Wednesday, 23 November 2011,

From: Vairvapillai Rajayogeswaran <rajayogeswaran@btinternet.com>

To: GeorgeHowarth <georgehowarth.mp@parliament.uk>

Sent: Wednesday, 23 November 2011, 19:06

Subject: This evening meeting of the APPG on conflict issues- How can the Srilankan Diaspora help

Dear Rt. Hon. George Howarth MP, Greetings, I am a British[Tamil] citizen, have lived in Britain for the past four decades. A peace activist.

"Minorities abound on this earth and sure they have a right to voice their grievances"

May I take this opportunity to thank you for chairing this evening meeting of the APPG on conflict issues, International Alert and Voices for Reconciliation. I am sad that I am unable to attend, though I was looking forward to this meeting. I am under the weather, my apologies. I was hoping to attend and where I could have had frank conversation with you and others in order to clarify my deep seated anguish on the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka. Reconciliation is over due after the war that ended 30 odd months ago. Sometimes, We Tamils, do doubt whether the Government of Srilanka knows the meaning and able to understand what reconciliation means. They are under the impression that time would help heal and they need not do anything, Yes it might but, with their continued violent atrocities that are being heaped on the Tamils, will it ever heal?

This unfortunate history on ethnic conflict has lingered on for the past 63 years. It has now taken a turn towards an irreconcilable stand due to the intransigent attitude of the government of SriLanka and its occupying armed forces. Government has no will to solve the political and fundamental human rights of Tamil nation. This week is the ‘remembrance week’ for the Tamil war heroes who had lost their lives fighting to regain our share of freedom to live with dignity in our homeland in the Northeast of Srilanka. On the 27th November, it is like the 11/11 remembrance day. The occupying army has taken all steps to prevent the families and friends of these war heroes and the Tamil civilians participating in any organised prayers in Temples and churches. They are forbidden to Ring the bells in the Temples and churches. How could you expect the reconciliatory process can start. Subjugation and oppression will not allow the war wound to heal. International community [Britain]has to intervene to solve this age old problem.

Those who argue that Sri Lanka has finally brought an end to the Asia’s longest running conflict, are not only ignorant but making a blunder by indirectly supporting the dangerous regimes in Sri Lanka.

I wish to reinforce; This government of Srilanka is determined to wipe out the Tamil race from Srilanka. In this post war period, It is continuing with Torture, murder and rape against the minority Tamils, abductions, summary executions, forced colonisations of Tamil lands, extension of military bases in Tamil areas. The absence of war, but no peace for the Tamil community.

Please recognize the humanity of the Tamils and help us to regain our birth rights which needs to be resolved for a lasting political solution, peace and stability.

Best Wishes

Kind Regards

Dr. V.Rajayogeswaran

Vice chair Global Peace Support Group UK