Marking the 38th anniversary of the Black July massacre in which over 3,000 Tamils were slaughtered, Canada’s Prime Minister and senior parliamentarians marked the memorial by demanding accountability for human rights abuses in Sri Lanka.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau put out an official statement commemorating the "horrific events".
The events of Black July and the ensuing conflict were horrific. Today, we remember the thousands of Tamils whose lives were taken or forever changed during this time - and we reaffirm our support for accountability, peace, and reconciliation in Sri Lanka. https://t.co/gzNV08ydbt
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) July 23, 2021
Gary Anandasangaree, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and MP for Scarborough-Rouge Park, marked the memorial tweeting:
38 years later, we will never forget the horrific events of #BlackJuly, the 1983 state-sponsored anti-Tamil pogrom on the island of #SriLanka.
— Gary Anandasangaree (@gary_srp) July 23, 2021
Today, we must all recommit to stand with our brothers & sisters on the island & across the globe to collectively seek #justice. pic.twitter.com/YlzO9sqmwF
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and Member of Parliament for Pickering-Uxbridge, Jennifer O'Connell also commemorate the event by tweeting:
Today, we remember the victims of the horrific events of Black July in Sri Lanka. My deepest sympathies go out to all families who were affected by these tragic events.
— Jennifer O'Connell (@JenOConnell_) July 23, 2021
We will continue to support reconciliation efforts, and accountability in Sri Lanka. https://t.co/VRHKATOqSd
MP for Mississauga, Iqra Khalid reaffirmed Canada's commitment to "peace and accountability" tweeting:
The events of Black July displaced thousands of Tamil people, many of who came to resettle and rebuild their lives in Canada. We will continue working towards lasting peace and accountability in memory of all those who were lost and impacted forever. https://t.co/j9WM7PuoIO
— Iqra Khalid (@iamIqraKhalid) July 23, 2021
MP for Vancouver Centre, Dr Hedy Fry noted the memorial tweeting:
Today marks the anniversary of #BlackJuly, a week of deadly riots that resulted in 26 years of conflict in Sri Lanka
— Dr. Hedy Fry (@HedyFry) July 23, 2021
During that time, #GOC helped resettle over 1,800 Tamils in & today Tamil Cdns are one of the largest Tamil diasporas globally #cdnpoli https://t.co/I2kkzTN9j6