The Advisory Committee for formation of the Provisional Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (PGTGE) held an awareness day in
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The awareness day consisted of a press meet held at the Radisson Edwardian Hotel in Heathrow followed by an interactive session with the British Tamil organisations.
Professor Rev A.J.C Chandrakanthan from Canada, Professor Nadaraja Sriskandarajah from Australia, Ms Karen Parker from USA, Prof. Peter Schalk from Sweden, Dr N Jeyalingam from USA, Dr A.L. Vasanthakumar from UK, Professor M Sornarajah from UK from the Advisory Committee who were in London for consultation sessions attended the awareness event whilst the Coordinator of the Advisory Committee Mr. Visuwanathan Ruthrakumar participated in the press meet through a video link.
Prof. Sriskandarajah welcoming the guests to the event said the PGTGE is being formed to give voice to the Eelam Tamils who have been made voiceless and added since its formation the advisory committee has made significant progress and are on target for presenting their proposals to Mr. Ruthrakumar in the first week of January 2010.
Prof. Chandrakanthan introducing the committee members said whilst the war is over the struggle continues. He further said the PGTGE is the need of the hour and is based on the principles of 1976 Vaddukottai resolution.
Commenting on the strength of the Diaspora community, Prof. Chandrakanthan said in 1976 there wasn’t a large Tamil Diaspora community but today the Tamil Diaspora spread across the globe is one million strong. As host countries of the Diaspora community upholds and respects democracy, we the Tamils also should follow this norm.
Prof. Chandrakanthan added that the PGTGE is a people’s effort for the people and will act as a proxy for the people of Tamil Eelam who are prevented from thinking, speaking and moving freely.
He concluded his introductory speech declaring PGTGE as an effort by the people for the people to form a secular state of Tamil Eelam.
Prof. Sornarajah in his speech said the PGTGE has precedence and cited the British East India Company as an example of a transnational organisation ruling over territory and cited the Jewish, Kurd, and Palestine Diasporas as examples of a community in exile striving to establish a state from outside.
Prof. Sornarajah then provided an overview of some of the guiding principles of the PGTGE.
The PGTGE, according to Prof. Sornarajah, will have two chambers, a Senate and an Assembly with elected members.
The Assembly members from the Tamil Diaspora spread across the globe will be elected through a proportional representation system, with the country hosting the largest Diaspora Community sending the highest number of Assembly members.
The Senate will be tasked with upholding the guiding principles og PGTGE including the Vaddukottai resolution – the founding principle of PGTGE; equality for all people; welfare of the Eelam Tamils, Diaspora Tamils and global Tamils; Provision of health facilities for Tamil Eelam people; Promotion of Tamil Eelam economy and development of industry and infrastructure through transnational organisations; Forming and promoting foreign relations between Tamils and other Nations to build a climate that is conducive to Tamil Eelam; Setup a think tank to develop strategies to assist in the formation of Tamil Eelam; Prosecution of war crimes; prosecution of any persons or organisations transgressing Tamil Eelam people; empowerment and betterment of Tamil Eelam women;
Prof. Sornarajah also stated a permanent secretariat will be setup to coordinate all activities of the PGTGE.
According to Ms Karen Parker who provided overview of PGTGE election process, elections for assembly members will be conducted nationally in all countries with a significant Tamil community presence and Country Working Committee announced by the PGTGE will coordinate all logistical process relating to the election in their host country.
This would include formulating of the electoral process such as deciding between a filing fee or minimum signature for candidates; ensuring the candidates meet the required criteria; organising of electoral observers to ensure credibility and transparency; ensuring voter confidentiality and adhering to the Advisory committee guidelines.
Prof. Peter Schalk in his speech highlighted the plight of Tamil children in
The list has the details of 536 girls and 636 boys of which 300 are under 5 years old and the youngest just 1 month old.
Mr. Ruthrakumar in his speech said the Tamils have faced untold suffering and unprecedented losses this year, with tens of thousands of people killed by the Sri Lankan security forces in the space of few months, 30,000 according to international sources and 50,000 according to Tamil sources.
Mr. Ruthrakumar further said the whereabouts of 20,000 who surrendered, after trusting pledges by the international community, is unknown and no international rights or relief agency has access to these people.
Whilst the Tamil military power has been weakened, Mr Ruthrakumar said the Tamil Diaspora is strong and in the political space they will be operating they have advantage of setting their own rules.
Mr Ruthrakumar concluded his speech urging all Tamils to strengthen the PGTGE and to continue to work together to create a independent Tamil Eelam, a task the Tamil National Leader Hon. Velupillai Pirapaharan and the history has placed on the shoulders of the Diaspora Tamils.
