Her Excellency, On behalf of Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, President of the D.M.K.

, and the TESO (Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation), we are meeting you today to submit this Memorandum, concerning the problems of Eelam Tamils. D.M.K. is a Political Party, recognized by the Election Commission of India. D.M.K. was started in

1949 and as such it is now 63 years old. The party has been working on the principles of Social Justice, Social Reforms, Empowerment of Wo m e n ,

Advancement of Backward, Poor and Down-trodden. D.M.K. was in power in the State of Tamil Nadu for 21 years. Though a regional party, it has been playing a key-role in the Indian national politics for well over a period of 20 years and in fact it has been a partner in the Indian Union Cabinet for nearly 17 years. Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi has been the unanimously elected President of D.M.K. for about 43 years. He is one of the Founder-Leaders of the party. He was the Chief Minister of the State of Tamil Nadu for five tenures running to 19 years. He is now the

Member of Tamil Nadu State Legislative Assembly for the 12 th time. Politics in Tamil Nadu State has been

revolving around him for over half-a-century now. He is a multi-dimensional personality. He is a convincing orator and prolific writer. He is a great administrator with a far-reaching vision. He is a Poet, Lyricist and Play-Wright. His entry marked a turning-point in the field of stage-plays. He brought about a revolutionary change in the field of cinema. He has to his credit tens and thousands of short stories, novels, poems, lyrics, articles on political and social themes, plays and cinema-scripts. He is responsible for a number of

social-reform measures in the State of Tamil Nadu and his contribution to the economic development of the State is gigantic. He is being looked upon as a tall

Leader of the Tamils living across the world. Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi, who has been raising his voice consistently for the rightful cause of Eelam Tamils from the year 1956, is also the Chairman of TESO (Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation), started to mobilize national and international support for Eelam Tamils.

I , M . K . Sta l i n , f o r m e r l y t h e D e p u t y C h i e f Minister of the State of Tamil Nadu and presently Treasurer of the D.M.K., and I, T.R. Baalu, formerly Indian Union Minister o f F o r e s t , E n v i r o n m e n t a n d S u r f a c e Tr a n s p o r t andpresently Leader of the D.M.K. Parliamentary Party, have come over here from Chennai, India to call on you, seeking your precious time and meaningful attention to the plight and problems of Eelam Tamils. Yours sincerely,

Geneva .11.2012

(M.K. Stalin)

(T.R. Baalu)

Memorandum on Sri Lankan Tamils Issue to the High Commissioner, UNHRC, Geneva.

The brutal civil war in Sri Lanka that resulted in the loss of lives of lakhs of Tamils will forever haunt our minds. The genocide that took place in Sri Lanka will remain as a terrible shame and stain in the history of mankind. It has shaken up the world community which is united and committed to prevent any such massacre in future. For more than five decades, our political party namely the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) which is now headed by me has been striving for the equality and rights of the Sri Lankan Tamils. Some of the steps taken by DMK party in this regard are detailed below: Fifty six years ago in 1956, the General Council of the DMK party passed a resolution moved by me demanding equal rights and peaceful living to the Eelam Tamils.

In 1958 the DMK conducted a grand procession in chennai protesting against the atrocities inflicted on Eelam Tamils by the Sinhalese. As early as 1961, the DMK General Council meeting held in Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu and passed a resolution requesting the Government of India to take up the issue of Eelam Tamils to the United Nations. In 1981, condemning the killing of the innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka the DMK organized an agitation all over Tamil Nadu in which myself and several leaders of our party were arrested. Eight members of the DMK party committed self-immolation and sacrificed their valuable lives for the cause of the Eelam Tamils. On 25th July 1983 when the Sinhala extremists b a r g e d i n t o t h e Ve l i k a d a i p r i s o n i n S r i L a n k a a n d butchered as many as 35 Tamils including Tamil front line leaders like Thangadurai, Kuttimani and Jegan. On hearing this, within a matter of hours, DMK mobilized as many as 800,000 people and organized a massive protest march in Chennai which drew international attention to this burning issue in Sri Lanka.
2

On 10 th August 1983, in order to create an effective impact and awareness amongst the entire nation, I resigned my membership of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly along with Prof. K. Anbazhagan, the General S e c r e t a r y o f o u r D M K pa r t y. S i n c e t h e r e w a s n o appreciable improvement in the pathetic conditions of Eelam Tamils, DMK decided to intensify and take up the issue from the regional level to the national level. Hence, DMK along with likeminded political parties started a new movement called the Tamil Eelam Supporters Organization (TESO) in 1985 to vociferously and unanimously express its anguish over the sufferings of Eelam Tamils and draw the immediate attention of the world community towards our demands. Subsequently the TESO held mammoth

processions, protest marches and public meetings in several parts of Tamil Nadu. My party successfully launched a massive campaign of collecting over 10 million signatures from the Indian Tamils and submitted the same to the United Nations pleading immediate intervention to restore normalcy in Sri Lanka and to protect the Eelam Tamils from the tyranny and atrocities of the oppressive Sinhalese Government.
3

The TESO organized the first national conference of TESO in 1986 at Madurai, which was attended by national leaders including the former Prime Minister o f I n d i a A . B . Va j pa y e e , t h e f o r m e r C h i e f M i n i s t e r s N.T Rama Rao, and H.N.Bahuguna, the former Union Ministers Murasoli Maran, Jaswant Singh, Dinesh Goswami a n d K . P. U n n i k r i s h n a n , a l o n g w i t h Ta m i l L e a d e r s K. Veeramani, P.Nedumaran, Sri Lankan Tamil leaders like A.Amirthalingam, Chandrahasan and leaders of liberation groups. This conference passed a resolution demanding protection of Eelam Tamils in their traditional homeland; and to ensure and extend justice, self respect and peaceful living to them. Further the resolutions passed in the TESO conference called upon the Government of India to raise t h e i s s u e o f t h e E e l a m Ta m i l s w i t h v i g o u r i n a l l international fora such as UN, NAM, CHOGM to find solution to the problems of the Eelam Tamils. When I was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, I along with Murasoli Maran M.P met the then Prime-Ministers of India, Rajiv Gandhi and Chandra Shekar and apprised them of the sad plight of Eelam Tamils and urged the Government of India to hold negotiations quickly with Sri Lankan Government and alleviate the sufferings of Eelam Tamils.
4

Deeply moved by the loss of innocent lives in the unending civil war in Sri Lanka, DMK passed a resolution on 5 th October 2008, in support of Eelam Tamils and forwarded it to the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and the Congress President Tmt. Sonia Gandhi. On 24 th October 2008, we conducted the longest human chain extending across all districts in Tamil Nadu and subsequently, a statewide general strike was also observed by the DMK. On 12 th November 2008 as Chief Minister I moved a resolution on the sufferings of of Eelam Tamils in the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu. On 4 th December 2008, an all-party delegation led by me went to Delhi and met the Prime Minister and impressed upon him to take necessary and immediate steps to stop the genocide in Sri Lanka. Above all, the DMK Government headed by me in Tamil Nadu has been dissolved twice by the Union Government of India in 1976 and 1991 for their continuing support to Eelam Tamils. On several occasions during the course of agitations I have been arrested along with thousands of DMK cadres.
5

After the end of the genocidal war in May 2009, I urged the Government of India to send a high-level parliamentary delegation to Sri Lanka and conduct an on-the-spot study to gain first-hand knowledge about the rehabilitation and resettlement process promised by the Sri Lankan Government to the Government of India; and also to assess the implementation of assistance given by the Government of India, to the war affected Tamils in Sri Lanka. On my demand, the Government of India deputed a delegation of Parliamentarians under the leadership of Mr. T.R. Baalu, MP Leader of the DMK Parliamentary Party. Accordingly, the delegation which included my daughter Tmt. Kanimozhi M.P., Thiru. T.K.S. Ilangovan, M.P., Thiru. A.K.S. Vijayan, M.P., Tmt. Helen Davidson, M.P., Thiru. Thol. Thirumavalavan, M.P., Thiru. N.S.V. Chithan, M . P. , T h i r u . J . M . H a r o o n , M . P. , T h i r u . S u d a r s a n a Nachiappan, M.P., and Thiru. K.S. Alagiri, M.P., visited IDP Camps in Sri Lanka, where they found IDPs crowded in inadequate tents, enclosed by barbed wire, and kept like cattles in deplorable conditions under the sun and rain with neither adequate roofing nor hygienic surroundings, t h e r e b y c a u s i n g o u t b r e a k o f e p i d e m i c s . Ta m i l s i n those camps suffer even without basic medical facilities. The Sri Lankan Government had also failed to adhere to
6

the internationally accepted standards for treatment of internally displaced persons. Upon receiving a report of the pathetic situation prevailing in the IDP Camps from Mr. T.R. Baalu, MP and the Parliamentary Delegation, I, once again, took up this matter with the Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, on the basis of which the Government of India extended various benefits to the Tamils in Sri Lanka. After having understood the pathetic scenario about IDPs, I made an earnest appeal to the people of Tamil Nadu, NGOs, especially to my party men, who generously donated clothes, medicines, money, utensils, etc, which were sent by ship through the International Committee of Red Cross to Sri Lanka on 13.11.2008, 22.04.2009 and 09.05.2009. Even those relief materials despatched by the DMK were not distributed to the suffering Eelam Tamils. So, once again I represented to the Government of India to provide financial aid and play an effective role in the rehabilitation of IDPs. But, to my shock, I came to understand that the assistance provided by the Government of India did not reach the intended beneficiaries but they were cornered by the Sinhalese. The Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa had gone on record promising to the Parliamentary delegation that he
7

will rehabilitate the 300,000 inmates of IDP camps by December 2009. But so far he has not fulfilled his promises. Therefore the DMK Party has been consistently raising its voice in Parliament to the Government of India to monitor the assistance provided and facilitate the quick rehabilitation of Sri Lankan Tamils. The continued post war sufferings of Tamils in Sri Lanka compelled us to revive TESO and organize Eelam Tamils Rights Protection Conference on 12th August 2012 at Chennai. This International Conference was attended by the political party leaders and human rights activists from Sri Lanka, United States of America, United Kingdom, Sweden, Norway, Morocco, Nigeria, Turkey, Malaysia and Singapore as well as from India. In this conference, fourteen resolutions were adopted and passed on various issues pertaining to Sri Lankan Tamils questions. Specifically, the fourth resolution of the conference urges the Government of India to bring forth a UN resolution to bestow full rights to Tamils in Sri Lanka to decide for themselves their future political order. After 2009, in the Northern and Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka the Eelam Tamil population has faced serious large-scale human rights abuseswhich continued
8

unchecked. Under these circumstances we prefer this memorandum for your esteemed consideration and appropriate action in this regard. We would like to place the following human rights issues faced by the Eelam Tamils in Sri Lanka for your consideration: State-sponsored demographic change The houses, agricultural lands, industries and other properties of thousands of Tamils were forcibly taken from them and distributed to Sinhalese soldiers. Sinhala 1 families are being settled there in large numbers. Militarization of traditional Tamil areas: The Sinhalese army is being permanently stationed in Tamil areas, in the ratio of one soldier for every five Tamil civilians. There is a military camp in every village. 2 There are many guard posts at every intersection. Retired army officers are Governors of both Northern and Eastern Provinces. No public or social functions are allowed without military permission. Military controls most of the economic activities. It is engaged predominantly in the use of development aid, construction, hotels, eateries, petty trade and vegetable cultivation in the traditional lands of Tamils. Military over-rules the police in most cases, even though the police regularly report to the Ministry of Defence.
3

Land Grabbing Lands owned by the Eelam Tamils were forcibly grabbed during the long war period. Government and its military are in total control of land dispute resolution and ordering disputed land titles to Sinhalese. The news that the Sri Lankan Government and its military are promoting illegal emigration of Tamils through human trafficking and usurping their land titles are found to be true. Declining Political Representation. Tamil political representation has been declining since independence due to gerrymandering, statesponsored demographic change and disenfranchisement of voters Displacement Officially, 125,000 Tamils fled from their homeland 4 during the final phase of the war in 2009. One third of Tamils had already fled the island due to genocidal oppression. Almost one million Tamils remain overseas, of which 200,000 are in India, mostly in the refugee camps.
5

Disappearances/extrajudicial executions Thousands of Tamils have disappeared in the Eastern area since it was taken over by the Sinhalese
10

Government in 2007. The International Committee of Red Cross reports that 15,780 persons are missing in the Northern Province. Disappearances and extrajudicial executions continue in the North and in Colombo with total impunity, mostly directed towards Tamils. Indefinite detention without trial Thousands of Tamils are being held for many years without trial either under Prevention of Terrorism Act or without any legal sanction. Exploitation of Religious freedom Buddhism has been declared as a state religion and large scale destruction of Hindu temples, Christian churches and Islamic mosques continue to be encouraged. For example, 1500 Hindu temples were converted as Buddhist vihars while the churches and mosques are occupied by the Sinhala army men. Pathetic Condition of Tamil Women Vu l n e r a b l e p o p u l a t i o n a r e t h e Ta m i l w o m e n . The condition of Tamil women in Sri Lanka is very pathetic. The oppressive military campaign that ended in May 2009 left an estimated 90,000 Tamil war widows. Tamil women are particularly targeted and exploited by the Sinhalese
11

army men. Violent and forced sexual abuses by the Sinhalese military men make womens security a major issue.

Restrictions on trade and commerce The Sinhalese Government is following a discriminatory trade policy favouring Sinhalese traders only. The Tamil merchants are neglected and penalised. The Sinhalese army is entrenched in all areas of civilian life and has taken over the economy. Even saloons are captured and run by the army men. Hence, there is no space for economic revival of Tamils. For instance, the highway from Jaffna to Colombo, A-9, previously used by the Tamil merchants, is at present totally controlled by the Sinhalese ex-servicemen. Even sign boards along the A-9 which were used to be bilingual are now only in Sinhala language.

Restrictions on NGO access Overt and covert restrictions by the Sinhalese Government prevent NGO access to Tamils of the island nation. The International Committee of Red Cross was asked to close its offices in the Northern Province in 2010.

12

Sufferings of the Tamil Children Tamil children continue to struggle from the effects of years of discrimination and an oppressive war thrust upon them. Tamil areas have twice the rate of infant mortality as that of the rest of the island , 40% of children under 5 years of age are malnourished and are underweight compared to 20% in the rest of the island , and maternal mortality is four times that of elsewhere .
9 8 7

Social discrimination No social functions and religious ceremonies can be organized without the prior approval of the army which are usually denied. Tamils cannot even host anyone in their house without the armys consent.

Tamil Language, Education and Culture The identity of culture and pride of language and Tamil education, are ridiculed by Sinhala fanatics who are trying to eradicate the cultural and linguistic identity of Tamils. The Tamil language is not given due importance on par with Sinhala language. The past administrations have failed to consider Tamil as an official language.

13

The above mentioned acts of genocide and heinous war crimes unleashed against unarmed innocent Tamil civilians bear shameful testimony to the widespread human rights violations in Sri Lanka. Now, how will the civilized world help to heal the wounds of extended civil war and put an end to the decades-old sufferings of Tamils in Sri Lanka? Is it not the duty of every right thinking individual, international humanitarian organization and elected Government to answer the cries of Tamil brothers and sisters in Sri Lanka? I am deputing Mr. M.K. Stalin, M.L.A., Former the Deputy Chief Minister of the State of Tamil Nadu and Mr.T.R.Baalu, M.P., Leader of the D.M.K. Parliamentary party in Indian Parliament with extraordinary hope from the homeland of Gautama Buddha, MK Gandhi and Thiruvalluvar who are universal icons for brotherhood, peace and justice, to submit this memorandum to UNHRC a forum which takes great pride in upholding international humanitarian laws.

14

In the light of the above mentioned facts, we request Your Excellency to initiate immediate and appropriate action on the following: 1. Immediate withdrawal of security forces and restoration of habitations to Tamils. Rehabilitation and resettlement of displaced Tamils. Conduct an impartial inquiry by an international agency on the human r i g h ts v i o l a t i o n s a n d w a r c r i m e s committed against the Eelam Tamils. Restore dignified life to Tamils living in Sri Lanka.

2.

3.

4.

27.10.2012 Chennai

(Dr. M. Karunanidhi) President, DMK party and TESO

Encl : C.D. of Memorandum (Beats of Bleeding Hearts)

15

(Footnotes) 1 http://www.cbsl.gov.lk/pics_n_docs/10_pub/_docs/statistics/ other/econ_&_ss_2012.pdf Results of the 2012 census are not yet widely available. http://articles.janes.com/ articles/Janes-Sentinel-Security-Assessment-South-Asia/ Demography-Sri-Lanka.html 2 International Crisis Group, Sri Lanka: Denial of Minority Rights, March 16, 2012 http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/ regions/asia/south-asia/sri-lanka/219-sri-lankas-north-i-thedenial-of-minority-rights.aspx Economic & Political Weekly , Mumbai, India, Vol - XLVII No. 28, July 14, 2012http://www.epw.in/insight/notes-militarypresence-sri-lanka%E2%80%99s-northern-province.html International Crisis Group, Sri Lanka: Rebuilding Under the Military, March 16, 2012 http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/ regions/asia/south-asia/sri-lanka/220-sri-lankas-north-iirebuilding-under-the-military.aspx UNHRC, Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre, Dec. 31, 2011 IRIN, Jan 12, 2012 http://news.yahoo.com/sri-lanka-tamilrefugees-slowly-return-india-133045325.html http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=35418 Prof. KolithaWickramage for WHO, Recovery of the postconflict health system in North East Sri Lanka, 2004 WFP http://www.wfp.org/countries/Sri-Lanka/Overview
16

7 8

List of perosns engaged in International Aids forced to leave Sri Lanka in 20082009 October 2008 Italian aid worker for Dutch relief agency ZOA expelled after challenging the government order to quit rebel territory. Food

December 2008 J o h n C a m p h e l l o f W o r l d Programme forced to leave.

Nobert Ropers, head of the Bergh of Foundation for Conflict Studies, asked to leave Sri Lanka. The British head of Solidar, a consortium of NGOs, ordered to leave within seven days. May 2009 Gordon Weiss, UN spokesman, threatened with expulsion for describing the last three weeks of war as a bloodbath. A British employee of Norwegian NGO Forut stopped from re-entering Sri Lanka. Two internationals, including a Briton, working for Care International forced to leave after their visas were not extended.
17

June 2009

Head of Forut Ranvei Tvetenes deported for refusing to hoist a Sri Lankan flag on her office, which she felt violated its neutrality. International Committee of the Red Cross asked to close two offices. Peter McKay of the UN Office for Project Services expelled after working on collecting casualty statistics from sources inside the war zone.

July 2009

September 2009 U N I C E F s p o k e s m a n J a m e s E l d e r expelled after speaking about children going through an unimaginable hell in the war zone. After the war, visas were not renewed for dozens of foreign aid workers. New rules prevented them staying in Sri Lanka for more than three years. As a result The Times reported that A Briton working for the Norwegian Refugee Council, an Ethiopian working for the Save the Children Fund, and three foreign members of staff, were forced to leave Sri Lanka. April 2009 S w e d i s h F o r e i g n M i n i s t e r C a r l B i l dt refused a visa for Sri Lanka. June 2009 Canadian MP Bob Rae denied entry at the airport and deported.
18

Recorded Killings of Journalists and Media Workers, Between April 2004 March 2009 Source : Journalists fro Democracy in Sri Lanka. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Aiyathurai A.Nadesan, journalist, 31 May 2004 Kandaswamy Aiyer 16 August 2004 Lanka Jayasundera, 11 December 2004 Balanadaraj, photo w r i t e r,

journalist,

Dharmaratnam Sivaram, editor, 28 April 2005 K a n n a m u t t u A r a s a k u m a r, 29 June 2005 media w o r k e r,

Relangee Selvarajah, journalist, 12 August 2005 D. Selvaratnam, media worker, 29 August 2005 Yo g a k u m a r K r i s h n a p i l l a i , 30 September 2005 Media w o r k e r,

L.M. (Netpittimunai) Faleel, writer, 2 December 2005

10. K. Navaratinam, media worker, 22 December 2005 11. S u b r a m a n i a m Suhirtharajan, 24 January 2006 journalist,

12. S.T. Gananathan, owner, 1 February 2006 13. Bastian George Sagayathas, media worker, 3 May 2006 14. R a j a r a t n a m R a n j i t h K u m a r, m e d i a w o r k e r, 3 May 2006
19

15. S a m p a t h L a k m a l 2 July 2006

de

Silva,

journalist, worker

16. M a r i a d a s a n M a n o j a n r a j 1 August 2006 17. P a t h m a n a t h a n 2 August 2006

media

Vismananthan, media

musician, w o r k e r,

18. S a t h a s i v a m Baskaran, 15 August 2006

19. Sinnathamby Sivamaharajah, media worker, 20 August 2006 20. S. Raveendran, media worker, 12 February 2007 21. S u b r a m a n i a m Ramachandran, personnel, 15 February 2007 media

22. Chandrabose Suthakar, journalist, 16 April 2007 23. Selvarasah Rajeevarman, journalist, 29 April 2007 24. Sahadevan Neelakshan, journalist, 1 August 2007 25. Anthonypillai Sherin Siththiranjan, media worker, 5 November 2007 26. Va d i v e l Nimalarajah, 17 November 2007 media w o r k e r,

27. Isaivizhi Chempian (Subhajini), media worker, 27 November 2007 28. Suresh Limbiyo, media worker, 27 November 2007 29. T.Tharmalingam, media worker, 27 November 2007
20

30. P a r a n i r u p e s i n g h a m D e v a k u m a r, j o u r n a l i s t , 28 May 2008 31. Rasmi Mohamad, journalist, 6 October 2008 32. Rasiya Jeynthiran, journalist, October 2008 33. Lasantha Wickrematunga, editor, 8 January 2009 34. P u n n i y a m u r t h y S a t h y a m u r t h y, 12 February 2009 journalist,

35. Sasi Mathan, media worker, 5 March 2009 36. M a h a l i n g a m 13 March 2009 Maheswaran, journalist,

37. Anton, media worker, March 2009 38. Rajkumar Denesy, media worker, 9 April 2009 39. Jeyaraja Susithara (Suganthan), media worker, 25 April 2009 40. M a r i y a p p u A n t h o n e y k u m a r, m e d i a w o r k e r, 14 May 2009 41. T h u r a i s i n g h a m 14 May 2009 Tharshan, media w o r k e r,

42. Isai Priya alias Shoba, journalist, 18 May 2009 43. T. Thavapalan, journalist, 19 May 2009 44. P r a g e e t h Ekneligoda, Journalist cartoonist, disappeared 24 January 2010. In addition, more than fifty journalists exiled.
21

and

Attacks on Hospitals Source : Human Rights Watch 15 December 2008 Mullaitivu General Hospital : shelling 19 December 2008 Mullaitivu General Hospital : five shells hit hospital 20 December 2008 Mullaitivu General Hospital : shells hit hospital grounds 22 December 2008 Kilinochchi General Hospital : aerial bombing near hospital 25 December 2008 Kilinochchi General Hospital : shells hit hospital grounds 30 December 2008 Kilinochchi General Hospital : shells hit hospital 8 January 2009 Tharmapuram Hospital : shells hit seventy-five metres away Valipunam Hospital : shells land in hospital yard Valipunam Hospital : shells hits hospital Va l i p u n a m H o s p i t a l : s h e l l s h i ts hospital compound
22

19 January 2009

21 January 2009 22 January 2009

26 January 2009

Uddayarkattu Hospital : shells hit hospital PTK Hospital : shrapnel from shells hits hospital PTK Hospital : three attacks shrapnel and shells PTK Hospital : shell hits hospital PTK Hospital : two attacks on hospital Ponnamopalam Memorial Hospital : shelling Puttumatalam Hospital : shell hits nearby, causing damage to wall Puttumatalam Hospital : shelling Puttumatalam Hospital : RPG hits inside the compound Puttumatalam Hospital : RPG in front of building and two shells nearby Puttumatalam Hospital : several shell attacks Puttumatalam Hospital : heavy shelling and gunfire, hundreds injured
23

31 January 2009

1 February 2009

2 February 2009 3 February 2009 5 February 2009

9 February 2009

10 February 2009 16 March 2009

23 March 2009

9 April 2009

20 April 2009

21 April 2009 23 April 2009

Valayanmadam Hospital : aerial attack Mullivaikkal Hospital : three shells hit hospital

28 April 2009

Mullivaikkal Primary Health : heavy shelling and aerial attacks

29 April 2009 30 April 2009 2 May 2009

Mullivaikkal Hospital : shelling Mullivaikkal Hospital : shelling Mullivaikkal Hospital : two shell attacks

Source : International Committee of the Red Cross 24 January 2009 Uddayarkattu Hospital : hit by two shells, five dead, twenty-seven injured 7 February 2009 PTK Hospital : video shows attack, date not confirmed 12 May 2009 Mullivaikkal Hospital : shell attack killed admin officer and others 13 May 2009 Mullivaikkal Hospital : video shows attack, date not confirmed.

24

Damges and Casualities in Churches in Sri Lanka Number of Catholics in Sri Lanka : 1.4 million (7 percent of the population) Number of priests and nuns inside the war zone in February 2009 : approx. 60.

Casualties Among Catholic Clergy in 2007-9 War : Father Francis Joseph, disappeared after surrendering in May 2009, presumed dead Father Mariampillai Sarathjeevan, died 18 May 2009 Father James pathinathan, injured April 2009 Father Vasanthaseelan, leg amputated April 2009 Father Karunaratnam (Killi), died due to claymore attack 2008 Father Pakkiyaranchith, died due to claymore attack 2007 Sister Louise, shot in leg February 2009

25

Churches Damaged or Destroyed in Fighting 2008-9 : Paranthan Church, damaged Dharmapuram Church, damaged Vishwamadu Church, damaged Puttumatalam Church, destroyed PTK Church, destroyed Iranapalai Church, destroyed Mullaitivu Church (just rebuilt after being badly damaged in tsunami) Alambi Church, damaged Mohamalai Church, destroyed Valayanmadam Church, damaged Mullivaikkal Church, destroyed Convents damaged : Kilinochchi PTK Paranthan Holy Cross Rosarian Community Convent Mullangavil
26

Disappearances of Tamils Sri Lanka has the second highest number of unresolved disappearances in the world, after Iraq. As of 6 February 2012, the number of disappeared in Sri Lankd in 12,460. Disappearance of Tamils after the Surrender in May 2009 20 cases (Human Rights Watch) 32 cases, including groups of people (UN, Report of the Secretary-Generals Panes of Experts on Accounting in Sri Lanka) 1,379 written complaints of disappearance (Sri Lanka governments Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission). The Commission said 21 of the disappeared were abducted by Tigers and 1,028 arrested by the army. Number of Ongoing Disappearances According to Media Reports Collected by the Groundviews Website : October 2011 November 2011 December 2011 January 2012 February March 2012
27

4 7 10 6 14 15

Missing in 2011 : 17 January 4 March 1 May 20 May 2 June 26 June 28 July Two schoolboys abducted by men in a white van in Mannar Thushara Jararatne, a final-year Law College student, was abducted Jaffna teenager Thiruchelvan Kajeedan reported missing in Colombo Diluxon Anandarajaha reported missing in Batticaloa Malathi, a fifteen-years-old girl, abducted Balachandran Satkurunadan abducted and killed in Jaffna Human-rights activist Pattani Razeek found dead after being reported missing in February 2010 Businessman Kapila Chaminda Bandara abducted in Mugegoda Fish trader abducted in Dematagoda Jaffna University student Vetharaniyam Latheesh reported missing Ruwan Chandimal Navy Ruwan reported missing Businessman Christopher Fernando abducted in Kotahena A Tamil youth reported abducted in Jaffna
28

13 November 21 November 29 November 3 December 5 December 6 December

Widows who lost their husbands in Sri Lankan Civil War Government Figures Female-headed Households : Vavuniya Mullaitivu Kilinochchi Jaffna Mannar Batticoloa Ampara Tricomalee Total 3,989 3,364 6,044 2,451 3,233 26,965 235 14,435 60,716

Children in Orphanages : Vavuniya Mullaitivu Mannar Kilinochchi Total

29

1,095 80 309 343 1,827

Figures from the Deputy Minister of Womens Affairs of the Provincial Council of the East : East North Total 46,000 widows 40,000 widows 86,000 widows

Figures from Child Development and Womens Affairs Minister of Sri Lanka, Tissa Karalliyadda : East42,565 widows (though not all due to war) North Total United Nations Figures : 29,742 widows in the Jaffna Peninsula, of whom: 89 1,190 2,945 4,506 7,034 13,978 Less than 20 years old 21-30 years old 31-40 years old 41-50 years old 51-60 years old 60+ years old 19,936 widows 59,000+ widows

The Centre for Women and Development, Jaffna Survey North : 40,000 female-headed households. Over half are single parents under 30 years supporting their own and extended families.
30

Disabled in the North-East of Sri Lanka Source : Sri Lankan Governments Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission Vavuniya Mullaitivu Kilinochchi Jaffna Mannar Batticoloa Ampara Tricomalee Total 2010 1,255 1,561 2,436 4,432 1,337 1,797 163 3,375 16,326 14,324 soldiers disabled due to war, according to Sri Lankan Army Commandar.

Asylum Seekers Australia As of 30 November 2011 tion (including 6 children) European Union 2010 6,480 asylum applications from Sri Lankans 2011 First Quarter - 1,915 application from Sri Lankans (1,395 rejected) of which 990 (52 percent) in France (625 rejected), 565 in UK (470 rejected), 140 Germany, 60 Netherlands, 50 Belgium, 110 other
31

355 Sri Lankans in deten-

242 in the community (including 89 children)

UK Sri Lanka is among the top ten countries of origin of asylum seekers. 2007 9 9 0 2008 1,475 2010 1,357 2011 1,758 (1,289 refusals) In Detention End 2011 7 1 Canada Refugee claimants of Sri Lankan origin 2008 3,297 2009 2,758 2010 2,778 Permanent residents of Sri Lankan origin accepted 2008 4,509 2009 4,269 2010 4,181

As of 2001, 87,305 Canadians were born in Sri Lanka, compared to less than 150 in 1983 before the civil was escalated. It is estimated that 200,000 Sri Lankan Tamils live in Canada, making it the largest Sri Lankan diaspora in the world, with Toronto the largest diaspora city. Sri Lanka January 2012 156,000 internally displaced persons inside Sri Lanka (Source : UN High Commission for Refugees)
32

TESO

CONFERENCE

RESOLUTIONS

(12-8-2012 - CHENNAI, INDIA.)

Resolution - 1 : This Conference expresses its gratitude to the Nations, which voted in favour of the Resolution passed in the Human Rights Council of the U.N.O. in May, 2012. The Resolution was based on the report of the Expert Committee, appointed by the U.N.O. for enquiring into the Genocide and Human Rights Violations in Sri Lanka. The Report was given to the U.N.O. in April, 2011. This Conference requests the Human Rights Council of the U.N.O. to appoint a Supervisory Committee to oversee whether the Sri Lankan Government takes determined action as urged in the Resolution passed in the Human Rights Council of the U.N.O. Resolution - 2 : There was mass-killing of Tamils in Sri Lanka during May, 2009. There was bombing in the areas This was

notified as Safety-Zones and Hospitals.

33

unprecedented and had not happened in any other war and therefore it should be called a State-sponsored Terrorism. Efforts to obliterate all traces of war-crimes

were taken, so that the outside world do not come to know of them. All these details have been made clear in the Report of the Three Member Team, headed by Darusman of Indonesia and constituted by Ban-ki-Moon, Secretary General of the U.N.O. Even after a year since the Report was released, an Independent International Team of Experts has not been formed to examine the War-Crimes. The Tamil Race, which has lost several thousands of lives, has now reached a stage to raise its voice demanding Justice. This Conference urges the U.N.O. to appoint an International Committee on behalf of the Human Rights Council of the U.N.O. to go into the War-crimes and punish those found guilty of crimes.

34

Resolution - 3 : Sinhalisation of traditional Tamil areas is part of an evil design of the Sri Lankan Government, which has taken efforts to demolish the Tamils cultural roots, apart from their endeavour to wipe out the Tamils way of living based on geographical factors. Eelam Tamils educational institutions and the famous Jaffna Library were destroyed by the Sri Lankan Army. Hindu Temples, Mosques and Churches are being Tamil Name boards in shops and in Sinhala Language. attacked and demolished and traces of Tamils language is being mangled. changed and business establishments and Tamil names of roads are re-written Sinhalisation of the names of places has become certain. In the North and East areas, the Sri Lankan Government. Sri Lankan Tamils have been preserving their unique identity for a very long time. It is most condemnable that the Sri Lankan Government, while calling itself a democratic State, have been indulging in violent activity, which even the British did not have the courage to do and the world would not approve.
35

infrastructural facilities

required for settling Sinhalese are being constructed by

This Conference, therefore, appeals to the U.N.O., which is the representative institution of the Nations of the World, to immediately put an end to the atrocities of the Sri Lankan Government. Resolution - 4 : India has the Duty, Right and Responsibility to undertake measures for ensuring peace and equality in the neighbouring Sri Lanka. Indian Government has been protecting a

number of Nationalities, Religions and Languages, as required by its democratic traditions. But contrary to this

Indian situation, in the neighbouring Sri Lanka, there is no protection for the Tamil Nationality, Religion and Language. Therefore this Conference points out to the

Indian Government that a question has naturally arisen in the hearts of Tamils as to why the Indian Government has been silent on the undemocratic developments in Sri Lanka. The Indian Government should, therefore, take all necessary steps to ensure a total change of environment in Sri Lanka and a life of equality and peace to the
36

Sri Lankan Tamils, by redeeming their political, economic and cultural rights. This conference urges the Government of India to bring forth a resolution in the U.N.O., for bestowing full right to the Tamils in Sri Lanka to decide the political solution themselves, which they have been demanding. Resolution - 5 : Most of the Tamils in the North and the East of Sri Lanka have been eking out their living under trees and in open places and are left to the favour of their relatives. The financial assistance given to those leaving the camps is very small. basic needs. and houses These families have to struggle for their As there is no job available for them to do, Lands of Eelam Tamils are forcibly grabbed.

the re-settled Tamils are put to hellish agonies.

Several thousands of acres of land owned by Tamils in areas like Sambur, Mannar and Vavuniya have been taken by force. This Conference, therefore, urges the U.N.O. to formulate measures to put an end to such cruelty, forcing the Tamils to live in their own force.
37

Home-land as

refugees, since their traditional lands were snatched by

Resolution - 6 : Today in Sri Lanka the presence and power of the army are more predominant than democratic system of Government. The army has taken over a very large

number of houses of the Tamils for their activities. The army has brought vacant houses under its control and has been refusing to vacate. No social function could

be held in the houses of Tamils in the North and East without the permission of the army. Only the army men are appointed as District Administrators and Government functionaries there. Tamil Eelam today looks like an army-camp. There is no way out for the Tamils to air their grievances, talk or peacefully agitate in the absence of democratically-elected local bodies. They are under constant panic.

Number of Tamil youth have disappeared under mysterious circumstances. Many Tamils are subjected

to untold agony and suffering in the Torture-Camps. Tamil women are put to all kinds of abuses by the Army. children are kept in full glare of the guns. perpetual f e a r, having been Tamil

They live in by the

a ff e c t e d

violence unleashed by the army.

38

The Annual Statement for 2011 released by the External Affairs Ministry of the U.K. says that about 90 thousand Tamil women have been widowed, as a consequence of the War. Their future has become bleak. As a further threat to their lives, the army are putting them to torturous treatments and abuses. This Conference, therefore, pleads with the U.N.O. and Nations of the World, to bring pressure on the Sri Lankan Government to withdraw the army from the Tamil areas immediately. This conference further requests the U.N.O., to constitute an International committee to directly supervise withdrawal of the army. Resolution - 7 : The Trade and Commercial Life of Eelam Tamils suffers at the hands of Sinhalese due to their interference and intimidation. The army has encroached

all the areas of Civil life and brought the economy under its control. Activities like farming, vegetable trade,

hotels, restaurants and barber-shops have been taken over by the Army. There were before many shops with But

sellers on the A-9 Highway from Jaffna to Colombo.

now all those shops have been encroached upon by the

39

Ex-Sinhalese army men. Sinhalese shops have come up in the areas of Nallur Kandaswamy Temple. Tamils resources in Tamil Eelam areas are being exploited. Sinhalese are mining lime-stone available in plenty in the Northern areas and taking them away. Sand and forest wealth have started moving towards the South from the Northern and Eastern Areas. Rights of minerals endowed by nature to the sons of the Soil are being gravely violated. Sinhala-fishermen are being settled in the areas traditionally under occupation by the Tamil-fishermen in the coastal areas of the North and East. This has affected the livelihood of Tamil fishermen. Sinhalese forcibly settled in Tamil areas should be sent back and Tamils should again be declared as the rightful owners of the natural resources, trade and commerce. This conference appeals that the U.N.O. should urge the Sri Lankan Government to take steps immediately to restore normalcy in the life of the Tamils. Resolution - 8 : U.N.O. should take steps to entrust to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees the Tamils,
40

who had fled, fearing attacks of the army in the Eelam areas and the Tamils living in distress in various countries as refugees and the Tamils, who are put in prisons abroad, as they had left their own country and did not have proper documents. Further, this conference requests the U.N.H.C.R. to initiate steps for the grant of required financial aid and travel documents. Resolution - 9 : Tamils in Eelam areas should be given all required fundamental rights of living and democratic rights. This Conference considers that the rehabilitation of Sri Lankan Tamils will be an eye wash and will remain a distant dream, unless violation of their basic rights is stopped.

Therefore this Conference firmly believes that only the following steps will enable Eelam Tamils to lead a life of dignity and self respect; (i) A referendum to decide the political future of the Sri Lankan Tamils should be conducted by the U.N.O. (ii) No race or people can survive or preserve their racial identity or language, if their culture is lost. The Sri Lankan Government should
41

e n s u r e p r o t e c t i o n o f Ta m i l c u l t u r e a n d language. But it is a saddening fact that the Sri Lankan Government have been taking all possible efforts to destroy Tamils culture and language. downgraded Tamil language is being Hence Eelam without bestowing on it the

status of official language.

Tamils and culture should be protected on par with the Sinhala language and culture. (iii) T h o u s a n d s o f Ta m i l s , w h o h a v e b e e n imprisoned, should be freed. (iv) Sri Lankan Tamils, who have gone to various countries of the world from their Home-land, leaving their traditional places of residence, out of sheer fear for their life should be allowed to freely and safely come and go to their mother-land without any restriction. (v) Fully-functioning schools and Universities, filling up of teacher-vacancies in all North and Eastern districts are priority needs for brightening the future of Tamil Children and improving their literacy. (vi) Medical facilities should be ensured with specialized services to the war-affected
42

people. Mental and neural depression and stress conditions, which are due to war and loss of family, should be addressed. ( v i I ) Ta m i l s h o u s e s , s h o ps , c o m m e r c i a l

complexes, schools, colleges and roads damaged by the Sri Lankan army should be repaired and restored. Rs. 500 crore granted by the Indian Government as rehabilitation assistance for the Tamils should be properly made use of for these works. This Conference appeals that India, in

co-ordination with the countries of the world, should come forward to play its primary role in implementing these demands. Resolution - 10 : It is our foremost duty to protect Indian fishermen from attacks on them by the Sri Lankan navy, while ensuring protection and relief to Sri Lankan Tamils. The un-armed and innocent Tamil fishermen are being mercilessly attacked by the Sri Lankan navy. shot at and killed. Sea. Their catch of fish is seized. They are Their fishing-boats are sunk in the

43

Ta m i l - f i s h e r m e n

are

being

treated

by

the

Sri Lankan navy in an inhuman manner. As the Katcha-Thivu, which was within the territories of India, was given with the Sri Lankan Government. Sri Lankan navy is harassing and attacking the Tamil Fishermen, even when they go near this area. This Conference urges the Government of India to put an end to this atrocity, by bringing Katcha-Thivu under its control and establishing an Indian navy unit to be stationed at Dhanushkodi. Resolution - 11 : A threatening announcement has been made on behalf of the Sri Lankan Government that this Conference, which is being conducted for the Protection of right to life and livelihood of Eelam Tamils, is unlawful and that those going to Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka for participating in the conference are being watched. This conference strongly condemns the undemocratic attitude of the Sri Lankan Government.

***

44