Association Thendral (India)
Thank you, Chairman. [INAUDIBLE] Tamil youths living under the Sri Lankan regime are consistently
facing oppression and state violence. Tamil land is being occupied by around 200,000-strong Sri Lankan
military and is almost 100% ethnic Sinhalese. Since the mainstream media are censored and controlled
by the state, youths turn to social media. But social media presence too affects the safety and security
of Tamil youths as their social media accounts are being monitored.
The youths who are expressing their views contrary to the state are being investigated by the security
forces. Last year, two Tamil students were shot and killed by the Sri Lankan military, and they were
shot and killed because they didn't stop when asked. Yesterday, 30th November 2017, the intelligence
operatives of this occupying Sinhala military have started to harass youths and their families in the
Tamil land after they braved the same [INAUDIBLE] by the Sri Lankan military against commemorating
[INAUDIBLE] heroes on November 27.
Sri Lankan military intelligence operatives were tracing cell phones, and social media posts that have
taken place among the participants during the self-mobilized Hero’s Day. Tamil youths are being
sidelined, harassed, and intimidated in the homeland in Sri Lanka. Mr President, the collective
punishment meted out against the Tamil youths in the occupied territories violated the basic rights of
Tamil youths , including the rights to safety and life. The international community failed to protect
147,000 Tamils from genocide, unfortunately we have lately seen member states weaken their resolve
to put pressure on Sri Lanka to respect international law in order to have regime change in the island.
Thank you.