Statement from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre on the Chemmani Mass Grave Excavation in Sri Lanka
Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada, released the following statement on the anniversary of Black July:
“As Canadians of Tamil Heritage prepare to mark the solemn anniversary of Black July, we are once again confronted with the brutal legacy of anti-Tamil violence in Sri Lanka.
“This week marks one month since excavation work began at the Chemmani mass grave site in Sri Lanka – where the remains of dozens of Tamil civilians, including infants, have now been uncovered. The pain of 1983 echoes as new evidence surfaces of the genocide committed against Tamil lives and dignity.
“What began as a routine construction project became a chilling revelation – workers uncovered human bones buried just beneath the surface. The court-ordered excavation has since revealed shallow graves, blindfolded victims, and the personal effects of children: school bags, toys and clothing. The cruelty is unfathomable.
“These discoveries confirm yet again what Tamil Canadians have known in their hearts for decades – that their loved ones who disappeared during the genocidal war against Tamils were not lost by accident. They were taken. Silenced. And buried in secrecy.
“Canada has a moral responsibility to listen to survivors and to stand firm in the pursuit of justice wherever mass atrocities have taken place. That includes standing with Tamil families, here and around the world, who have carried this burden for far too long.
“As I have pledged before, a future Conservative government will take real, concrete action:
● We will impose Magnitsky sanctions on those responsible for the genocide perpetrated against Tamils in Sri Lanka.
● We will support international efforts to investigate and prosecute those responsible – including members of the genocidal Rajapaksa regime.
● We will work with allies to ensure Canada is never a safe haven for war criminals, and
● We will press for independent international forensic involvement in the Chemmani excavations, to ensure the truth is preserved – and never buried again.
“The Conservative Party under my leadership has unequivocally recognized the Tamil genocide.
“I remain unwavering in my commitment to ensuring that Canada is a country where the voices of the oppressed are heard – and where those responsible for mass atrocities are held to account, no matter how much time has passed.
“To the Tamil community: your grief is real. Your pursuit of justice is just. And you will not walk this path alone.”