Date:08 jan.2009
Title: IFT call upon 70 million world Tamil community to redouble it support to the Eelam Tamils
The International Federation of Tamils (IFT) has noted the recent statements and statements expressed by several members of the international community about the need for the Sri Lankan government to work towards a political solution, particularly in the context of the Sri Lankan armed forces occupying Kilinochchi, which was formerly the administrative headquarters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The reasoning behind this renewed call to initiate a political process is, in their view, a sure way to wean the Tamil people, both in the Tamil homeland and the Diaspora, away from the LTTE. Some have gone as far as to state that they do not advocate that the Sri Lankan government talk to the LTTE It should be noted that since these views had been expressed, the Sri Lankan government has banned the LTTE IFT notes that in 1996 when the entire Jaffna peninsula which was then considered the administrative capitol of the LTTE, came undor tha occupation of they Sri Lankan State, the very same members of the international community made similar calls or the then government to commence a political process, which they hoped would alienate the Tamil people from the LTTE. Like at present the Sri Lankan State responded by banning the LTTE and pursuing a military solution in the name of “War for Peace. The reasoning expressed then was the same as the present. Such calls went unheeded then, as will be the case now In this regard IFT wishes to state the following The Sinhala Nation that comprises a permanent majority of 75 % of the population in the island of Sri Lanka, and which practices Sinhala Buddhist Ethno Nationalism, is the custodian of the Sri Lankan State. This brand of Sinhala Buddhist Ethno Nationalism insists that the entire island of Sri Lanka belongs only to the Sinhala people. It is for these reasons that all peaceful efforts by the Tamil political leadership to negotiate political arrangements ta live with the Sinhalese as equals, consistently failed It is after over 30 years of such failure that all the Tamil political parties united to pass the 1976 Vattukkoddai resolution which called on the Tamil people to struggle for the recognition of the separate sovereignty of the Tamil Nation and the creation of the State of Tamil Eelam The fact that this very same resolution when put before the Tamil people at the 1977 General Election by the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) received a clear mandate is well known.
Currently the struggle to realize the 1977 mandate al the Tamil people is being spearheaded by the LTTE. That the LTTE are considered by theTamils to be there authentic representatives is clear from the overwhelming support received by the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) at consecutive elections December 2001 and Aprl 2004, where the Tamil people were specifically asked by the TNA to endorse the LTTE as their authentic representatives.
At the core o the Tamil peoples struggle tor the creation of a separate state and by extesion, heir suppor for the LTTE, is their strong belief that not only is it morally justified in order for them to live as a free people with dignity, but also that equally important practical reasons exist. It is the latter that this statement wishes to address As mentioned earlier. the brand of Sinhala Buddhist Ethanol Nationalism that is entrenched in the Sinhala peoples’ collective psyche is one of the Sri Lankan State being the exclusive possession of the Sinhala people. This being the case, the Tamil people creating the realities of a second power centre to that of the Sinhalese on the island becomes fundamentally important, as it is by presenting to the Sinhala State such a fait accomplice- the State of Tamil Eelam can the Tamils expect the Sinhala Nation to negotiate with it as an equal It is also through such a process can the Tamils hope to keep the Sinhala Nation focused on the essential political nature of the conflict and negotiate an acceptable solution. It is the considered view of IFT that such a solution can only be arrived at by the Tamil and Sinhala Nations pooling their separate sovereignties to associate with each other and build a common identity, premised on equality, respect and peace IFT wishes to point out. that whether it be the cry for Tamil Eelam, or tho formulation of the Thimphu Principles, or the creation of a de facto state, or the formulation of the ISGA propasals, at the core of all has been the need to create and have recognized a pawer centre for the Tamil Nation n order for it to be in a position to successfully negotiate wi the Sinhala Nation as equals. IFT strongly believes that it is only such a process that has a realistic prospect of ushering a just and durable solution to the conflict. It is also through such an approach can peace and stability be achieved in the island of Sri Lanka. It is precisely to prevent the Tamil Nation creating a secand power centre on the island that the Sri Lankan State has been keen to pursue policies that are genocida in nature. Whether it be State aided colonization of the Tamil homeland with an intention ot sinhalization; or be it the de-merger of the North-East; or the refusal to commence negotiations on the ISGA proposals: or the refusal to recognize the Tamils as constituting a Nation of People with the right to self-determination; or the overwhelming desire to pursue a military solution to the Tami National question; all stern from the need to prevent the Tamil Nation from creating the political, economic, social and legal reality of a second power center to theirs. It is in this context that IFT firmly believes that the international community shuld formally recognize the right of self-determination of the Eelam Tamil Nation. By doing so the international community will contribute politically in recognizing a separate power center for the Tamil Nation that is an essential prerequisite for meaningful negotiations to take place between the Sinhala Nation and the Tamil Nation in order to arrive a a just and durable solution to the current conflict IFT also takes this opportunity to call upon the over 70 million strong world Tamil community to redouble it support to the Eelam Tamils for their struggle to create the State of Tamil Eelam. IFT reiterates, that the future State of Tam will negotiate with the Sinhalese State of Sri Lanka to create a mutually acceptable relationship whereby both Peoples pool their sovereignties to associate with each other for purposes of mutual benefit