Sri Lanka’s Game of Diplomacy.

Rohan Edrisinha. Source: The International Association of Constitutional Law

As promised, the Sri Lankan government made the final report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) public last month. It has also recently released its “National Action Plan for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights: 2011-2016.”

The Action Plan was developed in accordance with a commitment the government had made in 2008, the last time Sri Lanka participated in the UN’s Universal Periodic Review.

Full Story>>>

India to Sri Lanka: Don't miss reconciliation chance

Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Gamini Lakshman Peiris (R) passes a microphone to his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna during their meeting in Colombo January 17, 2012. Krishna was on an official visit to Sri Lanka.

Credit: Reuters/Dinuka Liyanawatte

By Ranga Sirilal

COLOMBO | Tue Jan 17, 2012 7:08pm IST

(Reuters) - India’s foreign minister on Tuesday urged Sri Lanka to forge ahead with political reconciliation steps recommended by a presidential inquiry into the end of its civil war, and signed economic cooperation agreements worth $443 million.

External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna, on a three-day visit to India’s island neighbour, said the presidentially-appointed Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission had several points which needed follow-up to spur recovery from the 25-year ethnic civil war that ended in 2009.

“These recommendations, when implemented, would mark a major step forward in the process of genuine national reconciliation, to which the Sri Lankan government is committed. Sri Lanka must seize this opportunity,” Krishna said.

India’s shadow has loomed large in Sri Lanka’s civil war between the minority Tamil people and governments led by the Sinhalese majority.

India brokered a 1987 power-sharing deal between the government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam that was never implemented. Although it has since the war’s end called for parts of it be enacted, it has also backed President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s position that Sri Lanka must solve its own problems.

The LLRC report absolved the military of targeting and killing civilians in the war’s final months. It was criticised by Western governments that have urged Rajapaksa to hold people accountable or face an external war crimes probe.

With archrival China expanding its financial and political influence in Sri Lanka with loans of $3.43 billion since 2009, Delhi is increasingly moving to shore up its traditional leverage over the island off its southern tip.

Krishna signed deals in housing in the former war zone, railways and telecommunications. He also pushed for signature of a comprehensive economic partnership agreement, long planned but opposed by Sri Lankan businessmen who fear competition from India’s giant economy.

Krishna told a news conference that building on “positive momentum” in economic and trade ties required “a more comprehensive framework of economic cooperation”.

He also met the Tamil National Alliance, a former LTTE political proxy, that last weekend dismissed the LLRC report as falling short of international standards. It again called for an international probe, saying accountability for civilian deaths and disappearances remained an urgent need.

India armed and trained Tamil militants in the 1970s and 1980s, including the Tamil Tigers. But as the war ended, it let Rajapaksa’s government finish off the Tigers despite pressure at home in the south Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil Tigers were the most ruthless and efficient of several militant groups that India backed. Its drive to make the north and east of Sri Lanka a Tamil-only nation erupted in civil war in 1983.

(Editing by Bryson Hull and Ron Popeski)

The Coming Age of Ethnic Reconciliation in Burma

Vikas Kumar | January 17, 2011
Recent developments in Burma have generated considerable optimism about the country’s long-impending democratization.

But will democracy foster ethnic reconciliation, essential for Burma’s domestic stability? A cross-country comparison with Sri Lanka and an examination of Burma’s demography and geographic distribution of resources indicate that despite sharing an otherwise similar trajectory with Sri Lanka, Burma’s emerging democracy could foster ethnic reconciliation, even after more than 60 years of ethnic insurgency.

Geographically, Burma belongs to mainland Southeast Asia. But culturally it belongs to the Theravada Buddhist world, along with countries like Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Sri Lanka. These countries are all alike insofar as their constitutions symbolically link the legitimacy of the state to Buddhism or, at the very least, extend special treatment to the majority Buddhist community.

But to the extent that each was affected by colonialism and communism/socialism, these Theravada countries can be classified into three groups: Thailand, which was never directly colonized and remained largely immune to communism; Laos and Cambodia, erstwhile French colonies that were strongly influenced by communism; and Sri Lanka and Burma, former British colonies, where socialism had considerable appeal. More recently in Burma, Thailand and Sri Lanka, minority insurgencies have contested the authority of the state. With these commonalities in mind (among others), Sri Lanka is clearly the Theravada country whose path most closely resembles that of Burma.

In Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese Buddhist-dominated state militarily defeated the Tamil ethnic minority insurgency, but then refused to honor its commitment to reconciliation. While the Sri Lankan Buddhist majority is unwilling to hold the government accountable in this regard, the Buddhist majority in a democratic Burma is unlikely to behave in a similar fashion.

At the moment, it seems the process of democratization in Burma is entirely controlled by the military regime. But the regime is introducing political reforms and trying to initiate peace talks with ethnic militias only because it is increasingly unable to sustain itself in the absence of popular support, while its legitimacy as the guardian of the majority Burmese Buddhists’ interests remains questionable. So, the democratization of Burma, whenever that happens, will be a people’s victory against an authoritarian state — much different from the case of Sri Lanka.

There are two more structural reasons why majority-minority relations will not be overtly antagonistic in a democratic Burma. First, Burma’s population is not divided into two antagonistic camps. This is unlike Sri Lanka, where there remains a clear division between the Sinhalese majority and the Tamil minority in the north.

In contrast, insurgents in Burma are divided along ethnic lines — and none of the groups has managed to establish authority over the rest, as was the case in Sri Lanka, where the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam dominated the scene for more than two decades. Moreover, the Burmese Buddhists are also divided into a number of camps with fundamentally different approaches to the ethnic question. Second, unlike in Sri Lanka, the Burmese minority insurgent groups are not devoid of members from the majority community.

In short, religious, ethno-linguistic and political divides are not co-extensive in Burma. This has two consequences. First, it is highly unlikely that one political party will emerge as the sole representative of all the major ethnic minorities. So, the ethnic minorities are unlikely to pose a unified political threat to the Burmese Buddhists. Second, one political party is unlikely to maintain a majority with only the Burmese Buddhist vote. Parties representing the majority community would also need the support of ethnic minority parties. Consequently, political contests are unlikely to divide the polity into two clearly demarcated camps.

In addition, unlike the stronghold of the Sri Lankan Tamils, which is resource poor and located in one corner of the country, the strongholds of ethnic minorities are distributed along the entire periphery of Burma. The strongholds of Burmese ethnic minorities are not only resource-rich regions that should attract major international investment following democratization, but they also control Burma’s access to key neighbors like China, India and Thailand. Given the country’s decades-long economic stagnation, it is unlikely that the Burmese Buddhists will overlook this.

In sum, although demography and geographic distribution of resources failed to restrain ethnic conflicts immediately after independence, they will play a different role in a democratic Burma. A cursory acquaintance with Burma’s post-colonial history will convince the majority Burmese Buddhists of the impossibility and futility of any attempt to subjugate the minorities. This time, history should bear out the limits that demography and other factors place on ethno-political polarization and help foster ethnic reconciliation.

East Asia Forum

Vikas Kumar is an assistant professor at Azim Premji University in Bangalore.

Protest in Jaffna barred

ஆர்ப்பாட்டத்திற்காக யாழ். சென்ற ஜே.வி.பி. 

கிளர்ச்சிக்குழு வவுனியாவில் தடுப்பு

செவ்வாய்க்கிழமை, 17 ஜனவரி 2012 19:59

(கெலும் பண்டார, நவரத்தினம், கவிசுகி, தாஸ், கிரிஷன்)

TUESDAY, 17 JANUARY 2012 
Around 800 persons who were heading towards Jaffna along the A9 road to stage a protest against the disappearance of two JVP dissidents Lalith Kumar and Kugan Maruganathan, were blocked at Omanthai, Vavuniya today.
The protest was organised by the Movement for People’s Struggle of the JVP dissidents together with a few other civil society organisations and political parties. They were heading towards Jaffna in 20 vehicles including 12 buses.

The Movement’s Convener Chameera Koswatte said that all of them left Anuradhapura at 7.00am today in the hope of reaching Jaffna in the evening.

“Along the way, we were stopped at several points and checked. We were able to reach Omanthai by 5.00pm. Omanthai is around 100 kilomtres off Anuradhapura,” he said.

Mr. Koswatte said that the military did not give any valid reason for the denial of entry to Jaffna.

“They cited road repairs as the reason,” he said.

Meanwhile, TELO Political Leader M.K. Sivajilingam who was in Jaffna said that the security had been tightened in and around the Jaffna bus stand in anticipation of the protest by the JVP dissidents. (Kelum Bandara)

Bleak future for Lankan Tamils: Weiss

G Pramod Kumar Jan 17, 2012

Eleven months after the bloody war in Sri Lanka that led to the complete rout of the LTTE amid intense civilian suffering, a great piece of journalism shook the conscience of the world:The Cage, authored by Gordon Weiss who was the UN spokesperson in the country at the time.Written with arresting clarity of purpose and a racy style, The Cage unequivocally overturned the Sri Lankan government’s stand that there were no civilian deaths in the final days of the war. Besides the vivid description of the final phase of the war with chilling details of brutality, suffering and deaths, it provided an incredible perspective of the genesis, evolution and the culmination of the deep-rooted rift between the Tamil and Sinhala sentiments in Sri Lanka, that found violent expression in the decades long civil war.

The extensive references, meticulous documentation, the bold way of directly naming people like the Rajapaksas, and the unrestrained narration of the unique instruments of oppression in Sri Lanka make the book a gripping, but tormenting experience.

Full Story>>>Continues on the next page Pages: 1 2 3

President assures India of '13th Amendment plus' solution

( January 17, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Indian External Affairs Minister, S. M. Krishna today said that President Mahinda Rajapaksa has assured that he was committed to a political settlement on a '13th Amendment plus' approach.

He made the remarks during a joint press conference with External Affairs Minister G.L.Peiris in Colombo today.

The visiting minister met President Mahinda Rajapaksa today (17) at the Janadhipathi Mandiraya.

Mr. Krishna said Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) recommendations, when implemented will mark a major step forward in genuine national reconciliation to which the Sri Lankan government is committed.Read More »

Peace in Sri Lanka is in India’s interest

Expressbuzz       The New Indian Express  17 Jan 2012

Sri Lanka has responded positively to External Affairs Minister S M Krishna’s appeal to release the Indian fishermen, who had strayed into the ‘Sri Lankan waters’ and were detained there. By releasing all the 136 fishermen, Colombo has earned the gratitude of many Indians who, however, feel that their area of fishing has shrunk with Sri Lanka claiming the uninhabited Kachchatheevu as its own. A lasting solution that addresses the genuine problems of Indian fishermen and their need for deep-sea fishing is one of the subjects included in Krishna’s agenda during his on-going visit, the second for him. Similar treaties also need to be finalised with all neighbouring countries whose territorial waters join ours.

India’s interests in Sri Lanka are not confined to fishing rights alone. Nothing matters more for India than the establishment of peace and tranquillity in the island nation. The end of the civil war that saw brutalities of the worst kind on both sides has kindled hopes of a rapprochement between the Sinhala majority and the Tamil minority. Absence of violence does not mean prevalence of peace. The issues on which the Tamils took up arms, rightly or wrongly, have not been addressed to their satisfaction so far and they continue to nurse grievances. The onus of taking the Tamils into confidence rests with the Sri Lankan government. Vivisection of the country had never been seen as a solution because a united nation, at peace with itself, is in the interest of peace in the whole subcontinent. At the same time, India could not turn deaf ears to the Tamils’ cause because of ethnic and other political reasons. The solution lies in evolving a political and administrative system in which certain kinds of power are delegated to the northern region, which would not in any way undermine the sovereignty of Sri Lanka or question the federal powers Colombo wields. If Krishna’s talks with his counterpart G L Peiris and President Mahinda Rajapaksa can help bring about national reconciliation in Sri Lanka, he would have served the purpose of his visit well.

Move towards expeditious political settlement, India urges Sri Lanka

January 17, 2012 
R. K. RADHAKRISHNAN 
External Affairs Minister S.M.Krishna and Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa offer prayers at Temple Trees, the official residence of the President, in Colombo on Monday. Photo: R.K. Radhakrishnan

A political settlement to Tamils in Sri Lanka and a solution that answers the aspirations of the Tamil community…is the most important issue to be resolved, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna told Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, here on Tuesday.

During the 90-minute breakfast meeting between the two leaders at Temple Trees, the official residence of the Sri Lankan President, a wide range of issues were discussed but the focus remained firmly on the Tamil question.

With relations between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil National Alliance, the only credible representative of the Tamil people of the north, hitting an all time low, Indian Foreign Minister S.M.Krishna urged Sri Lankan to move towards an expeditious political settlement of the Tamil issue.

Mr.Krishna’s call comes at a time when reports have appeared in a section of the Sri Lankan press, saying that the Government had called off talks with the TNA because the TNA had not named its members to the Parliamentary Select Committee constituted on the Tamil question. The government was also unhappy with the TNA roundly criticising the report of the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, which studied the war years, and made recommendations on how to achieve the goal of a peaceful and united Sri Lanka.

Rajapaksa’s assurance

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday again assured Mr.Krishna that he stood by his commitment to follow the “13th Amendment plus approach” to achieve a political solution to the Tamil question.

“I discussed this matter [political solution for Tamils] with His Excellency the President this morning. The President assured me that he stands by his commitment to pursuing the 13th Amendment [to the Sri Lankan Constitution] plus approach,” Mr.Krishna told presspersons here after meeting the Sri Lankan President. “The Government of Sri Lanka has on many occasions conveyed to us its commitment to move towards a political settlement based on the full implementation of the 13th Amendment to the Sri Lankan Constitution, and building on it, so as to achieve meaningful devolution of powers. We look forward to an expeditious and constructive approach to the dialogue process. We believe that continuation of the dialogue between the Government and the TNA would pave the way for political settlement, including under the rubric of the Parliamentary Select Committee,” he added.

Foreign Ministers meet

Mr.Krishna also met his Sri Lankan counterpart, G.L. Peiris, and reviewed progress in various areas, including trade, services and investment, development cooperation, science and technology, culture and education. “I am satisfied that the projects under our development partnership have progressed well since my last visit,” he said.

Mr.Krishna and Prof. Peiris signed a MoU specifying the modalities for the next phase of the Housing Project being implemented with India’s assistance of about US $ 260 million. The MoU involves the construction of 49,000 houses, out of a total of 50,000 houses. The Pilot Project for construction of the first 1000 houses is in an advanced stage of completion. Mr.Krishna, during his visit to Jaffna on Wednesday, would be handing over the first lot of these houses to the beneficiaries.

India and Sri Lanka also signed MoUs for Cooperation in the Field of Agriculture and for Cooperation between the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India and Telecommunication Regulatory Commission of Sri Lanka.

Mr.Krishna described the issue of fishermen being shot in the Palk Straits as “an emotive” one that needed to be handled with care on both sides. “As we explore possible solutions, we must ensure that there is no use of force against the fishermen and that they are treated in a humane manner. We were happy to note that the Joint Working Group on Fisheries which met a couple of days ago, was able to look at various options to address this issue,” he said.

Earlier, on Monday, Mr. Krishna had met with representatives of the Tamil National Alliance and the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress separately. The TNA leadership conveyed the lack of urgency on the part of Sri Lanka to work towards a political solution to the Tamil question. The SLMC stressed the need for the Muslim minority to be considered while drawing up a solution.

Meanwhile, The Island newspaper reported on Tuesday that the Sri Lankan government had suspended a crucial round of talks with the TNA, angered over the TNA’s criticism of the LLRC report in a detailed 70-page study.

Silva’s Report, Role of International Community and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka

 *groundview journalism For citizens 

GV caption: Three terrorists, two terrorists, former terrorists, patriots or a hero? How one sees this image is  measure of how much Sri Lanka remains divided post-war. Image shows Secretary of Defense Gotabaya Rajapaksa speaking during the inaugural National Conference on Reconciliation in Colombo November 24 ,2011. REUTERS/Dinuka Liyanawatte, courtesy MSNBC.

One of the most fundamental challenges of peacemaking and peacebuilding is confronting the past while building a just foundation for the future. Fighting impunity and pursuing peace are not incompatible objectives – they can work in tandem, even in an ongoing conflict situation.  – Ban Ki -moon, The Secretary General, UN [1]

Background of Silva’s report

Since the brutal war in Sri Lanka came to an end in May 2009 with the violation of International Human Rights Law and Humanitarian Law, the International community called for an International Independent Investigation [III] into war crimes and crimes against humanity. Due in part to this pressure, the UN Secretary General appointed a Panel of Experts (PoE) to advise him on accountability issues in Sri Lanka. The PoE findings also recommended an International Independent Investigation.

Continue reading »

After giving army training to undergrads, Govt. using same Army to obstruct them- Ranil

 
(Lanka-e-News -17.Jan.2012, 12.30PM) The Govt. is taking into custody University students who are staging rightful protests , but allowing the culprits who wrongfully committed brutal rape on a foreign tourist to get off scot free. After giving Army training to the University students , it is using the same Army to obstruct the students. Opposition leader , Ranil Wickremesinghe made these remarks when addressing a UNP activists meeting. He went on to relate thus :

The Govt. gave army training to students who entered Universities last year disregarding the opposition mounted by the civil Organizations of the University academics and the opposition parties. Now, when these students who obtained this training are staging agitation and protests , the same Govt. is using the Army to obstruct them. This situation is parallel to that in Wanni , for the security forces there are forcibly occupying the Wanni University.

In case there erupts a clash between the students and the Army , what are we going to do ? Is the Govt. planning to get down the UN peace keeping force here ?

Instead of trying to resolve the problems of the University students the Govt. is making a hash of the issue. No matter what suggestions we make to the Govt. , it rejects them saying there are no such issues.The Govt. and the Vice Chancellors are in a quandary

unable to provide solutions to the grave issues of the University students , the private University and the salaries of the academics . Instead of addressing these serious issues , the Govt. is talking about the Z score after monumentally mucking up even the G C E advanced level results . Zorro used a mask and Z as his sign. This Govt. in its sorrow is using Z score to mask all its egregious blunders. If this Govt. goes on this recklessly , not only the future of the students, but even their lives are at stake , Wickremesinghe bemoaned.

When the war is over , why is it beginning a war against the students , the youths who are the country’s future investment ? This ruthless Govt . arrests innocent University students , but fails to arrest those criminals who commit rapes on foreign tourists. These rapists are still at large. If this regime is unable to give answers to these burning problems , the best answer the people can give to the regime is to throw it out lock , stock and barrel by all progressive forces uniting together, the opposition leader asserted.

ANC Statement on the Centenary Celebrations

 

The African National Congress has held a successful and fulfilling celebration to acknowledge its 100 years of existence. As expected, the three-day celebrations marked the beginning of the year long celebrations on a high note. As a result of this success, we would like to salute the people of South Africa for an unambiguous show of support for the ANC. We can now say without any doubt that the centenary celebrations will stand out as a nationally celebrated event in the country. It was indeed a historic moment that will serve as a reference point for all other occasions. As a result of our mobilization plan, we had targeted a total of 100 000 thousand people in addition to the 6000 invited guests, however the numbers went beyond that target. The people of the Free State province gave our event their all. We believe that the occasion impacted positively on the local economy and has placed Mangaung firmly on the political map of the country and as well as significant symbol in the political history of the country.

Our sponsors both private individuals and corporate made it possible for us to have such a successful event, and we want to thank them profoundly. Their generosity has once again confirmed that the ANC remains a people’s organization irrespective of class and ideology.

We would like to thank all parties that turned up for the centenary events particularly the opposition parties, traditional leaders, faith based organisations, organisations of civil society, ANC leagues, the alliance and above all the diplomatic core and Heads of State who graced our occasion. Their messages of support and advice will certainly inform the ANC as it prepares itself to take another long walk to the second centenary. Their presence and messages of support defined the ANC beyond the limitations of political beliefs and national boundaries. The artists and poets did a sterling job in keeping the crowds on their toes. We regret the passing on of Mr. George Nxusa at the Mangaung Outdoor Sports Complex on Saturday before their performance. Mr. Nxusa was the base guitarist of IhashiElimhlophe. The ANC will dispatch a delegation from the KZN province to meet his family and formally convey the ANC’s condolences. May his soul rest in peace.

We have also received impressive and positive responses from the public on the performance ‘Tshihumbudzo’ which was broadcasted on Saturday night. We will be reproducing the play for distribution to those who have an interest in having a copy.

We also want to commend the disciplined conduct of all our members and supporters for an incident free occasion. We noted a handful of people in the crowd who behaved in an unruly manner and we have confirmed that most of them were drunk. The role of the police and our marshals was reassuring and helped in controlling the huge crowds that turned out. The media also played a positive and critical role in providing useful information and presentation of the celebrations. We like to say thanks to them.

We apologise for any glitches that might have occurred particularly at the accreditation of guest, the media and service providers. Our original plan was disrupted when we were allocated a different venue which had space limitations. We are also apologizing to some of our guests when it comes to allocation of accommodation. The marshals core issue was resolved after there was a breakdown of communication between the various units. We also want to clarify the issue of the non-inclusion of the ANCYL message in the booklet of the centenary. At the time of printing the booklet, we had not received the message of the ANCYL. It was not deliberately left out as suggested in some sections of the media.

Having kick-started the celebrations we will now move forward in the implementation of the provincial programmes that will focus on the former Presidents General and Presidents of the ANC, their collectives and their legacy. The first province to host the National celebrations in provinces is the province of the Free State.

Following the declaration of the Waaihoek Wesleyan Church as the heritage site, the houses used by the ANC and its founding leaders in the Free State province, are in the process of being declared heritage sites. The ANC in the province has taken a decision to restore and upgrade the graves of ANC leaders who come from the Free State.

The contribution of the Aba-Thembu and Contralesa of 50 and two cattle respectively will be distributed to all provinces as they host the celebrations. These will be donated on batches of 5 per province. The Free State Province has received its quota of five and will work out a plan for their slaughter and distribution in the province.

The 100 year cake of the ANC is in the process of being distributed to orphanages, hospices and old-age homes in Mangaung, Free State Province

We have now finalized the remainder of the provincial programmes that will amongst other activities host a national day where the President will deliver a lecture on Langalibalele ‘Mafukuzela’ Dube on the 17th January 2012 in FezileDabi region (Sasolburg). The rest of the programme is as follows:

All branches of the ANC in the Free State will host memorial lectures that will be delivered by the provincial and regional leadership of the ANC.

Movement of the ANC centenary torch in the Free State.

We are excited to announce that the President of the ANC and other National Officials have handed the ANC Centenary Torch to the Provincial leadership of the Free State province under the leadership of Comrade Ace Magashule.

The ANC centenary torch will be hosted by all five regions of the Free State Province with a total of 33 towns participating in the hosting, before it is handed to the Western Cape Province by the National Officials at the end of January. The main reason of the movement of the ANC centenary torch and its route is to highlight the role played by the various communities and individuals in the struggle against colonialism and apartheid. The province has also decided to use the centenary flame to draw attention to the fight against crime and corruption throughout the province.

We have attached the route of the ANC centenary torch to the statement and as well as nation schedule of all celebrations.

Sydney In Australia protest presses Sri Lankan Consul-General for release of Lalith and Kugan

Monday, 16 January 2012

Campaign for Democracy in Sri Lanka in Australia  picketed the Sri Lankan Consulate in Sydney's Central Business District last Friday , January 13, to press for the release of Laltih and Kugan. These two political organisers for the Movement for People's Struggle are believed to have been abducted by military intelligence in the Jaffna region on December 9, 2011.
The protest was called by the Campaign for Democracy in Sri Lanka, Australia, whose National Convenor,  gave a keynote speech. Other speeches were made by Mr Tim Ayres, the NSW Secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, and Mr Peter Murphy, Coordinator of the SEARCH Foundation.

Other participants came from the Sri Lankan community in Sydney, from the Electrical Trades Union (CEPU) and from Unions NSW,  the peak trade union body in the state.

They chanted slogans in Sinhala, Tamil and English, calling for freedom in Sri Lanka and freedom for Laltih and Kugan.

Few  individuals, believed to be from the Consulate, tried to intimidate the protesters by taking photographs of their faces, but their provocation was ignored. The protest was attended by members of the NSW Police to ensure orderly traffic.

Last Updated on Monday, 16 January 2012 20:31

Any political solution must ensure Tamil 'right to self-determination' and 'irreversible autonomy' - GTF

16 January 2012

The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) - a worldwide alliance of Tamil diaspora groups asserted that any political solution agreed by the TNA and Sri Lankan government must alter the current systems of governance, in accordance with the fact that Tamils "are entitled to the right to self-determination", and the need for "irreversible autonomy in areas of historic habitation". Photograph Tamilnet - Jaffna uni students protest against ongoing oppression by Sri Lankan state, Sept 2011.

In a statement released shortly before India’s foreign minister’s visit to Sri Lanka, and the next round of talks between the TNA and the Sri Lankan government, the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) - an alliance of Tamil diaspora groups from countries across the world -asserted that any political solution agreed by the TNA and Sri Lankan government must alter the current systems of governance, in accordance with the fact that Tamils “are entitled to the right to self-determination”, and the need for “irreversible autonomy in areas of historic habitation”.

  Highlighting the ongoing oppression faced and right of Tamils to “guard their future and security” in the face of such “chauvinistic forces”, the group urged the international community to press the Sri Lankan government to agree to a political solution acceptable to the Tamil speaking peoples, and ensure any agreed changes were implemented.

Global Tamil Forum’s press statement in full:

Global Tamil Forum on Government of Sri Lanka and Tamil National Alliance ‘Talks’
In the history of political societies, there are times, which come very rarely, when individuals, groups, organisations and peoples in general within it are required to shed their differences and connect one with another, united to repel the aggressive forces threatening their existence in order to promote the general good of society. The Tamil speaking peoples in Sri Lanka are passing through such times. The victorious Sri Lankan state is heaping a long train of abuses on them, occupying their lands, denying their liberty, usurping their property, pursuing a design to reduce them to perpetual servitude. It is the right of the oppressed to reject such state practices and guard their future welfare and security. Such has been the patient sufferance of these peoples that we need to dissolve our differences and strengthen our resolve to alter this system of governance.
The history of the present Sri Lankan state since independence is a history of establishing such a tyranny over its Tamil speaking peoples, both Tamils and Muslims. We believe that the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka has not ended by ending the armed conflict. The Tamil speaking peoples are still subject to the same chauvinistic forces which have oppressed them since 1948.
We note that the elected representatives of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka the Tamil National  Alliance (TNA) has engaged with the Government of Sri Lanka for the past one year, in dialogue to find a durable, and dignified political solution to the National Question. Such resolution must necessarily alter the governance structure of the country to recognise that the Tamil speaking peoples are entitled to the right to self-determination and granting to them irreversible autonomy in the areas of historic habitation. We for our part will support the full implementation of such an arrangement if agreed upon, and urge the international community to encourage the Sri Lankan Government to come up with such an acceptable political solution and ensure its genuine implementation.