Tamil New Year message - 2014
Monday, April 14, 2014
I offer my greetings and best wishes to all my Tamil brothers and sisters as we celebrate Tamil New Year.
Beginning a New Year is an occasion for all of us as individuals, families and communities to rejoice and give thanks for all we have received in our lives as well as to prepare ourselves well for the future. As Tamils in the diaspora we are conscious of our rich heritage, as well as of the challenges facing us as Tamils.
While within our homeland our people were able to elect a new Provincial Council that can clearly and eloquently voice their aspirations, the international community also has made progress through the UN Human Rights Council’s resolution in Geneva, which has authorised the initiation of a comprehensive investigation into the injustices that took place against Tamils.
Chithirai Thiru Naal is an important time to recognise and celebrate our language, culture, history and customs. We must seek to preserve and strengthen these traditions, especially in the face of such terrible and on-going attacks committed against our brethren in Sri Lanka. The further clampdown on Tamils by the state security forces in recent weeks and the decision to proscribe almost every major Tamil diaspora organisation highlights President Rajapaksa’s authoritarian tendencies and the pressing need to support our people and our way of life on the island.
In that respect, GTF will continue to play a key role in engaging with governments, UN institutions and international organisations on all these issues. We will seek to ensure that the victims of the conflict and those that suffer enduring discrimination and human rights violations receive justice and are afforded respect.
My thoughts and prayers are with you all,
Rev. Dr S.J. Emmanuel
President
Global Tamil Forum