Over 80 Canadian Tamil organisations have come together to create a common position on Eelam Tamil activism, while rejecting the proscription of diaspora organisations and individuals by the Sri Lankan government.
The Tamil Community General Assembly, made up of community and political organisations, unanimously adopted a document, outlining 34 key points regarding Eelam Tamil political activism.
The document called on the international community to recognise Eelam Tamil nationhood, saying that the Sri Lankan government was continuing a “systematic and accelerated process of genocide” in the Tamil homeland and that an internationally supported transitional administration should be implemented to halt the genocide.
Canadian efforts towards accountability and justice were recognised and the assembly called on the Canadian government to pursue “alternative strategies such as diplomatic and economic sanctions as well as travel restrictions” on Sri Lankan officials.
The ban on diaspora groups was rejected by the assembly, who said that the move by the government reflects its lack of commitment towards accountability.
“The Tamil community rejects the proscription of 16 Tamil diaspora organizations along with 424 individuals by the Government of Sri Lanka. The list of organizations includes the National Council of Canadian Tamils, Tamil Youth Organization, the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam and the Canadian Tamil Congress. This serves as a preventative measure for the Tamil diaspora to continue campaigning for the right to self-determination of the Tamil nation. This reactionary measure adopted by the Government of Sri Lanka reflects its lack of commitment towards genuine truth, accountability and justice.” the document said,
Eezham Tamils in Canada evolve common position on Tamil activism - TamilNet (18 Apr 2014)
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