Kousalyan, a symbol of Tamil unity - IFT

[TamilNet, Thursday, 10 February 2005, 12:53 GMT]
The Geneva based International Federation of Tamils (IFT) recalling Mr. Kousalyan's address to thousands of Tamils from the Tamil diaspora in front of the United Nations Building last year, said in a press statement issued Thursday that Kausalyan was a symbol of Tamil unity. IFT appealed to International governments and donors to act decisively to prevent escalation of hostilities as it feared that continued "covert operations" will "wane the mutual trust, goodwill and confidence" between the Liberation Tigers and the Government of Sri Lanka. IFT called upon the countries giving Sri Lanka military assistance to desist from doing so and instead to pressure them to seek a peaceful solution.

Mr. E. Kousalyan visited Geneva to attend Pongu Thamil event in 2004 (TamilNet Library Photo)

Excerpts from press release issued by the Geneva based umbrella organisation of diaspora Tamil organisations follow:

"International Federation of Tamils (IFT) strongly condemns the despicable assassinations of senior political leader and Tamil activist Mr.E.Kouslayan, together with human rights activist Mr.Chandraneru Arianayagam and two other LTTE political workers on 7th of February 2005. Killings of these unarmed political activists is a brutal and dastardly act."

"IFT remembers with appreciation his visits to Geneva, 2004 April and October and his great orations in front of United Nations addressing many thousands of Tamils during the European rally."

"Former parliamentarian and a leading human rights activist Mr.Chandraneru contributed in campaigns for human rights by International Tamil community at the UN and other human rights forums."

"Mr.E.Kousalayan was a member of LTTE peace delegation and was actively engaged in recent Tsunami related relief and formulating rehabilitation programmes. His contribution to Tamil unity and the struggle against oppression was valuable. He is the symbol of Tamil unity. IFT remembers with appreciation his visits to Geneva, 2004 April and October and his great orations in front of United Nations addressing many thousands of Tamils during the European rally."

"Former parliamentarian and a leading human rights activist Mr.Chandraneru contributed in campaigns for human rights by International Tamil community at the UN and other human rights forums."

"We strongly belief that this brutal attack on unarmed political leaders and human rights activists is a gross violation of the ceasefire agreement signed by the Government of Sri Lanka. This aggressive provocation has been carried out to force the Tamils to retaliate. All evidence clearly indicates that the Sri Lankan military establishment is responsible for this brutal covert operation."

"This mode of systematic covert attacks have been continued against LTTE political leaders/cadres, Tamil intellectuals and Tamil media persons markedly since the takeover of the defence portfolio by the president, oct.2003."

"IFT has grave concerns that these covert operations will continue to wane the mutual trust, goodwill and confidence between the negotiating partners and seriously threaten the Norwegian facilitated peace process."

"Given the above situation, IFT urges the International governments and other donors to act decisively to prevent escalation hostilities."

"We call the countries, which are assisting Sri Lankan military, to cease all its military related relations with Sri Lanka to actively persuade towards a peaceful resolution of this protracted conflict."