- Memories of two Eelam Tamils’ leaders, who worked hard to create a culture of peace in the Island of Ceylon.
- Former Political leader of Eelam Tamils J.V. Selvanayagam built-up his political thoughts in the influences of Martin Luther King.
The United Nations celebrates International Conscience Day on April 5, beginning with the International Day for Mine Awareness Day on April 4.
On the International Mine Awareness Day, the United Nations calls on the world to work together as partners to ensure the safety of such weapons that destroy the lives of humans and animals, and to improve the lives of those affected by such weapons.
In fact, on April 4, it is natural for all Eelam people to have memories of the victims trapped in landmines in their homeland and the thoughts of their own people who lost their lives by Mines in the National Liberation Struggle of Eelam Tamils and the people who became physically handicapped are fighting with hope for a better life.
All the Tamils of the world and specially Tamil Eelam originated Tamils of the world have the great responsibility to make plans, efforts and funds to work for the betterment of the lives of those who have dedicated their lives and to live a better life without the idea that the bereaved are physically fit.
Meanwhile, on International Conscience Day on April 5, Martin Luther King (15.01.1929 – 04.04.1968) celebrated his commitment to the rights of the American people of color and his world-famous “I Dream” in front of 250,000 people in Washington on 28.08.1963. The fighting power he gave to the people was also immense.
Samuel James Velupillai Selvanayagam (31.03.1898 – 26.04.1977), who served as the political leader of Eelam from 1947 to 1976, listened to Martin Luther King’s Violent Denial Struggles during his Sunday sermons at his Christian church and reverted to the political revolution of Eelam. The Eelam people hoped that the non-violent political struggle would give the Eelam Tamils legitimate political rights until the satyagraha in the 1960s, when the right to life was denied in linguistic terms, was thwarted by Sinhala forces for three months, preventing the Sri Lankan government from operating in the Tamil homelands in the 1960s.
Yet the American political culture is different from the Sinhala Buddhist chauvinist Tamil annihilation political culture. To this day, political analysts point to the failure of the Tamils as a historical factor in the political backwardness.
History has it that Former Eelam Nation leader Selvanayagam also realized this through the experience of his democratic struggles. As the sovereignty of the Sri Lankan Tamils was merged with the sovereignty of the Sinhalese under Article 29 (2) of the Soulbury Constitution to rule in the unitary parliament, the Sinhala Buddhist chauvinists arbitrarily declared the Sinhala Buddhist Republic of Sri Lanka on 22.05.1972 to enslave the Eelam Tamils.
Against this, S.J.V. Selvanayagam, resigned his parliamentary representation in Kankesanthurai and challenged the Sinhala government to hold the election as a symbolic sign (Plebiscite) of whether the Sri Lankan Tamils accept the Republic of Sri Lanka. He publicly called on the people on 07.05.1975 to re-establish Tamil Eelam after winning this election by a margin of 16000 votes.
‘Sinhalese and Tamils have been living here as two different sovereign peoples of this country from prehistoric times to the time of foreign rule. I would like to remind you that the Tamil people fought in the war of independence with full confidence that they could regain their freedom. For the past 24 years, we have made every effort to protect our political rights in Sri Lanka, which is united on an equal footing with the Sinhalese.
The sad truth is that all the Sinhala governments that have continued to use their power over freedom have denied us our basic rights and reduced us to slavery.
These governments are acting against the Tamils because of the general sovereignty of the Tamils and the Sinhalese. On the basis of this election verdict, I assure my people that they, the people of Tamil Eelam, must get their freedom and that the Tamil Alliance will work for that. ‘
History has it that he and his party’s representatives later withdrew from parliament after making this declaration of Self-determination of Eelam Tamils in parliament. This is how the Tamils in their historic homeland of Tamil Eelam, based on their indivisible right to self-determination, defended their nationality, formed a pragmatic state that countered the well-founded fears of everyday life and maintained good governance within the country for thirty-seven years.
It was the delay in its international recognition that gave Eelam the historic tragedy of experiencing the Mullivaikkal genocide.
The practical fact is that even today the external autonomy of Eelam is not recognized by the international community and they are living as a people at risk of genocide. On this International Day of Conscience, 05.04.2021, the World Tamils humbly asked the Leaders of the Nations to act soon as possible to take the necessary steps to save the life of the Tamil people in the Island of Ceylon (Sri Lanka it’s Sinhala name) from the hands of Genocide.
By S.J. Fatimaahran
