The Tamil people's right to self-determination
Author: Deirdre McConnell
DOI: 10.1080/09557570701828592
Publication Frequency: 4 issues per year
Published in: Cambridge Review of International Affairs, Volume 21, Issue 1 March 2008 , pages 59 - 76
Subject: Foreign Policy;
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Comparison of Eelam Tamils with Palestine
TAMIL CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS - TCHR/CTDH
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The Right to Self-determination, Tamils of Sri Lanka (Ceylon)
Compared with Montenegro, Kosovo and Bougainville
Montenegro Kosovo Bougainville Tamil Eelam (North East)
(Independent state (on the verge of (Peace agreement in (De-facto government for more than 16 years.
since 21 May 2006) Independence) August 2001. Referendum No initiative by the International Community,
for independence in 10-15 years) for the Tamils to have their right to self- determination)
Sq. Kilo meters 13,812 km² 10,887 km² 10,570 km² 19,509 km²
Capital Podgorica Pristina Arawa/ Buka Trincomalee
Annexed with Yugoslavia in 1945 Serbia in 1989 Papua N/Gunina in 1973 Ceylon (Sri Lanka) in 1948
Conflicting peoples Serbs vs Montenegrins Serbs vs Kosovons Papuans vs Bougains Singhalese vs Tamils
Population 730,000 600,000 200,000 (3,598,000 - census in 1979
(93% Tamils in the North East
Domination by Serbs Serbs PNG Defence Forces Singhalese of Sri Lanka
Military Composition ------- 100% Serbs 100% PNGs 99% Singhalese
Colonisation ------- Kosovo region by Serbs ------- North East by Singhalese
Settlers Serbians ------ ------- over 300,000 Singhalese colonists
Armed conflict ------ March 1998 1989 From July 1983, To date
Freedom fighters / ) Socialist People's - Kosovo Liberation Army - Bougainville Revolutionary - Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam - LTTE
Political party ) Party of Montenegro KLA Army (BRA) under the leadership of National Leader Pirabaharan
Economic embargo ------- not enforced enforced in 1990 since 1987 with few intervals. Now in force
Press & Freedom of movement ------ denied denied denied
Civilians killed ------- over 5000 20,000 nearly 100,000
Disappearances ------- over 4000 figures not known 27,000 To date
Mass graves ------- 526 ------ many identified in the North-East
Internally displaced ------ 250,000 single displacement 70,000 over 800,000 multiple displacement
Refugees ------- 61,000 40,000 over 600,000 in western countries and India
Property damaged ------- figures not known figures not known over eight billion US Dollars
Houses destroyed ------- 128,000 -do- 300,000 To date
Attacks on religious places ------- 500 -do- 2375 (both Christian and Hindu-Saivaites)
Villages demolished ------- figures not known -do- more than 500
Political prisoners ------- -do- -do- over 1000 (at present)
Rapes ------- -do- -do- 12,500 To date
Visit by High Commissioner ------ visited ------- not visited
UN/EU intervention yes yes yes none
UN Resolutions yes yes yes none
Negotiations started in 2002 1989 July 1997 1927 onwards. Norwegian mediation began in Feb 2002.
Talks brought to an end by attacks on LTTE positions
initiated by Government Forces.
(Tamil Centre for Human Rights – TCHR, France – March 2007)
Comparison of Tamils in the Island of Sri Lanka with Palestine and Kosova
Tamil Centre for Human Rights - TCHR/CTDH Email : tchrgs@hotmail.com / tchrdip@hotmail.com
website : www.tchr.net)
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Palestine Kosova Tamils |
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(2/5 landmass of Israel) (1/5 landmass of Serbia) (1/3 landmass of Island of Sri Lanka) |
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Annexed with May 14 1948 Israel In 1989 Serbia In 1833 - Ceylon |
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Conflicting People Israelis vs Palestinians Serbs vs Kosovars Sinhalese vs Tamils |
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Population 97% in Palestine are Arabs 90% in Kosovo are Albanians 93% Tamil in North-East |
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Domination by Jews of Israel, 6 million Serbs of Serbia 11 million Sinhalese of Sri Lanka 18 million |
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Military Composition 100% Israelis 100% Serbs 99% Sinhalese |
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Colonisation Palestine by Jews Kosova region by Serbs Tamil hereditary land by Sinhalese |
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Occupied by Israeli forces 40,000 Serbian forces 150,000 S/L force in North-East |
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Colonised areas About 4800km2 --- 8000km2 |
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(79% of present West Bank and Gaza Strip) (50% of Tamil hereditary land) |
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Settlers 400,000 Jews --- 500,000 Sinhalese |
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Armed conflict started 1964 March 1998 July 1983 |
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Freedom fighters PLO KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army) LTTE(Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) |
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Economic embargo Not presently Not enforced Since 1990 (Embargo on essential items) |
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Freedom of movement Denied Denied Denied |
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Civilians killed Over thousand Over 500 More than 70,000 |
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Disappearances figures not known figures not known Over 10,000 |
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Mass graves Several Several Many |
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Refugees 3.6 million 250,000 Single displacement Over 1,000,000 Multiple displacements |
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Property damaged 209 billion dollars figures not known Over US $ four billion |
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Houses destroyed 8500 figures not known 300,000 |
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Attack on religious places figures not known figures not known 2000 |
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Villages demolished 531 Villages and towns figures not known More than 400 |
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Political Prisoners 1682 Arabs(8/10/2000) figures not known Over 10,000 Tamils |
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Detainees torture ratio 85% Palestine figures not known 99% Tamils |
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Visit by Mary Robinson Visited Visited Not visited |
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UN H/R Special sessions Several Several None |
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UN Resolutions Several Several None |
For facts on Palestine - Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of Internal Affairs (PASSIA)
(Excert from the TCHR report submitted to the UN 57th Session of the Commission on Human Rights - 19 March 2001 )