His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa
President
The Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Address: Old Parliament Building, Colombo, Sri Lanka
E-mail: priu@presidentsoffice.lk
Her Excellency Pratibha Devisingh Patil
President of India
Government of India, New Delhi 110001
E-mail: presidentofindia@nic.in
Hon. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of Inida
Govt. of India, New Delhi 110001
Office : 0091 11 23016857 (+911123016857)
Residence : 0091 11 23015603
Parliament House : 0091 1123014255
Ms. Louise Arbor
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
United Nations Office at Geneva
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: + 41 22 917 9022
E-mail: tb-petitions@ohchr.org
To Concerned Authorities:
Warm greetings from the Asian Peasant Coalition (APC)!
The APC is an Asia-wide coalition of farmers, landless peasants, fisherfolks, agricultural workers, dalit, indigenous peoples, herders, pastoralists, peasant women and rural youth formed in 2003. APC has more than 15 million members representing 28 organizations coming from 9 countries in Asia such as Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Sri Lanka.
During the APC 3rd General Assembly on January 23 to 24, 2011 in Hanwelaa, Sri Lanka, about 190 farmer participants from the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka approved a resolution ”Condemning the atrocities on Sri Lankan Tamils.”
We appeal to you to take urgent action and bring upon the Indian Congress, Mrs Sonia Gandhi and the Government of India to immediately resolve the atrocities in North East Sri Lanka. As you are well aware, the number of human casualties and fatalities is escalating alarmingly as the Sri Lankan government unceasingly and relentlessly pursues this brutal, bloody war. We fear for the lives, safety and well being of the Sri Lankan families and loved ones in this region which is being denied essential basic amenities and the scrutiny of international observers.
We call upon you to stand with solidarity for your Tamil brothers and sisters in SriLanka and unequivocally condemn the atrocities being perpetrated against and the genocide of Fellow Tamils in Sri Lanka through this inhuman military onslaught of a defenseless, displaced and devastated people.
We firmly believe in the political strength of the Tamils of Tamil Nadu and the overwhelming, genuine care they feel for the Tamils of North East Sri Lanka and thus appeal to you the following:
- To implement an immediate ceasefire in North East Sri Lanka;
- To resettle the Sri Lankan Tamils justly with participation of community and guaranteeing livelihood;
- To release all political prisoners;
- To withdraw the military forces in the areas where Sri Lankan Tamils are living;
- To recognize self–determination and self –government;
- To recognize the process for national integration that will begin with the establishment of a Truth Commission; and
- To stop the economic aggression of China and India and exploit Sri Lanka especially in the post war conflict zones.
Awaiting in anticipation of your urgent action.
Yours truly,
Fathima Burnad (India)
APC Chairperson and Tamil Nadu Women’s Forum
P. Chennaiah (India)
Member, APC Coordinating Council and General Secretary, APVVU
Chandra Hewagallage (Sri Lanka)
Member, APC Coordinating Council and
National Coordinator,
VIKALPANI National Women’s Federation
Appakutti Magimai
Chairperson
Tamil Nadu Dalit Women’s Movement
Danilo Ramos (Philippines)
APC and KMP Secretary General
Estrelita Mariano (Philippines)
Member, APC Coordinating Council and AMIHAN