SOUTH AFRICA URGED TO ACT AGAINST GENOCIDE OF TAMILS IN SRI LANKA

The South African Tamil Federation and the Solidarity Group for Peace and Justice in Sri Lanka have appealed to the South African Government to call for an internationally-sponsored and independent commission of inquiry into the genocide of more than 70 000 Tamils in Sri Lanka in 2009. The two groups made the call following reports that the United States, Britain and other countries will make a similar call at the next session of the UN Human Rights Council session in Geneva next month. JACOB ZUMA In a letter to the office of President Jacob Zuma, the SATF and the Solidarity Group said according to Tamil organisations in the United States, the US was planning to propose a resolution against Sri Lanka at the UN Human Rights Council session on the issue of accountability and a political solution for the Tamils in Sri Lanka. "The US Tamil organisations include the Federation of Tamil Sangams of the United States, Illankai Tamil Sangams, United States Tam Political Action Council and the World Thamil Organisation," said the two progressive organisations. "The US Tamil organisations believe that the US would bring in a stronger resolution, calling for an independent international investigation if they feel they will get support for such a resolution from countries such as South Africa and India. "In this respect, we call on the South African Government, which has always supported the struggles of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka, to openly call for an independent and international investigation now, when the resolution is still being drafted. An unambiguous position by our Government early in the process will clear the way to persuade other African, Asian and other countries to support such a strong resolution." SOUTH AFRICAN TAMIL FEDERATION The SATF said: "We, the SATF, which represents South Africans whose mother tongues are Tamil, plead with the Government to take the following actions: "1. To openly and publicly call for, and state its support for a resolution calling for an independent international investigation against Sri Lanka. "2. Urge the Goverment to include in the resolution a clear call to investigate Genocide, in addition to investigating war crimes and crimes against humanity. "3. Ensure that Tamil interests and South African interests are aligned and no attempt is made by the Government or its officials to weaken or water down any US-led resolution on Sri Lanka." ENDS - MS/SOUTH AFRICA