Conference at the French National Assembly discuss plight of Eelam Tamils

A conference focusing on the plight of Eelam Tamils was held at the French National Assembly last month, which saw participation from French Tamils and Member of Parliament.

Organized collaboratively by the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) and Em Inam, a French Tamil youth organization, the event served as a platform to highlight the challenges faced by Eelam Tamils and strategize paths forward for justice and representation.

The conference began with an introduction by TGTE Prime Minister Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran, who provided an overview of the current situation and set the stage for subsequent discussions. French Member of Parliament Carlos Martens Bilongo delivered a keynote speech, emphasizing the importance of addressing Tamil issues within international political and legal frameworks.

A critical segment of the event was a discussion on a Tamil Eelam independence referendum question, led by TGTE Deputy Prime Minister Mahinthan Sivasubramaniam, which explored ways to gauge the political aspirations of Tamils. Additionally, Sharuka Theva and Eizer Souidi facilitated a session titled “International Jurisdictions and the Tamil Issue”. This session examined the role of international legal bodies in addressing and resolving the struggles faced by Tamils.

The event also highlighted the pivotal role of Tamil youth in advancing the Tamil cause. Organizations such as Em Inam and the Lausanne University Tamil Student Association (LUTSA) from Switzerland were commended for their continued efforts to support and mobilize the Tamil diaspora.

All photographs courtesy of Milucsan Maheswaran and Thulapan Sothilingam.