The Mullivaikkal Massacre was a genocide. This period saw the deaths of 70,000-140,000 Tamil civilians, primarily due to the Sri Lankan military’s intentional shelling of safe zones and extrajudicial executions, the maiming of thousands from that shelling, and at least hundreds of incidents of sexual violence.
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In the week ahead of May 18th, PEARL is deconstructing the term genocide. Our series of posts will build on arguments presented in last year’s photo exhibit “Tamil Resistance & Resilience In the Face of Genocide” to demonstrate the final phase of the armed conflict was a genocide committed by the Sri Lankan government against the Tamil people.
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It is our hope that our campaign furthers the case for formal Tamil genocide recognition by the UN Human Rights Council and other international and state bodies. This powerful validation will pave alternative paths to justice for Tamil victim-survivors and offer meaningful healing.

All photos are part of our exhibit and can be viewed along with accompanying text and audio here: https://pearlaction.org/inthefaceofgenocide/

The Sri Lankan government demonstrated genocidal intent by ordering Tamil civilians into so-called “No Fire Zones,” and then targeting and shelling these No Fire Zones during the final phase of the armed conflict.

According to a US State Department report released in May 2009, the Sri Lankan government was engaged in a daily campaign of bombing No Fire Zones and were killing a minimum of 100 Tamils per day. In fact, on this day 11 years ago, the 58th division is reported to have attacked a newly-established No Fire Zone. The 58th division was led by Shavendra Silva, a credibly accused war criminal who now leads Sri Lanka’s coronavirus response. Without justice, war criminals who committed mass atrocities against Tamil civilians are celebrated by the state.

All photos are part of our exhibit and can be viewed along with accompanying text and audio here: https://pearlaction.org/inthefaceofgenocide/

#Mullivaikkal #Tamil #SriLanka #CoronaVirus #JusticeForGenocide

 

 

CONTENT WARNING: WAR-RELATED VIOLENCE

The Sri Lankan government committed three acts of genocide in 2009: killing approximately 70,000–140,000 Tamils by bombing and shelling; causing serious bodily and mental harm to Tamils through sexual violence and by shelling, which maimed 25,000–30,000 of them; and inflicting conditions to bring about the Tamil people’s physical destruction by limiting necessary supplies and by systematically displacing Tamils.

On this day, 11 years ago, the last remaining makeshift hospital in the conflict zone, set up inside a school, ceased to function due to the intensity of the shelling by the Sri Lankan military. Today also marks 44 years since the establishment of the Vaddukoddai Resolution, which called for the independent, sovereign state of Tamil Eelam based on the right to self-determination.

In our remembrance, we honour all the lives that were taken during the decades-long struggle for Tamil self-determination and the commitment of the Vaddukoddai Resolution to a free Tamil homeland.

All photos are part of our exhibit and can be viewed along with accompanying text and audio here: https://pearlaction.org/inthefaceofgenocide/