Issued for immediate release
17 May 2018
Jeremy Corbyn reaffirms the UK Labour Party’s strong support for Tamil self-determination and peace and justice in Sri Lanka
The leader of the UK Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn MP, has said that “the rights of Tamils to decide their own future is central” to resolving many of the post armed conflict issues in Sri Lanka.
Addressing more than 150 guests at a packed event in Parliament, on Wednesday 16 May, to mark the 9th anniversary of Mullivaikal, Mr Corbyn said that a future Labour Government will be committed to “international justice” and that the Labour Party, now and in the future, supports “serious action to bring about peace and justice” in Sri Lanka.
Referring to Tamils for Labour’s four key objectives, Jeremy Corbyn gave his full backing to the establishment of an international judicial mechanism to address the crime of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity and other international crimes committed by the Sri Lankan state; and to ensure justice is served to victims of enforced disappearances. He also pledged to continue to bring pressure to bear on the UK Government and the international community to ensure Sri Lanka repeals the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act, demilitarises the Tamil homelands in the North and East of the island and, importantly, delivers a political solution which gives the Tamil people the right to self-determination.
In a strong show of support for the Tamil people by the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn was joined by: John McDonnell MP, the Shadow Chancellor, Kate Osamor MP, Shadow International Development Secretary, Fabian Hamilton MP, Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister, Stephen Pound MP, Shadow Minister for Northern Ireland, Siobhain McDonagh MP, Senior Vice Chair of the Tamil All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), Joan Ryan MP, Vice Chair of the Tamil APPG, Wes Streeting MP, Vice Chair of the Tamil APPG, as well as Gareth Thomas MP, Member of Parliament for Harrow West, Stephen Timms, Member of Parliament for East Ham, and Tan Dhesi, Member of Parliament for Slough.
Sen Kandiah, Chair of Tamils for Labour, said:
“I am delighted that Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell and so many other leading figures from the Labour Party were able to join us at our Mullivaikal Remembrance event.
All Tamils should take heart from Jeremy’s message of hope and his rock-solid support for the fundamental rights and freedoms of the Tamil nation, including self-determination.
A future Labour Government, under Jeremy’s leadership, will make sure respect for international law and for human rights is paramount and the Labour Party will continue to hold the Sri Lankan Government accountable for its actions.”
–ENDS–
For further information, contact:
Sen Kandiah
Chair, Tamils for Labour
tamilsforlabour@gmail.com | 07793 491 275 (number not for publication)
Notes to Editors:
1. A video of Jeremy Corbyn’s speech is available here (courtesy of Tamil Guardian): https://bit.ly/2rPq1pM
2. Pictures from the event are attached, along with this press release.
3. The event, kindly hosted by Siobhain McDonagh MP, took place in the Boothroyd Room, Portcullis House, House of Commons, Westminster, SW1A 2JH.
4. Tamils for Labour was founded in 2006 and is the largest party political Tamil group in the UK.
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