02/01/2025
Open letter and Petition against EU Ban on Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and Tamils’ Rights to self-determination
Sri Lanka: Behind the tea, the elephants, the spicy cuisine,
A Genocide is in progress... do not disturb!!:
During its EU Council Presidency, Poland has to render Justice for Tamils Genocide,
Poland has taken over the presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months, following Hungary's controversial tenure.
In 2006, the Council also placed on the list the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a movement which opposed the Government of Sri Lanka in a violent confrontation that resulted in the LTTE’s defeat and more than 169 000 Eelam Tamils Genocide in 2009. The Council has maintained the LTTE on the list ever since. Despite 2 judgements from European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg, EU Council keep continue to Ban LTTE as terrorist organisation.
On 26th February 2014, The European Union's ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) hangs in the balance last after a hearing at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) in Luxembourg exposed serious flaws in the original evidence used to proscribe the movement in 2006. Judges expressed concern at the European Council's use of an Indian anti-terror law as a suitable precedent for banning the LTTE, saying there was no evidence that the Council checked if terror suspects had access to a fair trial in India. The court was also dismayed by the Council's use of Wikipedia as a credible source for keeping a terrorism ban on the LTTE.
The Nordic countries initially opposed an EU ban. Norway has been the official facilitator of the peace process and, along with Sweden, Denmark and Finland, staffs the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) that oversees the 2002 ceasefire. While concerned that the resolution would compromise their official position of neutrality, the Nordic EU members fell into line.
It was a big mistake for the EU to ban the LTTE. There was pressure from the USA and the Sri Lankan government, said Major General Ulf Henricsson, who was heading the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in 2006. “I would say that was a big mistake, because it stopped the possibility to get a peaceful solution and negotiation,” Henricsson.
The Appeal Court of the European Court of Justice on Wednesday 26 july 2016, maintained the decision already made by the General Court in October 2014 of annulling the restrictive measures that had been taken against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 2006. The case, initiated by Tamil activists from Europe and USA, on behalf of the LTTE, was originally filed in April 2011 with additions later. The case was won by the LTTE on procedural grounds in 2014. The Council of the European Union was the defendant, supported by the Netherlands, the UK and the European Commission. The UK was particularly instrumental in defending continued proscription.
The Council of the EU on 26 July 2024, renewed the ban against LTTE, and it is part of the ongoing measures under the Common Position 2001/931/CFSP.
We, Eelam Tamils, are surprised to see that for the last 16 years, there is no any single act of violence from Tamils but EU Council continue to maintain its illegal ban on LTTE, and despite that, we face Sri Lankan military occupation and oppression, but EU council continue to Ban the LTTE, and prevents Tamil’s representatives for their political aspiration.
We would like to present a request to the EU Council Presidency Poland, to remove the ban on the LTTE movement before all the legislative structures of the European Union. We look forward to your support and attitude in this regard on behalf of millions of Eelam Tamils from all around the world and with Tamil Nadu Tamils.
We call upon ALL those who aspire to a world of peace.
We appeal to ALL those who have experienced war.
We appeal to ALL those who have experienced exile.
Eelam Tamils need your support.
- As a citizen, please speak and make people talk about the situation in Sri Lanka.
- As an activist, get involved with us to promote peace in Sri Lanka.
- As an NGO or association join our Collective
- As mayor support peace for the Tamil people, by twinning your city with a city located in the occupied zone.
- As a parliamentarian, support peace in Sri Lanka by asking the Foreign Affairs Committee to put this issue on the agenda.
- As a City / General / Regional Councillor, help us to organize events on the theme of peace in Sri Lanka in your city / county / region.
We humbly request you to give us an appointment to talk about Tamil Rights, as soon as possible. We are available for meet you in Brussels or at your capital.
We look forward to working closely with you and with your political party and beyond. We stand ready to provide any further information required and would welcome the opportunity to meet you in order to discuss how the you can contribute to act upon the above recommendations for the well-being of Eelam Tamils.
Fédération Etudiante des Droits de l’Homme is a French organization, with mission to promote the defence of human rights, in France, in Europe and in the world and particularly among students. Bringing together all those concerned with respect for human rights and fair application of French laws in accordance with these rights and international agreements, for the pooling of skills in order to attract the attention of public authorities and all leaders, to play a key role in bringing together civil society, government and other stakeholders, monitor and report on the situation of vulnerable groups and advise the national government.
Thank you in advance for your actions to deliver on the EU’s human rights commitments at this crucial time.
Thank you
Fédération Etudiante des Droits de l’Homme.
Council of the European Union, , TF1 INFO, Franceinfo, France tv, TF1, BFMTV, La Voix des Tamoules du Monde, Association De Defense Et De Promotion Des Droits De L'homme, VDT ( VIE DE TAMOUL), Polish presidency of the Council of the European Union, Councilman Mickey Corbin, Council of Europe, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe Youth, Council of Europe Media Freedom, European Commission, European Parliament, Euronews English