Militant/Bob Aiken

SYDNEY, Australia—More than 1,000 protesters, mainly Tamils, assembled outside the prime minister’s residence here April 12-13, determined to maintain their protests against the current military offensive by the Sri Lankan government against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Elam, a group that has fought for Tamil self-determination for two-and-a-half decades.

Sri Lankan Tamils face discrimination in language, education, employment, and religion by the Sinhalese-dominated government. The Sri Lankan armed forces have been on a stepped-up drive to take over all territory the Tamil Tigers previously controlled. “More than 77,000 people have been killed in the last two years,” protester Yogan Myl told the Militant.

The protesters called for a cease-fire and opening up the Tamil region so food, medical care, and other aid can reach refugees. Three Tamil youth who began a hunger strike outside Parramatta Town Hall joined the protest along with their supporters. On April 8 there was a Tamil demonstration in downtown Sydney.

—BOB AIKEN