Tamil Germany representatives Vibi Rajasingam and Thiru Thiruchchoti spoke to Medya Haber TV.

The mainstream media has covered the uprising in Sri Lanka superficially without examining its roots causes. It reports cover a economic crisis leading to a shortage of fuel, food, fertilisers etc.   

But the current crisis highlights seventy years of political failure. For decades, the state was highly militarised with the military sucking up a large proportion of the national budget at the expense of other sectors of the economy and a burgeoning of national debt. 

The primary purpose of the militarisation was to suppress the Tamil minority in the north both their identity and self-determination. The Tamil struggle for nationhood led to the genocide of Tamils.  

The Sinhalese majority in the South do not understand this because of powerful state propaganda and promotion of communalism.   

They are looking for a mere change in government but what is needed is system change and a total change in the political culture.   

Policies need to ensure that there is peaceful coexistence and economic development of all the communities. Tamil needs should be recognised and addressed. The repression of Tamils, the disappearances, the incarcerations and the occupation of Tamil lands in the north should cease. 

The interview was prepared with the support of the Freedom for Ocalan Campaign and the Peace in Kurdistan campaign in collaboration with Medya Haber TV and Sterk TV.  

Medya Haber https://www.medyahaber.info/

For more information on the Tamil struggle for self-determination contact:

CAMPACC – http://www.campacc.org.uk

PEACE IN KURDISTAN - https://www.peaceinkurdistancampaign.com