இலங்கைத் தமிழர்களைக் காப்பாற்றுங்கள்! அமிர்தலிங்கம் அவர்கள் அன்று கோரியதுபோல இன்று யாராவது தமிழ் மக்களுக்காக குரல் கொடுக்க முன்வரவேண்டும்.

புள்ளி விபரங்களின்படி அன்று யாழ்ப்பாணத்தைக் கைப்பற்ற இலங்கை அரசு தாக்குதல்களை மேற்கொண்டபோது அமரர் அமிர்தலிங்கம் அவர்கள் கீழ்க்கண்ட கடிதத்தைத் தயாரித்து அனுப்பியது வரலாற்றுச் சிறப்புடையது. அதன் பின்னரே இந்திய அரசு விமானம் மூலம் உணவுப் பொருட்களைப் போட்டு எமது நாட்டுப் பிரச்சனையில் அதீத ஈடுபாடு காட்டி இலங்கை இந்திய ஒப்பந்தம் ஏற்பட்டது.
இன்றைய மிகவும் ஒரு இக்கட்டான நிலையில் யார் தமிழர்களுக்காக குரல் கொடுக்க இருக்கிறார்கள் என்பதே கேள்வி?
அவர் அன்று எழுதிய கடிதத்தை இத்துடன் இணைத்துள்ளேன்.

The Tamil People in Sri Lanka presently face the most critical period in their long history.
The only silver lining in this catastrophic situation, ist he hope that they may yet be redeemed from the brutal repression they face through the just efforts of India. It is in this hope that we write to you.

Besides, Shri Tiwari, the Minister of Foreign Affairs has stated in Parliament that he will meet with you soon, to discuss the Sri Lankan ethnic problem, and to make the discussion full and meaningful we wish to place before you the relevant facts.

India first expressed concern fort he oppressed Tamil People, When Shri P V Narasimha Rao, the then Minister for External Affairs was sent to Colombo by the late Prime Minister Shrimathi Indira Gandhi on the 29th JUly 1983, at the height of the anti-Tamil racial pogrom of June-July 1983.

August 1983 witnessed the offer and acceptance of India’s good offices, and the commencement of the negotiatory process, to find a final solution to the Tamil ethnic problem with India’s good offices.

The period between August and December 1983 witnessed the evolution after concerted efforts of certain written proposals later entitled Annexure ஷC“, as a basis fort he commencement of negotiations, at the All Partes Conference convened by the Sri Lankan Government for 10th January.

The TULF representing the Tamils, attended the All Parties Conference, on the basis of the solemn assurance given by President Jayawardene to Shrimathi Indira Gandhi at New Delhi in November 1988, that he would, at the All Parties Conference, extend his fullest support to the said proposals, and also not obstruct any suggestions made by the TULF at the conference, fort he creation of a single Tamil Lingustic Unit.

1984 witnessed the prolonging of the conference throughout the whole year, the total retraction by the Sri Lankan governemnt from even the most basis elements in the said proposals, and ultimately ist total abandonment.

1985 witnessed the Tamils being offered nothing more in substance, than what was offered in 1984, which the TULF had already declared to be totally inadequate. Though in 1985, through the intense efforts of the Indian Government, the Tamil militant organisations, albeit with genuine misgivings, participated in the negotiatory process at Thimpu, so as to ensure the durability of any peace package, the Sri Lankan Government continued to be intransigent, demonstrating its total lack of sincerity in the evolution of a just and peaceful political solution.

In a situation of impasse, the TULF submitted to the Indian Government in December 1985, a detailed set of proposals based substantially on the pattern of a state in India. The Sri Lankan Government’s response in January 1986, was a rude rejection of the said proposals.

Consequent to further Indian mediatory efforts with ministerial participation, in April – May 1986, and based on certain proposals that emanated the TULF again held detailed negotiations with President Jeyawardene and his Ministries in July and August 1986. Despite a measure of progress, the negotiations remained inconclusive in vital areas.

In September – October 1986, the TULF delivered to the Indian Government, ist full response, based on the negotiations held in Colombo in July and August, to certain draft formulations, received from the Sri Lankan Government. The draft formulations received from the Sri Lankan Government revealed retractions even from positions accepted in Colombo, and discrepancies between accepted positions and new formulations. The response of the TULF outland the minimum Tamil position.

In pursuance of India’s efforts, Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi held several rounds of discussions with President Jeyewardene at Bangalore in November 1986. Both prior to, and after the meeting between Prime Minister Ragiv Gandhi and President Jeyewardene, an Indian Ministerial team visited Colombo and held discussions with President Jeyewardene and his Ministers. At the final discussions held with President Jeyewardene on 19th December, certain proposals emerged.

Almost immediately after the return of the Ministerial delegation to New Delhi, President Jayawardene resiled from the said proposals. India has since sought an unequivocal commitment from the Sri Lankan Government to the said proposals, as ஷa basis and starting point“ for further negotiations.

Despite the most strenuous efforts of the Indian Government, with which efforts, the TULF has always actively co-operated, the Sri Lankan Government, while maintaining a pretence of negotiating, has procrastinated, evaded and repeatedly reneged on accepted positions, so as to gain time, and utilise the time so gained to prepare itself to deal with the Tamils militarily.

While the tortuous process of negotiations have continued during the past three and a half years, the Sri Lankan Government has since the formations of the Ministry of National Security under Minister Lalith Athulathmudali in March 1984, unleashed unbridled state terror and violence against the Tamil People in both the Northern and Eastern Provinces. In support of ist policies of State repression of the Tamil People, the Sri Lankan Government has inducted Israeli and Pakistani Military personnel, and mercenaries from the United Kingdom and the United States in addition to the purchase of an assortment of sophisticated military hardware, including Helicopter Gun Ships, Bomber Planes and Naval Gun-Boats, from various sources mainly South Africa.

In brief, the Sri Lankan Government is waging a war against the Tamil people of the Northern and Eastern Provinces. The victims of this aggression have mainly been the non-combatant Tamil civilian population.

While the death toll in the anti-tamil racial pogrom of June/July 1983, which propted India’s diplomatic intervention was estimated to be in the region of three thousand, (3000), the number of non-combatant Tamil civilians killed since the formation of the Ministry of National Security and up to now, on the basis of a realistic assessment, is in the region of eight to nine Thousand ( 8000 to 9000), Since June / July 1983, more than eleven thousand (11,000) innocent Tamil civilians, men, women and children, have been mercilessly massacred in Sri Lanka.

While in the period June/July 1983, Tamil civilians were massacred by Sinhala thugs and hoodlums, in the period since the formation of the Ministry of National Security, Tamil Civilians have been killed by the racially constituted Armed Forces, and Para-military forces specially trained and armed by the Government. Aerial and Naval attacks have been persistently carried out against civilian targets. Thickly populated habitations, have been shelled through heavy artillery from the Army Camps and Naval Gun Boats, and strafed and bombed from the air.

Over Two hundred (200) Tamil villages in the Northern and Eastern Provinces have been devastated and destroyed. More than Twenty five thousand houses and other buildings owned by Tamils have been destroyed in the said two provinces. In every one of the ravaged areas, Hindu Temples, and in some areas Churches, have either been destroyed or desecrated.

No less than Five hundred thousand ( 500 000) Tamils have been rendered homeless and destitute. In many areas, Tamil civilians attempting to return to their villages have either been killed or driven out.

Foreign military personnel and mercenaries have participated in these attacks along with the Sri Lankan Armed Forces, and Para-military personnel.

It is in this background and shortly after President Jayawardene resiled from the proposals of 19th December that the Sri Lankan Government imposed, in early January 1987, an economic and communications blockade of the Jaffna peninsula. The communications blockade has since been extended to other districts in the Northern Province.

Meanwhile the military operations continued in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. In late January 1987, the Sri Lankan Armed Forces without any cause, suddenly launched major military offensives including Aerial attacks in the Batticaloa and Trinomalee districts in the Eastern Province killing over two hundred ( 200) Tamil civilians, and destroying substantial civilian property. This was followed by further major military offencives including Naval and Aerial attacks in early February 1987, in the mainland of the Northern Province, in the Mannar, Kilinochchi and Mullaitheevu districts. Over a further three hundred ( 300) Tamil civilians were killed in these attacks and there was immense destruction of civilian property. More than five hundred (500) Tamil civilians were wantonly killed by these military offensives within the short space of a fornight.

In the context of the on-going peace efforts pursued by the Indian Government, these military offensives were unwarranted and unjustified and clearly establish the mala-fides of the Sri Lankan Government. In further proof of ist real intention to beat down the Tamils, and impose what in effect would be a military solution, the Sri Lankan Government continues with ist military offensive, particularly within the Jaffna peninsula. Tamil civilians continue to be killed every day.

By all reports over twenty thousand (20,000) troops have been massed within and on the periphery of the Jaffna peninsula, so heavily armed as to engage at very short notice in a swift and ferocious operation aided by aerial attacks from helicopter gun-shipsand bomber planes and Naval attacks from Gun boats.

All circumstances point to the imminence of a massive military offensive within the Jaffna peninsula, the civilian casualties , in which event, would be unprecedentedly high.

Meanwhile, the economic and communications blockade, which has been in force within the Jaffna peninsula fort he past two months, has subjected the civilian population to immense deprivation and suffering. Starvation stalks the peninsula, and people have have already been compelled to skip at least one meal a day. The fuel embargo gas paralysed all transport and economic activity. Hospitals, Co-operatives, Schools and other institutions have all been crippled.

Despite the intimation of the Government of India of 9th February that the economic and communications blockade be lifted, and that the military operations be suspended, the Sri Lankan Government has persisted with ist actions. Statements attributed to President Jayawardene, the Minister of National Security, and other Military sources indicate that both the military operations, and the Economic and Communications blockade will continue.

To demand that Tamil militants abandon their struggle and lay down arms in the face of the Government’s continued tyranny oppression without redressing the causes, that have fuelled revolt amongst a peaceful people, is to expect surrender, The Tamil militants have always expressed a willingness to participate in evolving an acceptable political solution.

The population of Eight hundred thousand (800,000) Tamils within the Jaffna peninsula, face imminent danger and are in grave peril. We earnestly plead that they should be saved. It would be doubly tragic if the fate that has already befallen the Tamil population in most of the areas of the Eastern Province, and the mainland of the Northern Province, was to overtake the bulk of the Tamil population who live within the Jaffna peninsula.

We respectfully, contend that the Sri Lankan Government should not be permitted while continuing to abuse India’s good offices, to steadily and surely thrust upon the Tamils a military solution. The Tamil people have saffered immeasurably through the manoeuvres and manipulations of President Jayawardene and his Government. Several reports of International Groups bear ample testimony to the sad plight of the Tamils.

While we deeply appreciate the Stepps, that have been taken by the Prime Minister and Government of India, we desire to keep you informed that we have, in a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, appealed that the following Stepps also be taken:

1. that as a humanitarian measure, food and fuel be provided to the deprived and suffering Tamil populace through the good offices of the Indian Government.
2. that the continuous gross violations of human rights, and genocidal attacks, against the Tamil people in Sri Lanka be appropriately raised at International Fora, and an International campaign be launched fort he taking of such measures and staps, as would compel Sri Lanka to comply with ist national and international obligations, in respect of ist own Tamil civilian population.
3. that the Government of India consider on humanitarian grounds the taking of such action, as would ensure the physical protection and survival of the Tamil people in the Northern and Eastern Provinces pending a final solution.

All that has continuously happened, lead us to the irresistable conclusion, that the real aim of the Sri Lankan Government ist he total suppression and annihilation of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka.

We are deeply convinced that it is only through the efforts of the Prime Minister, the Government and the people of India, that the Tamils of Sri Lanka can be saved from their tragic plight.

We earnestly solicit your kind co-operation.

Thanking you,

Yours sincerely,

M. Sivasithamparam President
A. Amirthalingam Secreatry General

TULF ( Tamil United Liberation Front)