Stop the war: In the aftermath of the unilateral withdrawal of the Ceasefire agreement by the Rajapakse regime in Sri Lanka and the growing civilian massacres, destruction and absence of rule of law, there can be little doubt that the government’s intention of a military solution is bringing grief and suffering to huge numbers of civilians of all ethnic constituent people of Sri Lanka. SL government should halt air bombardments, artillery shelling on civilian settlements that negates any political solution based on Self-determination and end hostilities and restore ceasefire.
Support for Right of Self-determination: Since 1974, we have been campaigning for the recognition of the Tamil nationality, autonomy for their homeland and the right of self-determination, as a basis for the resolution for the deteriorating conflict in Sri Lanka. We have organised a number of well attended public meetings and demonstrations, on the Tamil national question, amongst threats, intimidation, loss of lives and severe hardship to our members and their families. We have also taken this campaign outside Sri Lanka through the Fourth International of which we are the section in Sri Lanka. We have participated in many anti-war meetings and seminars in India, UK, Canada, Australia, Norway, South Africa and Honk Kong.
Duty of the Left: We feel that we have a collective duty of solidarity towards subjugated people of the oppressive regimes, thus to defend the cause of the Tamil people and to demand justice and peace in their homeland where they lived for centuries. Perpetual uncertainty of natural life and absence of productive life are condemning hundreds of thousands of Tamils in their own homeland as refugees without shelter, with shortages of food, fuel, medical supplies and electricity with untold suffering to sick and needy, specially the agony of oppression on women and children remains unspeakable. Whilst we campaign for the just cause of the Tamil people, we also campaign vehemently to end the untold suffering of the Sinhala and Muslim masses due to globalisation, inflation, economic mismanagement, corruption, despotism and cronyism. In addition we demand to reinstate rule of law, end emergency regulations, to bring an end to death squad killings, disappearances, illegal arrests and detentions, ransom demands and the loss of innocent lives.
Appeal for the solution: In the absence of political negotiation and reneging on every agreement, growing number of internally displaced people, economic embargo on Jaffna peninsula and increasing death rates in addition to war of aggression, Sri Lankan regime is enforcing the only option of External Self-determination. A letter by the Mr. B. Nadesan, of LTTE political wing leader to the UN General Secretary requesting UN to recognize the sovereignty of Tamil nation, is the consequence of the historical oppression by the successive governments of Sri Lanka. At this time of trial of Tamil Nation, we stand in solidarity with the Tamil people, their right for liberation and support their elected parliament representatives Tamil National Alliance.
Call for Solidarity with the oppressed Nation: Against this background, at this crucial moment, we appeal to left organizations, trade unions, socialist intellectuals and progressive media in Sri Lanka, India and world over to join us in our campaign to arrive at a united solution on the basis of recognition of Tamil homeland, their nationhood, autonomy and the right of self determination.
Appeal to International Leaders: We specially appeal to leaders of Cuba, Venezuela, all Socialist & Communist leaders; and the leaders of the Left Front of India, including the Indian Marxist communist party and the Indian communist party to help us by joining our campaign to expose the realities of the war in Sri Lanka and support for the cause of the Tamil people to Self-determination and halting the military aid given to the Sri Lankan government.
Dr. Vickramabahu Karunarathne
Gen sec, New Sama Samaja Party
President, Left Front COLOMBO , SRI LANKA
04 Feb 2008