Tamil Eelam a pending issue, says VCK founder

(December 28, Chennai, Sri Lanka Guardian) Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), a pro-LTTE party, has urged India and other countries to recognise the concept of Tamil Eelam, a separate Tamil nation, by saying it had been a long- pending, genuine demand of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka.

At a conference on Tamil Eelam organised by the VCK in Chennai yesterday, founder of the partyTirumavalavan, ally of the ruling DMK in Tamilnadu, said the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre and other nations should recognise Tamil Eelam as ‘it will ensure a home for 10 lakh Tamils who had fled Sri Lanka during the ethnic crisis.’

Sending a message to his detractors and others demanding his arrest for supporting the dream of Tamil Eelam, Tirumavalavan alleged that successive Sri Lankan governments had not honoured various agreements pertaining to Tamils’ welfare.

‘The Lankan Tamils were living as refugees in countries like Australia and Europe for years. Tamil Eelam would ensure a home for these people,’ he said.

He said the armed conflict by the Tamils began only after 28 years of a struggle for a democratic island nation. The strife was led by Tamil leaders like Selvanayagam alias Selva but it failed to pay any dividend.

‘As the Sri Lankan government was not ready to grant even a federal status, Tamils in the island nation have begun raising the demand for a separate nation. India was their only hope which should not be belied’, he added.

Earlier, the conference passed a resolution demanding recognition of Tamil Eelam as an independent nation. The youth wing of the party was also launched on the occasion. - Sri Lanka Guardian