Briefly recalling the history of the struggle of Eelam Tamils for equality, dignity and self-respect in their homeland in Sri Lanka and the betrayals of promises by the Sinhala regime, DMK Treasurer Thalapathi M.K.Stalin reiterated the stand of the Party that a political solution for the problems of Eelam Tamils is only in referendum under the supervision of the United Nations Organisation (UNO) among Tamils in Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka and Tamil diaspora.
Stalin was addressing World Tamils Multinational Tamil Conference under the aegis of All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils (APPGT), a forum of British Parliamentarians and the British Tamils Forum (BTF) on November 7 in London. The three-day meeting to discuss human rights violations by Lankan regime a galaxy of Parliamentarians, representatives of political parties and forums of Tamils from all over the world.
The DMK was invited to the conference by Hazel Weinberg, Secretary, APPGT, which includes 20 British MPs drawn from all the three parties and the BTF.
The text of Thiru Stalin’s speech is hereunder.
Respected Chairman!
Esteemed Members of Britain Parliament, Councillors and Ministers!
Representatives of Diaspora Tamils! and Friends!
Greetings to every one of You.
To Start with, I express my deep gratitude to the Organisers, of this Conference, for the kind invitation extended to the D.M.K.
We feel duty-bound to participate in this Conference, being held in support of Eezham Tamils. We have been deputed by Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, President of D.M.K. D.M.K; a Regional Political Party of Tamil Nadu in India, has been raising its voice for the Cause of Eezham Tamils, for the last Fifty years. We organised Conferences and Conclaves, Demonstrations and Public Meetings, Rally’s and Human Chains, Fasting and Striking Work, to focus public attention on the problems of Eezham Tamils.
Infact, our Leader Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi formed an organisation called “Tamil Eezham Supporters’ Organisation (TESO), in 1985. The First Eezham War was going on then. The “TESO” was gradually converted into a mass movement to attract the attention of the Indian Nation.
After the close of the Fourth Eezham War, Our Leader Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, revived the “TESO” recently, to mobilise support nationally and internationally for the post-war problems of Eezham Tamils.
On 12.8.2012, a big public Conference was conducted by the “TESO” in Chennai. Representatives from various Countries participated in the Conference. Fourteen resolutions were unanimously passed, covering all aspects of the plight and problems of Eezham Tamils.
We prepared a Memorandum based on the resolutions and presented it to the United Nations Organisation on 1-11-2012 and to the United Nations Human Rights Commission on 6-11-2012, urging them to take action on the Human Rights violations and War-Crimes, Committed by the Sri Lankan Government.
The Conference, being held here today, is very timely. This will be helpful to draw the attention of the Nations of the World, to the problems of Eezham Tamils. We, therefore, Congratulate the Organisers of this Conference for their high aim and right target.
This History of Tamils in Sri Lanka is thousands of years old. Tamils are a National Race of SriLanka. They have a very ancient Language and a distinct culture. SriLanka is a declared democracy. Democracy does not differentiate between Majority and Minority. It does not confer more rights on the Majority and less rights or no rights on the Minority.
Tamils are a minority in Sri Lanka. Their aspiration is very simple. They want Equality, Dignity and Self-respect.
When Sinhalese Majority started suppressing the Tamils; When they decided to establish their own religious State; When they adopted ‘Sinhala only’ policy; and when they refused any of the democratic rights, employment opportunities and decent living to the Tamils; the Tamils revolted.
Between 1983 and 2009, there were four Eezham Wars in the Island-Nation. We have not seen anywhere in the History that the State engaged in a genocide of its own Citizens. Such tragedy took place in Sri Lanka. One Lakh and 25 Thousand Tamils fled from their homeland. 3 Lakh Tamils were internally displaced. 16 Thousand Tamils were reported missing. 90 Thousand Tamil-women were rendered widows. Lakhs of Tamils were killed. The entire world was a witness to the large-scale Human Rights violations and War-Crimes.
What the surviving Tamils demand is Fair play and Justice. They are awaiting an answer from the World-Community. They want a logical conclusion of all their sacrifices and sufferings.
Nations have already started advocating a political solution. The Secretary-General of the U.N.O. has been calling for a political solution to the SriLankan situation.
Based on the past experience and precedents, We are of the view that a political solution is in a referendum, which should be conducted under the U.N. Supervision among the Tamils in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka and Diaspora Tamils.
With this I conclude my brief speech. I once again, thank the Organisers for this opportunity to explain our stand in regard to Eezham Tamils, in an international forum. Thanking you!
The DMK was invited to the conference by Hazel Weinberg, Secretary, APPGT, which includes 20 British MPs drawn from all the three parties and the BTF.
The text of Thiru Stalin’s speech is hereunder.
Respected Chairman!
Esteemed Members of Britain Parliament, Councillors and Ministers!
Representatives of Diaspora Tamils! and Friends!
Greetings to every one of You.
To Start with, I express my deep gratitude to the Organisers, of this Conference, for the kind invitation extended to the D.M.K.
We feel duty-bound to participate in this Conference, being held in support of Eezham Tamils. We have been deputed by Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, President of D.M.K. D.M.K; a Regional Political Party of Tamil Nadu in India, has been raising its voice for the Cause of Eezham Tamils, for the last Fifty years. We organised Conferences and Conclaves, Demonstrations and Public Meetings, Rally’s and Human Chains, Fasting and Striking Work, to focus public attention on the problems of Eezham Tamils.
Infact, our Leader Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi formed an organisation called “Tamil Eezham Supporters’ Organisation (TESO), in 1985. The First Eezham War was going on then. The “TESO” was gradually converted into a mass movement to attract the attention of the Indian Nation.
After the close of the Fourth Eezham War, Our Leader Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, revived the “TESO” recently, to mobilise support nationally and internationally for the post-war problems of Eezham Tamils.
On 12.8.2012, a big public Conference was conducted by the “TESO” in Chennai. Representatives from various Countries participated in the Conference. Fourteen resolutions were unanimously passed, covering all aspects of the plight and problems of Eezham Tamils.
We prepared a Memorandum based on the resolutions and presented it to the United Nations Organisation on 1-11-2012 and to the United Nations Human Rights Commission on 6-11-2012, urging them to take action on the Human Rights violations and War-Crimes, Committed by the Sri Lankan Government.
The Conference, being held here today, is very timely. This will be helpful to draw the attention of the Nations of the World, to the problems of Eezham Tamils. We, therefore, Congratulate the Organisers of this Conference for their high aim and right target.
This History of Tamils in Sri Lanka is thousands of years old. Tamils are a National Race of SriLanka. They have a very ancient Language and a distinct culture. SriLanka is a declared democracy. Democracy does not differentiate between Majority and Minority. It does not confer more rights on the Majority and less rights or no rights on the Minority.
Tamils are a minority in Sri Lanka. Their aspiration is very simple. They want Equality, Dignity and Self-respect.
When Sinhalese Majority started suppressing the Tamils; When they decided to establish their own religious State; When they adopted ‘Sinhala only’ policy; and when they refused any of the democratic rights, employment opportunities and decent living to the Tamils; the Tamils revolted.
Between 1983 and 2009, there were four Eezham Wars in the Island-Nation. We have not seen anywhere in the History that the State engaged in a genocide of its own Citizens. Such tragedy took place in Sri Lanka. One Lakh and 25 Thousand Tamils fled from their homeland. 3 Lakh Tamils were internally displaced. 16 Thousand Tamils were reported missing. 90 Thousand Tamil-women were rendered widows. Lakhs of Tamils were killed. The entire world was a witness to the large-scale Human Rights violations and War-Crimes.
What the surviving Tamils demand is Fair play and Justice. They are awaiting an answer from the World-Community. They want a logical conclusion of all their sacrifices and sufferings.
Nations have already started advocating a political solution. The Secretary-General of the U.N.O. has been calling for a political solution to the SriLankan situation.
Based on the past experience and precedents, We are of the view that a political solution is in a referendum, which should be conducted under the U.N. Supervision among the Tamils in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka and Diaspora Tamils.
With this I conclude my brief speech. I once again, thank the Organisers for this opportunity to explain our stand in regard to Eezham Tamils, in an international forum. Thanking you!
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