Fears Grow for Tamil Students on Hunger Strike in London

A protest by thousands of supporters of Tamil separatists is expected to be held in central London tomorrow as fears grow over the condition of two Tamil students on hunger strike outside the Houses of Parliament.

The protests, which started earlier in the week with a sit-in at Westminster Bridge and a smaller ongoing demonstration in Parliament Square, are intended to put pressure on the British government to intervene in the Sri Lankan conflict.

Sivatharsan Sivakumaraval, 21, and Prarameswaran Subramaniam, 28 have refused to take food or liquids since last Monday. A colleague, Dr Jayendran Namisivayam, who is a radiologist at an east London hospital, told reporters: "We strongly feel that, if they carry on like this without even sipping, their kidneys are soon going to pack in … They do know the consequences and they are saying it is now the British government's responsibility. They are determined they will die for the cause and if they continue like this it could be all over [soon]."

The demonstrators are protesting against the Sri Lankan government's use of heavy weaponry in their offensive against the Tamil insurgents and its refusal to agree to a ceasefire, even though civilians trapped by the conflict in the north-east of the island are being killed. Up to 150,000 are said to be trapped by the fighting.

Tamil supporters claim illegal weaponry such as poison gas is being used against them. They deny that the Tamil Tigers are terrorists, despite the explosions and assassinations during their prolonged separatist campaign. One demonstrator in London, a 21-year-old medical student who gave her first name as Lakshmi but asked not to be further identified, told reporters: "People have the wrong impression of the Tamil Tigers. We are trying to tell people that they are freedom fighters … actually carpenters, fishermen and normal people in society."

David Milliband, the foreign secretary, has said the government is very concerned about the safety of civilians caught up in the fighting.

Tomorrow's lunchtime demonstration will begin with a march from the Embankment and conclude with a rally in Hyde Park.