Community activism urged to confront HR violations

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 September 2001, 03:16 GMT]
A human rights activist appealed to Tamil people to organize and work against the atrocities and human rights violation committed against them. "Do not wait until the violation against humanity knocks at your door," said Attorney-at-Law, Mr.Kasinather Sivapalan, presiding over the morning session of the Tamil Festival organized by the Trincomalee Thirumarai Kala Mantram (Centre for Performing Arts) held Sunday at Trincomalee Sri Koneswara Hindu College hall.

Distinguished Guest, Ms Gabriella Elroy, UNICEF's representative in Trincomalee and Chief Guest, Mr.K. Thilakaratnam, Zonal Director of Education, were taken in a procession from nearby Pillaiyar Temple to the venue of the celebration during the opening ceremony.

"Tamil poet Bharathi spotlighted the atrocities committed on Tamil women several years ago in his song 'Karumputhottathile.' Now Tamil women in our country undergo similar or worse sufferings," said Mr. Sivapalan.

Presiding over the evening session of the celebrations, the President of the Ceylon Tamil Teachers Union (CTTU), Mr.C.Thandayuthapani, appealed to Tamil government officials to use Tamil as the administrative language in Tamil areas.

"If Tamil government officials do not use Tamil in official communications with Tamil people, how can we expect Sinhala officials to correspond in Tamil language with Tamils of this country?" he asked.

The UNICEF representative in Trincomalee, Ms Gabriella Elroy, said that children even from minority communities have the right to create art and express their feelings independently in their own language. "The UNICEF proposes zones of peace for children who are affected by the turmoil that takes place in various countries like Sri Lanka," said Ms Gabriella Elroy, said.

Rev. Father Maria Xavier, Founder Director of Thirumarai Kala Mantram, said that his organisation is engaged in the search of humanity in all spheres of life through literature and teachings of all faiths.