{"id":230413,"date":"2022-12-21T10:47:20","date_gmt":"2022-12-21T05:17:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=230413"},"modified":"2022-12-31T20:26:09","modified_gmt":"2022-12-31T14:56:09","slug":"the-tgte-past-present-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/the-tgte-past-present-future\/","title":{"rendered":"The TGTE; Past, Present & Future"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah<\/a> –<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah<\/p><\/div>\n

For the TGTE, Tamil Eelam is not a mere dream or aspiration or yearning or passion alone, it\u2019s a commitment, an explicit, unequivocal and results-oriented goal that\u2019s to be pursued and achieved using every peaceful means possible<\/b><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

My dear TGTE family, our friends and well-wishers,\u00a0I stand before you holding in my heart the memory of our beloved Maveerar who gave their lives defending the cause of freedom of Tamil Eelam and the memory of all those who perished in the genocide perpetrated by the Sri Lankan state.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It is indeed a distinct honour for me to deliver the keynote address, at the 8th<\/sup> sitting of the 3rd<\/sup> parliamentary term of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE<\/a><\/span>). My subject is: TGTE Past Present and Future. I have to admit, to condense more than 12 years of solid, unparalleled and pioneering work, done by the TGTE, in its quest for justice and freedom, in my allocated time of 30 minutes, and in that endeavor, detail the initiatives that are being currently worked on by the TGTE, and some of the projects that are in the pipeline, is not easy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Faith Moves Mountains\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The TGTE is driven by a boundless reservoir of faith \u2013 faith in the belief that it will overcome and ultimately prevail, though the road may seem insurmountable. At the zenith the Maveerar provide the inspiration, the oxygen for the TGTE. The TGTE can say with pride that it hasn\u2019t backed down or back tracked from the goal the Maveerar held in their heart, the oath they took and gave their lives for \u2013 that of the restoration of a Free, Independent and Sovereign State of Tamil Eelam \u2013 this is TGTE \u2018s primary focus, together with securing justice for the tens of thousands of victims of genocide perpetrated by Sri Lankan State. And I will be elaborating on the specifics in a minute. But let me speak more about faith. I\u2019ll say it again faith moves mountains – in furtherance of TGTE\u2019s two, actually three pronged objective, that includes the rebuilding of Tamil Eelam, the TGTE believes and has faith in its ability, in its leadership, in its members, in the Eelam Tamil people, in friends, associates, well-wishers and in God.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Formation of the TGTE \u2013 The Vehicle for Creating A Political Space Outside of Sri Lanka Towards Eelam<\/span>\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

It was on June 16, 2009 that the appointment of an \u2018Advisory Committee\u2019 of eminent persons was announced to, \u201cexplore the modalities for TGTE\u2019s establishment.\u201d The recommendation of this Committee\u2019s report released on March 15, 2010 led to TGTE\u2019s formation on May 17, 2010 at the National Constitutional Center in Philadelphia, USA.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

On this day both democratically elected and appointed Members of Parliament (the parliament known earlier as an assembly), representing significant countries including Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Switzerland, France, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, United Kingdom, Canada and the United States, took their place in the first TGTE parliament.\u00a0 <\/span>On September, 30 2010 on its 2nd<\/sup> sitting the TGTE\u2019s constitution with a bicameral legislature was ratified and Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran was chosen Prime Minister. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The preamble to the Constitution laid out the many reasons for TGTE\u2019s formation; notably it spoke of the absence of any political space inside the island of Sri Lanka to articulate the political aspirations of the Tamil people. The preamble pointed to, \u201cthe historical obligation of the Tamil Diaspora to create the political space outside of the island of Sri Lanka.\u201d The Constitution a comprehensive document sets out among other TGTE\u2019s aims, objectives and structure, mandating that the TGTE should find a political solution to the Tamil national question on the basis of nationhood, a homeland and the right to self-determination, through political and diplomatic channels, and only through peaceful means.<\/p>\n

Election of Rudrakumaran A Visionary as Prime Minister Proved To Be the Right Choice<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

The election of Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran, as Prime Minister of TGTE, has indeed proved to be the right decision. Rudrakumaran is a true visionary, one who, as I have described before, is driven and fixated on the mission at hand with the kind of laser sharp focus and intellect required and having what it takes, to stay on course and stay focused, for the long haul if necessary \u2013 one whom the TGTE has elected to be Prime Minister for a 3rd<\/sup> term and rightfully so.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I would be remiss if I do not acknowledge the man behind the success of TGTE and for that I wish to quote from an article\u00a0 <\/span>I wrote about him: \u2018Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran, a Man with a Mission in Pursuit of Eelam:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRemaining steadfast, forthright and resolute, despite the numerous obstacles and challenges before him, Rudrakumaran marches on undaunted, with a confidence that imbues confidence. Unmoved by detractors, his strong will, hard work and unwavering commitment are ample proof he has the wherewithal to go the distance; not to forget he possesses the kind of grit and determination that\u2019s needed at this critical time; in order not to lose the momentum the TGTE has achieved after the armed struggle was dealt a heavy blow in 2009 and the whole freedom movement suffered a huge loss, in material and human cost, unable to abate a massive onslaught by the Sri Lankan armed forces with the support of some nations; this, when Sri Lanka unilaterally abrogated a ceasefire in force and waged a cruel and brutal war \u2013 breaking the Geneva Conventions and committing the most heinous of mass atrocity crimes, involving large scale government shelling of innocent Tamil civilians, and the alleged use of cluster bombs and chemical and other illegal weapons \u2013 best described as a genocide on a people \u2013 hitherto unimaginable \u2013 a genocide which a renowned international human rights lawyer, Geoffrey Robertson, when giving his considered legal opinion ahead of the passage of the US sponsored resolution HRC 30\/1, said, \u201chad to be litigated.\u201c<\/p>\n

And quoting from my article: \u201cIt would not be wrong to say Rudrakumaran has played a major role in carving out a political space for the Eelam Tamil people, just as the founders of TGTE envisaged; a space to freely articulate their political aspirations and demands, one that is lacking in the homeland \u2013 Rudrakumaran insisting, \u201cthe Diaspora and the homeland being two sides of the same coin.\u201d And as TGTE\u2019s Prime Minister, he has been hugely responsible for lifting the sagging morale of a people devastated by war and war weary, at home and in the Diaspora, and in changing the means and the methods of the struggle; the TGTE believing in soft power, rather than military power to attain its goals.\u201d<\/p>\n

TGTE\u2019s Ambitious Program Unparalleled, Relentless and Resilient\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Further in my article, I write about how, \u2018impervious and unfaltering, Rudrakumaran has, right from its inception, steered the TGTE admirably, working, of course, with some committed people around him.\u00a0 Essentially there\u2019s been no turning back for the TGTE from where it began.\u00a0 Although all its members are volunteers, the TGTE team (the deputy Prime Minister, the Cabinet, the Secretariat, the PMO, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker and Members of Parliament including the Senate, spearheaded by Rudrakumaran), work tirelessly and relentlessly – their dedication is unparalleled,\u201d not forgetting those who served previously.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It was challenging to say the least to decide what I should highlight and leave out in listing TGTE\u2019s massive program of work over the years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The numerous projects and initiatives, mentioned below, most still ongoing, serve as proof of an organization that continues to be strong and resilient, never giving up, despite the odds stacked against it, and the challenges before it:\u00a0 \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n