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 TAMIL
EELAM:
RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION
Joint statement by 15 Non Governmental Organisations
consisting of the International Organisation
for the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination, International
Educational Development, Centre Europe Ties Monde, International Indian
Treaty Council, Fedefam, Association paur la Liberte Religiose, Codehuca,
World Christian Community, Pax Christie International, International League
for the Rights and Liberation of Peoples, Movement contra le Racisme,
International Association of Educadores for World Peace, International
Association against Torture, World Confederation of Labour, and
International Movement for Fraternal Union among Races and Peoples.
at United Nations Commission on Human Rights
Geneva 8 February 1993
"We request that the delegates to the 49th Session of the Commission on
Human Rights.. accord open recognition to the existence of the Tamil
homeland in the North and East of the Island; and recognise that the Tamil
population in the North and East of the island constitute a 'people' with
the right to self determination''
''The armed conflict in the island of Sri Lanka and the continuing violations
of humanitarian law cause us deep and grave concern. We are of the view that any
meaningful attempt to resolve the conflict should address its underlying causes
and to recognise that the armed struggle of the Tamil people for self
determination, arose as a response to decades of an ever widening and deepening
oppression by a permanent Sinhala majority, within the confines of an unitary
Sri Lankan state.
It was an oppression which included the disenfranchisement of the plantation
Tamils, systematic state aided Sinhala colonisation of the Tamil homeland, the
enactment of the Sinhala Only law, discriminatory employment policies,
inequitable allocation of resources to Tamil areas, exclusion of eligible Tamil
students from Universities and higher education, and a refusal to share power
within the frame of a federal constitution. It was an oppression by an alien
Sinhala majority which consolidated the growth of the national consciousness of
the Tamil people.
During the past several years the Sinhala dominated Sri Lankan government
has attempted to put down the armed resistance of the Tamil people and has
sought to conquer and control the Tamil homeland. The record shows that in this
attempt, Sri Lanka's armed forces and para military units have committed
increasingly widespread violations of the rules of humanitarian law.
In the East whole villages of Tamils have been attacked by the Army and by
the so called Home Guards. Many Tamil residents in these villages were killed.
Others have been tortured. Those Tamils who were detained by the Sri Lankan
authorities have had little or no hope of coming out alive. The attacks on the
Tamil homeland have been coupled with the declared opposition of the Sri Lankan
Government to the merger of the North and East of the island into a single
administrative and political unit.
However, despite the sustained attacks of Sinhala dominated governments over
a period of several decades, the territorial integrity of the Tamil homeland in
the North and East of the island has remained. The Tamil population in the North
and East, who have lived for many centuries within relatively well defined
geographical boundaries, share an ancient heritage, a vibrant culture, and a
living language which traces its origins to more than 2500 years ago.
A social group, which shares objective elements such as a common language
and which has acquired a subjective consciousness of togetherness, by its life
within a relatively well defined territory, and its struggle against alien
domination, clearly constitutes a 'people' with the right to self determination.
Today, there is an urgent need for the international community to recognise
that the Tamil population in the North and East of the island of Sri Lanka are
such a 'people' with the right to freely choose their political status. It is
our view that such recognition will prepare the ground for the resolution of a
conflict which has taken such a heavy toll in human lives and suffering during
the past several years.
Accordingly, we request that the delegates to the 49th Session of the
Commission on Human Rights give their urgent consideration to these matters and
(a) accord open recognition to the existence of the Tamil
homeland in the North and East of the Island; and
(b) recognise that the Tamil population in the North and
East of the island constitute a 'people' with the right to self
determination''
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