Hypocrisy of the Tamil Diaspora

Every time a Sri Lankan leader lands in a western capital, a predictable yet hypocritical drama unfolds. A small but vocal segment of the Tamil diaspora gathers outside, waving the flag of the LTTE and chanting slogans about justice and human rights. But what they refuse to confront is their own silence and their own selective outrage, thereby only proving that they are nothing but hypocrites in their so called call for justice.

The LTTE terrorists did not only wage war against the Sri Lankan state. It controlled, intimidated and brutalised the very Tamil community it claimed to represent. Mothers watched in horror as their children were taken away for forced recruitment. Young boys and girls who should have been in classrooms were instead trained to carry guns. Pregnant women were indoctrinated and sent on suicide missions. Teenagers were denied their youth and pushed into the battlefield. Those who questioned the leadership faced threats, punishment or death. Tamil politicians and intellectuals who dared to disagree were assassinated. And yet today, from the comfort of London, Toronto and other western cities, some diaspora activists wave the Tiger flag as though it represents liberation and dignity. That is a tragicomedy. 

Where were their protests when Tamil children were dragged away from their homes? Where were their rallies when families were torn apart by forced conscription? Where were their cries for human rights when dissenting Tamils were silenced permanently? Even in the final stages of the war in 2009, civilians were trapped in shrinking territory. The LTTE prevented many from leaving, using them as human shields.

LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran demanded unquestioned loyalty and sacrifice. Thousands of families were shattered. Yet his own family was shielded for much of the conflict. While cadres were sent to the front lines, celebrations continued in private. The contrast is painful and undeniable. This is the history that some choose to ignore when they wave that flag.

It is also important to ask a difficult question. What do these repeated protests achieve for the Tamil people living in Sri Lanka today. Do they improve livelihoods in the North and East? Do they support reconciliation among communities who still carry deep scars?

The uncomfortable truth is that many of these diaspora groups appear more interested in keeping their own agendas alive than genuinely caring for the Tamil people on the ground. The flag becomes a symbol not of service, but of relevance. It keeps fundraising networks active. It keeps old narratives alive. It keeps certain individuals politically visible in their adopted countries.

Meanwhile, Tamils in Sri Lanka are trying to rebuild their lives. They are navigating daily challenges that have little to do with symbolic protests thousands of miles away. Human rights must never be dismissed. Accountability must never be avoided. Sri Lanka still has much work to do in addressing the grievances of all communities. But justice cannot be selective. It cannot focus only on one side of a brutal conflict while ignoring the suffering inflicted by the LTTE on its own people.

Western governments too must examine their stance. Many have designated the LTTE as a terrorist organisation. Yet during official visits by Sri Lankan leaders, LTTE flags are often displayed openly. Recently,  even leaders such as Tilvin Silva have faced such protests during visits abroad. The pattern is consistent regardless of which party is in power. It reveals that this is not about policy differences. It is about a refusal by some to let go of an armed struggle that inflicted immense suffering on the Tamil community itself.

If these diaspora activists are truly committed to human rights, then their activism must be honest. It must acknowledge every victim. It must recognise the Tamil families who lived under fear of forced recruitment. It must speak for the parents who lost their children to a war they did not choose.

Sri Lanka’s path forward requires maturity and courage from all sides. It requires confronting uncomfortable truths, not rewriting history to suit personal narratives. Those who genuinely care about the Tamil people in Sri Lanka should focus on constructive engagement, economic support and reconciliation efforts. They should amplify voices that seek healing rather than division. The Tamil community deserves better than to be used as a symbol in protests that do little to improve their daily lives.

Hypocrisy will not bring justice.