RELEASE SRILANKAN TAMILS FROM THE CAMPS

National Executive :  1-2 October 2009 Resolution:

The Srilankan President declared in the month of May 2009 that Srilanka had completed its mission of military operation of eliminating the terrorist groups and their leader.  The Srilankan Government claimed that the war against terrorism has been won.

 But after the end of the war, as per the admission of the Srilankan Government, three Lakh and Fifty Thousand Tamil speaking Srilankan citizens, who have lost all their livelihoods and also their dwelling places, have been put in the so-called rehabilitation camps under army supervision.

 UN observers have spoken about the violation of human rights and the horrible conditions and ill-treatment.  The Red-Cross representatives have also come out with serious criticism against the Srilankan Government.

 The Srilankan Government is not permitting any print media and electronic media, national or international, to have access to these camps.

 There is no authoritative source of information to know the real plight of the people kept inside these camps.

 As many months have passed after the end of the war, keeping lakhs of people in cramped camps is not justifiable.

 Hence, the National Executive of the CPI, demands the release of the innocent civilians kept in the camps and allow them to return to the places of their living.

 We appeal to the Srilankan government to release the civilians from the camps and request the government of India, to impress upon the Srilankan government to respect human rights and release the Srilankan Tamils, as early as possible.