Preface

Students from various Colleges and Educational Institutions in the Indian state of TamilNadu are on Indefinite Hunger Strike demaning the justice on structural genocide executed during the end of civil war in Sri Lanka. The Hunger Strike protests by the Students are now nearing to a full week of peaceful demonstrations which spans across the state, around 500+ students are taking part in this Hunger Strike. The protests are still on with it's full throttle, spreading out widely to the Colleges throughout the state.

You could follow all the action in Twitter using the Hashtags #studentshungerstrike #loyolahungerstrike

Recently Channel 4 had released a documentary video named Sri Lanka's Killing Fields - A hard-hitting investigation into the final weeks of the Sri Lankan civil war, featuring devastating video evidence of horrific war crimes and exposing damning evidence of atrocities committed in the war in Sri Lanka.

No Fire Zone - Trailer from Zoe Sale on Vimeo.

You could follow @nofirezone on Twitter on latest updates..

While Channel 4's Videos disclosing the other face of Sri Lanka during a Civil war, another series of pictures published by the TV of a 12 year old Balachandran's merciless killing (LTTE Chief's Son) added fuel to the fire. 
The photos show how Balachandran was given snacks before his execution at a camp operated by Sri Lankan security forces. The director of the Channel 4 documentary, Callum Macrae wrote, "The new photographs are particularly important evidentially, because they prove that Balachandran was not killed in crossfire, or in a battle. His death was deliberate and calculated." 

Not just a matter of interest on a neighbouring country issue, the Sri Lankan Armed forces kept on capturing, torturing and killing Tamilnadu / Indian Fisherman and damaging their livelihoods. Over 500+ Indian Fisherman have been killed by Sri Lankan Armed forces, and it continues even today after the Civil war ended almost 4 years ago!!

With all this, if you feel (or if you already thought of) doing something against these merciless killings & the atrocities of Sri Lankan goverment - please Sign the petition "End the Genocide in Srilanka - Hold the Sri Lankan Government Accountable - Take Action Now!" in Change.org and show your support.

All these together adding fuel on the fire, the Students from Loyola College, Chennai started an Indefinite Hunger Strike on March, 7th. Eight of the students participated in this Hunger Strike, which received great response from various groups including students of other Colleges, Humanitarians & Political Parties across the state. Students were very clear making the initiative is solely on their own, not giving any credits to any Political parties as such. The Hunger Strike went on for Three days continuously, the state police then pitched in and Students were taken to the Government Hospital on the midnight of May the 9th. In the hospital Students had to end their Hunger strike under pressure came in from various sources and having no other option.

Even then the Students of the Loyola College forced to end their Hunger Strike, the News had wide spread out to all the Colleges and Educational Institutions in the State. The Students of the other colleges jumped in to Indefinite Hunger Strike immediately following the path of Loyola students. As of now the protests are on for more than a week, and the Students from 100s of other Colleges are taking part in the peaceful Hunger Strike protests. You could use the Locations page in our Blog to view details about each Venue with Pictures, Contact Numbers and much more..

Class boycotts and other forms of protest are on through out the State, and marking demonstrations are on places like Bangalore, Hyderabad and New Delhi. 

9-point demand of All Colleges Students Federation of Tamil Nadu for the Liberation of Tamil Eelam [Source: tamilnet.com]

The demands put forward by the students

1. We strongly condemn the US-draft resolution. Do not pass it at UNHRC
2. What took place in Ilangkai [Sri Lanka] is not merely war crimes or violations of human rights, but planned genocide
3. International investigation and referendum are the only solutions for the Tamils. Government of India should propose a resolution to bring in international investigation and to conduct a referendum on independent Tamil Eelam.
4. A proposal should be made to remove the Deputy High Commission of the Sinhala chauvinistic State from the Tamil soil [Tamil Nadu]. India should severe all diplomatic relations with Ilangkai [Sri Lanka].
5. Government of India, accepting the request of the Tamil Nadu State Government, should implement economic sanctions on Ilangkai [Sri Lanka].
6. On behalf of the Tamil Nadu State Government, a foreign relations department should be created to assure the security of global Tamils.
7. No Asian country should be a member in the [international] investigation committee.
8. Killing Tamil Nadu fishermen should be stopped immediately.
9. If the Government of India is not finding solution to the question of Eezham Tamils, we will not pay any taxes from Tamil Nadu. We, students, will actively engage in this campaign.