NESOHR commemorates International Human Rights Day
"Tamil people by virtue of having been subject to state oppression and made to lead a refugee life for decades together are the most appropriate and deserving people to institutionalize a human rights mechanism of their own and in that respect NorthEast Secretariat on Human Rights (NESOHR) is a timely innovation", said Mr. S.P. Tamilselvan in his Chief Guest address at NESOHR's commemoration of International Human Rights Day today 10th December 2004 held at the Kilinochchi Cultural Hall.
Excerpts from the Chief Guest address:
"The necessity to institutionalize a human rights mechanism in the NorthEast is realized in the context of the Government of Sri Lanka continuing the application of its draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act even during a cease fire period. The CFA is the basic instrument from which stems the entire peace process. But the government, in spite of the passage of three years, has not translated in to action many of the assurances given in the CFA to bring about normalcy in the life of the war affected people. Time frames agreed upon to accomplish normalcy enabling thousands of displaced families to resettle in their own habitats are being brazenly flouted under the guise of High Security Zones.
It is very unfortunate though that the HR organizations that make lengthy reports on a non-existence 'child soldier' problem while genocidal oppressive rule was going on for decades together subjecting the Tamil people to innumerable displacements, arbitrary arrests, unlawful detention, torture, mass massacre and all form of inhuman treatment that civilized people would abhor. It is under these circumstances that civic minded Tamil academics, professional and religious heads have volunteered to formulate NESOHR and it is the duty of the people to be vigilant and conscious of their basic rights and keep this mechanism active and alive."
The commemoration ceremony was presided over by Rev. Fr. M.X. Karunaratnam, Chairperson of NESOHR who traced the history of NESOHR to the Citizen's Committee days during the height of war when the Tamil people in the NorthEast were kept within an iron curtain subject to an inhuman embargo on food, medicine, fuel and the basic essentials for day-today life. "It is the very same group of people who volunteered to serve in the citizen's Committee then under difficult circumstances who have now come forward to champion the course of human rights of the Tamil people", continued the Chairperson. He also detailed to the audience the various interaction programs NESOHR was able to develop with international human rights bodies and encouraged the Tamil people to bring to light HR violations committed by the occupying military so that remedial action may be taken by NESOHR.
Mr. K. Sivapalan, Attorney at law and Vice President NESOHR presented an overview and scope of NESOHR in the context of access to political detainees in Sri Lankan jails and the steps taken to expedite their trials. Prof. Mohanathas, Vice Chancellor of the Jaffna University also addressed the gathering on HR awareness and the necessity for vigilance in the society on HR violations. A panel discussion was the special feature that attracted the audience and the program was made enlivened by a question and answer session.
Cultural programs including dance recitals and dramas depicting the HR violations committed by SL troops on innocent civilians also were staged by school students and amateur players from Amparai and Kilinochchi. Participants in the commemoration include human rights activists, local and international NGO representatives, and academics.
10 December 2004
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Europe which has a total population of 800 million is made up of 45 language based nation states. South Asia which has a total population of one billion, (1000 million) is comprised of four states. Who is preventing and therefore benefiting by limiting new nation-states in South Asia?
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