Tamils in New York have organized a rally to protest the participation of Sri Lankan president in the United Nations General Assembly in New York.  

The rally will be held on September 24th (Wednesday) from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm outside the United Nations office in New York. Thousands from US and Canada are expected to join this rally.

International media reported that the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) has said that a rally will be held outside the UN headquarters in New York to protest Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa's visit to the UN General Assembly and to highlight Sri Lanka’s refusal to allow UN war crimes investigators access to that country as well as to the alleged threats against witnesses to the UN probe.

TGTE has also urged the UN General Secretary Ban-Ki-Moon and President of the General Assembly to strongly condemn Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaka’s refusal to allow UN’s war crimes investigation on Sri Lanka.

Additionally, TGTE has urged UN Member states to take note of this transgression and raise it in the appropriate forums to safeguard the credibility and effectiveness of the United Nations.

The rally is to demand the following from the United Nations:

1) UN should condemn Sri Lanka’s denial of visa to UN War Crimes investigators.

2) UN should ensure the protection of witnesses and urge the Sri Lankan President not to harm Tamils who testify before a UN body.

3) UN should warn the Sri Lankan President of the consequences for intimidation and persecution of potential witnesses to the UN investigation. A Sri Lankan Cabinet Minister has threatened legal action against those testifying before the UN inquiry.

4) UN urged not to allow Sri Lankan President to use his appearance at the UN to sanitize his international crimes. His is not just a war crime but a perpetrator of genocide.