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Appeal to Presidents/Prime Ministers of Member
nations of European Union to support Tamil Eelam Government in Exile
Hon’ble Mr. Gordon Brown. PRIME MINISTER
Hon'ble David Miliband , Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
European
nations granted conditional recognition to these states. Therefore a precedent
exists. When Tamil Eelam was struggling for independence Tamil Diaspora living in almost all of the European nations was in streets
urging these nations to step in to redeem Tamils of Eelam from a genocidal war.
Necessary alarm bells have been sounded and European nations which had
established norms to recognize new nation states, could have applied their
collective mind and proven their political will by extending the precedent to
Tamil Eelam. But alas! That historical opportunity was lost by the saviors of
civilized democracy whereas freedom aspiring people of Tamil Eelam failed to
win recognition for their homeland nation.
In December 1991 EC Council of Ministers chose to recognize Yugoslav
and [Soviet] Republics seeking independence. It was a conditional recognition.
What are those conditions? Let me quote in verbatim:“The European Community and its member states confirm their
attachment to the principles of Helsinki Final Act and the Charter of Paris, in
particular the principle of self determination. They affirm their readiness to
recognize, subject to the normal standards of international law, those states
which following the historic changes in the region, have constituted themselves
on a democratic basis, have accepted the international obligations and have
committed themselves in good faith to a peaceful process and to negotiations.
Therefore, they adopt a common position on the process of recognition of these
new states, which requires:
Let me remind you humbly the above quoted, Declaration on Guidelines
on the Recognition of new states in Eastern Europe and in the Soviet Union and
the Declaration on Yugoslavia: Extraordinary EPC Ministerial meeting [Brussels}
/ EPC Press Releases P 128 & 129 of 1991 dated 16th December 1991. Further
the Congress of Berlin 1878 had spelt safeguards for minorities in the post
First World War Settlements. These
documents would have given the parameters to grant recognition for Tamil Eelam
and Tamils in forefront of freedom struggle would have declared independence
and sought recognition as laid in these precedents, but they lacked the initiative.
Now that Tamil Eelam is under occupation by forces of aggression
recognition of Tamil Eelam Government after establishing it within Srilanka
would not be possible today, though it could be justified. As immediate step
Britain which once granted independence to Srilanka without resolving the
ethnic question, due to historical compulsions of the post-Second World War
conditions, could allow the setting up of Tamil Eelam Government in Exile. Such
Government must pledge to the parameters laid down as mentioned in earlier
paragraphs and collective recognition of that Tamil Eelam Government in Exile
must emanate from Member Nations of European Community. Britain must take the
lead to mobilize support for such initiative.
To enlighten European Union and to awaken the Indian
Union it would be our duty as responsible political party in India to recall
the events that led to the birth of Bangladesh before placing you our pleas for
Tamil Eelam. International law had not prohibited the creation of new states by
way of secession, the Singapore [1965], Bangladesh [1971] and Eritrea [1993]
precedents reveal. But here we wish to lay emphasis on Bangladesh secession
since India was supportive of that secession.
Let me quote from the International Commission of Jurists, “The
events in East Pakistan 1971’ [Geneva ICJ, 1972 page 69] “If one of the
constituent peoples of a State is denied equal rights and is discriminated
against, it is submitted that their full right of self determination will
revive” It must be noted that self determination here meant the right to
independence. India’s use of force in violation of jus cogens was mitigated
by humanitarian concerns caused by the Pakistan’s campaign of violence against
Bangladeshi people. We want to stress
that India forgot its own precedent, forgot its own defense as reported in the
Security Council debate [UN Doc S/PV 1606 dated 4 th December 1972] with regard
to its justification for intervention in Bangladesh. Much grave crimes against
humanity had been unleashed in a genocidal war against Tamils of Eelam. Yet
India failed to follow its own Bangladesh precedent, may be due to hatred for
the group that led the freedom struggle. Now that the much despised group had
been eliminated, still Tamils of Eelam are not getting any justice under the
Neo-Nazi Leadership of Srilanka President Mahinda Rajapakshe; time for
introspection by India had arrived.
The Dublin Report of the People’s Tribunal which comes as annexure
is one more recent indictment against the Rajapakshe Government. Hence we urge
the nations of European Union collectively to recognize the right of self
determination of Tamils of Eelam, and allow the setting up of a Government in
Exile in their soil with their recognition.
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, as adopted and
opened for signature, ratification and accession by General Assembly resolution
2200A (XXI) of 16 December 1966 entry into force 23 March 1976, in accordance
with Article 49 , PART II ,Article 2 States: 1. Each State Party to the present
Covenant undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its
territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognized in the present
Covenant, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language,
religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property,
birth or other status.
We are ready to
prove that on each count Srilanka had miserably failed, wantonly violated the
provision, ever since it got independence. Tamils of Eelam were never for
independence nor for total dependence but were for interdependence, and all
democratic demands endorsed by Eelam Tamils in elections and voiced through
their elected Parliamentarians were never fulfilled in past and in present too,
even after claiming victory there seems to be no magnanimity or maturity to
meet an international obligation to Tamil minorities, who first sought
federalism and when failed to attain waged a civil war, and having lost the war
Tamils are treated like slaves in their own soil. It is here we appeal to your
conscience to consider other options for Tamils of Eelam.
Srilanka: Ground Reality
As long as article 2 of Srilankan Constitution says “the Republic of
Srilanka is a unitary state” there is no room for federalism and all talk about
political solution leads only to dead end. This article blocks political
devolution. It is needless to say that political devolution means creation of
states with sovereign legislative power on subjects allocated or earmarked for
that provincial administration.
Then the other dangerous provision from the Tamils stand point is
article 76 which states “Parliament shall not abdicate or in any manner
alienate its legislative power and shall not set up any authority with
legislative power”. If there is no political devolution or political
decentralization, what the Government of Srilanka plans to offer on platter to
Tamils is nothing but slavery.
B] Repeal of
Article 76 to allow political devolution
These could be termed as minimum demands that could have satiated
the Tamils of Eelam before current genocidal war. These were the demands voiced
from much before British left Ceylon, and were the theme of many broken pacts
and failed promises, in which Srilankan Governments remains the unique country
that adopted ethnic cleansing through genocide successfully, while the
conscience keepers of this world must rise up to the occasion even though
belatedly to support Tamil Eelam Government in Exile.
Racial Riots in 1883 hit Christians in 1902 Dalits, in 1915 Muslims,
in 1930 Malayalees, then Plantation Tamils and from 1983 Eelam Tamils:
Nazism is not dead, and just because it thrives in a
tiny island, it need not be condoned or ignored. The problem with Sinhalese is
not Tamil-phobia. They are against everybody. The seeds of hatred are ingrained
in their brains. A scholar Kumari Jayewardene, a Sinhalese herself, had
chronicled the history of clashes and communal unrest in Srilanka. The starting
point of Tamil Sinhala ethnic clashes are considered to be 1983. But hundred
years before that, in 1883 the Sinhalese turned their ire against Catholics.
The Buddhist religious firebrand Anagarika Dharmapala criticizes the British
for their religion.
“When the ancestors of the present holders of our
beloved land were running naked in the forests of Britain with their bodies
painted and later on when their ancestors had gone under the imperial rule of
Rome and some of them were being sold as slaves in the market place of Rome,
our ancestors were already enjoying the fruits of glorious and peaceful
civilization. Buddhism was the religion of the state in Ceylon like the Church
in England in the British isles” proclaims Anagarika Dharmapala, forgetting
what the sacred book of the Sinhalese, known as Mahavamsam says about the first
originator of the Sinhalese race.
Born to parents who are cross breed between a Lion and a Princess
that too born to a brother and sister incest couple, the unruly Vijayan driven
by his father with such credentials, landed in Srilanka and married local
women, i.e. Tamil, even a Pandyan princess. Then how come Sinhalese can claim racial
superiority or purity. Like Anglo Indians, they are half Tamil, half foreign.
So assuming they are racially superior, the Sinhalese called Christians
barbarians and launched attacks in 1883. Then in 1915, Sinhalese wanted to
drive away the North Indian and South Indian Muslims.
“The Mohammedans, an alien people, who in the early part of the
nineteenth century were common traders, by Shylockan methods became prosperous
like the Jews. The alien South Indian Mohammedan comes to Ceylon, sees the
neglected illiterate villagers without any experience in trade, without any
knowledge of any kind of technical industry and isolated from whole of Asia on
account of his language, religion
and race, and the result
the Mohammedan thrives and the son of the soil goes to the wall……..What the German
is to the British that the Mohammedan is to the Sinhalese by religion, race and
language. He traces his origin to Arabia” incited the same Anagarika
Dharmapala. Violent attacks, arson, looting were unleashed against the Muslim
traders in 1915.
Readers of both the quotes from a Sinhala firebrand who planted
seeds of hatred between communities and who is one among those who ignited
communal clashes must take note of a contradiction in his statement. While
speaking about British in 1883 he claims Sinhalese were enjoying the fruits of
glorious and peaceful civilization. But in 1915, he admits that Sinhalese have
no experience in trade and are without any kind of knowledge. Then how could
they be the architects of the glorious and peaceful civilization. And that
civilization must be of the Tamils, who can establish the fact with historical
and archaeological evidences right up to Indus
valley.
In between 1883 and 1915, other unfortunate riots hit the dalits
from India, who had gone to Ceylon as plantation labour. The arrogant Sinhalese
refused to drink tea plucked by untouchables. Later in 1930 the Sinhalese
turned their ire against the 30,000 Malayalees, who had gone to Ceylon from
Travancore- Cochin state. A trade union leader A.E.Kunasesinghe launched the
racial fire against them by his fiery speeches.
Between 1871-1881 when coffee, tea plantations came up in large
numbers in Ceylon, lots of Tamils from India went there seeking work. They constituted
nearly 10 % of the then population of Ceylon. Donoughmore Commission
constituted before independence said out of these roughly 50 percent labour
were permanently residing in Ceylon. Jackson Report of 1928 said they were
around 60 percent. The Soulbury Commission of 1946 stated 80 percent of these
labour were permanent residents of Ceylon.
Donoughmore Commission had recommended that for all those who had
lived for 5 years and above citizenship rights must be conferred. Ceylonese
Government did not accept that recommendation, thus the crisis started. In 1940
both India and Ceylon discussed this issue. Again in 1941 September there was a
bi party conference between India and Ceylon. The agreed joint declaration
which emanated in this meeting was not implemented.
The irony is that in 1942 Ceylonese Government itself had written to
Indian Government requesting India to permit labour to come and work in its
rubber plantations. In the first General Elections of 1947 plantation labour
had voting rights. They backed the Ceylon Indian Congress and elected 7 members
to Parliament. They were the deciding factor in another 20 Parliamentary
constituencies.
"All American people were once migrants from Europe. Yet no
European country foolishly signed a pact with America to take back its
citizens. Even after signing such a pact India had left more than 2, 00.000
people of Indian origin in Srilanka.
Sinhala Racism in Parliament:
If in Srilankan Parliament such barbarian punishments are sought
against duly elected Tamil Members of Parliament even in 1981 much before the
birth of militant movements, how can Tamils live under unitary Srilankan state?
It is time to read the speech of the cunning fox Mr.J.R.Jayawardane, President
of Srilanka, which appeared in Daily Telegraph of 11th July 1983. “I am not
worried about the opinion of the Tamil people…… now we cannot think of them,
not about their lives or their opinion….. the more you put pressure on the
North, the happier the Sinhala people will be here… Really if I starve the
Tamils out, the Sinhala people will be happy.” Mr.Mahinda Rajapakshe used
starvation as weapon to make Tamils slaves and even now he handles that same
weapon, a weapon much sought by Srilankan President of 1983 is still in use
till 2010.Similarly there is no race on Earth called Sinhalese. Race itself is
a myth, culture oriented, proven in our days when all humans have common genes.
Yet under the illusion they are Aryans, a barbaric tribe claimed separate
status for them, in spite of their own mythology tracing their root to a
marriage between a Lion and Human Princess. The superiority complex leads
Sinhalese to work overtime to ethnic cleansing, hence genocide in Srilanka
starts from 1956 itself. The failure of the British to resolve many issues
before granting independence to Ceylon had left Tamils at receiving end of
genocide. Hence, Dravida Peravai urges Great Britain to play an active role in
view of its association with India and Ceylon and its moral duty to clear the
garbage accumulated in civilized governance of
Ceylon.
The Indian sub continent was ruled by Tamils, their Empires
disintegrated, deluge and other natural calamities struck at the Tamil land.
Later in British period on their eve of departure there were 11 Presidencies
and 562 princely states, which when the winds of nationalism blew over Indian
sub constituent were welded together as Indian Union under a Constitution of
India. The problems left over by colonialism, be it border dispute with China
or Kashmir still bleeds India. Same problems galore haunt Ceylon. As head of
Commonwealth too Britain has locus standi to intervene to correct past
mistakes.
Let me recollect a tiny problem between India and Bangladesh which
got its independence with India’s help. “The rulers of two princely states of
Kooch Bihar and Rangpur within the Old Bengal Presidency during British rule in
India lost their territories to each other playing the gambling by cards. There are till date 111 Indian enclaves in
Bangladesh and 51 Bangladesh enclaves within India, as a result of this gamble
by 2 princely states.’ Yet no one had the moral courage to resolve even
this issue which every government keeps in cold storage. Hence it would not be
prudent for all Member Nations of UN or of Commonwealth or of European Union to
pin hopes on India alone to redeem Tamils of Eelam from slavery and to
recognize their right to self determination.
TAMIL EELAM GOVERNMENT IN
EXILE MUST BE RECOGNIZED BY GOVERNMENT OF BRITAIN AND ALLOWED TO FUNCTION FROM
BRITISH SOIL.
TAMILS OF EELAM MUST ELECT THEIR REPRESENTATIVES
THROUGH REFERENDUMS IN THE COUNTRIES THEY LIVE NOW, AND SUCH REPRESENTATIVES
MUST CONSTITUTE THE GOVERNMENT OF TAMIL EELAM IN EXILE.
ALL TAMILS WITHIN SRILANKA MUST BE SUPORTED TO FORM
A TAMIL EELAM IN THAT SOIL. TOWARDS THAT GOAL WORLD GOVERNMENTS MUST BACK TAMIL
EELAM GOVERNMENT IN EXILE.
BRITAIN AND
EUROPEAN UNION CAN TAKE THE FIRST INITIATIVE…..
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