Geneva- The International Federation of Tamils (IFT) in a statement released from Geneva, Switzerland has expressed its appreciation to the people and the leaders of Tamil Nadu for supporting “the need to create a separate sovereign State of Tamil Eelam” and for stating that the “genocide of the Eelam Tamils must be stopped”.
IFT in this statement has appealed to them to formally recognize the rights to self-determination of the Eelam Tamils by passing a resolution in the Tamil Nadu State Assembly, and by doing so prevail upon the Government of India of same.
IFT also stated, for India’s own strategic and national security interests and for the strategic and national security interests of the Eelam Tamils, a sovereign State of Tamil Eelam is the only viable solution.
The statement in full:
International Federation of Tamils
18 Rue des Paquis,1201 Geneva, Switzerland
tel/Fax 00 41 22 7320 831 ift@bluewin.ch
20th of Oct.08
Appeal To The People And Leaders Of Tamil Nadu
The International Federation of Tamils recognizes that the People of Tamil Nadu through their Artists, political activists and political parties have risen in support of the Eelam Tamils at this crucial juncture. The various political parties in Tamil Nadu have expressed support ranging from “the need to create a separate sovereign State of Tamil Eelam” to recognizing “the right to self-determination of the Eelam Tamils”. The Tamil Nadu State Government has stated that the “genocide of the Eelam Tamils must be stopped”. The International Federation of Tamils (IFT) see these developments as positive and wish to express our appreciation to the people and the leaders of Tamil Nadu.
The India has shown a keen interest in the affairs of the island of Sri Lankan ever since the departure of the British in 1948. IFT notes that this interest has always manifested itself through Tamil Nadu.
Like in the case of India, some regional and other countries have also shown an interest in the island of Sri Lanka. These countries have been using the conflict between the Eelam Tamil Nation and the Sinhala State to their advantage. Due to the military and economic needs of the Sinhala State in wanting to prosecute the war against the Eelam Tamil Nation, opportunities have been plenty for these countries. There is little doubt that these developments are and will always be inimical to India’s strategic and national security interests. In this respect IFT wishes to quote the view expressed by the Political Head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Mr. B. Nadesan, to the Junior Vikadan published in Tamil Nadu:-
“The historical reality is that, whenever developments arose in the Indian Ocean region that was detrimental to India’s interest, the Sri Lankan State has always aligned itself with India’s rivals. The historical truth is also, that at these moments the Tamil people are the ones who have always voiced support for India and acted in a manner favorable to India. It is our hope that India’s policy makers deeply understand this fact. Instead of helping the Sinhala Nation, helping the Tamil Nation will be in India’s own security strength. At least in the future she must come forward to help her true allies.”
At the end of the “Gandhian” phase of the Eelam Tamils’ struggle, the then leader Mr. S.J.V. Chelvanayakam stated:-
“Throughout the ages the Sinhalese and Tamils in the country lived as distinct sovereign people till they were brought under foreign domination. It should be remembered that the Tamils were in the vanguard of the struggle for independence in the full confidence that they also will regain their freedom. We have for the last 25 years made every effort to secure our political rights on the basis of equality with the Sinhalese in a united Ceylon.”
“It is a regrettable fact that successive Sinhalese governments have used the power that flows from independence to deny us our fundamental rights and reduce us to the position of a subject people. These governments have been able to do so only by using against the Tamils the sovereignty common to the Sinhalese and the Tamils.”
“I wish to announce to my people and to the country that I consider the verdict at this election as a mandate that the Tamil Eelam nation should exercise the sovereignty already vested in the Tamil people and become free.”
( Statement made after winning the by-election for the Kankesanturai Parliamentary seat, held belatedly on 7 February 1975, two years after he had resigned the seat to seek a mandate for Tamil Eelam)
Thereafter, after several decades of armed liberation struggle of the Eelam Tamils, the current national leader Mr. Velupillai Pirapaharen stated:-
“On this day, when we remember our Heroes, I ask the entire Tamil speaking world to rise up for the liberation of Tamil Eelam. I wish to express my love and gratitude to you for your past participation in the building of our nation, bringing together your abundant intellectual, material, monetary and many other resources in the service of our nation and ask that you stand with us in the coming years of our freedom struggle.”
( Tamil Eelam National leader in his annual Heroes’ Day statement on 27 November 2007)
In view of the aforesaid, IFT wishes to state that, for India’s own strategic and national security interests and for the strategic and national security interests of the Eelam Tamils, a sovereign State of Tamil Eelam is the only viable solution. Accordingly, IFT wishes to appeal to the people and leaders of Tamil Nadu to formally recognize the right to self-determination of the Eelam Tamils by passing a resolution in the Tamil Nadu State Assembly, and by doing so prevail upon the Government of India of same.
(the end)
