Shri. S.M.Krishna M.P.,
Honorable Minister for External Affairs,
Government of India.
Dear Sir,
We wish to thank you for the opportunity afforded to us to meet with you today.
We, the Tamil political parties have come to an understanding and constituted a common forum to strive for a permanent political solution to the ethnic problem and also to work towards solving the immediate issues faced by the Tamil people.
In this context, we have initiated discussions with the other concerned political parties including the TNA with a view to forge a consensus on the question of a political solution to the national question of Sri Lanka.
We believe that the political solution should be found within the frame work of a united Sri Lanka thus enabling the Tamil people to participate fully in their own governance in the North – East. The implementation of the 13th amendment in full will be a positive beginning of the political process in this regard.
Fully conscious of the historical, cultural, religious and linguistic ties the Tamil people of Sri Lanka have been having with the people of your great country since times immemorial and recognizing the efforts taken and endeavours made by your great country with the noble objective of ensuring equality and justice to the Tamil people during the last several decades, it is our fond hope and fervent appeal that these efforts and endeavours should be taken forward in order to culminate soon in the evolution of a viable political solution to the national question of Sri Lanka that shall redress the long – felt political grievances of our people and satisfy their legitimate political aspirations within the frame work of a united Sri Lanka.
It is against this background we seek your kind indulgence to submit for your kind and urgent attention some important issues that concern the interests and well being of our people.
Meaningful Resettlement
Although majority of the Internally Displaced Persons have been sent back to their former places of habitation, they have not been settled with adequate basic facilities.
a) They are living in temporary shelters and tents.
b) Some of the IDP’s have not been allowed to access their houses and properties on different grounds including the objection that they do not possess documents in proof of their claim.
c) The return and resettlement of the people who still remain in the welfare camps needs to be given priority.
Providing adequate compensation for the people who lost their limbs, bread winners, family members and properties
While expressing our appreciation and gratitude for the various forms of assistance committed and provided by the government of India for the affected people in the North – East towards their resettlement and rehabilitation, we request that the Government of India be pleased to consider granting of more support and assistance to these people including:
(a) Livelihood assistance to widows and their dependant children, and orphaned children who have lost both their parents,
(b) Artificial limbs and other help to those who have lost their limbs.
(c) Support and assistance to repair / rebuild / improve their damaged or destroyed houses.
(d) Assistance to resettled farmers to restart / improve the cultivation of their lands.
(e) Support to improve animal husbandry and livestock.
(f) Support for fishing activities.
3. Steps taken to disturb the demographic composition and thereby disrupt national reconciliation
One of the main reasons for the discontent between the communities was the state sponsored colonization by successive governments in the past with the motive of altering the demographic composition in the North – East. Even today attempts are being made to do the same that obstructs the reconciliation between the communities.
We are concerned that the proposal to establish settlements of the members of the security forces and their families numbering many thousands will drastically alter the demographic composition in the Northern and Eastern provinces that had been recognized as the areas of historical habitation in the Indo-Sri Lanka accord of 1987. We are of the firm view that nothing should be done to disturb the demographic composition of the Northern and Eastern provinces and cause disruption of the process of national reconciliation.
Civil Administration
We are of the considered view that the establishment of a full and complete civil administration without any involvement of the Security Forces in the Northern and Eastern provinces is the need of the hour to facilitate and ensure normalcy and the rule of law in this region.
We assure our cooperation in and support to every effort that the Government of India may take to achieve national reconciliation in Sri Lanka.
Thanking You,
Yours Sincerely,
V. Anandasangaree TULF
A. Rajamanickam EPDP
S.C. Chandrahasan TPF
S. Chandrakanthan TMVP
D. Sithadthan PLOTE
M.K. Shivajilingam TNLA
T. Sritharan P-EPRLF
P. Uthayarajah Sri-TELO
N. Kumaraguruparan DPF
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