OVER FIVE THOUSAND DEMONSTRATE IN FRONT OF NO 10 DOWNING STREET AND MOST OF THEM SAY A CEASEFIRE ONLY HELPS TERRORISM

Source: Onlanka News

“Mr. Brown Listen Listen- We don’t Need Middle man,” shouted Sri Lankan demonstrators , estimated to be more than five thousand, who converged in front of the Prime Minister’s official residence at No 10 Downing Street to protest against the LTTE atrocities in Sri Lanka.

The vociferous and enthusiastic demonstrators organized by the Sri Lankans Against Terrorism (SLAT) told this correspondent they were protesting against Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s recent decision to appoint a Special Envoy to consider a Ceasefire in Sri Lanka.

An enthusiastic protestor, Ganga Rajapaksa, a young lawyer taking part in the massive demonstration told this correspondent, “ I strongly feel that the present terrorist problems in Sri Lanka which is chaotic is mainly due to Ranil Wickramasinghe embracing Norway and allowing them to play a major part. We do not want Britain to play the same role. That’s why we came in front of the Prime Minister’s residence. We allege Keith Vaz the Labour MP is directly helping the terrorists and wrongly influencing the Prime Minister.”

Chula de Silva with Manori de Silva, two London girls said only President Rajapaksa could have done such a marvelous achievement of defeating the terrorists because he does not take bribes from any foreign country in money or in kind . “That’s why he is unafraid to put an end to terrorism and that’s why we are here to support him.”

Nanda Karunanayaka another Londoner said they would never have come in front of No. 10 Downing Street if not for the great leadership given to them by President Rajapaksa. “We do not want any interference by any country which would hamper the eradication of terrorism since we have suffered enough.”

As Karnanayaka spoke, a young vociferous group was shouting : “Mr. Brown are we worried – No No; Special Envoy- Go Home.”

Sriyani Francisco of Ilford said “I came to 10 Downing Street because now Gordon Brown our Prime Minister is believing only what the LTTE representative Keith Vaz, the labour party MP is telling. If he follows Vaz it would tantamount to helping terrorism which Britain has promised to eradicate by signing various international treaties.”

“We came here to tell the Prime Minister ,” said Renuka Seneviratne, “his act does not help thousands of Sri Lankans who are at the receiving end of

terrorists who are the inventors of the suicide bombing. We want to tell the world that Britain should not maintain double standards regarding terrorism just because the Labour Party is greedy of terrorists’ blood money and votes here in London.” Seneviratne was referring to about nearly 100,000 of Tamil votes registered in London, and it is believed the LTTE could sway many of them. The Sri Lankans alleged that some Labour Party politicians who are influencing over parliamentarians are not very straight .

A huge banner said it all, “Mother of Parliaments bought by Fascist terrorists.”

Other placards declared: “Mr. President ; we salute your resolve to rid Sri Lanka of terrorism”; “Media be Fair”, “Tamil Tigers stop hiding behind terrorists”; “Mr. Brown Listen Listen-LTTE is killing killing”, “Mr. Brown separate facts from fiction;”Is the LTTE ban in UK only symbolic?” ;

A working man who participated in the demonstration Dhananjaya Gunasekera said Prime Minister Gordon Brown is barking up the wrong tree by trying to impose ceasefires on Sri Lanka .”

Venerable Balangoda Ananda Mangala said he came to participate in the demonstration to show his strong opposition to the poor civilians being kept as hostages at Mulaithivu and Britain being relatively being silent not doing anything against the wrongdoers . Kanchana Ratnayaka expressing the same opposition said Britain should do some thing immediately about the terrorist act forgetting their electoral gains of certain politicians who are using terrorist links.

The demonstration was also full of young teenagers who were not born in Sri Lanka. Italian born Tanya Gunasekera a student from the class of year nine from a Westfield school said she was protesting against the Prime Minister because he has not been very kind regarding the victims of terrorism . If Prabhakaran is saved by a ceasefire in Sri Lanka he will continue to kill scores of people in Sri Lanka. Another Italian born year seven student Akash Aturaliya said I wish he comes out to listen to us. I want him to make a change to Sri Lanka and stop terrorism.”

Saheela Seneviratne , a worker from Edgeware , said at a time when Sri Lanka is trying to stop terrorism we need Britain’s help not opposition to do it. Ceasefires did not certainly help in the past. They are not going to help in the future.”

S.W.Wanigasuriya from Watford said Special Envoy sounds like a kind of Pro-Consul. I am against it.”

Lionel Balasuriya another participant said , as a world leader Britain should do everything to eradicate terrorism from the planet earth as they support to do in Iraq and Afghanistan. They should not have double standards.

Renuka Seneviratna said she and her friends came here to tell the British government that we need the support of them to eradicate the culture of suicide bombers as they thought it is also the policy of the government.

Swarna Karunaratne said as a housewife she is worried that it is mostly the women the terrorists have harmed. She came to tell the British government that they should help eradicate this menace from a friendly country.

Rani Bulathwela , an organizer of the demonstration said the Tamil Tigers by sending people to self –immolate shows they are trying to introduce violence into the peaceful political demonstrations in Britain. She was referring to the man who died in Geneva by setting himself on fire and the an attempt that ended up in futility in front of 10 Downing Street. The police foiled an attempt of a suspected pro-Tiger man trying to commit suicide by self immolation.

Anura Medagedera, an organizer conclding the rally said the demonstration drew unprecedented number of Sri Lankans to deliver the message that they do not want anybody to give oxygen to the dying Tiger. He said the rally also showed the tremendous support to the heroic forces fighting in the Mulaitivu jungles. He said a petition has been handed over to the Prime Minister’s office expressing the concerns of the Sri Lankans .(EOM)