[TamilNet, Sunday, 20 November 2011, 03:01 GMT]The York Federation of Students, the students’ union at York University representing over 50,000 students, unanimously adopted a resolution last week recognizing the ongoing structural genocide of the Eezham Tamil nation and the need to stand in solidarity with the Tamil people in their global struggle for self-determination. The success of enacting such resolutions has been credited to campaigns by Tamil students in educating and explaining the narrative of the Tamil struggle to their peers and allies, student activists said. The move is considered to be a reflection of the broader strategy to resist the discourse that aims to create a climate of fear, criminalization and alienation of Tamil community activism. Such efforts increasingly create a culture of acceptance to the Tamil nationhood and to its national symbols, student activists further said. Full story >>
Full story >>
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“Be It Resolved that the York Federation of Students...
Full Text of Motion
November 2011. ONGOING SITUATION IN SRI LANKA
Whereas the Tamil people have historically inhabited the North-Eastern parts of
the island of Sri Lanka as their traditional homeland; and
Whereas the Tamil people are distinguished from other groups living in the island
by their unique language, culture, religion, traditions and history; and
Whereas the Tamil nation has been historically marginalized in language,
education, and citizenship and suffered state sponsored pogroms; and
Whereas the UN Secretary General appointed Panel of Experts on Accountability
in Sri Lanka produced a report indicating war crimes and crimes against
humanity were committed during the final stages of the war; and
Whereas the Report of the Secretary-Generals Panel of Experts on
Accountability in Sri Lanka found credible allegations of indiscriminate killing of
civilians, extrajudicial killings of political prisoners, and the systematic bombings
of hospitals were committed by the Sri Lankan Government and Armed Forces
during the final stages of the war; and
Whereas despite compelling evidence of war crimes and crimes against
humanity, the Sri Lankan government outright dismisses the analysis of the UN
Special Rapporteur and the Report of the Secretary-Generals Panel of Experts
on Accountability in Sri Lanka; and
Whereas the United Kingdom based Channel 4 News broadcasted a
groundbreaking documentary entitled “Sri Lanka's Killing Fields” which features
devastating and unprecedented video evidence of war crimes and crimes against
humanity during Sri Lanka's civil war; and
Whereas certain footage from the documentary has been authenticated by the
UN and has been declared as evidence of definitive war crimes by the UN
Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings; and
Whereas despite the Government of Sri Lanka declaring a return to normalcy
there continues to be a denial of political and civil rights for the Tamil people, the
Tamil people continue to endure violent persecution, media restrictions, the Sri
Lankan military occupation of the North-East, ethnic cleansing and colonialism,
forced detention and slow progress in resettlement of Internally Displaced
Peoples (IDPS); and
Whereas the York federation of Students has stood in solidarity and consistently
supported the Tamil community’s call for justice, fairness, and human rights while
being a strong voice for peace on the global stage.
Be It Resolved that the York Federation of Students shall endorse the
international call to immediately establish an independent, international,
and impartial mechanism to ensure truth, accountability and justice in Sri
Lanka; and
Be It Further Resolved that the York Federation of Students encourages its
members to pressure the Federal Government to unequivocally call for an
international war crimes inquiry to establish accountability and true
reconciliation; and
Be It Further Resolved that the York Federation of Students encourages its
members to stand in solidarity with the Tamil nation in their global struggle
for self-determination and freedom; and
Be It Further Resolved that the York Federation of Students calls for an
immediate end to the colonialism and genocide of the Tamil nation and an
end to the occupation of the Tamil homeland by the Sri Lankan Armed
Forces and its allied paramilitary groups. Full story >>
November 2011. ONGOING SITUATION IN SRI LANKA
Whereas the Tamil people have historically inhabited the North-Eastern parts of
the island of Sri Lanka as their traditional homeland; and
Whereas the Tamil people are distinguished from other groups living in the island
by their unique language, culture, religion, traditions and history; and
Whereas the Tamil nation has been historically marginalized in language,
education, and citizenship and suffered state sponsored pogroms; and
Whereas the UN Secretary General appointed Panel of Experts on Accountability
in Sri Lanka produced a report indicating war crimes and crimes against
humanity were committed during the final stages of the war; and
Whereas the Report of the Secretary-Generals Panel of Experts on
Accountability in Sri Lanka found credible allegations of indiscriminate killing of
civilians, extrajudicial killings of political prisoners, and the systematic bombings
of hospitals were committed by the Sri Lankan Government and Armed Forces
during the final stages of the war; and
Whereas despite compelling evidence of war crimes and crimes against
humanity, the Sri Lankan government outright dismisses the analysis of the UN
Special Rapporteur and the Report of the Secretary-Generals Panel of Experts
on Accountability in Sri Lanka; and
Whereas the United Kingdom based Channel 4 News broadcasted a
groundbreaking documentary entitled “Sri Lanka's Killing Fields” which features
devastating and unprecedented video evidence of war crimes and crimes against
humanity during Sri Lanka's civil war; and
Whereas certain footage from the documentary has been authenticated by the
UN and has been declared as evidence of definitive war crimes by the UN
Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial killings; and
Whereas despite the Government of Sri Lanka declaring a return to normalcy
there continues to be a denial of political and civil rights for the Tamil people, the
Tamil people continue to endure violent persecution, media restrictions, the Sri
Lankan military occupation of the North-East, ethnic cleansing and colonialism,
forced detention and slow progress in resettlement of Internally Displaced
Peoples (IDPS); and
Whereas the York federation of Students has stood in solidarity and consistently
supported the Tamil community’s call for justice, fairness, and human rights while
being a strong voice for peace on the global stage.
Be It Resolved that the York Federation of Students shall endorse the
international call to immediately establish an independent, international,
and impartial mechanism to ensure truth, accountability and justice in Sri
Lanka; and
Be It Further Resolved that the York Federation of Students encourages its
members to pressure the Federal Government to unequivocally call for an
international war crimes inquiry to establish accountability and true
reconciliation; and
Be It Further Resolved that the York Federation of Students encourages its
members to stand in solidarity with the Tamil nation in their global struggle
for self-determination and freedom; and
Be It Further Resolved that the York Federation of Students calls for an
immediate end to the colonialism and genocide of the Tamil nation and an
end to the occupation of the Tamil homeland by the Sri Lankan Armed
Forces and its allied paramilitary groups. Full story >>
