Towards a Just
Peace
An International Conference
organised by the
International Federation of Tamils at
the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
15 February 1992
Preliminary Announcement
January 1992
''It is the Sri Lanka government that
has failed to learn the lessons from the emergence of
the struggles for self determination in several parts of
the globe and the innovative structural changes that
have taken place.''
Velupillai Pirabakaran
The International Secretariat of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam has
initiated consultations on the issues that confront the struggle of the people
of Tamil Eelam and the need to concretise the steps towards a just peace. In
response to this initiative, the International Federation of Tamils (IFT) has
planned a series of seminar discussions, in London and elsewhere.
A preliminary meeting was held by the IFT in London, on Sunday 29 December
1991, with a representative cross section of the Tamil expatriate community in
the United Kingdom.The consensus view was that there was a need to examine in
depth the features of associative structures where both the Tamil nation and the
Sinhala nation can coexist and in certain areas cooperate for the freedom, peace
and prosperity of both nations.
Broad agreement was reached on the agenda for a proposed seminar to be held
in early February 1992. The London Seminar will be jointly sponsored by the IFT
and other Tamil community based organisations in the United Kingdom. Similar
initiatives are being taken by the expatriate Tamil community in Australia and
the United States. The International Federation of Tamils has called for
contributions from both Tamils and non Tamils, in the form of papers on the
agenda items and on step wise proposals to secure a just peace. Contributions
may be addressed to the IFT,P.O.Box 417, Cambridge CB3 9LZ, U.K.
Seminar Agenda
| - the political reality parties to the conflict - armed
conflict, its legitimacy and/or lawfulness - ethnic conflict or national
liberation struggle? - multi ethnic plural society or two nations? - muslim
minority - plantation Tamils
- the political solution
negotiations: piece meal ‘practical’ approach or radical conceptual
approach - legal framework to accord with political reality - associative
structures, confederal, commonwealth - separation
- towards a just peace
time table for steps towards a just peace - confidence building -
ceasefire - monitors to supervise ceasefire - lifting of blockade - role of
mediator - parties to the talks - roundtable or square table - venue for
talks - ratification by referendum
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