Illustration by Keera Ratnam / wavesofcolour
Today marks 15 years since the peak of the Tamil genocide. Those final weeks were the bloodiest period ever seen in the island’s history and remain one of the greatest atrocities of the 21st century. The losses suffered are irreplaceable. But amidst the grief, there is a growing determination. As Tamils around the world light lamps and bow their heads to remember their loved ones, they do so knowing the Tamil nation's strength and determination is stronger than almost ever before.
Even as Sri Lanka was bombing hospitals and no fire zones in 2009, Tamils were vociferous in their calls for international action. Protests rocked capitals around the world in a manner never seen, as the nation swiftly and organically organised. Yet governments ignored their demonstrations and failed to act. Tamils were massacred by a barrage of rockets, cluster bombs and white phosphorus in plain sight of the international community.
In the immediate aftermath of the genocide, victims and survivors who demanded justice were simply told to trust domestic mechanisms, even though the very perpetrators of those crimes were leading them. As Sri Lanka inevitably stalled and Tamil demands for international action grew, they were eventually directed to put their faith in the UN Human Rights Council. Years of resolutions in Geneva followed, all of which were intensely debated by member states. The tireless work of activists from Tamil Eelam and around the world was crucial in seeing these resolutions passed. But fifteen arduous years from the slaughter at Mullivaikkal, there is nothing to show for it. Evidence has been gathered, reports have been written and more resolutions are being touted. Action, however, has been absent. Not a single perpetrator – from the soldier who executed a blindfolded naked Tamil man on video, to the defence secretary that ordered the killing - has faced prosecution. International justice has failed.
In the meantime, hundreds of Tamil mothers and fathers searching for their loved ones have died without ever knowing their fate. The North-East remains one of the most militarised places in the world, with Tamils continuing to flee the island. And as the UN human rights chief reiterated this week, a range of abuses routinely take place, amidst a climate of almost absolute impunity. For the Tamil people, there is no justice and no peace.
The Sri Lankan state, still driven by Sinhala Buddhist chauvinism, has suffered little fallout over this. Troops accused of war crimes still enjoy training with US Marines. The British government is working to foster closer economic and security ties. And the European Union continues to grant GSP+ trade concessions, even as Colombo violates many of the required regulations. Only a handful of targeted travel bans have been rolled out, and that too only by Canada and the United States. Even those were undermined last month when Shavendra Silva, a man barred from entering the US for overseeing war crimes was photographed alongside the US Ambassador at celebrations in Colombo. It seems being banned from the US does not stop you from partying with their diplomats. The tangible impact of such small-scale sanctions seems minimal and alongside a global malaise to take more concrete action, Tamil frustration is growing.
Tamils can no longer wait on an international human rights system that has repeatedly let them down and, as events in Gaza and globally demonstrate, seems no longer fit for purpose. International law did not stop the genocide at Mullivaikkal and international justice has failed to account for it. Under occupation, Tamil Eelam remains at the mercy of the Sri Lankan state. The nation and its people need safeguarding.
Now, Tamils are taking steps to ensure their fate is in their own hands. This week, a resolution was introduced to the US Congress calling for an independence referendum to finally be held. This is the right move.
Though efforts to hold perpetrators to account should and will continue, only Tamil independence will guarantee the non-recurrence of such atrocities and put a halt to the ongoing abuses. Through a democratic and rights-based process, such a move will rightly allow the Tamil people to determine their own future. It is a logical step that has gained support from lawmakers around the world and will continue to do so. As one US Congress member said this week, it is “obviously the right thing to do”. In 2024, the rationale behind Tamil self-determination remains clearer than ever.
As the nation reflects on its losses today, we must also remember how far we have come from the devastation of 2009. From the embers of genocide, the demands for Tamil self-rule have gone from being chanted on the streets of capitals to being advocated for inside the seats of power. It is the resilience of the Tamil nation that made it so. That can never be extinguished.
