In a joint statement leading international Tamil rights groups have called upon their respective governments, as well as international and regional powers, to intervene to find a “just solution to the long-lasting Tamil National Question in Sri Lanka”.
They further urged their host governments “to actively support and encourage such engagement with all available political, human rights and economic instruments at their disposal”. The statement comes in advance of the next UN human rights session on Sri Lanka in September and the European Union’s review of its GSP+ scheme in November. Earlier this year, the EU parliament passed a resolution calling on the council to revoke favourable trading agreements with Sri Lanka due to severe concern over the deteriorating human rights conditions on the island and the country’s failure to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
In their statement, the diaspora organisations highlight their right as stakeholders to participate in “any negotiations and formulations of a political solution to bring last peace and coexistence of the multi-ethnic and multi-religious communities in Sri Lanka”.
“Over 1 million Tamils of Eelam origin now living in the diaspora were forced out of Sri Lanka due to the repeated cycles of violence and genocide against Tamils in the island”.
The statement also noted discussions between the Tamil National Alliance and the Sri Lankan government with the support of India and the United States.
“While welcoming the role of India and the United States in political negotiations with the GoSl to solve the long-standing legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people, it is also necessary to point out the fate of past direct negotiations with the GoSL, and the abysmal history of abrogated pacts by the Sinhala leaders” they state.
The statement was signed by the Australian Tamil Congress; the British Tamil Forum; Maison du Tamil Eelam in France; the Irish Tamil Forum; the National Council of Canadian Tamils; the Norwegian Council of Eelam Tamils; Solidarity Group for Peace and Justice in South Africa; and the United States Tamil Action Group.
Read the full statement here.