Tamil Civil Society Groups Appeal to UN Over Thileepan Commemoration Rights

A group of Tamil civil society organisations, community groups and individuals have appealed to United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, urging the United Nations to intervene to ensure the right of Tamil people in Sri Lanka to peacefully commemorate Thiyaga Theepam Thileepan.

In a letter dated October 2, the organisations argued that peaceful commemoration is closely connected to internationally recognised rights, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and the collective memory of a community.

The letter referred to Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which recognises the right of peoples to freely determine their political status and pursue their economic, social and cultural development. It also cited provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the ICCPR relating to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Thileepan, a member of the LTTE, undertook a hunger strike in 1987 during the presence of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in Sri Lanka. The protest ended with his death. The signatories said that his death has since become an important part of the collective memory of sections of the Tamil community and that commemorative events have continued over the years.

The organisations also raised concerns over the removal of Thileepan’s statue from his memorial in Jaffna, arguing that the removal raises questions relating to the community’s historical memory, political expression and right to peaceful commemoration.

The appeal further stated that Tamil commemorative activities have, in the past, taken place amid allegations of surveillance, intimidation, restrictions and fears of legal action. The groups said their request was not simply for the restoration of a previously granted permission, but for an environment in which people can commemorate historical figures and those who died without intimidation or unnecessary interference.

The organisations called on the UN, the UN Human Rights Council, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, relevant UN Special Procedures, the international community and human rights organisations to give attention to the issue.

They specifically urged the international community to call on the Sri Lankan Government to ensure that peaceful commemorative activities can take place without intimidation, surveillance or unnecessary interference, and that any restrictions comply with the principles of legality, necessity and proportionality under international human rights law.

The letter also called for steps to be taken to restore the removed statue of Thiyaga Theepam Thileepan to its memorial.

The appeal was signed by a number of organisations and community groups, including the Jaffna Traders’ Association, Association of the Relatives of the Forcibly Disappeared, University of Jaffna Students’ Community, Pottuvil to Polikandy People’s Uprising Movement, Centre for Social Science Research, Thiyaga Theepam Thileepan Commemoration Organizing Committee and Thiyaga Theepam Thileepan Archives, among others.