Popular social media platform, Instagram, has suddenly blocked the hashtags #tamileelam and #eelam, which many members of the Tamil community regularly use to highlight the injustices happening to Tamils in Sri Lanka at the hands of the government. They are also used to celebrate the Eelam Tamil identity.
The ban on #tamileelam and #eelam comes at the height of protests that took place in Sri Lanka.
"On 3 February 2021, Tamils and Muslims in the North-East mobilised en-masse to begin a peaceful march from Pottuvil in Amparai to Polikandy in Jaffna, two points delineating the furthest ends of the traditional Tamil homeland, in defiance of numerous court orders.
Their aim was to raise awareness of the plight of Tamils and Muslims on the island and to call upon the UN and the international community to heed Tamil calls for justice and accountability. Throughout this march, Sri Lanka’s security forces attempted to break up the rally at various points by threatening and intimidating demonstrators as well obtaining injunctions against the protest but at each step protesters have defied Sri Lanka’s security forces. Whilst the march was initially set to end on 6 February, it was extended to the 7 February due to these disruptions." Read the full story at The Tamil Guardian here.
The move has angered many of Instagram's Tamil users who have expressed their concern and anger over the ban.
