Ezhuchithamizhar Thol.Thirumavalavan speech at London....
Respected Gentlemen !
First I wish to congratulate the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils and British Tamil Forum for organizing this important conference at a crucial juncture. I recall here that most of the countries including US, Britain and Canada which participated in the recently concluded Universal Periodical Review of the
Respected Gentlemen !
First I wish to congratulate the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils and British Tamil Forum for organizing this important conference at a crucial juncture. I recall here that most of the countries including US, Britain and Canada which participated in the recently concluded Universal Periodical Review of the
United
Nations have expressed their displeasure over the steps taken for
reconciliation by the Government of Srilanka and have condemned the
increasing violence against Tamil people. I emphasize the opinion
expressed by the UN panel of experts in March 2011, about the credible
allegations against the government of Sri Lanka for committing crimes
against humanity including persecution and extermination of the Tamil
population of the Vanni region. Thousands of Tamils are still
languishing in secret detention facilities and thousands of youth
arrested by Army are missing. Many allegations of sexual abuses of Tamil
women by Sinhala security forces were made. But, no mechanism of
redress is there to address these issues. Even judiciary is under
threat. Many reports have confirmed the infamous ‘white vans’ and
continuing abductions and torture of Tamil youth. Hundreds of Tamils
have disappeared and been killed since May 2009. White van abductions
and the discovery of bodies is becoming common occurrence in Sri Lanka.
While all ethnic groups have been targeted by these practices, the Tamil
continue to be more heavily targeted than other populations. Media
persons are also targeted for reporting the abuses of the Army. A clear
case of genocide is evident from the killings. Thirty one media persons
were killed between 2004 and 2008 among them twenty seven were Tamil.
The Government of Sri Lanka is attempting to deceive the International
community by closing the internment camps. They did not release the
Tamil population to settle at their homeland, Instead they were
relocated to ill equipped refugee camps without any support. More than
260,000 civilians who have been released from the Menik Farm camps have
not been resettled to their homeland is an example. Various
International Human Rights organizations have confirmed that the
continuous presence of Sri Lankan security forces in traditional Tamil
areas and their illegal appropriation of their lands and buildings. The
Government of Sri Lanka is colonizing Tamil areas by forceful migration
of Sinhala people there. The civil life of the Tamil population is
stifled with unnecessary intervention of Army. The Tamil people are
forced to obtain permission from Army even for conducting family
ceremonies. The Army is running saloons and grocery shops in Tamil areas
and are indulging in agriculture and fishing too. By doing these the
Government of Sri Lanka is denying all sources of livelihood to Tamil
and making them dependents. Though the International community is well
aware of these facts, but, still asks the perpetuators of war crimes to
render justice. It is an irony. There is no reason to believe the
genocidal Sri Lankan government. Already three years have gone. No sign
of hope is in sight. So, on behalf of the people of Tamilnadu , I
request the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils to take immediate
and necessary actions for setting up an independent international
inquiry to investigate the genocidal war crimes done by the security
forces of the Government of Sri Lanka. For our part, I assure you that
I will raise these issues in the parliament of India and will work to
win the support of the national political parties and Government of
India in favor of the just cause of the Eelam Tamils.
Thank You.
Thank You.