TGTE - Homeland தாயகம்
Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam Welcomes Secretary Blinken’s Recognition of Crimes against Rohingya as Genocide.
- March 30, 2022
- ENGLISH NEWS, TGTE PRESS RELEASES
“Percentages, numbers, patterns, intent – these are critically important to reach the determination of genocide” – Secretary Blinken
US Secretary of State Blinken designated the crimes committed against the Rohingya people by the Myanmar military as genocide on March 21, 2022. “The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) welcomes this designation. We, the Eelam Tamil people who are also subjected to genocide and who are longing for justice hold the hands of the Rohingya people in solidarity and congratulate them for this measure of justice,” stated the TGTE’s Minister for Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities, Mr. Roy Wignarajah.
Canada, France, Turkey, and other countries have already declared that the crimes committed against Rohingya people was an act of genocide.
The State Departments’ declarations of the Uyghur’s Genocide on Jan 20, 2021, and Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2021, are testimony to the US administration’s unwavering commitment in upholding human rights, and holding to account the states and individuals, that commit Genocide, Crimes Against Humanity and War Crimes under the pretext of “fighting terrorism” and/or safeguarding territorial integrity. The Myanmar Junta justified its actions by stating that they were “legitimate counter-terrorism operations.”
“State Departments’ declarations of Uyghur’s Genocide on Jan 20, 2021, and Armenian Genocide on April 24, 2021, are testimony to US administration’s unwavering commitment in upholding human rights”— Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE)
While designating the Rohingya genocide, the Secretary of State stated: “Percentages, numbers, patterns, intent – these are critically important to reach the determination of genocide,” We, the Eelam Tamils who have. according to the UN. lost more than 40,000 – 70,000 of our brethren during the final stages of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka in 2009 at the hands of the Sri Lankan military took careful note of the Secretary’s statement on the elements which went into reaching such a designation.
In his speech declaring the killing, rape and displacement of Rohingya a genocide, the secretary of state mentioned about the suffering of the people of Ukraine and also stated that many diplomats around the world say: “yes, we stand with the people of Ukraine. But we must also stand with people suffering atrocities in other places.” The Secretary of State’s comment removes the fear that the suffering of the Ukrainian people might eclipse atrocities committed against other peoples in many parts of the world.
The statement is reassurance that the continuing impunity being enjoyed by the Sri Lankan state for the genocide committed against the Tamil people, which has emboldened it to continue to engage in systematic and pervasive persecution of the Tamils with the intent to destroy the Tamil identity in the island of Sri Lanka, will not go unpunished.
The Secretary of State also stated that the US would contribute nearly 1 million dollars in new funding for a United Nations investigative body that is gathering evidence for possible future prosecutions against perpetrators of the violence in Myanmar. The TGTE urges the Secretary of State to provide similar funding to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights which is tasked to collect evidence to the international crimes committed during the final stages of the armed conflict in Sri Lanka, pursuant to 2021’s Human Rights Council Resolution 46/1. We also request the Secretary of State to release all the evidence, including intercepted telecommunications between the Sri Lankan political and military leaders and satellite photographs, etc., in their possession to the victims and victims’ advocates to advance accountability for the Tamils.
We congratulate civil society, notably The Public International Law & Policy Group, which has since 2018 advocated for accountability and argued that there is a legal basis to conclude that the crimes committed against Rohingya people constitute genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.
Ministry for the Prevention of Genocide and Mass Atrocities
For more information, please contact:
Roy Wignarajah: 416-457-1633
Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam
TGTE
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