturday and Sunday with a peaceful protest.

Raj Vaithilingam, from the association, said: “Tamil people in Hampshire are deeply saddened that after the war thousands of our community, including children, were locked up in camps surrounded by barbed wire that resembled concentration camps.

“These camps are still there, with only some being allowed out on parole.”

The association represents about 2,500 people living in the county with links to the Tamil regions of India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and other countries.

The peaceful demonstrations are planned from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday outside the entrance to WestQuay.