Tamil parties remember Black July

[TamilNet, Thursday, 23 July 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Three Tamil political parties in Batticaloa issued a statement yesterday, requesting the public to observe three days, July 25 - 27, as days of mourning in memory of the race riots of 'Black July' 1983, said sources in Batticaloa.

The Peoples' Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) and Eelam Peoples' Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), said in a statement said that the schools, offices and business establishments should remain closed on these three days.

The statement also requested the Sri Lanka Government (SLG) to give a complete and expeditious solution to the ethnic problem, not to attempt to bifurcate the merged Northeast Province, as it is the traditional homeland of the Tamils, and to permit human rights organisations to work without interference.

The statement said that while these are the interim measures, the SLG should undertake long term measures to bring about a permanent peace in the country.

The call to observe Black July comes as Sri Lanka plans to host the South Asian Association of Regional cooperation (SAARC) summit from July 29 - 31 which heads of state of all the South Asian countries, their entourages and a phalanx of media personnel are expected to attend.

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