25,000 more Tamil protesters to disrupt Ottawa traffic: police
Last Updated: Monday, April 20, 2009 | 11:06 PM ET
CBC News
A flood of protesters expected to join the Tamil demonstrations on Parliament Hill Tuesday will likely disrupt traffic in Ottawa's downtown, police warned Monday afternoon.
Protesters have said they expect an additional 25,000 Tamil supporters to join Tuesday's demonstration as they step up efforts to draw the Canadian government's attention to their cause.
Tamil supporters have asked the federal government to call for an end to the 25-year war in Sri Lanka that continues to claim the lives of Tamil civilians.
Now that members of Parliament are back in the House of Commons, organizers said this is their chance to be heard.
"Let the parliamentarians know what's going on in Sri Lanka. Why are they delaying this much? All these people are dying," said Palani Nadarajah, who arrived from Boston Sunday night to join the demonstrations in Ottawa.
For 15 days, protesters have been a presence on Parliament Hill in the hopes of speaking to a government representative.
They've blocked Wellington Street, begun hunger strikes and chanted their pleas, but government officials say they won't speak to the protesters while they're flying a flag they consider an emblem of the Tamil Tigers, which the government has listed as a terrorist group since 2006.
According to an Ottawa Police Service media release, no road closures have been planned, but parking restrictions go into effect near Parliament Hill on Monday night.
The release recommended that commuters look to avoid that area on Tuesday.
Tamil protesters say that if the government doesn't meet with them on Tuesday, their protests will simply continue.
