Empower Tamils to take political call in Sri Lanka: TESO

The first conference of the revived Tamil Eelam Supporters Organisation (TESO) on Sunday urged the Central government to bring forth a resolution in the United Nations (UN) for bestowing full rights to the Tamils in Sri Lanka to decide the political solution themselves, which they have been demanding.  Of the 14 resolutions adopted at the conference, eight put forth requests to the UN to help the Lankan Tamils on various counts.

While most of the speakers did not raise the separate Eelam issue, Lok Jan Shakti leader Ram Vilas Paswan and VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan said Tamil Eelam would be the solution to the problems faced by the Lankan Tamils. Referring to these remarks, Karunanidhi said if someone asks why there was no move to attain a separate Eela Naadu immediately, my answer would be this: In the present scenario, providing first aid to the Lankan Tamils affected by the war should be the priority.

In his concluding speech, Karunanidhi referred to the remark of Thirumavalavan and others that the TESO should exert sufficient pressure on the Centre to resolve the issues of Lankan Tamils. He said the resolution urging the Centre to bring in a resolution before the UN itself signified much pressure.

Stating that the Indian government has been protecting a number of nationalities, religions and languages as part of its democratic tradition, a resolution said a different situation prevailed in Lanka wherein there is no protection for Tamil nationality, religion and language.