Tamil Diaspora groups to take legal action against proscription

 Saturday, 05 April 2014

Tamil Diaspora groups have said that are to legally challenge the Sri Lankan government's decision to proscribe them in Sri Lanka.

The Global Tamil Forum (GTF) has reportedly said it will deploy all legal and political instruments that are at its disposal to send a clear message to the regime that none of these 'terror' tactics will work as they live in a free society where they cherish freedom of speech and democracy and democracy not as defined as in Sri Lanka but practicing democracy.

The Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC) has been quoted in Colombo Gazette saying it will seek the intervention of the President of the UN Human Rights Council, the Canadian government, and various international non-governmental organizations, many of whom have already voiced their indignation at the proscription.

Meanwhile, the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) has said it is expecting the International community to denounce the "anti-democratic" measure.

The government recently listed 16 Tamil Diaspora groups under a UN Security Council resolution which seeks to curb finding for groups linked to terrorism.

GTF spokesman Suren Surendiran has been quoted in the media as saying that the proscription proves that President Mahinda Rajapaksa is bankrupt of political will to even attempt to resolve the root causes of the Tamil National Question. He has said that as the UN Human Rights Commissioner acknowledged after her visit to Colombo in August 2013 and in her recent report, Mahinda Rajapaksa's authoritarian tendency is now giving rise for him to think that he can suppress freedom of speech even overseas.

"By creating fear and by allowing 'terror' through white van abductions, killings and by targeting local media organisations and personnel he has successfully suppressed freedom of speech internally in the island. Now by proscribing organisations in Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa is trying to intimidate members of international organisations like the Global Tamil Forum to give into his 'terror' tactics. It's a proven fact through the percentage votes his party gained in the recently held elections that his popularity internally too is weakening. UNHRC has given the authority to the Office of the UN HR Commissioner to initiate an international investigation into alleged breaches of international law in Sri Lanka. Fear has set in due to these combined reasons, is the only conclusion that can be drawn for his idea of ​​proscription of organisations that function overseas . This is a typical reaction of dictators, "he said.