Protests against the Sri Lankan Civil War

Between 2008 and 2009, major protests against the Sri Lankan Civil War (often referred to as the Tamil protests by Western news media) took place in several countries around the world, urging national and world leaders and organisations to take action on bringing a unanimous cease fire to the Sri Lankan Civil War, which had taken place for twenty-six years.^[1] Tamil diaspora populations around the world expressed concerns regarding the conduct of the civil war in the island nation of Sri Lanka. The civil war, which took place between the Sri Lankan Army and the separatist group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is believed to have killed over 100,000 civilians.^[2] Protesters and critics of the Sri Lankan government that triggered a culturally based civil war to be a systematic genocide and ethnic cleansing of the Sri Lankan Tamil minority in Sri Lanka.^[3]

While opposition by Tamils was expressed at various stages of the war since 1983, opposition intensified in January 2009. Protesters appealed to international politicians intervene in the Sri Lankan Civil War and request a ceasefire, send humanitarian aid to the Northern Province, promote the creation of Tamil Eelam, and remove the LTTE from lists of terrorist organisations. After the government of Sri Lanka declared defeat over the LTTE on 18 May 2009, protests continued, accusing then-Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa of war crimes. Protests took several forms, including human chains, demonstrations, rallies, hunger strikes, and self-immolation.^[4]

Protests occurred internationally and not in Sri Lanka itself. Following increasing protests in Chennai and other cities in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu,^[5] predominantly peaceful demonstrations were held concurrently around the world by the Tamil diaspora, mainly in national capitals, central business districts, near embassies and high commissioner offices, and sites of national or supranational government. Protesters ranging from several dozens to several thousands gathered in the cities of Delhi,^[6] Bangalore,^[6] Singapore,^[7] Kuala Lumpur,^[8] London,^[9] Paris,^[10] Brussels,^[11] Berlin,^[12] The Hague,^[13] Zürich,^[14] Geneva,^[15] Bern,^[16] Oslo,^[17] Toronto,^[18] Montreal,^[19] Vancouver,^[20] Ottawa,^[21] New York City,^[22] Washington,^[23] Sydney,^[24] Melbourne,^[25] Canberra,^[26] Auckland,^[27] Wellington,^[28] and Durban.^[29]