South Africa & the Tamil Eelam Struggle

‘Tamil plight like era of apartheid in SA‘

Report by Tabelo Timse in South African Herald, 5 June 2007

The plight of Tamil-speaking Sri Lankans was heard in Port Elizabeth yesterday when the representative of the Tamil Nation Alliance (Tamil Tigers) in the Sri Lanka parliament spoke to various organisations and concerned individuals.

Manickavasagar Kanagasabapathy Eelaventhan visited the city as part of his global tour to create an awareness on the plight of the Eelam Tamils.

“South Africa must be made aware of what‘s happening in our country. South Africa would be able to make a positive contribution to our cause, especially since it is part of the security council in the UN,” he said.

The UN charter justifies third-party intervention in situations of genocide and the right to resist oppression.

Eelaventhan compared the situation in Sri Lanka to that of South Africa during the apartheid era, but said the injustice and discrimination against Tamil people was far worse.

More than 600 000 Tamils living in Jaffna were virtually living in an open prison, where people were subjected to starvation and denied medical care and basic services, he said.

The army had deliberately obstructed humanitarian help from reaching affected areas and aid workers and media were also harassed.

Eelaventhan said Tamil women and children were killed and raped. People disappeared daily.

Political activists were killed by the Sri Lankan intelligence bureau and para-military groups, he said.

“There is a calculated move by the Sri Lanka government to totally wipe out the Tamil nation in the country.

“The Tamil nation is facing cultural genocide, physical liquidation and economic strangulation,” he said.

During his tour, which started two months ago, Eelaventhan has met ministers, governmental officials, opposition parties and non-government organisations.

Valli Ragavelloo, a member of the ANC in East London and a human rights activist, said she was concerned about Eelaventhan‘s safety when he returned home as five other political activists had been killed.

The Tamil Tigers have requested advocate Roshan Pillay, who sympathises with the freedom fighters, to facilitate meetings with President Thabo Mbeki and the African Union.