Marking the 17th iteration of Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day, Tamil Nadu politician S. Ramadoss has called for an international investigation into alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka and a United Nations supervised independence referendum for Eelam Tamils, arguing that these measures are essential for securing genuine justice.
In a statement issued on the occasion, Ramadoss described the events of Mullivaikkal as an enduring and unresolved tragedy in the history of the Eelam Tamil people, adding that it continues to resonate deeply across Tamil communities worldwide. Paying tribute to the tens of thousands of Tamil civilians killed during the final stages of the armed conflict in 2009, he extended his condolences to all those who lost their lives.
Reiterating a position he says he has maintained for many years, Ramadoss asserted that the final phase of the war constituted not merely an armed conflict, but what he described as a “systematically planned genocide.” He argued that accountability can only be achieved if the Sri Lankan state is brought before an independent international judicial mechanism to answer allegations of war crimes and human rights violations.
He further called for the establishment of an international justice process under United Nations supervision, insisting that those responsible for wartime atrocities must be held accountable through credible international legal mechanisms.
Ramadoss also stated that repeated efforts to secure justice within Sri Lanka’s constitutional framework have failed, pointing to the record of successive governments since independence in addressing Tamil political grievances.
As a political solution, he urged a UN-supervised referendum among Eelam Tamils, arguing that the outcome of such a democratic exercise should be recognised and implemented by the international community. He added that if the Tamil people choose an independent Tamil Eelam as their preferred future, that decision should be respected as an expression of self-determination.
Affirming his continued support for Tamil rights, Ramadoss said he and his party would continue to raise their voices until justice is achieved. He also urged the Government of India to reassess its foreign policy stance and support both an international investigation and a referendum process at the global level.
“Not a single drop of blood shed in Mullivaikkal will go in vain,” he said, pledging that his party would stand with Tamils worldwide until they secure their rights, land and dignity.
