Vanni Arasu calls on Tamil Nadu government to officially commemorate May 18 as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day and honour fallen Tamil civilians and freedom fighters killed during the final phase of the armed conflict
Vanni Arasu, the legislative party leader of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), on Wednesday called on the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and the newly formed government led by Chief Minister Vijay Joseph to take steps in support of Eelam Tamils
Speaking during the Assembly proceedings, Arasu stated that Eelam Tamils continue to suffer under what he described as a “Sinhala-Buddhist supremacist government” in Sri Lanka. He recalled that S. J. V. Chelvanayakam had struggled for nearly a quarter century through Gandhian ahimsa means for an independent Tamil Eelam, before Velupillai Prabhakaran later pursued the Tamil national struggle through armed resistance.
He further stated that the Tamil Eelam liberation movement was crushed in May 2009 through the combined involvement of global powers and India, describing the final phase of the war as a genocide.
Vanni Arasu said the Indo-Lanka agreement intended to address the political aspirations of Eelam Tamils remains unimplemented, and urged the Tamil Nadu government to initiate efforts supporting the right of Eelam Tamils to self-rule, including the restoration of an independent Tamil Eelam.
The VCK legislator also appealed to the Tamil Nadu government to officially commemorate May 18 in remembrance of Tamil civilians and Tamil national fighters killed during the final stages of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka. He noted that Tamils across the world observe May 18 as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day and insisted that the state itself should formally participate in memorial events honouring those who died with the dream of Tamil Eelam liberation.
Referring to Eelam Tamil refugees living in Tamil Nadu, Vanni Arasu said permanent housing schemes and welfare assistance introduced under the previous administration should continue under the present government. He added that many Eelam Tamils residing in refugee camps in Tamil Nadu seek Indian citizenship and urged the state government to press the Union government to grant Indian citizenship to Sri Lankan Tamil refugees living in the camps.
Arasu also raised concerns regarding the continued arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lanka Navy. He told the Assembly that fishermen had placed their trust in the new government believing it would protect them from the Sri Lankan Navy's attacks. Referring to the reported arrest of 40 fishermen and seizure of their boats by Sri Lankan authorities the other day, he urged the government to work towards a permanent solution to the fisheries dispute.
The speech came during the confidence motion debate in which the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government secured majority support in the Assembly.