tribunal like Nuremberg trials or to take Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court for the war-crimes, crimes
against humanity and Genocide committed by Sri Lanka. The UNHRC resolution 30/1 in 2015 especially mandated
a hybrid court that included judges and prosecutors from commonwealth countries for the international crimes
committed at the end of the war in 2009. We urge the international community including the UNHRC to neither
recognize the Sri Lankan judicial system nor recommend any internal justice for Tamils. We also call for Sri Lanka
to be brought to the global court for the genocide committed against the Tamils.” JOINT PRESS RELEASE - Oct 05, 2023.docx
Tamil Judge Resigns and Seeks Asylum Amidst Threat from Sri Lanka; Permanent solution that
recognizes self-determination of Tamils must be pursued before it’s too late
The Tamil Judge T. Saravanarajah has officially resigned from his post in Sri Lanka and has reportedly fled the
island claiming political asylum in another country to escape threats to his life from the Sri Lankan officials and
Sinhalese nationalistic politicians. The judge, in the Tamil region of Mullaitivu was dealing with cases related to the
land-grab of Tamil areas by the Sinhalese, mass-graves of Tamils, and the rights of Tamils to commemorate their
leader Col. Thileepan who had died of hunger strike demanding the rights of the Tamils. It has been reported that
the Sri Lankan authorities have reduced the security protection to the Judge and the members from the notorious
Criminal Investigative Division began to follow him after he ruled against the building of Buddhist Temple by the
Sinhalese who had destroyed the Tamil Hindu temple in the same site. The judge has also ruled against the Sri
Lankan authorities who tried to prevent the Tamils from commemorating Col. Thileepan’s 36th anniversary that
took place on September 23, 2023. The Sinhalese nationalistic leaders also publicly threatened the judge.
The Tamil judges in Sri Lanka often face undue pressure from Sinhalese officials, Buddhist monks and Sinhalese
politicians. Judge Saravanaraja has been at the receiving end of continuous threats, particularly after his rulings in
the high-profile Mullaitivu Kurundurmalai land-grab and building of Buddhist temple case, Kokkuthoduvai mass
graves case, and the Thileepan commemoration case. He had issued stern judgments against the Buddhist temple
being built at Kurundurmalai with the protection of the Sinhalese occupying forces and subsequently issued a
statement claiming that judicial orders were being ignored. Popular Sinhala politician, retired admiral, former
Minister of Public Security, and current Member of Parliament, Sarath Veerasekara, openly criticized Judge
Saravanarajah for his judicial rulings stating, “These Tamil judges do not have the right to question the
archaeological Buddhist heritage of Kurundurmalai” and warned, “he needs to understand that Sri Lanka is a
Sinhala-Buddhist nation.” It was reported that the Sri Lankan Attorney General Sanjay Rajaratnam summoned the
judge on September 21, 2023 and pressured him to reverse his rulings. The judge resigned on September 23, 2023
claiming threats to his life.
The Tamils do not believe or expect any justice under Sri Lankan system and have been demanding international
tribunal like Nuremberg trials or to take Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court for the war-crimes, crimes
against humanity and Genocide committed by Sri Lanka. The UNHRC resolution 30/1 in 2015 especially mandated
a hybrid court that included judges and prosecutors from commonwealth countries for the international crimes
committed at the end of the war in 2009. We urge the international community including the UNHRC to neither
recognize the Sri Lankan judicial system nor recommend any internal justice for Tamils. We also call for Sri Lanka
to be brought to the global court for the genocide committed against the Tamils.
This government-led incident against the Tamil judge further demonstrates that no political system under Sri Lanka
can treat Tamils fairly or equitably, and the Sri Lankan system is neither sustainable nor effective. Sri Lanka has
unequivocally rejected the UNHRC’s efforts to ensure accountability. The genocidal Sri Lanka disregards
international norms and instead enacts and manipulates its own laws to oppress the Tamils. After winning the war
in 2009, Sri Lanka has been rapidly engaging in land-grabs, and building of Sinhalese temples and settlements in
the Tamil region with the intent to transform the whole island as a mono Sinhalese Buddhist country.
The Tamil people are losing their homeland at an alarming rate and they are appealing to the International
Community to intervene and protect their existence. Sri Lanka has neither the mandate nor the moral authority to
rule over the Tamils. The Tamils’ inalienable right to self-determination must be recognized, and we urge the
international community to acknowledge the Eelam Tamils’ right to self-determination and facilitate an
Independence Referendum, allowing them to democratically and peacefully determine their homeland’s political
future. Only by the active involvement and leadership of the International Community, can a permanent and
sustainable peace and stability be brought to the region.
Joint Press release from the following Tamil Organizations:
1. Federation of Global Tamil Organizations (FGTO); info@fgto.org
2. Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America (FeTNA); contact@fetna.org
3. Ilankai Tamil Sangam; president@sangam.org
4. People for Equality and Relief in Lanka (PEARL); contact@pearlaction.org
5. Tamil Americans United PAC; info@tamilamericansunited.com
6. Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE); pmo@tgte.org
7. World Thamil Organization; wtogroup@gmail.com
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