Jaffna Civil Societies have told the UN that the actions of the international community will determine Eelam Tamils’ future means of resistance.

In a statement to the visiting UN delegation, the societies pointed out that Tamils are not willing to trust the Sri Lankan state and that development cannot lead to a permanent solution, but that a permanent solution would bring about development.

The societies further stated,

“Although there has been a need in this post-war period to carry out civil society services for people caught in the war, the Sri Lankan government has only hindered this work.”

“The Sri Lankan government continues to carry out a campaign of ethnic cleansing. It has planned to carry out this genocide in various forms.”

“Native Tamil lands are being hijacked by the army. Much the land of the Tamil people has been grabbed as ‘high security zones’. Sinhalese settlement programs are modifying the ethnic demographics of the region.”

“Tamil people’s language rights are being ignored. There is increasing political interference in the administration of justice.”

“We will now try to walk on our own feet. Che Guevara once said that our enemy determines the weapon we choose. But for Tamil people, the arms we will take up next will be determined by the international community. Tamil people are not prepared to trust the Sri Lankan state.”

“The Tamil people are not satisfied with the findings of Sri Lanka’s LLRC report. However we welcome the implementation of certain recommendations.”