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 TAMIL EELAM:
RIGHT TO SELF DETERMINATION
Joint statement by 15 Non Governmental Organisations
consisting of the International Organisation for the Elimination of all
Forms of Racial Discrimination, International Educational Development, Centre Europe Ties
Monde, International Indian Treaty Council, Fedefam, Association paur la Liberte
Religiose, Codehuca, World Christian Community, Pax Christie International, International
League for the Rights and Liberation of Peoples, Movement contra le Racisme, International
Association of Educadores for World Peace, International Association against Torture,
World Confederation of Labour, and International Movement for Fraternal Union among Races
and Peoples.
at United Nations Commission on Human Rights
Geneva 8 February 1993
"We request that the delegates to the 49th Session of the Commission on Human
Rights.. accord open recognition to the existence of the Tamil homeland in the North and
East of the Island; and recognise that the Tamil population in the North and East of the
island constitute a 'people' with the right to self determination''
''The armed conflict in the island of Sri Lanka and the continuing violations of
humanitarian law cause us deep and grave concern. We are of the view that any meaningful
attempt to resolve the conflict should address its underlying causes and to recognise that
the armed struggle of the Tamil people for self determination, arose as a response to
decades of an ever widening and deepening oppression by a permanent Sinhala majority,
within the confines of an unitary Sri Lankan state.
It was an oppression which included the disenfranchisement of the plantation Tamils,
systematic state aided Sinhala colonisation of the Tamil homeland, the enactment of the
Sinhala Only law, discriminatory employment policies, inequitable allocation of resources
to Tamil areas, exclusion of eligible Tamil students from Universities and higher
education, and a refusal to share power within the frame of a federal constitution. It was
an oppression by an alien Sinhala majority which consolidated the growth of the national
consciousness of the Tamil people.
During the past several years the Sinhala dominated Sri Lankan government has
attempted to put down the armed resistance of the Tamil people and has sought to conquer
and control the Tamil homeland. The record shows that in this attempt, Sri Lanka's armed
forces and para military units have committed increasingly widespread violations of the
rules of humanitarian law.
In the East whole villages of Tamils have been attacked by the Army and by the so
called Home Guards. Many Tamil residents in these villages were killed. Others have been
tortured. Those Tamils who were detained by the Sri Lankan authorities have had little or
no hope of coming out alive. The attacks on the Tamil homeland have been coupled with the
declared opposition of the Sri Lankan Government to the merger of the North and East of
the island into a single administrative and political unit.
However, despite the sustained attacks of Sinhala dominated governments over a period
of several decades, the territorial integrity of the Tamil homeland in the North and East
of the island has remained. The Tamil population in the North and East, who have lived for
many centuries within relatively well defined geographical boundaries, share an ancient
heritage, a vibrant culture, and a living language which traces its origins to more than
2500 years ago.
A social group, which shares objective elements such as a common language and which
has acquired a subjective consciousness of togetherness, by its life within a relatively
well defined territory, and its struggle against alien domination, clearly constitutes a
'people' with the right to self determination.
Today, there is an urgent need for the international community to recognise that the
Tamil population in the North and East of the island of Sri Lanka are such a 'people' with
the right to freely choose their political status. It is our view that such recognition
will prepare the ground for the resolution of a conflict which has taken such a heavy toll
in human lives and suffering during the past several years.
Accordingly, we request that the delegates to the 49th Session of the Commission on
Human Rights give their urgent consideration to these matters and
(a) accord open recognition to the existence of the Tamil homeland in the North and
East of the Island; and
(b) recognise that the Tamil population in the North and East of the island
constitute a 'people' with the right to self determination''
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