Today, the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) joins hundreds of thousands of people across the world to mark International Human Rights Day. This day represents when the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on December 10th 1948.
New York, NY (PRWEB) December 10, 2010
Today, the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) joins hundreds of thousands of people across the world to mark International Human Rights Day. This day represents when the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on December 10th 1948.
After the end of the Second World War, Countries around the world got together to create a new world order to prevent future large scale killings, war and to protect human rights. These countries were shocked to learn that around six million Jews were killed by the Nazi Germany under the leadership of Adolph Hitler. Jews were singled out and killed because of their ethnicity. These countries promised that they will never allow these types of killings take place in the future where individuals will be killed due to their ethnicity, religion or race. "Never Again" became the guiding light for the creation of the Universal Human Rights Declaration.
Like Jews, we Eelam Tamils also have been killed in large number because of our ethnicity. We faced mass killings under several Sinhalese Governments starting from 1958 to Mullivaikal in May 2009. We faced repeated episodes of Sri Lankan Government sponsored killings, rapes and other abuses. Over 60,000 innocent Tamils were massacred in Mullivaikal within a month by the Sri Lankan Government. Hospitals were repeatedly bombed and food was prevented from reaching trapped Tamils and food was used as a weapon of war. According to the United Nations, several died due to starvation.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was prevented by the Sri Lankan Government to treat the injured civilians, resulting in numerous people bled to death due to lack of medical treatment. When people fled, they were kept in concentration camps. People were taken from these camps and executed after being tortured. Several women were brutally raped and executed.
The theme for Human Rights Day 10 December 2010 is human rights defenders who act to end discrimination. Human rights defenders acting against discrimination, often at great personal risk to both themselves and their families, are being recognized and acclaimed on this day. The TGTE recognizes and celebrates the Human rights defenders who have spoken out and continue to speak out, against the abuses and violations of International Law perpetrated by the Government of Sri Lanka against the Eelam Tamil people. These courageous individuals, living on the island of Sri Lanka as well as in other countries, advocate for justice and seek to protect the victims of human rights violations. They demand accountability for perpetrators and transparency in government action. In so doing, they are often putting at risk their own safety, and that of their families.
The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam commits ourselves to stand beside our kith and kin who have been denied their fundamental rights and the right to exercise their political sovereignty in the island of Sri Lanka.
There is mounting evidence that has come to light in recent months that the Government of Sri Lanka is guilty of acts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. How many more cries for justice must there be before the International Community hears? How many more Eelam Tamils must die before we say too many have died? How much longer can the International Community ignore the truth that only the establishment of an independent state can ensure the Eelam Tamil's very physical survival?
The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam's Ministry for Investigation of Genocide, War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity is currently pursuing all available international and domestic legal options and avenues to secure justice for the Eelam Tamils. On this International Day for Human Rights the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam would like to reiterate our call to the International Community to establish an Independent International Tribunal to bring the perpetrators of Genocide, War Crimes, and Crimes against Humanity to justice.
Ministry for Investigation of Genocide, War Crimes
and Crimes Against Humanity
Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam
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