Marking the 42nd anniversary of Black July, Canadian Leader of the Conservative Party Pierre Poilievre issued a statement in solidarity with Tamil Canadians, reaffirming his party’s recognition of the Tamil genocide and pledging “concrete” steps towards accountability for mass atrocities.
“As Canadians of Tamil Heritage prepare to mark the solemn anniversary of Black July, we are once again confronted with the brutal legacy of anti-Tamil violence in Sri Lanka,” said Poilievre.
His statement comes amid ongoing excavations at the Chemmani mass grave site in Jaffna, where human remains – including those of children – have been unearthed over the past month. “This week marks one month since excavation work began at the Chemmani mass grave site in Sri Lanka – where the remains of dozens of Tamil civilians, including infants, have now been uncovered,” he stated.
“The pain of 1983 echoes as new evidence surfaces of the genocide committed against Tamil lives and dignity.”
Excavation teams at Chemmani have found personal belongings such as school bags and children’s clothing – further substantiating longstanding claims of extrajudicial executions and mass killings by the Sri Lankan military during and after the armed conflict.
“These discoveries confirm yet again what Tamil Canadians have known in their hearts for decades – that their loved ones who disappeared during the genocidal war against Tamils were not lost by accident. They were taken. Silenced. And buried in secrecy,” Poilievre said.
Highlighting Canada’s responsibility on the world stage, Poilievre asserted, “Canada has a moral responsibility to listen to survivors and to stand firm in the pursuit of justice wherever mass atrocities have taken place. That includes standing with Tamil families, here and around the world, who have carried this burden for far too long.”
Reaffirming pledges made by the Conservative Party under his leadership, Poilievre outlined specific actions a future Conservative government would take:
• Impose Magnitsky-style sanctions on those responsible for the genocide perpetrated against Tamils.
• Support international efforts to investigate and prosecute those accountable, including members of the Rajapaksa regime.
• Ensure Canada is never a safe haven for war criminals.
• Press for independent international forensic involvement in the Chemmani excavations “to ensure the truth is preserved – and never buried again.”
“The Conservative Party under my leadership has unequivocally recognised the Tamil genocide,” he said. “I remain unwavering in my commitment to ensuring that Canada is a country where the voices of the oppressed are heard – and where those responsible for mass atrocities are held to account, no matter how much time has passed.”
“To the Tamil community: your grief is real. Your pursuit of justice is just. And you will not walk this path alone.”