Statements – Page 13 – Tamil Solidarity

Asylum Seekers Interrogated by their Persecutors in Indonesian Detention

January 8, 2010 senan

Three Sri Lankan Navy officers have been allowed access to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees currently in Immigration Detention in Jakarta in Indonesia. The asylum seekers have fled persecution by the Sri Lankan government, yet Captain […]

What does the election in Sri Lanka mean for the Tamil-speaking masses?

January 7, 2010 senan

The Tamil Solidarity (TS) steering committee met on Friday 18 December 2009 to discuss future plans. One of the most important items on the agenda was the question of what the TS position on the […]

QMSU passes ‘Free The Tamils’ Motion

January 6, 2010 senan

Queen Mary, University of London passes the ‘Free the Tamils’ motion recently. Now the student union officially supports the points raised in the motion and campaign groups such as SAGT(Students Against Genocide of Tamils) and TS(Tamil […]

Immediate action needed to avoid humanitarian crisis of refugees in Merak

December 31, 2009 senan

Immediate action to avoid humanitarian crisis: Australian government must follow words up with action Ravie Kumar, speaking on behalf of the Tamil-speaking refugees on a boat in Merak harbour, Indonesia, has denied the allegation that […]

Tamil refugee dies in Merak Indonesia.

December 23, 2009 senan

Press Release for Immediate use: 23-12-2009 Tamil refugee dies in Merak Indonesia Widespread condemnation mounts over negligence Pic: The crammed children and the inedible food served every day. Mr Jacob Christine, 29, who has been […]

The Indonesian government isaccused of breaching human rights

December 17, 2009 senan

The Indonesian government isaccused of breaching human rights as it continues to deny necessary facilities to the Tamil-speaking refugees kept in a boat in Merak harbour, Indonesia. These people have suffered health problems arising from […]

Joint Statement against ‘indonesia solution’ in support of Refugees.

December 5, 2009 senan

Civil Society Solidarity for Asylum Seeker and Refugees Working Peoples Association (PRP), Confederation Congress of Indonesia Union Alliance (KASBI), Legal Aid Foundation (LBH) Jakarta, Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation (YLBHI), Human Rights Working Group (HRWG), Humanitarian […]

Press release-Jo Higgins MEP condemns the intimidation tactics and the denial of human rights

December 3, 2009 senan

Press release for immediate release Jo Higgins MEP condemns the intimidation tactics and the denial of human rights Heavily-armed navy commandos surround Tamil-speaking refugees on the boat in Merak, Indonesia Contact Manny Thain on 0044 […]

“Refugees are also human beings”- Appeal from Refugees – TS Condemns Australian and British governments

November 10, 2009 senan

Tamil Solidarity strongly condemns the Australian and British governments’ statements about the refugees. While over 250,000 people are held under armed guard in concentration-style camps and over 30,000 young people are kept in secret camps […]

Westminster Hall debates on Sri Lanka (IDP Camps)

October 31, 2009 senan

Debate held on 28 October 2009 from 2.30-4.15pm Tamil Solidarity welcomes MPs’ concern for the internally displaced people (IDPs) and condemnation of the Sri Lankan government’s human rights abuses. We particularly welcome the contributions […]

Support Tamil Solidarity

What we Demand

1. An independent war crimes investigation
For a people’s tribunal consisting of representatives accountable to working class and poor people from all communities, chosen by them and observed by international trade union and human rights organisations. Only such a body could be truly free of the influence of the Sri Lankan government and their international collaborators.

2. Withdraw the troops!
For an immediate end to military operations in Sri Lanka. Withdraw the army from all Tamil areas. Stop the disappearances.

3. No to detention camps!
For the immediate shutdown of militarised detention camps. For the provision of food, shelter and health facilities to Tamil people, administered under the control of their own elected and accountable representatives.

4. Stop Arming Sri Lankan regime!
For an immediate end to military support for Sri Lanka by western imperialism and by India, China, Pakistan, Israel, Iran, Japan and other countries. No to loans from the pro privitisation IMF and the World Bank. Support action such as workers’ boycotts of arms shipments.

5. Democratic rights for all!
For the freedom of speech and the media, freedom of association and the right to free and fair elections, the right of all to vote without interference, freedom to stand in elections for parties which accept equal rights for all, regardless of nationality, religion, caste and sex. Support the work of bodies like the Civil Monitoring Committee investigating kidnappings, disappearances and extra-judicial murders.

6. Support independent trade unions!
For full trade union rights, free from intimidation and state interference. Support campaigns by independent trade unions on workers’ rights, pay and conditions to organise all working-class people, regardless of ethnic, religious or other differences. Unity is strength.

7. Defend the right to self-determination!
Support a mass movement of Tamil workers and poor for the right to determine their own future. Full and equal rights of any minorities to be guaranteed in all areas.

Additional demands put forward by TS in Tamil Nadu /India

1. Support the struggle of all oppressed nationalities
We support the struggle of Kashmir, and other national minorities in the region. For the right to self-determination of all oppressed nationalities. We demand the repeal of the draconian special power act Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) and the withdrawal of armed forces from Kashmir and the North East states. We also demand an immediate halt to Operation Green Hunt through which countless farmers and tribal people have been killed.

2. Better condition for Tamil refugees
Tamil refugees who fled the horrendous war are still forced to live in unbearable conditions. We demand that special measures are taken to improve their living standard and education, and other rights must be made available for them. We also demand a speed up of naturalisation for those refugees who had been suffering in India for many years.

3. Remove private interests and corruption
We demand an immediate end to corruption. This would provide huge amounts of money for the improvement of the lives of millions.
All those business and politicians involved in corruption to be tried by a jury of elected representatives of the workers and poor masses. Money returned should be invested in public services.
All privatisation of public services should be stopped immediately and key industries, such as the telecom industry etc, to be nationalised.

4. End the caste grip
We demand an immediate end to all discrimination based on caste. Immediate investment and improving of towns and villages where working and poor people are pushed to live and segregated based on caste. No to segregation along caste lines. For decent housing and decent jobs for all. End to the state-aggravated caste riots and for a wider education programme to involve the masses to fight back for their rights.

5. End the onslaught against the environment. Land to the landless
For an immediate end to the multinationals such as Vedanta, Posco which are wrecking the live of the most vulnerable people. We demand an immediate halt to the mining and other projects that are poisoning and destroying the land and water and other resources.
Fight for the rights of the landless peasants. End the control of the land in the hands of big business.

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