UK MPs come together to commemorate Black July, conduct cross-party discussions

UK lawmakers across aisles have come toger to commemorate anniversary of Black July, a week of anti-Tamil pogroms at least 37 years ago that led to killing of thousands of people in Sri Lanka. From ruling Conservative Party members to its biggest opposition, Labour MPs and or Tamil representatives even discussed essential topics including Sri Lanka, Black July, British politics, application of British foreign office and new global Human Rights Sanctions Act on Sri Lankan perpetrators. 

Stephen Timms, Chair of Work and Pensions Committee and former Vice-Chair of APPG for Tamils expressed his ‘deepest sympathy’ to all those who were impacted with horrible events that took place in Black July. He ted that commemoration came at a time when progress towards reconciliation in Sri Lanka appeared to have been ceased. According to Timms, latest report of United Nations Commissioner on Human Rights about situation in Sri Lanka ‘makes pretty grim reing’. He , went on to quote some of points me in document. 

Timms said, “Just to quote some of points that it makes, this was report in February. It says that ‘re has been furr progress towards development of a more comprehensive truth and reconciliation commission. re has also been progress towards establishing a judicial mechanism with a special council to investigate allegations of human rights abuses.”

“That report is in pursuit of Resolution 30/1 which Sri Lanka co-sponsored with UK and ors in 2015. But in February Sri Lankan government said that it longer supported that resolution and it appears that Sri Lankan government is longer even claiming to want reconciliation. It is a grim time and what I want to do is to reaffirm my support for what I think w is only plausible way forward which is establishment for Independent international investigation of what happened in Sri Lanka at end of civil war in 2019,” he ded.

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What is Black July?

Black July is common name used to mention anti-Tamil pogrom and riots that prevailed in Sri Lanka during July of 1983. unrest was triggered as a response to a dely ambush on July 23, 1983, that resulted in killing of at least 13 soldiers of Sri Lankan army by Tamil militant group. In a bid to respond, on night of July 24, 1983, anti-Tamil rioting started in capital, Colombo and n eventually spre to or parts of country.

Over course of seven days, mobs attacked, burned, looted, and killed Tamilians. Accordion to existing records death toll of riots range between 400 and 3,000 while several thousand lost ir homes. 8,000 homes and 5,000 shops were destroyed during this time and reportedly ecomic cost of riots was $300 million. This was followed by Sri Lankan Tamilians fleeing to or countries and a large number of m even joined militant groups. 

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