Sent: Tuesday, 18 October 2011, 0:12

Mr Michael Danby MP, Chair,

Mrs Joanna Gash MP, Deputy Chair,

Senator Mark Bishop, Senator David Fawcett, Senator Mark Furner, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, Senator the Hon. David Johnston, Senator Scott Ludlam, Senator the Hon. Ian MacDonald, Senator Anne McEwen, Senator Claire Moore, Senator Stephen Parry, Senator Marise Payne, Senator the Hon. Ursula Stephens, Hon. Mr Dick Adams MP, Hon. Ms Julie Bishop MP, Ms Gai Brodtmann MP, Hon. Mr Anthony Byrne MP, Mr Nick Champion MP, Hon. Mr Laurie Ferguson MP, Hon. Mr Joel Fitzgibbon MP, Mr Steve Gibbons MP, Hon. Mr Alan Griffin MP, Dr Dennis Jensen MP, Mrs Sophie Mirabella MP, Hon. Mr John Murphy MP, Mr Ken O’Dowd MP, Ms Melissa Parke MP, Mr Stuart Robert MP, Hon. Mr Philip Ruddock MP, Ms Janelle Saffin MP, Hon. Mr Bruce Scott MP, Hon. Dr Sharman Stone MP, Ms Maria Vamvakinou MP

Hon Members

Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade

Dear Honourable Members of the Australian parliament, salutations.

Re: Sri Lanka: oppressed ethnic minorities pin their hopes on CHOGM 2011

Let us not have any illusion about the intention of the government of Srilanka. They have been able to deceive the international community, and tactfully being clever in damage control exercise. This is  how they have survived all these years. However, the history of oppression and subjugation did start soon after it obtained Independence from Britain in 1948. The political duplicity even started before the Independence around 1934. Converted activities carried out under the very nose of Tamil Politicians who were unable to see. Even though the constitution handed down by British to help maintain the unitary system had much feeble protection for the minorities, article 29A in the constitution. This article 29 was ignored many a times, One of the notable test case was ‘Kodiswaran’s case’ it was an example to show how this case was prevented from going to Privy council in UK,. Later in 1972 even this protection for minorities was completely eliminated from the new Republic constitution. Tamil community, and its politicians were not consulted when this constitution was drawn up.

One may ask why this Ethnic Conflict still festering? It is the ‘mind-set of Sinhala polity’ which had developed in and around 1910. If one to, read deep into the Mythical chronicle called ‘Mahavamsa’ would easily understand the behaviour pattern of the Sinhala Politicians. This chronicle was written around 6th century AD in Pali language. A spin of hatred against Hindus. Buddhism was on the decline in India and especially in the south around 3rd-5th century. The fear that Buddhism may be wiped out from the map, prompted this Buddhist Monk to write this chronicle. Then you may want to know why Pali and not in Sinhala? The reason is, that the Sinhala language came into existence only around 8th to 9th century AD. The whole Island was occupied by Tamil speaking people one of the oldest languages in the world. Evidence for the Tamil habitation are the famous five Shiva temples around the Island and the Murugan Temple in the deep south. These Tamils were Hindus, they were converted to Buddhism around 243 BC, two hundred years after Buddha died. King Asoka a Hindu worrier king in his final battle to capture Orissa Kingdom faced many loss of his men in the army, he also saw even greater loss of lives of his opponents. This brutal scenes at this war moved his conscious to give up his hunger for concurring lands. He then adapted Buddhism for solace. He went on to spread Buddhism in India..His convert son as a Buddhist monk and daughter as nun were send to South India and Sri Lanka to convert the Hindu Tamil Kings in that region. When a King got converted the whole kingdom becomes the followers of that religion – Buddhism. The Sinhala Buddhists are also made to believe that Buddha had visited the Island three times and had requested that it be saved as a Buddhist country. Thus this hatred on Tamils and other religious minorities due to religious fanatics.

This is another important historical fact that should not be ignored; Tamils had their own kingdom before Western Traders came, and who later concurred. Tamil King lost their sovereignty to Portuguese in 1621. This sovereignty was later handed over to Dutch, then to British. But when British left the Island this sovereignty was grabbed by the Majority community through the democratic constitution with their numerical strength. It was made easy to claim the sovereignty and the territorial integrity because the British in 1833 unified the previous three kingdoms into one administrative land. GoSL uses this claim on sovereignty and the territorial integrity to defend and take measure to prevent international community questioning on ethnic conflict, by implying this is an ‘internal matter’ and you have no business to ask questions. GoSL has committed GENOCIDE, felony on Tamils and continues to do so.

As early as 1934 colonization of Tamil area with the Sinhala people was started by Mr. D.S.Senanayka then Minister of Lands and Land development in the legislative council. He later became the first Prime minister. After Independence legislations were passed to reduce the Tamil representation in the Parliament in 1949. In the early 1950′s Buddhism was given the official religious state. Mid 1950′s removal of the English as Official language and Sinhala Only brought in, Making the minorities unable to enter the government services without Sinhala qualifications. Tamils protested inside and Outside parliament with no avail. The devolution package which was agreed in 1957 it did not last even a day, as this was abrogated when Buddhist monks protested. The two major Sinhala parties were outbidding each other with more legislatures to subjugate the Tamils and other minorities. Between 1956-1960 the Burgher community started to migrate to Australia, Canada and UK. 1958 Communal riots over 400 Tamils were killed, 20,000 became refugees. Houses and business premises were looted and torched. This atrocities continued from `1956-1976. when the Tamil politicians decided to demand for a separate state and self determination. The State terrorism continued unabated. Educated élite Tamils started to migrate from 1959. Disillusioned Tamil Youths due to unemployment and unable to enter the higher educational institutions became defenders of Tamil people. They became the freedom fighters. Burning of Jaffna Library in June 1981 with rare books and documents, collection from around last years of BC to present day, amounting to 97,000 turned into ashes. 1983 July saw the holocaust. 3000 faced horror deaths, 230,000 fled to India as refugees, 400,000 to other countries. Still around 800,000 as internal refugees.

Today Tamils, Tamil speaking Muslims are unable to live in their homes and villages as they have been confiscated by security forces and have been turned into ‘high security zones’. Post war period is now over 30 months, there is nothing so far has happened to settle and alleviate these people’s problems. But Government rhetoric with misinformation’s being spread for the consumption of the International community. We plead with you not to believe the GoSL double tongue messages. Though the Government claims developments are taking place, but the question one should ask; development for who’s benefit? It is an income generator for the Politicians. President’s Brother Basil Rajapaske is nicked named as Mr. 20%; Every deal with foreign developers he gets 20% into his Bank.

Below I wish to quote the former Lady President ;

"Mrs. Chindrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the Former President says that, the most profitable business in this country[Sri Lanka] is politics, and the majority in the present parliament of this country are thieves and murderers." Unquote.

May I on behalf of my oppressed community present these facts, to let your conscious do the judgment. What we Tamils humbly demand after 63 years of internal colonialism; please give us a chance for self-determination and to live with dignity in our ancestral home land [North& East] of the Island. This government is denying our birth rights and political rights. We need your help to get justice.

Justice would be able to correct false information given out by Srilankan government. " If you are neutral in situation of Injustice, You have chosen the side of the oppressor" Archbishop Desmond Tutu.

Thank You

Yours Sincerely

DR.V.Rajayogeswaran

Vice Chair Global Peace Support Group UK.