As a Sinhalese Australian, along with my two friends who are Tamil, we decided a change is required in regards to the Sri Lankans' reaction to the Tamil Genocide since mainstream media is not covering this issue. The goal of this petition is to have the Sri Lankan president or any other major Sri Lankan leaders to publicly apologize for the ethnic violence and genocide Tamils have endured in Sri Lanka for the last few decades. A publicly televised speech is needed to show the solidarity the government shares with the Tamil's struggles, much like former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's "I'm Sorry" speech to the Aboriginals. We would like all war criminals to be held accountable and information about missing Tamils to be revealed to their families. Also, educate the youth about the CORRECT information about the genocide rather than exposing them to bias beliefs. Just to clear things up in no way, are we endorsing the LTTE, and we do not support  their actions. However, we do understand their existence was due to the trauma, and persecution of the Tamils and they were essentially freedom fighters for Tamils, since peaceful protests weren't achieving anything, instead increasing the riots and ethnic violence. However, we do understand that the LTTE were incredibly evil and killed many innocent Sinhalese and Tamil civilians.This petition is to support only the innocent Tamils and also some Sinhalese who have suffered from persecution, horrors from the wars and oppression from the Sri Lankan government.

For decades the Tamil community in Sri Lanka has been denied the same rights as the average Sri Lankan citizen. In the mid 20th century before the formation of the LTTE, the massacres of Tamils began. In 1956 there were the Ceylonese riots in the Eastern Province which were the first reported ethnic riots that targeted minority Sri Lankan Tamils in Gal Oya, a new settlement in the Eastern Province. The total number of deaths is reportedly 150. On 12 August 1977, less than a month after the United National Party came to power in 1977. Over 300 Tamils were killed during another surge of Anti-Tamil riots. In 1981 was the burning of Jaffna library, Jaffna, Northern Province - The destruction of the Jaffna Public Library, with the loss of over 100,000 books, artifacts, and palm writings. Four Sri Lankan Tamils were killed in the process. This all occurred prior to the formation of the LTTE, which I included to prove that it wasn't the LTTE that was the cause of the Tamils genocide as many Sri Lankan civilians and government officials falsely claim.

In 1983, the LTTE was formed in response to the ongoing racial tension and genocide. And in response to the abduction and rape of young Tamil girls by Sri Lankan soldiers, the LTTE decided to take action and killed several Sri Lankan soldiers as an act of retaliation. This led to the Black July riots where between 400 and 3000 innocent Tamils with no connection to the LTTE, were brutally raped and murdered.  From 1983-2009 it only escalated in numbers, with many victims of witnessing relatives, friends, and family brutally murdered joining the LTTE to retaliate, due to pure trauma and anger. Which we do not encourage or endorse.

In his book, The Tragedy of Sri Lanka, eyewitness, and author William McGowan wrote:

"While traveling on a bus when a mob laid siege to it, passengers watched as a small boy was hacked 'to limb-less death'. The bus driver was ordered to give up a Tamil. He pointed out a woman who was desperately trying to erase the mark on her forehead—called a kumkum—as the thugs bore down on her. The woman's belly was ripped open with a broken bottle and she was immolated as people clapped and danced. In another incident, two sisters, one eighteen and one eleven, were decapitated and raped, the latter 'until there was nothing left to violate and no volunteers could come forward', after which she was burned. While all this was going on, a line of Buddhist monks appeared, arms flailing, their voices raised in a delirium of exhortation, summoning the Sinhalese to put all Tamils to death."

This kind of story would make any human with a grain of decency sick to the stomach. Most Sinhalese refuse to accept the role Sri Lanka played in the genocide of these Tamils and ignore these events. They blame everything on the Tamils and LTTE and refuse to accept what the Sri Lankans Soldiers did to innocent Tamils. The LTTE at times did show signs of aggression and had conducted many heinous war crimes. However, the LTTE was charged and punished for their crimes, however, many Sri Lankan soldiers guilty of war crimes are roaming free. 

Here's a close recount of one of my best mates personal experience:

"So the Sri Lankan army had curfews for Tamil majority villages. Where people couldn't leave their house between 9 pm to 4 am. They'd usually take advantage of this time to loot businesses. But this wasn't the only thing they took advantage of. they would go into houses of Sri Lankan Tamil families and they'd abuse young girls and boys. Often underage. One girl in my parent's town was raped and killed, only 13 years old. And if that's not already disgusting, they did this in front of her brothers, both who were studying engineering and came to visit their family. These brothers became suicide bombers in the LTTE. This happened in the late '80s."

" Another story is my grand uncle's. One day the Sri Lankan government visited his 80-year-old father's house. My grand-uncle went to his house after hearing what happened and all he found was a pool of blood and his father's glasses. other people in my town said that he was beaten and burnt alive"

These are just three stories out of thousands of documented and undocumented stories. We ask the Sri Lankan Government to make a public apology on behalf of the Soldiers and leaders who committed acts of ethnic violence towards the Tamils during the war to show support and bring these soldiers to account for their crimes. We need the Sinhalese majority to understand the suffering the Tamils endured during the past decades up until 2009 and the racism that continued from that day onward until today, such as police brutality, fatal shootings and illegal occupation of land, etc. So Tamils and Sinhalese can live in peace, equality, and harmony and be respectful and mindful of each other's pasts.

Massacres perpetrated by the government against innocent Tamil civilians during the civil war(1983-2009): 

Acts of Genocide towards Tamils by the Sri Lankan State:

Thirunelveli massacre ‐ 24-25/07/1983

Sampalthoddam massacre ‐ 1984

Chunnakam Police station massacre ‐08/01/1984

Chunnakam market massacre ‐ 28/03/1984

Mathawachchi – Rampawa ‐ September 1984

Point Pedro – Thikkam massacre ‐ 16/09/1984

Othiyamalai massacre ‐ 01.12.1984

Kumulamunai massacre ‐ 02.12.1984

Cheddikulam massacre ‐ 02.12.1984

Manalaru massacre ‐ 03.12.1984

Blood soaked Mannar ‐ 04.12.1984

Kokkilai‐Kokkuthoduvai massacre ‐ 15.12.1984

Vankalai church massacre ‐ 06.01.1986

Mulliyavalai massacre ‐ 16.01.1985

Vaddakandal massacre ‐ 30.01.1985

Puthukkidiyiruppu Iyankovilady massacre 21.04.1985

Trincomalee massacres in 1985

Valvai‐85 massacre 10.05.1985

Kumuthini Boat massacre 15.05.1985

Kiliveddi massacre in 1985

Thiriyai massacre ‐ 08.06.1985

Sampaltivu ‐ 04 to 09.08.1985

Veeramunai massacre ‐ 20.06.1990

Nilaveli massacre 16.09.1985

Piramanthanaru massacre ‐ 02.10.1985

Kanthalai‐85 massacre ‐ 09.11.1985

Muthur Kadatkaraichenai ‐ 08, 09, 10.11.1985

Periyapullumalai massacre in 1986

Kilinochchi Railway Station massacre ‐ 25.01.1986

Udumbankulam massacre ‐ 19.02.1985

Vayaloor massacre ‐ 24.08.1985

Eeddimurinchan massacre ‐ 19, 20.03.1986

Anandapuram shelling ‐ 04.06.1986

Kanthalai‐86 massacre ‐ 04, 05.06. 1986

Mandaithivu sea massacre ‐ 10.06.1986

Seruvila massacre ‐ 12.06.1986

Thambalakamam massacres ‐ 1985, 1986

Paranthan farmers massacre ‐ 28.06.1986

Peruveli refugee camp massacre ‐ 15.07.1986

Thanduvan bus massacre ‐ 17.07.1986

Mutur Manalchenai massacre ‐ 18.07. 1986

Adampan massacre ‐ 12.10.1986

Periyapandivrichchan massacre ‐ 15.10.1986

Kokkadichcholai‐87 massacre ‐ 28.01.1987

Paddithidal massacre ‐ 26.04.1987.

Thonithiddamadu massacre ‐ 27.05.1987

Alvai temple shelling ‐ 29.05.1987

Eastern University massacre ‐ 23.05.1990

Sammanthurai massacre ‐ 10.06.1990

Xavierpuram massacre ‐ 07.08.1990

Siththandy massacre ‐ 20, 27.07.1990

Paranthan junction massacre ‐ 24.07.1990

Poththuvil massacre ‐ 30.07.1990

Tiraikerny massacre ‐ 06.08.1990

Kalmunai massacre ‐ 11.08.1990

Thuranilavani massacre ‐ 12.08.1990

Eravur hospital massacre ‐ 12.08.1990

Koraveli massacre 14.08.1990

Nelliyadi market bombing ‐ 29.08.1990

Eravur massacre ‐ 10.10.1990

Saththurukkondan massacre ‐ 09.09.1990

Natpiddymunai massacre ‐ 10.09.1990

Vantharamullai‐90 massacre ‐ 05, 23,09,1990

Mandaithivu disappearances ‐ 23.08.1990, 25.09.1990

Oddisuddan bombing ‐ 27.11.1990

Puthukkudiyiruppu junction bombing - 24.7. 1990

Vankalai massacre ‐ 17.02.1991

Vaddakkachchi bombing ‐ 28.02.1991

Vantharumoolai ‐ 09.06.1991

Kokkadichcholai‐91 massacre ‐ 12.06.1991

Pullumalai massacre ‐ 1983‐1990

Kinniyadi massacre ‐ 12.07.1991

Akkarayan hospital massacre ‐ 15.07.1997

Uruthrapuram bombing ‐ 04.02.1991

Karapolla‐Muthgalla massacre ‐ 29.04.1992

Vattrapalai shelling ‐ 18.05.1992

Thellipalai temple bombing ‐ 30.05.199

Mailanthai massacre ‐ 09.08.1992

Kilali massacre ‐1992, 1993

Maaththalan bombing ‐ 18.09.1993

Chavakachcheri‐Sangaththanai bombing ‐ 28.09.1993

Kokuvil temple bombing ‐ 29.09.1993

Kurunagar church bombing ‐ 13.11.1993

Chundikulam‐94 massacre ‐ 18.02.1994

Navali church massacre ‐ 09.07.1995

Nagarkovil bombing ‐ 22.05.1995

Chemmani mass graves in 1996

Kilinochchi town massacre ‐ 1996‐1998

Kumarapuram massacre ‐ 11.02.1996

Nachchikuda strafing ‐ 16.03.1996

Thambirai market bombing ‐ 17.05.1996

Mallavi bombing ‐ 24.07.1996

Kaithady Krishanthi massacre ‐ 07.09.1996

Pannankandy massacre ‐ 05.07.1997

Konavil bombing ‐ 27.09.1996

Vavunikulam massacre ‐ 26‐09‐1996, 15‐08‐1997

Mullivaikal bombing ‐ 13.05.1997

Mankulam shelling ‐ 08.06.1997

Thampalakamam‐98 massacre ‐ 01.02.1998

Old Vaddakachchi bombing ‐ 26.03.1998

Suthanthirapuram massacre ‐ 10.06.1998

Visuvamadhu shelling ‐ 25.11.1998

Chundikulam‐98 bombing 02.12.1998

 Manthuvil bombing ‐ 15.09.1999

Palinagar bombing and shelling ‐ 03.09.1999

Madhu church massacre ‐ 20.11.1999 .

Mirusuvil massacre ‐ 19.12.2000

Pesalai housing scheme massacre – 23 December 2005

Trincomalee students massacre – 2 January 2006

Manipay family massacre – 24 January 2006

TRO employees disappearance –29 January 2006

Trincomalee riots – 12 April 2006

Puthoor massacre – 18 April 2006

Muthur bombing – 25 April 2006

Uthayan Daily Press Office attack – 2 May 2006

Nelliyadi massacre – 4 May 2006

Manthuvil Temple massacre – 6 May 2006

Allaipiddy massacre – 13 May 2006

Vadamunai pressure mine – 7 June 2006

Vankalai family massacre – 8 June 2006

Kaithady mass grave – 6,7,8 June 2006

Pesalai church massacre – 17 June 2006

Action Faim INGO staff massacre – 5 August 2006

Nedunkerni ambulance claymore – 8 August 2006

Eastern bombing and shelling – August - December 2006

Allaipiddy shelling - 13 August 2006

Senchcholai orphanage bombing – 14 August 2006

Pottuvil massacre – 17 September 2006

PTK bombing - 16 October 2006

Kilinochchi hospital precicnts bombing – 2 November 2006

Vavuniya Agriculture School massacre – 18 November 2006

Padahuthurai bombing – 2 January 2007

Silavathurai claymore attack – 2 September 2007

Periyamadu shelling – 25 October 2007

Tharmapuram bombing – 25 November 2007

Iyankulam claymore attack – 27 November 2007

Madhu school bus bombing - 29 January 2008

Kiranchi bombing – 22 February 2008

Murukandy claymore attack – 23 May 2008

Nahathambiran temple pilgrim claymore attack

PTK bombing – 15 June 2008

Mullaitivu petrol station and bus depot bombing - 2 January 2009

Thevipuram and Vaddakachchi shelling - 8 January 2009

Tharmapuram Hospital shelling - 8 January 2009

Visuamadu shelling - 17-20 January 2009

Suthanthirapuram, Thevipuram, Udayarkattu and Vallipuram shelling - 20 January 2009

Vallipuram Hospital shelling - 22 January 2009

Suthanthirapuram shelling - 24 January 2009

Suthanthirapuram and Udayarkattu shelling - 26 January 2009

Puthukkudiyiruppu shelling - 26-31 January 2009

Udayaarkaddu Hospital shelling - 26 January 2009

Puthukkudiyiruppu Hospital shelling - 1-3 February 2009

Suthanthirapuram shelling - 3 February 2009

Ponnambalam Memorial Hospital bombing - 5-6 February 2009

Mahtalan, Moongilaru, Suthanthirapuram, Thevipuram, Udayarkattu and Vallipuram shelling - 6 February 2009

Puthukkudiyiruppu shelling - 7 February 2009

Putumattalan shelling - 7 February 2009

Suthanthirapuram shelling - 7 February 2009

Devipuram shelling - 9 February 2009

Pokkanai bombing - 9 February 2009

Mattalan shelling - 9 February 2009

Mattalan, Thevipuram and Vallipuram shelling - 11-12 February 2009

Iranaipalai shelling - 13 February 2009

Puthukkudiyiruppu Hospital shelling - 13 February 2009

Thevipuram and Vallipuram shelling - 14 February 2009

Mullivaikkal and Putumattalan bombing and shelling - 15 February 2009

Valayanmadam shelling - 15 February 2009

Mattalan shelling - 16 February 2009

Valayanmadam shelling - 17 February 2009

Ampalavanpokkanai, Idaikdu and Puthukkudiyiruppu shelling - 18 February 2009

Valayanmadam bombing - 19 February 2009

Ananthapuram, Iranaipalai, Mullivaikkal and Puthukkudiyiruppu shelling - 19 February 2009

Valayanmadam shelling - 20 February 2009

Ananthapuram, Iranaipalai, Pokkanai, Puthukkudiyiruppu and Valayanmadam shelling - 20 February 2009

Ampalavanpokkanai, Mattalan, Mullivaikkal, Pokkanai and Valayanmadam shelling - 21 February 2009

Ananthapuram and Iranaipalai shelling - 21 February 2009

Iranaipalai shelling - 23 February 2009

Puthukkudiyiruppu bombing and shelling - 25-26 February 2009

Ampalavakanai shelling - 4 March 2009

Mattalan and Valayanmadam shelling - 5 - 7 March 2009

No Fire Zone shelling- 12 March - May 18 2009

Mattalan, Mullivaikkal and Pokkanai shelling - 13 March 2009

Valayanmadam bombing - 17 March 2009

Valayanmadam shelling - 20 March 2009

Mullivaikkal, Putumattalan and Valayanmadam shelling - 2 March 2009

Pokkanai shelling - 7 - 19 April 2009

Pokkanai shelling - April 2009

Valayanmadam makeshift hospital bombing - 21 April 2009

Valayanmadam shelling - 23 April 2009