The Tamil families of the disappeared have called on the Tamil community to vote for the common candidate Pakkiyaselvam Ariyanenthiran as Sinhala political leaders have failed to address the grievances of the Tamil nation.
The heads of Association for Relatives of the Enforced Disappearances in Mannar, Kilinochchi, Jaffna, Amparai, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Vavuniya issued a statement this week stating that even though 15 years have passed since the Tamil genocide, the nation has not had any justice or accountability.
"We clearly understand that we will not get justice from the Sinhalese political leaders and we have been forced to fight for our rights, including the right to self-determination," the statement reads.
"Chauvinistic Sinhalese governments continue to encroach on the Tamil homeland through militarisation and the Sinhalisation of the North-East. Therefore, it is imperative that we as Tamils should stand together as one nation and vote for the common candidate in the upcoming presidential elections," the statement adds.
S Elankothai, the leader of the Association for Relatives of the Enforced Disappearanced in Jaffna said:
"We have met with so many Sinhalese presidents but we have not any form of justice. For 15 years, we have been waiting for justice for our [forcibly disappeared] children."
S Jenita, the head of the Association for Relatives of the Enforced Disappearances in Vavuniya told the press that the Tamil nation have no rights or justice for the Tamil genocide .
“We need to give a clear message to the Sri Lankan government that the Tamils have voted for the common candidate to call for a lasting political solution.”
The families of the disappeared are aware that Ariyanenthiran will not win the presidential election but urged Tamils to cast their votes for the common candidate as a protest vote to reject Sinhala political leaders.
