On The Future Of The Tamils In Sri Lanka And Holding Of A Referendum On Eelam
Selvi J Jayalalithaa
Dr.Manmohan Singh, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, I write to you on an issue of serious concern regarding the political future of the Tamil community in Sri Lanka – the possible dilution or even repeal of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution.
I had written to you on several occasions conveying the strong sense of outrage and anguish amongst the people and political parties in Tamil Nadu and Tamil people all over the world regarding the ethnic pogrom and genocide by the Sri Lankan Army against the Tamil population in Sri Lanka in the closing stages of the civil war and the failure of the international community to hold the Sri Lankan regime accountable for these acts. I had also pointed out that human rights abuses against the Tamil population continue and Tamils in Sri Lanka are being subjected to harassment, discrimination and torture. I had drawn attention to the fact that there were no signs that Tamils would be given equality of status with Sinhalese and devolved autonomy and democratic rights.
It was in this background that the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly had passed a Resolution on 27th March, 2013, calling for, inter alia, a referendum on a “separate Eelam” amongst Tamils in Sri Lanka and Tamils displaced from Sri Lanka and resident in other countries. While the aspirations of the Sri Lankan Tamils can be realised only through a Tamil Eelam, the process of securing the right to self determination, through the devolvement of democratic decentralisation by the 13th Amendment to the Constitution of Sri Lanka, should not be jeopardised in any manner. There are disturbing signs that the Sri Lankan Government is not serious about rehabilitating and restoring the lives of the Tamil minority. Read More
