'Human Rights Day is a black day' - Tamil families of the disappeared protest

Tamil families of the disappeared marked Human Rights Day with protests in Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya and Trincomalee as they continue to demand to know the fate of their loved ones who were forcibly disappeared by the Sri Lankan state. 

Tamil families have been protesting across the North-East for years in a bid to find the truth about their loved ones, many of whom were forcibly disappeared when they surrendered to the Sri Lankan military at the end of the armed conflict in May 2009.

Jaffna

Tamil families of the disappeared were joined by civil society activists at Jaffna library where they highlighted the pressing need for accountability and justice for human rights violations committed by Sri Lanka. 

Mannar 

Manuel Uthayachandra, the President of the Mannar District Families of the Disappeared association said: 

"For 15 years, we have been protesting on the roads and the international community are just watching us."

"Over 300 Tamil mothers have passed away, there are only a few of us left. We are continuing our protests to know the fate of our loved ones."

"Today is a black day for us as we don't have any human rights," Uthayachandra added. 

"We handed over our children because we were told that they will be returned to us. We are protesting for our children that were alive when we handed them over [to the Sri Lankan security forces]," she said. 

Another Tamil mother at the protest in Mannar asked "what is the point of commemorating Human Rights Day when Eelam Tamils don't have any rights?" 

Vavuniya 

In Vavuniya, the families began their rally in front of the Kandasamy Temple in Vavuniya, ended at the old bus stand, with families voicing their unwavering calls for international accountability and justice.

“We have not been given any rights,” the protesters said, echoing the longstanding grievances of the Tamil people as Sri Lanka’s domestic legal and political systems have consistently failed to address the issue of enforced disappearances. Protesters called for an international justice mechanism and urged the United Nations to intervene and hold the Sri Lankan government accountable under international law. 

Trincomalee 

Tamil families began their rally outside Trincomalee Municipal Council and ended it outside Human Rights Commission office. 

They held placards and chanted slogans calling for international justice as they continue to reject domestic mechanisms that have failed to deliver justice for decades. Protesters also drew attention to the ongoing surveillance and harassment they are subjected to by Sri Lanka's intelligence services. 

A coalition of civil society organisations also marched in Trincomalee to highlight demands such as the repeal of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), justice for the disappeared, land rights and accountability for massacres.

Mullaitivu