3000 Youth Gathered In Kilinochchi And Passed Resolution With 25 Demands
August 14, 2015
Around 3000 Youth of nine districts who journeyed from the North, East and Hill Country to Kilinochchi put forward a resolution containing 25 demands, following which they returned home determined to vote only for those who accept and implement their demands. The group is called “the Youth in search of a zip code for democracy”
On Saturday 8 August 2015 more than 2750 youth gathered in Kilinochchi, in militarized post-war North.
The event titled, “The Power of Youth is the Zip Code of Democracy”, organized by Home for Human Rights was held at Kanakapuram Sports Ground, Kilinochchi. Youth from the districts of Jaffna, Mullaitivu, Mannar Vavuniya, Kilinochchi, Batticaloa, Ampara, Trincomalee and Nuwara Eliya, from the North, East and Hill country participated in the event.
Discussions at the event focused on mainly two themes, the role of youth in participatory democracy and strategies to make informed electoral choices.
2750 Youth of nine districts who journeyed from the North, East and Hill Country in search of democracy chanting the slogan, ‘’The Choice is Ours’’ gathered together in Kilinochchi, which holds the wounds of war, sorrow and memories of thousands who lost their lives. Those who came together were able to share their political opinions and discuss strategies to choose the best person to represent them and addresses their needs and concerns.
Most importantly, the young people put forward a resolution containing 25 demands.
The resolution was presented to the Chief Minister of Northern Province on August 12, 2015. This resolution was delivered to the Chief Minister primarily because of his neutral stance on the upcoming parliamentary election. (Some of the authors of this resolution are not from the northern province, but Chief Minister’s unique position on the parliamentary poll means he is well positioned to receive a document of this nature.)
Through this initiative aimed to address the lack of civic mobilization and non-partisan political education, which had not been provided to, or which the people in the war-affected North and East, particularly youth, had not been able to access for three decades.
As the day of the Parliamentary Election draws closer political parties have stepped up their election campaigns. While the candidates propagate their policies as well as that of their parties, this effort by the youth, who will be leaders of tomorrow, with the aim of strengthening their political knowledge and civic responsibility, should be commended.
