** Tamil protesters hand Kevin Rudd their list of demands
** Concern grows of irreversible health damages for hunger strikers in their 100th hour
**Sri Lankan government offensive in safe-zone resumes; blood bath predicted
While leaving Parliament House in Canberra this evening, Tamil protesters handed the Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd a list of their four demands (http://fastuntoaction.wordpress.com/2009/04/15/four-demands/)

To date, he has not yet addressed the grievances of the Tamil community in Australia. There has also not yet been an official statement addressing the hunger strike of the Australian Tamils who have now reached the 100th hour since ingesting water or food.

Why is our government refusing to show concern for the thousands of Australians who have family in the conflict zone in Sri Lanka? Many hundreds have already been killed by the military offensive and thousands more will be killed within the next few hours, as the Sri Lankan government attempts to enter the so-called ‘no fire safe zone’ housing 300,000 Tamil civilians. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband has called his counter-part in Sri Lanka to voice his concern for the Tamils. Why has the Rudd government not done the same thing?

Doctors examining the six boys who are on a hunger strike outside the Prime Minister’s Canberra residence have warned of low blood sugar levels and signs of severe dehydration. The three boys from Sydney have entered their 100th hour of fasting, and have vowed to continue till the Rudd government responds to their requests. If the boys continue, they face the very real and dangerous risk of kidney failure and muscle break down. Our three youth must not fall ill because of their determination to bring about peace for the Tamil people and end the killing of their fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers.

Sources within the conflict zone of NorthEast Sri Lanka have told us the government has stepped up its military offensive via land and air. The United Nations had warned of a blood bath if the military enters the conflict zone. This has already happened. The international community, including Australia, has the power to stop tens of thousands of people dying over the next few days.

KEVIN RUDD, AS OUR PRIME MINISTER, WE URGE YOU AND PLEAD WITH YOU TO RECOGNISE AND ACKNOWLEDGE OUR LEGITIMATE GRIEVANCES. WE ARE ONLY ASKING YOU TO SAVE THE LIVES OF CIVILIANS DYING AT THE HANDS OF AN OPPRESSIVE STATE.

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Dr Sam Pari – 0433 428 967                            
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