Tamil parties appeal for ceasefire

[TamilNet, Saturday, 30 December 2000, 04:20 GMT]
"Sri Lankan government should respond favourably to the call by the Liberation Tigers for a ceasefire and, USA, Britain, India, members of the European Union and other countries interested in solving the conflict in Sri Lanka should exert pressure on the Sri Lankan Government to bring an end to the war," said a joint statement issued by a coalition of ten Tamil political parties after they met in Colombo yesterday. .

The meeting was held at Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) head quarters in Colombo. Leader of TELO, Srikantha presided.

The People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), TELO, All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC), Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), Ceylon National Workers Congress, Democratic Workers’ Congress, National Workers Foundation and Assiz Democratic Workers’ Congress participated.

Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) and Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) did not attend the meeting.

Mr. Chandrasekaran, Member of Parliament representing the Upcountry Peoples Front informed the meeting that his party would lend its support to the decisions taken in the meeting.

Following resolutions were adopted:

Tamil parties will meet the Ambassadors of the above mentioned countries next week to promote the resolutions and the appeal for ceasefire

In the event of a ceasefire, to create a climate conducive to successful peace negotiations, Sri Lankan armed forces in the North and East should be confined to the barracks

While Tamil parties urge third party mediation, international community should focus their attention on mounting incidents of racial killings against Tamils

Bindinuweva massacre, subsequent killings and racial riots in upcountry, recent massacres in Gopalpuram, corpses recovered from Mirusuvil massacre of civilians, are clear evidence of genocide in progress. Tamil parties will highlight these incidents to the international community and impress upon them that an immediate ceasefire followed by negotiations is the only option available to stop the killings

Tamil parties have condemned Sri Lankan government’s decision to establish army camps in the upcountry and have requested the government to halt all associated activities. The Parties believe that army camps are unnecessary in population centers. The Parties will urge the Government to remove all existing army camps from upcountry areas and transfer the security responsibilites to the local police force

Tamil parties will act to strengthen the alliance and use this coalition to promote peace negotiations

Tamil parties will work with progressive anti-war leftist forces and Human Rights Organizations in the South to build a popular peoples front to promote peace

Representatives and Leaders of Tamil parties will conduct a press conference with international and local journalists to publicise and explain the resolutions.