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Home > Struggle for Tamil Eelam > International Frame of Struggle for Tamil Eelam > India & the Struggle for Tamil Eelam > Memorandum submitted by Tamil Professionals in London
India & the Struggle for Tamil Eelam
Memorandum submitted by Tamil Professionals in London
to Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee
22 May 2000
We are a group of Sri Lankan Tamil professionals who met under the auspices of the Tamil Information Centre in London on 19 May 2000 to discuss the developments in the Tamil homeland in Sri Lanka and wish to register our appreciation for the goodwill and commitment that India has expressed by offering to mediate between the LTTE and the government of Sri Lanka to bring about a negotiated political solution.
We note with interest the statement of the Norwegian chief negotiator Eric Solheim on 11 May 2000 following discussions with External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh that no solution to the ethnic conflict is possible without Indias positive role, thus re-inforcing our view that the pursuit of any action or intervention by anyone in the conflict in Sri Lanka cannot ignore the geopolitical context in which the island remains. Further, we are conscious about the constraints placed on the parameters of domestic decision-making.
Our primary concern, in this memorandum is to highlight what we see as Indias role in the Sri Lankan National Question. We are aware of the calls once again for Indian military intervention, by the government of Sri Lanka and of Indias outright and welcome rejection of this request, but for humanitarian assistance and the offer of mediation only if asked by both sides.
We see this stand by the government of India as a recognition of the suffering and pain that the Tamil people have experienced under the successive Sinhala governments and against all odds, of managing our own struggle for survival and in the defence of our lives, our land and territory, and our own socio-economic, cultural and political well-being as Tamil people. We also view the stand of the Government of India as the recognition of the LTTE as the main symbol and spokesman of Tamil grievances and perception, carrying the moral support of Tamils the world over.
With the recent events in the north following the capture of Elephant Pass military base and the LTTEs determination to take control of Jaffna, the world has, hopefully, come to realise that the Tamil peoples resistance in their struggle for self determination and political independence is real and it is now more feasible that Sri Lanka is persuaded to review its military efforts and pursue a negotiated political settlement. It provides more reason, for India, the key outside power, to play a more positive and responsible role in persuading the government of Sri Lanka to end the violence that has caused untold suffering to the Tamils, creating the required political will amongst the Sinhala leaders and begin to talk about the status of the Tamil people. India is also well placed to provide post conflict re-construction and assist the LTTE to re-build well functioning civil society in the Tamil homeland.
Name Profession Residence in UK Dr M S Isweran, MBBS,DPM,MRCPsych Consultant Psychiatrist 22 yrs. Dr Mahen Mahendran, MB FRCS Family Physician 15 yrs Dr N Sivananthan, MBBS, MRCOG Family Physician 17 yrs Dr N Sreeharan, MD, PHD, FRCP Physician 15 yrs. Dr S Ratneswaran, MRCP(UK),MRGCP Family Physician 17 yrs. Dr V Sivapathasuntharam, MBBS, MRCOG Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist 22 yrs Ivan Pedurupillai,B.Sc., M.Sc.,FCCA, FCMA Chartered Management Accountant 32 yrs. R Ganeshalingam, M.Sc(Constr.Eng).,MICE Chartered Engineer,Managing Director, COMSOL Group of Companies 37 yrs R Pathmanaba Iyer, B.Sc. Publisher 10 yrs Ram Subramaniam, M.Sc Systems Engineer 8 yrs. S Balasingam, ACA Chartered Accountant 10 yrs S Balayogan,B.Sc., PCG Teacher 12 yrs S Kanagasundaram, C.Eng:M.I.C.E. Chartered Civil Engineer 37 yrs. S Mahalingasivam Journalist 12 yrs. S Sivagnanam (Rtd.) BT Sales Manager 35 yrs. Siva Muthulingasamy, B.Sc. Managing Director ECL Medicals 31 yrs. A Sothinathan,Assoc.Dip. in Mngt. Journalist 1 yr. V R Ramanathan, F.Inst.S.M.M, M.L.I.A(Dip) Independent Financial Adviser 25 yrs. V Varadakumar, B.Sc. Statistician 19 yrs Copies to:
Hon. Mr Jaswant Singh, Minister of External Affairs
Hon. Mr George Fernandes, Minister of Defence
Hon. Mr L K. Advani, Minister of Home Affairs
Hon Dr. M Karunanidhi, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
