Global Tamil Forum welcomes cancellation of Sri Lanka Victory Day parade, calls for full implementation of UNHRC resolution
Thursday, May 19, 2016
The London-based Tamil Diaspora organization, the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) has welcomed the Sri Lankan government's decision to cancel the Victory Day Parade that was held annually on May 18 since 2009 to commemorate the war victory over the Tamil Tiger terrorists.
UK based GTF spokesperson Suren Surendiran Wednesday in a statement said the Sri Lankan government is taking some of the steps recommended by the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC), which GTF welcomes, wholeheartedly.
The GTF spokesperson's statement:
The government is taking some of the steps recommended by the LLRC, which GTF welcomes, wholeheartedly.
Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission (LLRC) in this regard, said:
"Given the traumatic nature of the long drawn out conflict and the massive toll in human life and property that it brought about, almost all the people who appeared before the Commission articulated a clear need for the nation to collectively empathize with all those victims of the conflict whether they are civilians or soldiers or whether they belong to the Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim or other communities.
"The Commission, therefore, strongly recommends that a separate event be set apart on National Day to express solidarity and empathy with all victims of the tragic conflict and pledge our collective commitment to ensure that there should never be such blood-letting in the country again. Based on testimonies it received the Commission feels that this commemorative gesture, on such a solemn occasion, and at a high political level, will provide the necessary impetus to the reconciliation process, which the nation as a whole is now poised to undertake."
What would also be ideal, essential and mandated by the Government of Sri Lanka co-sponsored UNHRC resolution are:
- To ensure transitional justice process/mechanism is delivered to the victims of the war that is acceptable to the victims, credible and to international standards.
- To ensure for non-recurrence amongst other steps, a lasting, acceptable political solution is arrived at for the Tamil National Question that will be acceptable to all communities, most so acceptable to the affected communities.
- Repeal the draconian PTA, ASAP.
- Release all private lands that the military holds to the rightful owners, and implement a practical resettlement plan.
- Release all political prisoners, which has dragged on for far too long since the new Government came to power since 8 January 2015.
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