{"id":88449,"date":"2013-05-25T13:26:24","date_gmt":"2013-05-25T07:56:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=88449"},"modified":"2013-05-30T00:01:01","modified_gmt":"2013-05-29T18:31:01","slug":"establishing-a-un-monitored-protection-mechanism-in-northeast","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/establishing-a-un-monitored-protection-mechanism-in-northeast\/","title":{"rendered":"Establishing A UN Monitored Protection Mechanism In NorthEast"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

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

TGTE\u2019s Call for Establishing a UN Monitored International Protection Mechanism in the NorthEast<\/strong><\/p>\n

This paper in the main addresses the question why there is an absolute and urgent necessity for putting in place a suitable UN Monitored International Protection Mechanism, involving a continuing human rights presence in the NorthEast as a form of protection for the Tamil people; in that context this paper seeks the engagement of scholars, human rights advocates and legal luminaries here assembled on the interventions and options available in this regard.<\/p>\n

The best form of protection that would guarantee the safety, security, economic prosperity and freedom of the Tamil speaking people would be the restoration of an Independent and Sovereign State of Tamil Eelam. When the TGTE<\/a><\/span> requested for the \u2018freedom demands\u2019 of the Tamil people in drafting the Tamil Eelam Freedom Charter, my husband wrote down his vision of Tamil Eelam:<\/p>\n

A Tamil Eelam that boasts of an exemplary egalitarian society that is firmly rooted in a coherent and transparent socio-economic-political-legal system that promotes the welfare, mutual respect and dignity of all its citizens including its men, women, seniors, the poor, the handicapped, the infirm, war veterans, war widows and orphans. A Tamil Eelam that works towards eliminating economic disparities among its citizens and to protecting their human rights. That its governance is characterized by strict adherence to the rule of both national and international law as a means to delivering equal justice to all, thereby ensuring social, cultural, linguistic and gender equality and religious freedom; it facilitates equal and unhindered access to educational, employment and economic opportunities and healthcare for all its citizens; it upholds press freedom to buttress the rights of its citizens and their right to assemble freely and protest peacefully any perceived wrong doings and to seek appropriate remedies from an independent judiciary and an independent Human Rights Commission. A Tamil Eelam that aims to establish itself as an intellectual hub and a center for academic excellence that actively promotes innovation, cutting edge technology and enterprise, environmental protection and sustainable development, whilst preserving its natural resources and wealth.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Although the cause for a free Tamil Eelam continues relentlessly and will continue until it is won, given fresh impetus by the promulgation of the Tamil Eelam Freedom Charter<\/a><\/span>, TGTE\u2019s call for establishing a \u2018UN Monitored International Protection Mechanism\u2019 in the NorthEast is the right call to make and should be pursued robustly, considering the prevailing dire situation of a highly militarized NorthEast, of rampant and flagrant human rights abuses and need to halt the ongoing systematic structural genocide perpetrated on the Tamil Nationthat\u2019s continuing unabated as we speak.<\/p>\n

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Army involvement in the Lives of School Children<\/p><\/div>\n

Other measures such as an \u2018interim transitional administration\u2019 in the NorthEast or one similar to the ISGA (Internal Self Governing Authority) proposal may also be considered as a form of protection, but is not within the scope of this paper.<\/p>\n

Introduction:<\/strong> The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) in its 3rd<\/sup> Annual Assembly convened inBuffalo,NY in December 2011 adopted a resolution for action in the \u2018Matter of Protecting Human Rights in Tamil Eelam\u2019. In compliance and with a view to giving \u201cform and substance\u201d to the resolution, a \u2018task force\u2019 made recommendations underscoring the need for an, \u201cInternational Protection Mechanism specifically related and dealing with the ongoing violations of international human rights laws and norms committed in the homeland by the Sri Lankan Army of occupation and its political masters,\u201d namely the Sri Lankan government led by Mahinda Rajapaksa<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

The TGTE set out a \u201cwork programme\u201d that included among other, \u201cengaging constructively with the Office of the High Commissioner for UN Human Rights (OHCHR)and the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC<\/a><\/span>), pushing for periodic fact finding missions by eminent persons to the Northern and Eastern parts of the island, considering sending task force missions comprising individuals from Tamil Nadu similar to the \u2018Green Peace Flotilla to Gaza\u2019, calling on the Co-Chairs & India and other international players with influence to have a summit to discuss current issues and take steps to protect Tamils in the island, creating \u2018Village Monitoring Groups\u2019 in major countries (UK, Canada, Australia Geneva and France, etc) to obtain updated information on the ground realities and provide suggestions as to how to address the issues, formulating ideas as to what the international community can do and what the Diaspora Tamils can do, assisting and encouraging the international community in documenting abuses that are happening since the end of the war and take steps to addressing it, liaising with INGOs in dealing with gross human rights violations and identifying any other areas not mentioned in the work programme.\u201d<\/p>\n

The TGTE Senate in a document entitled, \u2018The Roadmap to Achieving the Restoration of an Independent Sovereign State of Tamil Eelam \u2013 A Work in Progress\u2019, presented at the 4th<\/sup> Annual Assembly convened in London, UK in Dec 2012, said it was pleased that the TGTE is giving this initiative high priority and made recommendations for action that included:<\/p>\n