Transitional adminstration in NE is a 'matter of urgency' - TNPF

Tamil Guardian 14 February 2013

In a statement released at a press conference held in Jaffna on Tuesday, The Tamil National People's Front criticised the failure of the international community "complete failure of the UN and the international community in its obligations under the doctrine of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) to have intervened on behalf of the Tamil Nation," and called on the members of the UN Human Rights Council to "to resolve to invoke the doctrine of R2P to the Tamil Nation and to set up a transitional administration in the Tamil homeland comprising of the North East provinces in Sri Lanka, as a matter of urgency." See statement in English and Tamil. An extract is reproduced below: It is under these circumstances that the TNPF also wishes to draw the attention of the members to 1) the Report by the Panel of Experts appointed by the UN Secretary General to look into accountability issues in Sri Lanka, 2) the recently leaked internal UN Petrie Report 3) the Report by the OHCHR to the 22nd session of the UNHRC, specifically the reiterated call for international independent investigations. What is now public knowledge of credible allegations of what transpired during the last stages of the war, amply points to the complete failure of the UN and the international community in its obligations under the doctrine of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) to have intervened on behalf of the Tamil Nation. Political expediency on the part of the UN and the international community in wanting to see the defeat of the LTTE in the name of eradicating “terrorism” resulted in the Tamil Nation having to pay the ultimate price of a genocidal war. However, three and a half years since the end of the war, the Tamil people continue to face the onslaught in the form of structural genocide of their Nation. Accordingly, the TNPF reiterates its call for an independent and credible international investigation regarding the breach of international law, including the crime of genocide; Further, the TNPF calls upon the members of the UNHRC to resolve to invoke the doctrine of R2P to the Tamil Nation and to set up a transitional administration in the Tamil homeland comprising of the North East provinces in Sri Lanka, as a matter of urgency. The said transitional administration will have to necessarily lie outside the present constitutional apparatus. Such a step is vital to not only stop the further dismantling of the existence of the Tamil Nation, but also to safeguard any future prospects of finding a negotiated solution to the Tamil National question. It is also our view that the establishment of a transitional administration will also be the only realistic way for not only evidence collection for a credible accountability process to succeed, but also to safeguard the available evidence. Situation in Jaffna peninsula is getting deteriorating. Tamil National Alliance express to Australian High Commissioner Compared to last year, this year, the condition in Jaffna peninsula is getting deteriorated. An anti-democratic atmosphere is getting originated here. A situation has cropped up of living in fear was said by Tamil National Alliance parliament members to Australian High Commissioner. Australian High Commissioner for Sri Lanka who was on a visit to Jaffna district two days back met Tamil National Alliance Jaffna district members Suresh Piremachandran, E.Saravanabawan, S.Sritharan and had discussions. Regarding this meeting, Tamil National Alliance Jaffna district parliament member Suresh Piremachandran said, people in Jaffna district had not still got resettled. Jaffna district Military Commander and President had stated that their lands belong to military. They are adopting a monocracy attitude. This is what happening today in Jaffna which we told him. During this meeting Australian High Commissioner asked us what is the state of Jaffna, compared to last year. In reply we said; continue to move under military pressure. Newspapers were scorched, unreasonable arrests continue, understanding between ethnics is getting disturbed by government activities. This fluctuate racial multiplying in the north. A situation has cropped up for people to live in fear. To solve this, international society should assist. Our ciris could be settled if our rights are granted. By understanding this, the international society should pressurize the government was expressed.