Senan, Tamil Solidarity international coordinator
The recent Unison conference overwhelmingly supported the resolution to affiliate to the Tamil Solidarity campaign.
A historic step forward for building international working class solidarity, this is believed to be the first time the struggle of the Tamils has been discussed by a national trade union conference.
The resolution urges Unison branches to invite a speaker from Tamil Solidarity to address meetings and Unison members should get in touch with the campaign to arrange this.
On Saturday 23 June, Tamil Solidarity held a meeting aimed at young people who had been active in the recent protests against the visit by Sri Lankan president Rajapaksa. With the blood of thousands of Tamil-speaking people on his hands, Rajapaksa’s invite to the Jubilee aroused huge anger. Protests were successful in forcing him to cancel a speaking engagement with British big business.
The excellent meeting discussed the world context of the struggle for Tamil rights in Sri Lanka, with reports of building Tamil Solidarity in Malaysia and Tamil Nadu, India. Further action was planned including a meeting against the land grab on 30 June, linking up with other campaigns and participation of a Tamil Solidarity team in Youth Fight for Jobs’ Austerity Games for the Olympics.
Please contact Tamil Solidarity: www.tamilsolidarity.org; [email protected]; 07908 050 217
