"Freedom is not given. It is an unmediated right and a bare necessity. Freedom is not negotiable; it is the unhindered development of one�s possibilities... Bringing to life the right for self-determination is not a guarantee for success � but it creates the conditions for free development; and taking responsibility results in a strong motivation to succeed...Self-determination, because it is something natural; it makes sense that we can make decisions about our own future much more effectively than anyone and everyone else who wants to decide on our behalf. Self-determination! Unconditionally! Until the final separation. Until the complete liberation of our country." Manifesto of the L�vizja VET�VENDOSJE! - Kosovo Movement for Self-Determination

"...Western governments� policies on Sri Lanka should consciously include attempts to open up political space within their Tamil communities for non-Tiger political voices. Those governments with significant Tamil populations should engage representative civil society groups directly, expressing sympathy for the legitimate grievances of minorities in Sri Lanka, while challenging them to reject the LTTE�s destructive politics...The international community...should take up the challenge of pressuring and persuading it (the LTTE) � perhaps using diaspora representatives � to renounce suicide bombings, attacks on civilians, political killings and child recruitment..." Report by International Crisis Group with UK Lord Patten of Barnes and US Ambassador Thomas R Pickering as Co-Chairs in 2008

"Ahtisaari" Plan for Sri Lanka? "...Western governments� policies on Sri Lanka should consciously include attempts to open up political space within their Tamil communities for non-Tiger political voices. Those governments with significant Tamil populations should engage representative civil society groups directly, expressing sympathy for the legitimate grievances of minorities in Sri Lanka, while challenging them to reject the LTTE�s destructive politics and actively guarding against any intimidation of anti-Tiger Tamil groups...Short of a complete military defeat, however, the LTTE will likely remain a major player in any talks, though it should not be the only Tamil negotiator. The international community thus should take up the challenge of pressuring and persuading it � perhaps using diaspora representatives � to renounce suicide bombings, attacks on civilians, political killings and child recruitment..." Report dated 20 February 2008 by The International Crisis Group whose Board includes Lord Patten of Barnes, Former UK Cabinet Minister; Ambassador Thomas R Pickering, Former U.S. Ambassador to the UN; and Gareth Evans Former Foreign Minister of Australia; and whose Executive Committee includes George Soros; Zbigniew Brzezinski, Former U.S. National Security Advisor to the President; and Fidel V. Ramos, Former President of Philippines with Martti Ahtisaari Former President, Finland (and author of the Kosovo Ahtisaari Plan) and George J. Mitchell, Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader (and Northern Ireland 'Peace Broker') as Chairmen Emeritus .

2.Sanmugam Sabesan writes from Australia ஒரு தேசம் கோரிய மன்னிப்பு "மன்னிப்பைக் கோருவதன் மூலம் தமது கடந்த காலத் தவறுகளைத் திருத்திக் கொள்ள முயல்கின்ற இந்த நாடுகள், தங்களுடைய நிகழ்காலத் தவறுகளையும் உடனடியாகத் திருத்திக் கொள்ள முன் வர வேண்டும். அப்போதுதான் இத்தகைய மன்னிப்புக் கோரல்கள்மீது உண்மையான நம்பிக்கையும் ஏற்படும்." more

Kosovo's Declaration of 'Supervised Independence' - An Exchange of Serb Rule for European Union/NATO 'Supervision' & an European Union 'Governor' "This declaration reflects the will of our people and it is in full accordance with the recommendations of UN Special Envoy Martti Ahtisaari and his Comprehensive Proposal for the Kosovo Status Settlement...We invite and welcome an international civilian presence to supervise our implementation of the Ahtisaari Plan, and a European Union-led rule of law mission... We also invite and welcome the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation to retain the leadership role of the international military presence in Kosovo... We shall cooperate fully with these presences to ensure Kosovo's future peace, prosperity and stability..." more

Tamil Centre for Human Rights (TCHR) on Who prevents Muslims� resettlement in Jaffna? "Last September (2007), a TCHR representative raised the matter about the resettlement of Jaffna Muslims in a meeting held by the Sri Lankan Mission in Geneva. Four Sri Lankan Ministers - Mahinda Samarasinghe, Keheliya Rambukwella, Athauda Seneviratne and Douglas Devananda, who were on the panel, could not give a proper answer to the question of resettlement of Muslims in Jaffna. This was well witnessed by various diplomats and the representatives of international institutions... Even before the Jaffna Muslims moved to Puttalam, the Buddhist monks and Sri Lankan government were very careful with their political agenda that the Muslim population in Puttalam should not be allowed to spread to any other area within Puttalam. This is one of the reasons Jaffna Muslims are without any fundamental rights in Puttalam..." more

Sanmugam Sabesan writes from Australia on Valentine's Day காதலர் தினமும், தமிழரின் காதல் வாழ்வும் "தமிழர் வாழ்வில் �காதலர் தினம்� என்ற ஒன்று தேவையா? அல்லது தமிழர் வாழ்வில் �காதல்� என்ற ஒன்று இல்லையா? என்று விதவிதமாகக் கேட்போரையும் சற்றுக் கவனிப்போம்." more

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi calls on World Tamils to celebrate first day of Tamil month Thai as New Years Day �The change marks the rise and revolution of Tamils. People must consider it a happy occasion and celebrate it by lighting �deepams�, drawing �kolams� and wearing new dress. "

" நித்திரையில் இருக்கும் தமிழா!
சித்திரை அல்ல உனக்குத் தமிழ்ப் புத்தாண்டு...
தரணி ஆண்ட தமிழர்க்கு
தை முதல் நாளே தமிழ்ப் புத்தாண்டு" (புரட்சிக் கவிஞர் பாரதிதாசன்)

The Origins of the Unitary State of Sri Lanka - A.Jeyaratnam Wilson in The Break Up of Sri Lanka,1988 "(Even as long ago as the 1930s) the Sinhalese leadership evinced no willingness to share power with the minority ethnic groups. The Donoughmore system, with its divisions into seven executive committees, was designed for the purpose of providing some opportunities for minority ethnic representatives to secure election to the Donoughmore executive, the Board of Ministers... a Pan-Sinhalese Board of Ministers was elected after the general election of 1936, thus securing an artificial unanimity of opinion on constitutional reform. Furthermore, the Pan-Sinhalese Board obtained as much as it could of the limited available resources and public service appointments for the ethnic majority..." more

Sanmugam Sabesan writes from Australia சிறிலங்காவின் அறுபதாவது சுதந்திர தினம் - நாகரிக உலகிற்கே ஒரு கரிநாள் "இன்று தமிழர்கள் தமிழீழத் தனியரசை அமைத்துப் பிரிந்து போகவேண்டும் என்று விரும்புவதற்கு முன்பாகவே, 60 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பதாகவே, அல்லது 58 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு முன்பதாகவே சிங்களதேசம் �கோடு� போட்டு பிரித்து விட்டது..." more

2. United Kingdom British Tamils Forum (BTF) - Photo Exhibition on 4 February 2008