Tamils campaign for Human Rights in
British Parliament
by Dushy Ranetunge
(Excerpts from an article appearing in "the Island" on March
11th, 13th and 14th.)
The towering figure of Mr Vivekananthan, an ex-LTTE
activist from Germany stood at the public entrance to the
Palace of Westminster last Tuesday, 7th March 2006 at
5.30 pm. He thoroughly checked the identities of those who
were arriving for unquestionably the most important and
influential Tamil campaign meeting since the proscription of
the LTTE as a terrorist organisation by the British
Government.
Mr. Vivekananthan directed the participants through the
lobby that divides the House of Commons from the House of
Lords, to the Commons terrace marquee, which has
spectacular views of the River Thames and the buildings on
the South bank, including County Hall and the London Eye.
The list of invited speakers included Mr Barry Gardiner MP
and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for
competitiveness, responsible for Delivery and Efficiency; Mr
Andy Love MP, the Chairman of the British Parliamentary
group for Sri Lanka; Lord Toby Harris, who was appointed
by the Home Secretary as his nominee to the Metropolitan
Police Authority; Mr Jeremy Corbyn MP; Mr Edward Davy
MP; Mr Stephen Pounds MP; Mr Sadiq Khan MP; Mr Mike
Grapes MP, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select
Committee; and Ms Angela Ward MP.
This Tamil campaign meeting at the Palace of Westminster
was not aligned to either the LTTE or the Sri Lankan
government. Many had been former sympathisers and
apologists of the LTTE but had over the years realised that
Tamils had "jumped from the frying pan into the fire", by
opting for the LTTE.
Many Tamils at the event approached this correspondent
and requested that their identities be kept confidential. They
said, "If we remain anonymous we can do much more to
usher in peace to our country". They were fearful of LTTE
intimidation and assurances were given that the names of
those who wished to remain anonymous would not be
mentioned in this article.
Scottish Devolution
The opening address was by Barry Gardiner MP. He was
born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1957 and educated at two of
Britain's premier Universities, St Andrews and Cambridge. In
1983 he won the John F Kennedy scholarship to do
research at Harvard.
He said, "In one of the first gatherings of Tamils that I had
addressed several years ago, I spoke of a tiny Island off a
large continent that was split into two, that had great beauty
but its people had for generations been incapable of living
together. I then explained that the island to which I was
referring to was actually Britain, and I spoke as a Scotsman,
as somebody who comes from Scotland and who was born
in Scotland. The historic conflict between the Scots and the
English has gone on for over a thousand years in Britain.
But this government (Labour) was eventually able to broker
a settlement of devolution in the setting up of the Scottish
parliament. Ten years ago I spoke as a Scotsman of my
dream that one day it might be achieved and we have now
achieved it in this country and I hope that it gives you hope,
that these differences that have continued for so long are
not insuperable and that a general political settlement
acceptable to all sides can be achieved."
He spoke of the underlying problems with the ceasefire
agreement between the Sri Lankan government and the
LTTE having to be addressed. He mentioned his meeting
with President Rajapakse and the President's interest in the
British model of devolution. He highlighted the shift in
Colombo's thinking from an Indian style of federal structure
to a British style of devolution as a compromise solution
acceptable to all parties. He was confident that there were
things within the devolved administration in Britain that could
be used to take the political dialogue in Sri Lanka forward.
Tamils for democracy
Mr. Rajasingham Jayadevan, the leader of the Tamil
Democratic Congress addressed the gathering and stated
that there were Tamils, Muslims and Sinhalese present in
the audience and welcomed them all including the guest
speakers. He stated that meeting was very different from the
others that he had organised because the previous
meetings had been attended by only Tamils, but that
meeting had a multi ethnic representation.
He also emphasised that what was seen there was not one
Tamil group, but a formation of several Tamil groups. The
Island met ex-members of the LTTE, members of TULF,
PLOTE, ENDLF etc. There were also Tamils from Denmark
and Norway who were keen to follow developments in
London.
Mr Jayadevan stated that the meeting coincided with his
release by the LTTE who had held him in captivity in the
Vanni and released him on the 8th of March 2005 after
intervention by the British Authorities.
Mr Jayadevan is not a British citizen, but he is resident in the
United Kingdom.
He expressed his tireless resolve to help end Sri Lanka's
conflict peacefully, without further violence, which has
affected the Tamil community very badly.
This Tamil political movement has the support of the
international community. The LTTE's intransigence and
criminal and violent activity are trying the patience of the
international community which is beginning to encourage
alternative democratic political formations among the Tamil
Diaspora where the LTTE relies on for its funding and
logistics. This is a process that will isolate the LTTE and
deny it any political legitimacy.
Mr Jayadevan spoke of cyber terrorism from Norway,
referring to the LTTE site Nitharsanam.com, which is
controlled from Norway. He stated that he had been a victim
and that Mr Bazeer from the Muslim Information Centre had
also been a victim. Mr Bazeer had been portrayed as a
Osama Bin Laden supporter and various defamatory articles
written about him.
The LTTE has also defamed Mr Ramraj on the internet,
alleging that he had been convicted of narcotics offences,
after an altercation in Geneva before the Palais de Nations
last month. Mr Ramraj has not been convicted of any
narcotics offences. However, Mr Velummylum Manoharan,
who was the head of the LTTE International Secretariat in
Paris was convicted of narcotics offences in France.
Mr Jayadevan stated that a British MP had also been a
victim. Mr Gareth Thomas MP had made a speech and the
LTTE completely distorted his speech and published it
giving a completely different interpretation favourable to
them. Gareth Thomas MP is the Under Secretary of State in
the Department of International Development.
The Muslim Factor
Mr Sayed Bazeer, Chairman of the Muslim Information
Centre was the next to address the event. He stated that it
was his second visit to the British Parliament. He stated that
the first time he visited; it was for the propaganda of the
LTTE.
"The meeting was to pass a resolution and it to be
forwarded to the UN. Unfortunately the Muslims resisted
signing the resolution because the Muslims were
categorised as Tamil speaking people rather than Muslims.
As a result the organisers of the meeting gave up passing
the resolution."
"This time we are here under different circumstances in
which we are here to voice democracy as Tamils and
Muslims and even Sinhalese who are concerned about
democracy in Sri Lanka.
He thanked Barry Gardiner MP for raising concerns in the
British parliament about the ethnic cleansing of Muslims
from the North of Sri Lanka by the LTTE. He stated that this
meeting was being held in March, the same month in which
the Muslims were chased away from Jaffna.
"The magnitude of the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict is no longer
two dimensional, it is three dimensional," he added.
Quoting Raymond Whitaker from The Independent
newspaper of 2nd May 1993 he said, "It is not simply a
struggle between the Sinhalese who comprise 80% of the
nearly 16 million populations, and the Tamil minority. Some
of the worst massacres have been within the Sinhalese
community and both sides have at one time or the other
have persecuted the even smaller Muslim community"
He spoke of communal harmony between Tamils and
Muslims until 1990.
"From 1990 onwards, the LTTE had a plan in mind to make
the North and the East a mono ethnic region for the Tamils.
This was clearly explained by one of the veteran journalists
called Sivaram also known as Taraki. In 1993 Taraki wrote
"The LTTE's position on the Muslims has been made very
clear through their actions but their statements have as a
whole tended to be very vague. They usually blame one
group or the other working with the army. Although it is said
that the Tigers promised the Muslims chased from their
homes that they will be allowed to resettle in their homes
once the war was over, it is now apparent that cleansing the
North and the East of Muslims is a part of the Eelam project."
"Taraki wrote this article under the heading "The LTTE's
genocide of the Muslims" Here he used the word genocide,
but later became an LTTE sympathiser and editor of the
TamilNet and he was posthumously honoured by the leader
of the LTTE, Prabakaran as great man, in Tamil,
Maamanithar."
"This gives us an insight as to their Eelam project; the
expelling of the Muslims from the North and the killing the
Muslims in the east, in the mosques, in our villages, while we
were asleep, and while we were worshipping. This was mass
murder."
Bazeer asked, "What has the international community done
for these acts of genocide against the Muslims by the
LTTE?"
"The fact of the matter is that we are all victims of civil war
like our Sinhalese and Tamil brothers. Our rights enshrined
in the Universal declaration of human rights are frequently
breached by the LTTE".
"We are encouraged by the forces now emerging from within
the Tamils to campaign for democracy and fight for equality
of all communities. We see the emergence of Tamil
democratic forces in the United Kingdom and elsewhere as
harbinger to democratic values. Although being silent, a
sizable number of Tamil people long for a dignified peace in
Sri Lanka without being subjected to the will of the LTTE.
We view this kind of democratic movement as bringing
change to the culture and Tamil mindset."
He stated that Muslims were encouraged to be identified
with the newly emerging Tamil democratic movements and
work together for human rights and equality.
Mr Bazeer quoted from Anthony King "Labour feared that, if
nothing were done to try to satisfy Scottish and Welsh
aspirations, not only would the labour party lose seats, but
either Scotland or Wales or both might declare themselves
independent; the United Kingdom might disintegrate.
Accordingly Labour manifesto in October 1974 stated "the
next labour government will create elected assemblies in
Scotland and Wales. It took about 25 years for British
Governments or the Labour party to fulfil their promises.
The LTTE appears to have not given up their thirst for Tamil
Eelam.
He went on to state that in Sri Lanka those who stood for
human rights and democracy were subject to intimidation
and their lives are in danger.
Mr Bazeer concluded by appealing the audience to
remember the 75,000 Muslims who were expelled from
Jaffna.
Sowing seeds
Mr. Stephen Pound MP for Ealing North, a suburb of North
London with a large Tamil constituency praised the
contribution of Tamils in his constituency to enrich the
community in his area. He fondly remembered his visit to Sri
Lanka during the premiership of Mrs Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
He expressed pride in the Tamil festivals in Ealing and Tamil
sports events in which Tamils wore Sri Lanka cricket shirts
cheering Muralitharan.
He expressed hoped that the cool water of devolution will
soon be on the parched mouths of the Tamils.
"I wish you every success, tonight, the movement that is
starting here, the tree which is being planted here; the
recognition of a different way between the extremes of the
extremist politics in Sri Lanka does represent a hope for the
future. I am honoured to have been here, the rain is falling,
may the rain nourish the plant that we see here tonight and
may it grow strong and may we see a peaceful free Sri
Lanka.
He once again thanked the Tamils as one of the most
extraordinarily valued communities in his constituency and
the contribution made. "I thank you for it, I salute you for it"
Human Rights
Mr Andy Love MP, the Chairman of the all party group for
Sri Lanka spoke of similarities of Cyprus and Sri Lanka, two
islands, the North-South divide and two ethnic communities.
He emphasised the need for a solution to benefit from the
economic growth sweeping the region.
He spoke of the deterioration of the ceasefire and the need
for Britain to take a more robust attitude with regard to
ensuring that both side abide by the ceasefire agreement.
"There is a matter of concern taken up by a number of
members of the committee (The Sri Lanka all party group) in
relation to the North of Sri Lanka, we are approached by lots
and lots of Tamils from all over London and other parts who
express very very considerable concern about the human
rights situation in the North of the country (Sri Lanka),
especially those Tamils who do not accept the hegemony of
the LTTE and how they are treated."
"I take on board your comments in your report that the way
the ceasefire agreement has been structured makes it
difficult for either the international community or the Sri
Lankan authorities to be able to ensure the human rights of
the people in the north of the country (LTTE controlled
areas). This is another concern that has been particularly
uppermost in our minds"
"Some months ago we met with a delegation of the Muslim
community from Sri Lanka and they passed onto the all
party group a very large dossier of human rights violations
that had been experienced by their community in Sri Lanka.
We took that up, not only with Amnesty International but
indeed also our own government asking what could be done
to ensure this sort of action is not continuing."
Mr. Love stated that he thinks that there is a role for Britain
in Sri Lanka alongside Norway if the parties request it,
sharing the British experience of devolution.
He mentioned of initiatives at an international conference on
the recruitment of child soldiers by the LTTE based on
strong evidence and various other initiatives in relation to
human rights in Sri Lanka.
Foreign Affairs
Mike Gapes MP, Chairman of the select committee on
Foreign affairs, was the next speaker. He was introduced by
Barry Gardiner MP as the Chairman of one of the most
important chairs parliament has to offer.
"In the world there are lots of long and difficult conflicts and
sometimes we get sudden breakthroughs which lead to
progress, sometimes you have setbacks, sometimes it takes
a very long time to implement agreements. I was involved in
the negotiations in 1998 where we got the Good Friday
agreement in Northern Ireland, and we still haven't fully
implemented the consequences of that agreement. But
fortunately the destruction and the violence have been
greatly reduced even though we have had setbacks over
the years."
He mentioned about the resolution of the Ache conflict in
Indonesia after the Tsunami, although there were other
conflicts in other parts of Indonesia. He was disappointed
that this was not replicated in Sri Lanka.
He mentioned of a "Lanka Lions Cricket team" in his
constituency who are all Tamils and wear Sri Lanka shirts
and that they organise matches with India, Pakistan, and
West Indies etc. He was also excited about a Hindu temple
festival which enriches his constituency. He also spoke of
Sinhalese and Muslims in his constituency and expressed
his sadness that all these people who live and work together
from different communities were not able to do so in their
own country and have a democratic, pluralistic choice.
He stated that Democracy is not just about voting.
Democracy is about respecting the rights of people to
disagree with you and allowing them to express their
opinions and campaign without intimidation.
"In complex and divided societies it's sometimes difficult. We
have already had reference to Scotland. But the reality is
that eventually we seem to have come to a settlement. The
Scottish National Party does not like it, but devolution is
here to stay in the United Kingdom."
"Therefore, I am optimistic that given the goodwill and
engagement of the international community, whether by
individual countries, the Norwegians have been mentioned,
or whether it is done with the help of the European Union or
whether it is done by a member of the UN security council,
we need to find a way to facilitate the political development
and the agreement of the progress on your island. It's not
for me to tell the people of Sri Lanka, the Tamils, the
Sinhalese, the Christians, the Muslims, the Hindu's, the
Buddhists, how they should determine the outcome."
"I would have not taken it kindly and I did not take it kindly to
people in the United States or in Europe saying how the
Northern Ireland situation should be resolved. That came
about because of difficult negotiations and very very
complex compromises. I believe that we can do that together
in different ways."
"There is a very important role for the Committee of the
House of Commons as well as all party groups. I hope that
the Foreign Affairs committee and the International
development committee will be able in particular to look at
the region and to come to a view as to how we as
parliamentarians can assist in the process of getting that
peace and that prosperity and democratic values within Sri
Lanka for your communities."
Sowing seeds
"Unreconstructed socialist?"
The next speaker, Upali Cooray was introduced as a
Sinhalese Barrister practising in London. He was an
interesting figure to put it mildly, with his spectacles perched
on his eyebrows. When he started to speak it became
apparent that he was a revolutionary socialist, a dinosaur
who had survived like Fidel Castro and emerged from a time
machine to the Palace of Westminster. From the
expressions on the faces of some British MPs it became
apparent that Cooray had a similar impact on them.
Cooray stated that he was uncomfortable to be categorised
as a Sinhalese and claimed to be an "unreconstructed
socialist whose allegiance was to the workers of the world
and the oppressed." I did not dare ask him to elaborate on
this definition.
Cooray spoke in favour of pluralism. He stated that
democracy was essential in addressing the diverse
aspirations of different communities. He stated that Rajani
Thiranagama was not killed because of a fundamental
disagreement. She was killed for a slight opposition.
He also impressed upon the audience that although 60,000
people had died in the ethnic conflict, a similar number died
in the south among the Sinhalese during the JVP
insurrection. "There too the whole issue of democracy and
pluralism is important"
"I am glad that within the Tamil movement, we have today an
evolution. There are now many currents coming forward and
standing up and saying that we want to express our
positions clearly." He stressed that this was an important
development.
"We in Sri Lanka need a solution, a permanent solution and
this solution“ we have to be realistic; it is not going to come
in a day or two. Rome wasn't built in a day. We need to
develop certain steps; small steps may be, towards
achieving that."
"We must recognise that the rights of the Muslims must be
respected. The government must ensure that they are
represented in any kind of peace delegation and that their
views are heard."
"We must protect our children. Once a childhood is
destroyed you can never regain that. Jayadevan was
explaining to me the sad situation of people who were
guarding them in the Vanni, who could not even read Tamil
properly. Tha's a sad situation.
Thousands of people are being brought up not having the
right to be children, not having the right to enjoy that
childhood and that has very long term adverse impact on
people. We must demand that no children should be
recruited"
"Sri Lankan government has a certain responsibility to begin
taking meaningful steps towards devolution, without waiting
for a solution. What we should do is work together and put
pressure to take meaningful steps towards addressing the
day to day problems of the people."
"Irrespective of their other strategic aims of the International
community I am heartened by the fact at least the members
who spoke here understood the need to emphasise plural
democracy. That should be one of the key demands"
He spoke of a conversation with the Sri Lankan politician,
Anandasangaree that it was impossible to carry out political
campaigning in the North because of LTTE intimidation.
Tamil Gang Violence
Lord Toby Harris, formally the Chairman of the Police
Authority in London, spoke of human rights of Tamils in
Britain. He stated that there is increasing amount of Tamil
gang violence in Britain among young Tamils sometimes
directly linked to events going on in Sri Lanka. "Sometimes
events going on in Sri Lanka are used as an explanation for
things that are going on in terms of gangs. But the only way
that the Tamil community in this country is going to be able
to sustain that human rights without some of those
problems, gang disputes, which we know do occur within the
community, is for people to seize their human rights in this
country and work with the authorities to come forward and
express their trust in addressing some of those issues",
"The Metropolitan Police have been trying to get an
understanding of the problems of young Tamils in this
country. They want to isolate the individuals causing harm
and intimidating other people. They only way that they will
be able to do that is by the cooperation and the participation
of the community itself. It is important that the people living
in this country have the opportunity to live here as full
citizens without intimidation or threatened or their names
besmirched by the activities of a small number.
Edward Davy MP of the Liberal democrats encouraged the
gathering and expressed his commitment to explore cross
party consensus on Tamil human rights.
Mrs. Amirthalingam
Mrs. Amirthalingam, the widow of the assassinated TULF
leaders addressed the audience in Tamil. She spoke of
state oppression of Tamils, starting with the
disenfranchisement of estate Tamils.
She spoke of Chelvanayagam's strategy of linking Tamils
with Muslims to carry forward the Tamil struggle. She spoke
of Sinhala atrocities that resulted in Tamils in the South
fleeing to the North and East in fear of their lives. But today
even in Tamil areas (LTTE controlled areas) our lives are
not safe.
"The TULF pursued a non violent path to fight for the rights
of the Tamils. Father Chelvanayagam stated that those who
raise the sword will die by the sword. We are numerically a
very small group and the Sinhalese are a very large
community and we should always adhere to non violent
struggle and he always pointed to the Gandhiyan struggle
as the way forward.
Turning to the British MP's she said I have one question to
ask you. "When you colonised Sri Lanka we had our own
king but when you left you handed all power to the
Sinhalese, the majority community. We are experiencing
problems since that time".
.Mrs. Amirthalingam stated that the LTTE have killed more
Tamils than the Sri Lankan government and are harassing
Tamils. She said that Tamils don't know where to turn. She
told the audience of a personal experience of talking to a
weeping Tamil mother in a bus in London, where the young
Tamil mother was distraught by LTTE demands for `A3
2000. (about SLR 360,000). She ended her speech by
pleading to the British MP'ss to help protect the Tamils.
Barry Gardiner concluded by stating "I want to say that you
are a dangerous group of people. You are dangerous
because you will refuse to be pigeon holed. Everyone will try
to work out whose side you are on. People will accuse you
of being on one side or on the other side, on the pocket of
this or in the pay of that, but the truth is, that you are on the
side of human rights, you are on the side of humanity
wherever you find it, whether the people be Tamil, Sinhalese
or Muslim. That is what makes you not only dangerous but
also a powerful group. It gives you a voice that will not
simply be heard, but will be listened to because if people
campaign and cry out for justice and what is right, then they
have an inescapable reason and logic that guides what they
say and forces others to listen and to act."
"I want to assure the last speaker that it was not only when
racist laws were introduced in Sri Lanka that Tamil children
were on the top and were doing very well, because our
experience in the United Kingdom in schools in my
constituency and many others throughout the country is that
Tamil children here in Britain are still at the top and we are
enormously proud. Thank you for daring to be here this
evening, thank you for making your voice for human rights
and justice heard. Please do not let anyone tell you that you
are on this side or that side, or in the pocket of this politician
or that politician. You are here campaigning for what is right,
and that is why we as parliamentarians are proud to salute
you, and join you this evening.
Refreshments were served by the House of Commons staff
and three resolutions were read out and passed
unanimously. The first which relates to Human Rights and
the CFA is to be forwarded to the Government of Sri Lanka,
the LTTE and the government of Norway. The second which
relates to LTTE intimidation, extortion and criminality is to be
forwarded to the UK government and the European
Commission. The third relates to cyber terrorism and the
LTTE website Nitharsanam.com in particular is to be
forwarded to the Government of Norway, The Government
of the United Kingdom and the European Commission.
