Today over 9,000 Tamils and sympathisers gathered outside the UN Palais des Nations in Geneva, in a massive demonstration organised by the International Federation of Tamils to highlight the gross and systematic human rights violations against the Tamil people by the Sri Lankan government and its armed forces.

Having travelled from many parts of Europe, including Italy and Norway, the thousands had earlier assembled in front of the Cornavin station before marching to the Place des Nations. Many were women and children holding placards which bore slogans such as Stop use of food and medicine as a weapon of war, stop use of rape as a weapon of war, Independent investigations of the mass graves needed and Find a political solution to the war in the island of Sri Lanka.

Amongst those addressing the crowds were Angeline Fankhauser, conseillere nationale PS and Rev. Dr S J Emmanuel, former Vicar General of Jaffna.

Ms Fankhauser said that, No state, no organisation, no citizen can shut his or eyes to the horrendous sufferings of a people who are fighting for their rights. Torture, arbitrary arrests, disappearances, mass graves and every form of violence must stop immediately.

She further stated that International solidarity is crucial to prepare the way for negotiations and called on governments to do all they can to work together in practical ways, since The more governments there are, which are ready to support a political initiative, the more the chances for peace increase. She called for the implementation of international agreements to ensure humanitarian aid reaches the refugees.

Rev. Dr..S.J. Emmanuel said that the Sri Lankan Government While conducting an inhuman and genocidal war against the Tamils using bombs, denial of food as weapons of war, while creating mass graves in the Tamil Homeland, while conducting all these atrocities for many years behind a media blockade, while arrogantly refusing talks for peace and international mediation - is unashamedly intensifying its false propaganda on the international level to daemonise the whole Tamil community and ridiculing their struggle for Truth, Justice and Peace as terrorism.

Furthermore, he stated that he wished the Sinhalese and the Buddhists all enjoy their rights in Sri Lanka, while asking why cannot the Tamils who have lived in their Homeland for over 2000 years enjoy the same rights.