DRAVIDA PERAVAI APPEALED TO SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL TO SAVE TAMILS

SOCIALIST INTERNATIONAL

Maritime House, 

Old Town Clapham,

London   SW40JW, UK    

               

Respected Secretary General

Socialist International had brought all the socialists under one umbrella, and we Indian Tamils appeal to Socialist International and its constituent parties and leaders of those parties to urge United Nations to follow its own precedent of East Timor example and to hold a referendum to allow Eelam Tamils to decide about their own destiny. In the aftermath of world nations  feeling the throb to come to the rescue of Srilankan Tamils bleeding under the brutal campaign of genocide unleashed by the Srilankan Government headed by Mr.Mahinda Rajapakshe, we a South Indian political party appeal to Socialist International to mobilize world opinion ,

a] To hold plebiscite or referendum under UN auspices in North East Provinces of Srilanka, and

b] To initiate same actions Security Council and UN [through International Court of Criminal Justice] are initiating with regard to Sudan in the genocide of Srilanka too.

Though men with conscience among many nations are doing their best within United Nations their efforts are checkmated by one power or other. Hence Dravida Peravai, the South Indian political party decided to knock the doors of Socialist International and leaders of Socialist parties who are in power or in opposition seeking their moral and vocal support to mobilize world opinion against Srilanka and its genocidal civil war.

The Economist of UK labels Sri Lanka a "flawed democracy" in its 2006 rankings. This is because there is a minority – the Tamils – who will always be at a significant disadvantage electorally.

 If Scotland wanted to leave the United Kingdom, and voted to do so, they would not be stopped by the rest of the British people. Perhaps the very fact that they could leave if they wished to has meant that their minority rights have always been protected in the UK, and is probably the reason that Scotland do not actually want to leave the union. The British Government wanted to step in and mediate but the Srilankan war mongers rejected its offer. This is because Britain with its own Scotland memories could have offered meaningful solutions to resolve the conflict, which Srilanka wanted to scuttle at all costs.

A Conservative Party politician in the United Kingdom, Dr. Rachel Joyce, apologized recently for blunder committed by Colonial Britain in making a unitary Ceylon out of two nations, the Tamils and the Sinhalese. “The Tamil people have lived on the island currently called Sri Lanka for millennia - in their own contiguous, distinct, geographical territory. They lay claim only to the territory they have historically lived in. In fact, the 3 million Tamils of the island constituted a self governing nation until invaded and occupied by Colonial powers – in particular Britain, who amalgamated them with the Sinhala nation purely for convenience. In retrospect, this cultural naivety was a mistake that has caused problems since independence,” she said in a meeting held at Harrow recently. This is enough to tell in a nutshell the crux of the problem.

Tamils for Obama, a non-governmental organization in USA had recently urged for United Nations Transitional Administration in Tamil Eelam, which is the most sensible solution at this juncture. The demand for United Nations Transitional Administration for Tamil Eelam is based on the precedent of the U.N. Transitional Administration in East Timor.  We appeal to all members of Socialist International to urge the United Nations to emulate its own precedent and end the genocidal war in Srilanka. By referendum people’s will would be ascertained, and that democratic option may be resisted by certain people in India, who hate the word plebiscite, because there is an UN resolution calling for a plebiscite which these people consider as bitter pill forgetting that in democracy it is the best way.

7 March 2009, The Santa Clara County Democratic Party Central Committee, had passed a resolution asking "U.S. Congress and the Federal Administration to immediately persuade the government of Sri Lanka and the UN to conduct a UN monitored referendum in the Tamil region of Sri Lanka to determine if the people wish the autonomy or the complete independence." The organizers of the resolution said they will be mounting a campaign to urge other Democratic Party branches in different counties to adopt similar resolutions to raise Sri Lanka as a key policy issue within the Democratic Party. All these meaningful voices emanating from diverse sources must activate the conscience of the world, and it is here socialists have their historical mission to accomplish.

There are independent nations which no other country had recognized. Nagorno-Karabakh Republic with its Capitol: Stepanakert and 11,458 kilometers area with 1, 38,000 people has a President Mr.Bako Sahakyan and Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan. A referendum was held on 10th December 1991 and it proclaimed independence on 6th January 1992. It has Armenian as official language. This is one of the two independent countries not recognized by any other country. That does not mean it is not independent. The referendum of Vattukottai in 1977 is enough to proclaim Tamil Eelam as independent nation, then itself. The India groomed puppet Mr.Varadaraja Perumal imposed as Chief Minister under Rajiv Gandhi-Jayawardene accord while fleeing to India to take asylum unilaterally had declared independence. By giving asylum India had endorsed the unilateral declaration of Independence, Tamils can argue, and go ahead with formation of Government to seek recognition. Nagora-Karabakh will recognize Tamil Eelam and Tamil Eelam can recognize Nagora-Karabakh Republic. If that is the only option left, this could happen.

Somaliland proclaimed its independence on 16th May 1991.Constitutional Presidential Republic of Somalia with a population of 3, 50,000 people and an area of 68,000 square kilometers has three official languages, namely Somali, Arabic and English.

This tiny nation has three official languages, and Indian Foreign Minister Mr.Pranab Mukherjee can never make Srilanka accept two official languages. 

When even this could not be conceded, why India aims to force Tamils to accept a unitary state, we are puzzled. Somaliland has Mr.Dahir Riyale Kahin as President. Let any Tamil around whom people’s consensus emerges become the President, declaring Tamil Eelam independence. This tiny country has its own currency, Somaliland shilling, and it is not recognized by any other nation, but that does not deter it to become independent, Tamil Eelam must take the cue from these two nations not recognized by any other nation, and world nations must understand the historical compulsions of Eelam Tamils in taking this extreme step.

Countries recognized by non-UN Member states: There is Transnistiria recognized only by Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and these two countries are not members of United Nations. Transnistiria has three official languages namely Moldovan because Moldovans constitute 31.9% of the population. Russians are 30.4% and Ukrainians constitute 28.8% of the population. This country which is under internationally unrecognized President Mr.Ignor Smimov shows the way to Srilanka, which refuses to accept Tamil too as official language. With 5,37,000 people in an area of 1607 square kilometers Transnistiria could remain independent, why not Tamil Eelam, all Tamils must ponder.

Abkhazia is a unitary Republic under President Sergei Bagapsh having declared its independence on 12th October 1999 and one UN member state recognized this country only in 26th August 2008.These states significantly point out the failure of the United Nations but at same time demonstrates that independence is one that is obtained not at the mercy of others.

Governments in Exile too had existed in history, but here that does not arise since Tamils need only a United Nations Transitional Government, in immediate future. If at all Tamils of Eelam are uprooted from their homeland Socialist International must recall the past Governments in Exile that had operated from other countries. The Free French Government headed by Charles de Gaulle during II nd world War got the support of USA, UK, Russia and regained France. Same support must be given by super powers and other nations, if Eelam Tamils are compelled by historical accidents to form a Government in exile.

Between 1795 and 1814 the Government of the Dutch Republic in Exile lived in London following a French Invasion led by William V, Prince of Orange. Ultimately they returned to create the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 1815.  President Benito Juarez's Government-in-Exile during the Empire of Maximilian in Mexico, from 1864 to 1867 is another example. Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea based in Shanghai, China and later in Chongqing. It was created in 1919 for when Korea gained independence from the Empire of Japan.

After Japan’s defeat in World War II President Syngman Rhee became the first president of the First Republic of South Korea

The Revolutionary Government of Angola in Exile founded in 1962 and based in Kinshasa, Congo-Kinshasa, Socialist Republic Government of the Democratic Republic of Georgia in Exile after the Soviet invasion of Georgia of 1921 and based in Leuville-sur-Orge, France, Governments of the Ukrainian People’s Republic in Exile after the Soviet invasion of Ukraine in 1920 are few more precedents we have to recall in our minds if situation warrants. The Free Aceh Movement, a government in exile for the Aceh special territory of Indonesia, is headquartered in Sweden, which had surrendered its separatist intentions and dissolved its armed wing following the 2005 peace agreement with the Indonesian Government.

Such precedents exist. If one country supports a Government in exile can be formed. The struggle to gain recognition will take long time to succeed, but firm foundation for Free Tamil Eelam will be laid, shutting all options for compromising independence for Eelam Tamils.

Genocide: Action by International Court of Criminal Justice: Sudan and Srilanka:

We from India appeal to all the leaders in Socialist International to compare between Sudan and Srilanka. We are also shattered in heart over the silence of those nations that evince interest in pursuing Sudan but remain indifferent towards similar and crueler crimes against humanity carried out under total black out of media in Srilanka.

On Wednesday March 4th 2009 The International Criminal Court issued its first ever warrant against a sitting head of state, namely, President Omar al Bashir of Sudan for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The 65 year old Bashir is to face five counts of crimes against humanity and two of war crimes. The Chief prosecutor Luis Moreno - Ocampo said that Sudan is legally obliged to execute the warrant. The prosecution claims that Bashir and other high level Sudanese political and military leaders have issued the orders and therefore bore direct responsibility of killing, raping and forcibly transferring a large number of civilians. The U.N. Secretary-General urged Sudan's government to honor its obligation to protect civilians, aid workers and U.N. personnel and property following the International Criminal Court's decision to issue an arrest warrant for President Omar Al-Bashir on war crimes charges. But as Ban Ki-moon made his appeal, several international aid groups in Sudan said the government revoked their licenses and called for them to leave North Darfur immediately. In a statement, the U.N. chief did not explicitly call for President Bashir to surrender and cooperate with the ICC.

 Instead he said he "trusts the government of Sudan will address the issues of peace and justice in a manner consistent with" the 2005 Security Council resolution that referred the Darfur issue to the court.

On March 7th of 2009 China has blocked a statement in UN Security Council which would have asked Sudan to reverse its decision to expel over a dozen aid groups accused of cooperating with International Criminal Court, which issued arrest warrants against its President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on war crime charges. The issue over the French-drafted statement left the 15-member Council sharply divided with the several members, including China, demanding that it ask the court to defer any action at least for one year to give peace process a chance in Sudan, a move that western nations like the United States, Britain and France oppose.

The African Union Commission Chairman Jean Ping has indicated that while they support the fight against impunity and that the crime perpetrators should not go unpunished, they are of the view that peace and justice should not collide. Hence they would want the warrant to be deferred to facilitate the completion of the implementation of the comprehensive peace agreement between Northern and Southern Sudan and ensure the end of the Darfur crisis. Sudan's envoy to the AU called on African member states to withdraw from the Rome Statute.

The UN needs the ICC and the ICC needs the UN. It is this symbiotic relationship that the organs of the UN, especially the Security Council need to enhance in a constructive manner as soon as possible. The Court is to deal with issues such as war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. For the purpose of this Statute crimes against humanity means any of the following acts when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack; that is, murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation or forcible transfer of population, imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law, torture, rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, forced pregnancy or any sexual violence of comparable gravity persecution against any identifiable group or collectively on political, racial, ethnic, cultural, religious, gender or other grounds, enforced disappearance of persons, the crime of apartheid.

Dravida Peravai appeals to Members of Socialist International to endorse the demand of Tamils spread across countries and continents to initiate action against Srilankan President Mahinda Rajapakshe through the International Court of Criminal Justice.

In another related development, CMAG, a body of nine ministers, which is mandated to check persistent violations of the ‘Fundamental Values and Principles of the Commonwealth,’ includes democracy and human rights states that “The government of Sri Lanka has adopted a consistent pattern of denying its responsibility to protect its civilians. In recent years, Sri Lanka has been facing a growing condition of general impunity buttressed by numerous allegations of human rights violations across the country. A string of disappearances, arrests, uninvestigated murders and assaults involving dissenters, well known journalists and human rights advocates, sometimes in full view of the public, sometimes within tightly monitored high security zones operated by the government, are indicative of a pattern of human rights violation, intolerance, suppression and impunity. By not respecting the independence of its institutions, not allowing independent observation and international organizations into the conflict area, it has repeatedly used “fighting terrorism” as a justification for systematically destroying fundamental freedoms in Sri Lanka, the CHRI statement said. Contrary to the norm that limits each country to two-consecutive sittings, Sri Lanka is currently serving its third consecutive two-year term. Sri Lanka‘s membership has become particularly controversial as its own credentials as a guardian of these values become increasingly questionable, read a statement from CHRI.

Hence Dravida Peravai calls Commonwealth a Failure. How could for third time Srilanka be there contrary to usual parameters, and when this is happening we have to loose faith in Commonwealth and appeal to other bodies, to come to the rescue of Tamils.

The grave charges of genocide against Srilanka are well documented. In an invited written testimony to the hearing on "Recent Developments in Sri Lanka" before the Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Middle East and Asia, at the Dirksen Senate Building Tuesday, Bruce Fein, former U.S. associate deputy attorney general, details the recent violence by the Sri Lanka Government against Tamils civilians under "impenetrable media blackout and eviction of all outside observers...has crossed the line into genocide, which justified a criminal investigation under United States laws." Detailing the structural aspects of the slow genocide Fein accuses Colombo of perpetrating against Tamils, the testimony says: "All previous well-known genocides which have occurred since the end of World War II have been characterized by a massive number of murders in a small defined locality occurring in a short time period and carried out by an actor seeking the total physical extermination of a particular ethnic group. The post-1945 genocide cases often cited are: the Holocaust, the Kurds in Iraq, the Srebrenica massacre, and Rwanda. By contrast, Sri Lanka’s genocide against Tamils has taken place over a number of years and is more characterized by widespread, prolonged displacement and destruction of the community’s physical and cultural base than murder. For this and also wider geopolitical reasons, the destruction of the Sri Lankan Tamils is less well-understood in the world at large as a case of genocide," Fein says in the testimony.

Describing the latest violence on Tamils, Fein says "best estimates from neutral persons in Sri Lanka place the death toll of innocent Tamil civilians in the predominantly Tamil northeast over the past two months at more than 2,000. The number of injured probably exceeds 10,000. The number of displaced persons most likely approximates 350,000. None of these figures, however, can be confirmed at present with direct testimony," Fein says.

These are just a brief introduction to the problems Tamils are facing, which are next to what Jews faced under Nazis in last century. The socialist is one who fights for right causes at right time, and as socialist party, we in Dravida Peravai, hope that you will rise to the occasion and raise your voice against Genocide of Eelam Tamils. We also hope that you will urge United Nations by refreshing its memory on its own East Timor precedent, to fulfill its historical duty to liberate Eelam Tamils from ethnic cleansing and genocide.

9.03.2009 http://www.tamilsydney.com/content/view/1976/37/

View War Crimes of Srilanka: http://picasaweb.google.com.au/warwithoutwitness/