Remembering Black July
Through my work with the Tamil community over recent months I am learning of the injustice and brutality they have been subjected to over the past century. These events are a scar on all humanity and it is disturbing how few people in Australia know of these events.
Through my work with the Tamil community over recent months I am learning of the injustice and brutality they have been subjected to over the past century. These events are a scar on all humanity and it is disturbing how few people in Australia know of these events.
On Sunday I joined Phil Bradley, Greens candidate for Parramatta, who is working closely with local Tamils, and Brami Jegan, who is on our Senate ticket at an event in Parramatta to commemorate Black July, a dark period in Tamil history.
The event very moving – speeches, poetry and music allowed us together to remember the suffering and ongoing trauma experienced by so many. 4,000 were killed in a few days in 1983 and 150,000 made homeless.
Not only do we have a responsibility to call for an end to the killings and oppression against the Tamil community, we need to build support in Australia for the federal government to back an independent war crimes investigation. I called for this when I spoke and my federal colleagues have taken this up in a motion that went before the Senate.
Below is the speech given at this event by Brami Jegan, third on our NSW Senate ticket and from a refugee background.
"I stand before you today not really knowing where to begin. Do I talk about the 1983 riots, which has left deep lasting scars in our history, do I talk about the immense suffering faced by the Tamils last year in Sri Lanka, do I talk about the 80 000 plus Tamils still being detained behind barbed wire, the 10 000 sisters (accahs) and brothers (accahs) who are being subjected to humiliation we don't even want to imagine or do I talk about the loved ones we have lost, the friends and family we will never see again or laugh with again or cry with again.
"The bombs are no longer falling, but the Tamils are still suffering and will continue to do so for generations to come. Should we be hopeful for a change in Sri Lanka? Right now I honestly don't know.
"But I can be sure of one thing - we have been blessed to have found a home in Australia, a country in which we are safe and in which we are able to give our children, our next generation the best chance at life. They are growing up with opportunities most people in the world can only dream off. But with this comes a responsibility, a duty of care to those that are not so fortunate.
"And unlike in Sri Lanka, we have a political voice in this country - in Australia.
"This year in Australia it is an especially important one. There will be a Federal election on August 21st - and on this day, each one of us has an opportunity to send a very strong message to the two major parties in Australia - the Labor Government led by Julia Gillard and opposition led by Tony Abbott. And our message is this. We as Australians and as Tamils are going to support the political party, which will treat people with the humanity and dignity they deserve.
"And that party is the Australian Greens.
"The Greens, under the leadership of Senator Bob Brown have consistently shown solidarity with the Tamils in Sri Lanka and Australia. They have come to our protests, to our vigils, to our meetings and have also visited the Tamils in detention centres like Villawood. By voting for them as No 1 we are choosing leaders who are putting human rights, compassion and peace as their number one priority. We are choosing leaders who will fight to protect the environment, to protect asylum seekers and refugees, and to protect the rights the oppressed people in our world.
"If we can all get Lee Rhiannon into the senate then we together as a community have achieved a great success. Lee has been tirelessly campaigning since the 60s for the rights of others - against the war in Vietnam war, against apartheid South Africa, against corruption, against animal cruelty, and for those gathered here today - she has been fighting for the rights of the Tamils.
"And so I urge you all, in the next four weeks, let all your friends and family know how important it is to Vote 1 for the Greens in this election. Word of mouth is the most powerful endorsement.
