Why Tamils of Tamil Eelam Deserve Self-determination
September 27, 2012
| by Usha Sri-Skanda-Rajah
Senator TGTE
( September 27, 2012, Toronto, Sri Lanka Guardian) A challenge was thrown at me to write in 250 words max., why the Tamils of Eelam of the island of Sri Lanka deserve Self-determination. It was not hard to do.
Self-determination and its Emotional and Political Connection to Tamils
In 250 words it was done and is given here in one but the concluding paragraph of this article. But before that a brief introduction, to the right to Self-determination and its emotional and political connection to the Tamils of Eelam and a summary of the International Law that upholds the principle, is appropriate as a natural progression to the final 250 word piece.
Cry for Tamil Eelam a Cry for Self-determination against Oppression and Violence
Writing why Tamils deserve Self-determination was in fact not hard to do; the words just flowed in an unbroken stream from within where the head meets the heart, because it’s a fundamental principle upon which the Tamils of Eelam base their cry for Tamil Eelam; it is what they dream about; are passionate about; protested peacefully about, against the early years of willful Sinhala oppression; using Gandhian inspired Satyagraha, to no avail, as was evident in Tamil non-violent protests being always violently crushed by the heavy hand of the then Ceylon army; coming into occupation of the North and East of Sri Lanka, the traditional homeland of the Tamils of Eelam on 10, June 1958; and sadly staying put to this day.
The Metamorphosis from Satyagraha to Armed Resistance
The Tamil separatist struggle based on Self-determination, metamorphosed from a non-violent one, into an armed resistance, spearheaded by the LTTE, after all peaceful means were exhausted; and after nearly 28 years of unrelenting oppression beginning with the disenfranchisement of Indian hill country Tamils in 1949, who are the backbone of Ceylon’s world renowned Tea industry, the LTTE committed to preserving the territorial integrity of Tamil Eelam, the national identity of Tamils and their right to Self-determination.
Regrettable Tragic Events Read More »
