SRI LANKAN TAMIL STAKEHOLDERS FROM THE NORTH AND EAST OF THE ISLAND AND DIASPORA MEET IN DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA

(FORMER UN HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR HUMAN RIGHTS, MS NAVI PILLAY, ADDRESSING DELEGATES AT THE CONFERENCE)

(SOUTH AFRICA'S HIGH COMMISSIONER TO SRI LANKA, MR GEOFF DOIDGE, ADDRESSING THE DELEGATES. SEATED NEXT TO HIM IS MR ANIL SOOKLALL, DEPUTY DIRECTOR GENERAL IN THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS. THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CONFERENCE WAS MR KRISH GOVENDER, A FORMER POLITICAL ACTIVIST.) TAMILS HAVE CLEAR MESSAGE: WITHDRAW SOLDIERS AND STOP THE COLONISATION OF THE TAMIL HOMELANDS IN THE NORTH AND EAST OF SRI LANKA IN ORDER TO CREATE A CONDUCIVE CLIMATE FOR 'TALKS AND ABOUT TALKS" By Subry Govender The oppressed and subjugated Tamil people of Sri Lanka have called on the international community, including the South African Government, to engage the Sri Lankan Government in creating a conducive environment for initial "talks about talks" and ultimately for freedom, self-determination, liberation and peace in their traditional homelands in the North and East of the island country. This is one of the main features adopted in a declaration by stakeholders from inside the Tamil homelands and the Diasppora at the end of a two-day conference in the South African city of Durban held on November 6 and 7.

SOLIDARITY GROUP FOR PEACE AND JUSTICE The conference was organised by the Solidarity Group for Peace and Justice in Sri Lanka (SGPJ) with the full support of the South African Government. The delegates included members of political parties represented in the North Provincial Council; Tamil Civil Society Forum; Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE); British Tamil Forum(BTF); International Council of Eelam Tamils (15 Countries) (ICET); Thamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK); World Thamil Organization (WTO); and the United States Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC). DMK The conference also received the support of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the Naam Thamizhar Katchi in Tamil Nadu; and the International Movement for Tamil Culture (Africa – South Africa). The South African High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Mr Geoff Doidge, and senior officials of the South African Department of International Relations also attended the conference.

(SOME OF THE DELEGATES, INCLUDING MR VEL MURGAN FROM TAMIL NADU, WITH MRS NAVI PILLAY) MS NAVI PILLAY The former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Ms Navi Pillay, also attended, addressed and inter-acted with the delegates. The delegates, in the "Durban Declaration", noted that they were inspired by the struggles of the ruling ANC in South Africa for freedom and the ANC's solid support for the Tamil people's struggles for freedom and liberation. The delegates emphasised that a number of initial steps must be taken for permanent peace and justice to be realised. These include: * The withdrawal of soldiers from the North and East. Currently the delegates said there were about 150 000 soldiers deployed in the North - one soldier for every five people, and * The immediate suspension of the colonisation and Sinhalisation of the Tamil land in the North and East. The delegates called for the return of the land to the people. The main points reflected in the "Durban Declaration" are: (DELEGATES AT THE CONFERENCE IN DURBAN) VICTIM CONSULATATION PROCESS "The Government of Sri Lanka, which co-sponsored the UNHRC Resolution UN HRC/30/L/29 dated the 01 October 2015 on accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, has been sending out conflicting messages about their obligations under the resolution. Key members of government are downplaying the need for international participation in the accountability process and more particularly the setting up of a criminal justice mechanism as part of the transitional justice process. "The Sri Lankan Government should clearly outline the aims and objectives of the transitional justice process prior to the commencement of a credible victim consultation process. SYSTEM CRIMES AGAINST TAMILS "Successive Governments of Sri Lanka (including the incumbent) have been in denial of the systemic and structural nature of the crimes committed against the Tamils. The war and the systemic crimes perpetrated against the Tamil Nation were aimed at defeating its political demand for self-determination.

(DELEGATES AT THE CONFERENCE IN DURBAN) THERE MUST BE PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS "The public acknowledgement of systemic crimes committed with impunity against Tamils will be an important first step towards meaningful justice and lasting peace. The Sri Lankan Government should acknowledge resolutions passed by the Northern Provincial Council, the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu and other democratic institutions and governments that reflect the shared experiences of the Tamil people over the years. DE-MILITARISATION IS A PRE-CONDITION FOR ESTABLISHING A SAFE AND CONDUCIVE ENVIRONMENT "We are disappointed that the new Government continues to be in denial about the ongoing problem of militarisation of the North-East of Sri Lanka, including the occupation by armed forces of the Tamil homeland. "Militarisation impedes the return to normalcy, including the return of and safe access to land, restoration of livelihood for the Tamil people and is one of the primary reasons for ongoing sexual violence, harassment and exploitation of Tamil women and girls. "Hence, de-militarisation of the North-East is an important pre-condition for establishing a safe and conducive environment for, the victims and witnesses to take part in a victim consultation process. an informed, participatory and inclusive dialogue for a constitutional settlement to the National Question.

(DELEGATES AT THE CONFERENCE IN DURBAN) DE-PROSCRIPTION OF ALL INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANISATIONS "The continued proscription of the Tamil Diaspora by the Government of Sri Lanka is a serious obstacle towards the participation of members of the Diaspora community in engaging with their brethren in the homeland to collectively work towards justice, peace, reconstruction and socio-economic development. The Tamil Diaspora is a constituent element of the Tamil Nation. The de-legitimisation of a section of the Tamil community will obstruct an open and transparent process towards peace, justice and resolution of the National Question. The Sri Lankan Government must de-proscribe all Diaspora groups and individuals. Real political will and commitment has to be demonstrated to permit Diaspora engagement in the affairs of the North-East. REPEAL TERRORISM ACT "To create the necessary environment for exploring peace and justice in Sri Lanka the Government of Sri Lanka should also forthwith repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act and the 6th amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution, release a comprehensive list of detainees, release all political prisoners, disclose and close all secret camps and abandon the rehabilitation programme for ex-LTTE cadres. TORTURE, 'WHITE VAN' ABDUCTIONS, AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE MUST END

(MRS SALLY PADAYCHIE, WIFE OF THE LATE SOUTH AFRICAN CABINET MINISTER ROY PADAYCHIE, WITH MRS NAVI PILLAY AND SOME DELEGATES) "The Government should publicly acknowledge and act upon incidents of torture, intimidation, harassment, sexual violence and ‘white van’ abductions that continues to take place under the present Government, as documented in the OISL report and reported by international human rights groups, NGOs and Tamil civil society organisations in the North-East. The Government should also allow open and unimpeded access for international NGOs and human rights organisations to the North-East to continuously operate and monitor the state of human rights and human security. " OPPRESSION AND SUBJUGATION MUST END IMMEDIATELY The Tamils in the North and East of the island have come under severe and sustained oppression after the end of the civil war in 2009 when the Sri Lankan regime and its soldiers are reported to have massacred between 40 000 and 140 000 people. The Tamils believe that until the perpetrators of the genocide are brought to justice by an international tribunal or the International Court of Justice there could be no permanent peace. Currently, the international community through the UN has given the Sri Lankan Government a chance to undertake an investigation through the involvement of international judges and other role players. The Tamils also believe that they should be given an opportunity through a referendum with international involvement to decide what kind of final political solution they would like to see in their traditional homelands.

(THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CONFERENCE, MR KRISH GOVENDER, LISTENING TO DELEGATES. MR GOVENDER IS A FORMER ANTI-APARTHEID ACTIVIST WHO STRUGGLED FOR FREEDOM ALONG WITH OTHER COMRADES) INDIA, US, UK AND OTHER COUNTRIES But whether the Singhala majority Sri Lankan Government is prepared to allow the Tamils to have their say is another question altogether. It's, therefore, vital that countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, India, South Africa, European Union, China, Japan, and Russia, not only fully support the just struggles of the Tamils for freedom, but also persuade the Sri Lankan Government to create the conducive environment for permanent peace and justice for the Tamils. They have suffered genocides, subjugation and denial of human rights, fredom and self-determination for far too long since the British granted independence to the island of Ceylon more than 60 years ago. The Tamils of Sri Lanka need to enjoy peace, freedom, and self-determination like all other nations in the world. - ends / Subry Govender