International
Conference On Tamil Nationhood
& Search for Peace in Sri Lanka
Academic Society of Tamil
Students
Carleton University, Canada
21-22 May 1999
Conference Theme,
Conclusion & Organisation
Conference Theme
"The conference reviews the cirumstances which lead to the Tamil national
conflict in Sri Lanka, its impact on a significant segment of the Canadian
population and on the life of the people in the conflict zone. Past and present
peace initiatives to resolve the conflict and the shortcomings of those
initiatives will be examined. The current political dynamics in Sri Lanka and
the likelihood of resolving the conflict will also be critically assessed.
Finally, the conference will focus on the need for a peaceful and just
resolution of the conflict."
Conference Conclusion
Resolution adopted unanimously by the delegates
to the International Conference on Tamil Nationhood and the Search for Peace in
Sri Lanka, held at the Bell Theatre, Minto Centre for Studies in Advanced
Engineering, Carleton University, in the Regional Municipality of
Ottawa-Carleton, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, at 18.05 hours, on Saturday, May 22,
1999.
Preamble
The International Conference on
The Tamil Nationhood and the Search for Peace in Sri Lanka, organized by The
Academic Society of Tamil Students (ACTS) of Carleton University and the
University of Ottawa, and , held at the Bell Theatre, Minto Centre for Studies
in Advanced Engineering, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, on May 21
and 22, 1999. The conference, attended by Canadians of Tamil descent,
international scholars, political leaders, representatives of the Canadian
Government and Non-Governmental Organizations(NGOs), after due deliberation,
recognized, with deep shock and distress,
the violation of a broad range of human rights of the Tamil People by Sinhala
armed forces in Sri Lanka. The human rights violations include
arbitrary arrest, indefinite detention and
disappearances,
torture,
rape,
extrajudicial killings of Tamil civilians, and the destruction of the
homes,
schools,
libraries,
religious institutions, and the infrastructure, and
the degradation of environment, in the Tamil homeland.
The delegates to conference
re-affirmed that any meaningful negotiation for a peaceful resolution of the
Tamil-Sinhala national conflict must be based on the recognition of the cardinal
basic principles, also known as "Thimpu
Principles". These principles, intra alia, state that,
- Tamil people have a distinct culture,
language and they together constitute a NATION,
- The Tamil People have lived for centuries
in a clearly established HOMELAND, with defined borders, in the Island of
Ceylon, and
- The Tamil people have an inallienable right
for SELF-DETERMINATION.
The delegates are aware that the
Tamil people of the Island of Sri Lanka want to end the war and they want the
political establishment of the Sinhala Nation to negotiate with the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the representatives of the Tamil Nation, for a
durable and just political solution.
The delegates gathered here
today in the Regional Municipality of Ottawa-Carleton, Ontario, Canada, hereby
solemnly resolve that,
Resolution
1. We are a Nation of Tamil
People, our Homeland is Tamil Eelam, and we have the inalienable
right to self-determination, and we have equal rights as any other
individuals and nations, and
2.
Our national liberation movement which finds justification and legitimacy under
international law, to take up arms in defence of the Tamil People in
distress and their national aspirations, and that this national liberation
movement is the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which is also the political voice of the
Tamil Nation.
Appeals
- We call upon the Government of Sri Lanka to,
- The conference resolved to appeal to
- All countries in the world to recognize the
Tamil people’s
right to self-determination and to accept the LTTE as the sole
representatives of the Tamil Nation, and
- Those countries that provide military
training to Sri Lankan forces and
trade arms with Sri Lanka to stop all such assistance in the interest of
facilitating a speedy resolution of the Sinhala-Tamil national conflict
Conference
Organisation & Sponsors
CHAIR
Mr. Derick Thurairajah
President, Academic Society of Tamil Students (ACTS)
Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada
CO - CHAIRS
Ms. Jeevachelvi Selvaratnam,
University of Ottawa, Canada
Mr. Sathi Nannithamby,
Carleton University, Canada
Mr. Ravinthar Thomas,
Carleton University, Canada
PROGRAM ADVISORY PANEL
Prof. Chelvadurai Manogaran, M.A., Ph.D.,
Wisconsin, USA
Prof. Elagu V. Elagupillai, M.Sc., Ph.D.,
Ottawa, Canada
Prof. Nagalingam Ethirveerasingam, M.Sc., Ph.D.,
Los Angeles, CA, USA
Prof. Jeyaratnam Wilson, M.A., Ph.D., D.Sc.,
Fredericton, NB, Canada
Prof. Joseph Chandrakanthan, M.A., Ph.D.,
Toronto, ON, Canada,
Prof. Selvanayagam Kanaganayagam, M.A., Ph.D.,
Toronto, ON, Canada
Prof. Nagalingam Sriskandarajah, M.Sc., Ph.D.,
Sydney, Australia
Dr. Sinnathurai Vijaykumar, M.Eng., Ph.D.,
Toronto, ON, Canada
Ms. Avis Harrell Sri-Jayantha, M.A.,
New York, N.Y., USA
Dr. Meenan Vishnu, Ph.D.,
Pittsburgh, PA, USA
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Ms. Arularasi Singham,
University of Ottawa
Mr. Indrajit Kunaratnam,
Carleton University
Mr. Luxmihasan Rasappah,
Carleton University
Mr. Palani Praba,
Carleton University
Ms Vanitha Paramanathan,
University of Ottawa
Mr. Parthiban Candrabose,
Carleton University
Mr. Ravikumar Balasubramaniam,
Carleton University
SPONSORS
Carleton University Students Association Inc. (CUSA)
The Students Federation of the University of Ottawa (SFUO)
Carleton University Tamil Student Association (CUTSA)
Amnesty International, Carleton University Chapter
Tamil Students Union, University of Ottawa
Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG), University of Ottawa
BELL THEATRE,
MINTO CENTRE
CARLETON UNIVERSITY
OTTAWA,
ONTARIO
CANADA
Email:
[email protected]
http://www.acts.carleton.ca/
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