February 20, Canada (LNW): The Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) extended its appreciation to Canada’s Conservative Party leader, Pierre Poilievre, for his commitment to pursue legal action against Sri Lanka through international avenues, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ), regarding alleged war crimes.
Poilievre has articulated his intention to utilise Magnitsky sanctions to target individuals within the Rajapaksa regime implicated in genocide, several Tamil media outlets reported.
Poilievre’s advocacy extends to seeking accountability at the United Nations and other global platforms, aiming to highlight Sri Lanka’s alleged abuses and recognise the plight of Tamils as genocide.
Furthermore, he has expressed plans to direct legal efforts through Canada’s foreign affairs apparatus to prosecute members of the Sri Lankan regime in international criminal courts for their alleged role in genocide.
In acknowledging Poilievre’s stance, Mr. Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran, Prime Minister of TGTE, commended the alignment of his actions with Canadian values and the pursuit of justice worldwide.
Drawing parallels to international precedents, Rudrakumaran likened the situation to South Africa’s petition against Israel for genocide against Palestinians, emphasising the gravity of the allegations concerning the final stages of the conflict between Tamils and the Sri Lankan state.
Citing the 2012 UN Internal Review Report (Petrie Report), which highlighted significant civilian casualties during the conflict’s culmination, along with calls from UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mr. Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein for criminalising genocide, TGTE underscored the urgency for international scrutiny.
Notably, TGTE points to a signature campaign garnering over 16 million supporters, urging an investigation into alleged international crimes in Sri Lanka.
Rudrakumaran emphasised the consistency of Poilievre’s position with a unanimous resolution passed in the Canadian Parliament in 2019, advocating for an independent international investigation into alleged Tamil genocide in Sri Lanka.
He underscored the imperative for accountability, given the absence of a statute of limitations for genocide charges and the continued lack of resolution in addressing past atrocities.
Highlighting a history of racial violence against Tamils in Sri Lanka, Rudrakumaran reiterated the need for accountability, citing former High Commissioner Al Hussein’s characterisation of crimes as systemic.
The available evidence points to the Sri Lankan state’s culpability and calls for corresponding accountability measures, TGTE asserted.
As an elected body representing Tamils globally, TGTE reiterated its commitment to peaceful, democratic, and diplomatic means in pursuing the political aspirations of Tamils.
Emphasising principles of nationhood, homeland, and self-determination, TGTE advocates for international recognition and support in holding perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide accountable.
The organisation further advocates for a peaceful resolution to determine the political future of Tamils through a referendum.
