Sri Lanka President urged to demilitarize war torn North East
President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s winning UPFA coalition is being urged to take urgent action on “mounting Tamil concerns”.
Pointing out of several recent “missed opportunities” by the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, The Tamil American Peace Initiative (TAPI), a group formed by a group of Tamil Americans to help bring lasting peace, justice, democracy, good governance and economic development to Sri Lanka has urged the President to work “towards reconciliation” and “win back the peoples confidence”.
Tamil Camp detainees ~ Art by Shan Sundaram ~ Free-Tamils
Full Text of TAPI Press Release as follows:
Tamil American Peace Initiative Responds to Sri Lankas Parliamentary Elections
Noting the disappointing results of the April 8th Parliamentary Elections in Sri Lanka, the Tamil American Peace Initiative (TAPI) called on the winning party, the United Peoples Freedom Alliance (UPFA), to immediately start working towards reconciliation between all religious and ethnic groups on the Island. TAPI admonished the UPFA and President Mahinda Rajapaksa for missing so many opportunities in recent months to heal the countrys wounds. The group called on the president, his party and the government to take urgent action to address mounting Tamil concerns, and it urged the international community to become more engaged.
Above all, TAPI stated, the newly elected Parliament should act to demilitarize and rebuild war-torn regions in the North and East; release detainees from internment camps; resettle displaced Tamils and help them rebuild their homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses; restore rights to fishing and land ownership; invest in infrastructure and industry in Tamil areas; approve a general amnesty for suspected former rebels; compensate war victims and survivors; bring the perpetrators of war crimes to justice; and end programs that seek to change the demographics of Tamil regions in the North and East.
Commenting on the unusually low voter-turnout just 50 percent in the central provinces and less than 20 percent in many Tamil areas — Dr. Karunyan Arulanantham, a TAPI spokesman, said: Low voter turnout across the country shows that the Sri Lankan people have lost faith in the government and the political system. Many Tamils were blocked from voting, and others refused to give their consent to the government by casting ballots. The UPFA must work towards reconciliation if it hopes to win-back the peoples confidence.
About TAPI
The Tamil American Peace Initiative was formed by a group of Tamil Americans to help bring lasting peace, justice, democracy, good governance and economic development to Sri Lanka; to focus attention on the destruction of Tamil communities and culture caused by 30 years of war; and to demand an end to the continuing oppression of Tamils on the island.
Contact L. Kaufman at ustapi2010@gmail.com for additional information or to arrange an interview with Dr. Karunyan Arulanantham.
