New Delhi: Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) today urged the government of India and the Dravida Munnetra Khazagam (DMK) to intervene against the acts of ethnic cleansing and racism being perpetrated by the government of Sri Lanka against the Tamil minorities. Nearly 500 ethnic Tamils including women and children were hounded like animals, subbed into the waiting Ceylon Transport Board buses, then deported to war-torn North and Eastern parts of Sri Lanka on 7 June 2007 on alleged security grounds. The victims were reportedly given just half-an-hour time to pack their luggage.

“Even those who escaped threats from the Sri Lankan security forces, the LTTE and the Karuna faction are not being spared. Security threat is an excuse as the ethnic Tamils coming out of Northern and Eastern parts had already taken Travel Passes from the Sri Lankan Army and provided a surety to guarantee their return to their homes.” –stated Mr Chakma.

“The forcible deportation of the ethnic Tamils from Colombo to the Northern and Eastern parts is reminiscent of The Holocaust.” stated Mr Suhas Chakma, Director of Asian Centre for Human Rights.

Urging Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee to intervene, ACHR stated “This forcible deportation of the ethnic Tamils from Colombo to their homes will not only widen the ethnic divide and intensify the conflicts but also constitute acts of ethnic cleansing and racism which cannot be tolerated by any civilized society.