Disclaimer

The views and recommendations expressed in this dossier represent the collective editorial and research efforts of Eelamtamil human rights advocates. This document is intended strictly for educational, advocacy, and legal reform purposes. Sources are cited via in-line references; certain testimonies are anonymized to protect vulnerable identities. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy and fairness, readers are encouraged to consult primary legal documents and international treaties. No part of this dossier should be construed as an official statement by any government or the United Nations.

Editor’s Note

In the face of persistent injustice, enforced amnesia, and the unfinished legacy of colonial transitions, the Eelamtamil people continue to assert their fundamental rights as a nation, an Indigenous group, and a subject of international law. This dossier is founded on the critical necessity of historical accuracy, legal clarity, and the ethical imperative to prevent further erasure of a people’s identity and future.

Transparently sourced and cross-referenced to both academic and grassroots voices, this dossier aspires to bridge historic wrongs with an active advocacy guide for community members, professionals, and the global audience in supporting the legitimate cause of Tamil Eelam. We invite further dialogue, critique, and mobilization.

 Dossier for Eelamtamils Advocacy:

British Colonial Errors, Decolonization, and the Right to Sovereignty and Self-Determination

Executive Summary

At a glance:

·        The British decolonization of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) was marred by grave errors, most notably the denial of Eelam Tamils' nationhood and the transfer of colonial state sovereignty exclusively to the Sinhala majority.

·        Tamils of the North and East possess a continuous historical, cultural, and political identity, satisfying all established criteria under international law for recognition as a "People," "Nation," and "Indigenous group."

·        International law-including the UN Charter, ICCPR, ICESCR, UNDRIP, and landmark global resolutions-affirms the right of self-determination and protection of distinct Indigenous communities. The case of the Eelam Tamils is at par with other post-colonial nations recognized by the UN Special Committee on Decolonization (Fourth Committee).

·        Post-1948, Tamils have faced systematic state-sponsored crimes: forced demographic engineering, military occupation, religious site appropriation, lethal repression, and orchestrated impunity.

·        Persistent violations and non-compliance by Sri Lanka with international calls for justice reinforce the need for a new approach focused on decolonization, accountability, and restitution.

·        The pathway forward includes international recognition of Tamils as a non-self-governing people, engagement with the UN C24, advocacy for appointment of a Trusteeship Council, and pursuit of effective transitional justice.

·        This dossier integrates historical analysis, legal matrices, timeline tables, stakeholder mappings, visual matrices, and testimonies, emphasizing best advocacy practices for maximum impact and engagement.

Background & Context

1. Historical Tamil Nationality and British Colonial Policy

The modern crisis in Sri Lanka is rooted in the legacy of British colonial administration and its arbitrary fusion of distinct polities. Before colonial consolidation, the island was a mosaic of kingdoms:

·        The Tamil-speaking North and East were administered as independent or semi-autonomous regions for centuries, with the Jaffna kingdom established in 1325 CE¹.

·        Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial periods respectively maintained separate administrative structures for Tamil and Sinhalese areas until 1833, when the British implemented a unitary administrative system without the consent of the Tamil population.

·        Even British records and ethnographic documentation recognize clear "Tamil Provinces" in the North and East, correlating to cultural, linguistic, and historical boundaries (see timeline table below).

The British preference for communal, rather than territorial, governance and their “divide and rule” strategies institutionalized ethnic identity into the political fabric, sowing seeds of future conflict².

2. The Soulbury Constitution and Denial of Tamil Sovereignty

The 1944-45 Soulbury Commission was a pivotal moment. Despite Tamil leaders' representations for parity and “50-50” safeguards to prevent Sinhalese domination, British constitutional architects rejected federal or parity proposals and instead favored majoritarian rule. British officials ultimately negotiated exclusively with Sinhala representatives, excluding the legitimate Tamil nation from the decolonization process, and disregarded explicit cautionary submissions on minority rights³⁴.

Timeline Table: Historical Eelamtamil Polity and Governance

Period	Kingdom / Authority	Key Features/Events
~3rd c. BCE-1505	Classical Tamil Dynasties	Chola, Pandya, Chera (interactions with Lanka)
1215-1621	Jaffna Kingdom (Arya Chakravarti)	Autonomous Tamil state, resisted Portuguese
1621-1796	Colonial Periods (Portuguese, Dutch)	Separate Tamil administration, continued chieftaincies
1796-1833	Early British Ceylon	Tamil (NE) and Sinhalese (SW) kept distinct
1833-1948	British Unitary Colony	Imposed Five Provinces incl. Tamil North & East
1948-1972	Dominion of Ceylon	Sinhala-majority independence, Tamils marginalized
1976-2009	De facto Tamil Governance	Vaddukoddai Resolution, LTTE state, ISGA, TNA
2002-2006	ISGA (Interim Self-Governing Authority)	Ceasefire, autonomous Tamil admin (North-East)
2009-2025	Militarized Rule, Provincial Council	Tamils denied effective self-rule, heavy militarization

Detailed analysis: The Jaffna kingdom's existence, recognized by Portuguese and Dutch treaties, the persistence of Vanni chieftaincies, and the recurring Indigenous leadership into the colonial era, affirm a continuous thread of Tamil national polity¹. The ISGA era-an outcome of internationally brokered negotiations-demonstrated both the capacity and popular legitimacy of interim Tamil self-governance⁵.

Methodology

This dossier synthesizes a wide range of sources:

·        Primary legal documents: The UN Charter, ICCPR, ICESCR, UNDRIP, General Assembly resolutions, and other international conventions.

·        Peer-reviewed research: Academic works on international law, decolonization, and transitional justice.

·        Governmental and intergovernmental reports: UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and documentation from international advocacy bodies.

·        Ground realities and testimonies: Community-based organizations, survivor testimonies (protected identities), institutional records from Tamil advocacy groups, legal submissions, and diaspora input.

·        Comparative legal cases and precedents: International and regional analogues (e.g., Mauritius decolonization case, East Timor, Kosovo) and evolving interpretations in international jurisprudence.

·        Stakeholder mapping and audience analysis: Engagement with expert guides on advocacy strategy and stakeholder influence.

Stringent editorial transparency, high-contrast visuals, and prioritized calls-to-action underpin the approach. Hyperlinks, visual matrices, and timeline tables are incorporated for accessibility and advocacy impact.

Findings & Analysis

A. British Failures and the Roots of Contemporary Injustice

1. Imposed Unitary State and Erosion of Tamil Sovereignty

The British colonial government’s key errors in Ceylon included:

·        Merger of Discrete Polities: The 1833 decision to abolish existing Tamil and Sinhalese boundaries and form a single Governor-led colony nullified centuries-old Tamil polity without meaningful consultation or consent.

·        Ethnic Majoritarianism: Electoral, administrative, and territorial design by the British systematically privileged the Sinhalese majority, with “communal representation” and franchise expansion rendering the Tamils a permanent political minority².

·        Soulbury Commission’s Exclusion of Tamils: Through the Soulbury process, British negotiations with Sinhalese elites, and their disregard for Tamil political leaders’ calls for protections and federalism, created constitutional arrangements defectively granting sovereignty only to the Sinhala group³⁴.

·        International Law Breaches: The transfer of full state sovereignty to the "Ceylonese Parliament" in 1948 was executed despite international legal obligations to secure self-determination for all colonized peoples. The UN’s own decolonization resolutions (1514, 1541) required consultation and consent-principles neglected in the treatment of Ceylon’s Tamils⁶.

Analysis: As international law advanced post-1945, including the United Nations Charter’s self-determination mandates, the failure to treat the Eelam Tamils’ homeland as a non-self-governing territory breached both the letter and spirit of decolonization jurisprudence⁷.

2. Lack of Recognition for “Peoplehood” and Indigeneity

The case for Eelam Tamils as a 'People', 'Nation', and 'Indigenous group' is grounded in:

·        Historical Continuity: Robust lines of kingship, governance, land tenure (e.g., Thesavalamai law), and cultural identity pre-colonial and throughout colonial regimes¹.

·        International Legal Standards:

o   The UN Charter, ICCPR, and ICESCR: All peoples have the right to self-determination.⁶

o   UNDRIP affirms Indigenous peoples’ collective rights, including free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) and restitution over traditional lands.⁸

o   Customary international law and UN treaties place obligations on successor states to respect traditional ethnic and nation group boundaries⁹.

3. Colonial Legacies of Displacement and Division

British census and land policies (distinguishing between “Ceylon Tamils” and “Indian Tamils” while diminishing political power of the local Tamil majority) fostered systematic marginalization, culminating post-independence in legal and physical exclusion¹⁰.

B. Claim under International Law: Tamil Right to Self-Determination

Comparative Table: International Law Articles & Conventions

Treaty / Instrument	Relevant Article(s)	Applicability to Eelam Tamils	Key Provisions / Precedents
UN Charter (1945)	Art. 1(2), Ch. XI	“Peoples”’ self-determination mandatory in decolonization	“respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples”
ICCPR / ICESCR (1966)	Art. 1	All peoples’ right to freely determine political status	“freely pursue their economic, social, and cultural development”
UNDRIP (2007)	Arts. 3, 26, 27, 36	Indigenous sovereignty and land rights; right to maintain distinct status	Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC); restitution rights
Geneva Conventions / Protocol I	Art. 1 (common), 24	Protection in armed conflicts; right to remedies	International obligations in non-international armed conflicts
Genocide Convention (1948)	Arts. 2, 3, 4	Accountability for group-targeted crimes	Prosecutions for genocide, complicity, incitement
C24 Mandate (UNGA Res. 1654/1961)	-	Inclusion of territories improperly decolonized	C24/UN 4th Committee can refer incomplete decolonization matters

Elaboration: Under these provisions, especially the principle of “remedial secession” (as in Kosovo, East Timor), breaches by the state-systematic denial of representation, mass rights violations-are recognized grounds for international self-determination processes.

C. Post-Colonial Crimes: Milestones and Trends

1. State-Sponsored Crimes against Eelam Tamils since 1948

Internationally recognized crimes committed:

·        Massacres (e.g., Black July 1983), pogroms, indiscriminate shelling, extrajudicial killings, torture, enforced disappearances, and large-scale internal displacement¹¹.

·        Military occupation, ongoing expropriation of Tamil lands under the guise of “security” and “development” projects¹².

·        Appropriation and forced conversion of Hindu and Christian temples into Buddhist shrines (“Buddhisization” in non-Buddhist areas)¹².

·        Destruction of Tamil memorials, systematic erasure of cultural identity, and banning of commemorations.

·        Persistent surveillance and intimidation of civil society, human rights defenders, victims’ families, and journalists seeking justice¹³.

·        Illegal demographic engineering-state-aided settlement schemes (e.g., Mahaweli irrigation projects), forcibly altering the ethnic balance of the North and East¹⁴.

Table: Major International Crimes Documented Post-1948

Period	Crime Types & Incidents	International Legal Offence
1956-1983	Pogroms (1956, 1958, 1977, 1981, 1983)	Crimes against humanity, genocide elements
1983-2009 (Civil War)	Massacres (Black July), extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, and sexual violence	War crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide
2009-Present	Military occupation, land grabs, enforced disappearances (Chemmani, mass graves), Buddhization of Tamil lands	On-going persecution, crimes against humanity, destruction of cultural heritage1512

2. UN and International Accountability Calls Overlooked

The United Nations, through the OHCHR and successive Human Rights Council resolutions, has documented and repeatedly called for accountability and reforms in Sri Lanka (see Timeline/Chronology section)¹⁶. Sri Lanka has:

·        Consistently rejected external accountability mechanisms, refusing hybrid courts or effective transitional justice measures¹⁷.

·        Failed to repeal repressive laws like the PTA, further criminalizing Tamil activism.

·        Ignored calls for the demilitarization and return of occupied Tamil lands.

Recent events, including ongoing mass graves discoveries (Chemmani) and sustained military occupation, confirm the pattern of impunity.¹⁶¹⁸.

3. Consequences of Militarization, Demographic Engineering, and Impunity

·        The North-East remains among the world’s most densely militarized regions, with “camps in every corner” and routine surveillance of the population. The army’s economic activities further displace civilian livelihoods¹⁵.

·        Continuous Sinhalese state settlement projects fragment Tamil homelands, threaten electoral representation, and threaten long-term community survival¹⁴.

·        State resources have been directed at building Buddhist temples and imposing Sinhala-Buddhist cultural markers in traditional Tamil areas, erasing their historical identity¹⁹.

·        Tens of thousands remain internally displaced, deprived of land, reparations, or access to justice.

D. Case Studies & Testimonies

Case Study 1: Chemmani Mass Graves, Jaffna-Recurring Evidence of Wartime and Postwar Atrocities

·        Mass graves first discovered in 1998; more than 140 skeletons unearthed in 2025, including children, evidence of systematic disposal of “disappeared” Tamils¹⁶.

·        Despite credible confessions from Sri Lankan military officers, no full forensic investigation or prosecution has ever been completed. UN and civil society groups affirm the need for international involvement.

Case Study 2: Ongoing Military Occupation of Land in Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya

·        Land belonging to displaced Tamil families remains under army or air force control, impeding resettlement, farming, and reconstruction, while new Buddhist structures are built on confiscated land¹⁵.

Testimony 1: Displaced Tamil Farmer (Kilinochchi)

“They took our fields in 2009. Every year we ask for it back, but another camp or Buddhist shrine appears instead. The army farms land it seized, while we depend on aid. Our children cannot visit ancestral temples or bury the dead with dignity. Is this reconciliation?” (Identity protected)

E. Legal Framework and Comparative Analysis

Legal Matrix: International Law Articles and UN Conventions

Principle / Article	Legal Implications for Eelam Tamils
Peoples’ right to self-determination	UN Charter Art. 1(2); ICCPR Art. 1: Applies directly to Tamils as a ‘People’.
Non-self-governing territories and decolonization	GA Res. 1514, 1541: Duty to transfer authority only with peoples’ free will; decolonization not completed if consent is missing.
Remedies for “remedial secession”	Permissible if a people is denied meaningful representation, faces gross injustices (Kosovo, East Timor, Bangladesh precedents).
Indigenous rights (UNDRIP, ILO 169)	Land rights, restitution, FPIC, and cultural preservation are non-negotiable. Tamils’ homelands claim and protections are aligned.
Crimes against humanity (Rome Statute)	Persecution of Tamils by military occupation, land grabs, forced displacement.
Legal obligation for international community	To facilitate decolonization, prevent genocide, enforce compliance, and support self-determination per customary international law.

Expanded Analysis:

·        International bodies (e.g., UN C24/4th Committee) have an established precedent for examining cases of "improper decolonization" and appointing Trusteeship Councils for transition-even decades after initial missteps (Mauritius Chagos case)²⁰.

·        Extant international jurisprudence (Human Rights Committee, CESCR) recognizes group identity as sufficient for invoking self-determination where structure or denial of rights is proven⁸²¹.

Case Timeline/Chronology: Tamil Autonomy and Self-Governance

Year	Event/Regime	Significance to Tamil Sovereignty/Identity
1215	Arya Chakravarti Kingdom (Jaffna)	Recognized Tamil kingdom, direct diplomatic ties
1621-1796	Portuguese/Dutch colonial governance	Formal chieftaincies, indigenous administration
1833	British merger of North/East into Ceylon	Erasure of political autonomy by centralized colonial admin.
1948	Soulbury Constitution, Ceylon “Independence”	Transfer of state power to Sinhala-majority with exclusion of Tamils
1956	Sinhala Only Act	Linguistic discrimination, catalyst for nonviolent Tamil resistance
1977	Vaddukoddai Resolution	Unanimous Tamil demand for independent state after repeated discrimination
1983-2009	Tamil Eelam de facto state/LTTE ISGA	Functional government structures, international negotiations, cessation of hostilities
2002	Norwegian-brokered ceasefire, ISGA proposal	International acknowledgment of need for Tamil self-government
2009-2025	Intense militarization, continued exclusion	Ongoing crimes: occupation, displacement, impunity

Visual Matrix: Influence/Interest of Key Stakeholders

Stakeholder	Influence on Outcome	Interest in Tamil Self-determination	Advocacy Engagement Priority
Eelamtamil diaspora	High	High	Champion
UN/OHCHR	High	Medium-High	Target for direct advocacy
Sri Lankan Government	High	Opposed	Key detractor
India/Tamil Nadu state	High	Medium (variable)	Strategic ally; needs focus
Donor Governments (UK, Canada, EU)	High	Medium-High	Engagement, diplomatic pressure
Regional advocacy NGOs	Medium	High	Supporter, coalition builder
Local civil society	Medium	High	Candidate for inclusion, testimony
International media	Medium	Medium	Communications priority
General UN member states	Medium	Low-Medium	Target for awareness raising
Buddhist nationalist organizations in SL	Medium	Opposed	Detractor, monitor

See the Stakeholder Mapping Matrix below for details.

Matrix: Stakeholder Influence and Engagement

Stakeholder Group	Role	Influence	Support/Detract	Engagement Strategy
Tamil Diaspora/Human Rights Orgs	Financial, legal, and political muscle	High	Support	Mobilize for lobbying, resources, info exchanges
UN C24/4th Committee	Decolonization review and mandate	High	Neutral/Support	Prepare submissions, petition for visiting mission
OHCHR/UNHRC	Human rights monitoring, accountability	High	Support	Persistent report submissions, formal dialogue
Indian Government/Tamil Nadu	Regional mediation, geopolitical leverage	High	Neutral/Mixed	Bilateral lobbying, highlight parallels with own indigeneity claims
SL State/Government	Implementation, resistance	High	Detract	International pressure, focused advocacy
International Human Rights NGOs	Documentation, campaign mobilization	Medium	Support	Partnership, joint reporting, capacity-building
Local Activists/Civil Society	Grassroots testimony, monitoring	Medium	Support	Protection, training, consultation
Foreign Missions (UK, EU, US, etc.)	Diplomatic leverage, donor status	Medium	Neutral	Policy briefings, public campaigns
Sinhala-Buddhist Nationalists	Counter-mobilization	Medium	Detract	Monitor, debunk misinformation
General Public (Globally)	Amplify cause, mobilize opinion	Medium/Low	Neutral	Public awareness, story-driven outreach

Key Tactics:

·        Prioritize engagement of direct decision-makers (UN committees, donor government policymakers, OHCHR actors).

·        Build coalitions with diaspora, regional, and international advocacy organizations.

·        Protect and platform local testimonies, ensure “protected identities” for sensitive witnesses.

·        Employ high-impact, evidence-driven narratives and symbolic imagery to break through media noise²².

Legal Framework: The Case for Decolonizing Tamil Regions

Key Legal Arguments

·        Unfinished Decolonization: By merging the Tamil homeland with Sinhala-majority regions without meaningful consultation, the British failed to complete decolonization as required under international law.

·        The Right to Remedy: International law holds that when a "people" are denied fundamental rights, subjected to systematic state crimes and denied representation, they are entitled to seek remedial self-determination, including independence as a last resort²³²⁴.

·        Application of UNDRIP and ICCPR/ICESCR: The Eelam Tamils satisfy the criteria for Indigenous status: historical territory, collective consciousness, distinct language, and continuous assertion of the right to self-rule.

·        Jurisdiction for International Action: The UN General Assembly, via the Fourth Committee and C24, may receive submissions and petitions for review of non-self-governing territory status, and recommend appointment of a Trusteeship Council or organize referenda under international supervision²⁵²⁶.

·        International Crimes and State Responsibility: The Rome Statute, the Genocide Convention, and customary international law obligate states and third parties to prevent, prosecute, and remedy crimes, including forced transfer, mass displacement, and destruction of cultural identity¹¹.

Advocacy Recommendations

Prioritized Calls-to-Action

1.        Recognition of Eelam Tamils as a People/Nation under International Law:

a.        Submit and advocate via UN C24 for the recognition of North-East Sri Lanka as a non-self-governing territory and for the right to self-determination, ensuring inclusive dialogue with international legal experts.

2.        International Forensic Investigations and Prosecutions:

a.        Engage UNHRC and OHCHR to establish international forensic investigations into mass graves (Chemmani and others), with a mandate to include genocide and crimes against humanity.

3.        Decolonization Referral to the Fourth Committee:

a.        Pursue official referral of the Tamil homeland issue from UNHRC to the General Assembly’s 4th Committee (Special Political and Decolonization), following the precedent of the Chagos/Mauritius case ²⁰.

4.        Trusteeship Council and UN-Supervised Referendum:

a.        Petition for appointment of a Trusteeship Council to oversee transition, and facilitate a UN-conducted and monitored referendum in the Tamil homeland regions to determine future political status.

5.        Immediate Demilitarization and Restitution of Land:

a.        Call for the full demilitarization of the North-East, return of all confiscated lands, and legal affirmation of collective Tamil land rights in accordance with UNDRIP.

6.        Halt to Demographic Engineering and Buddhization:

a.        Demand an immediate cessation of state-aided Sinhalese settlements and Buddhist constructions in traditional Tamil lands, proper restoration of all Indigenous religious sites, and criminal accountability for cultural destruction.

7.        Protection for Human Rights Defenders and Witnesses:

a.        Advocate for international guarantees ensuring the safety of journalists, witnesses, and civil society actors working on these issues.

8.        Comprehensive Transitional Justice:

a.        Ensure tasking of the Office of Missing Persons, Office for Reparations, and other mechanisms with robust mandates, resources, and international technical oversight in line with best practices.

9.        Capacity Building and Solidarity:

a.        Invest in transnational Tamil alliances, professional advocacy training, and sustained media engagement to pressure for remedial international intervention.

10.   Monitoring and Evaluation:

·        Institute regular, transparent monitoring of policy impacts, community needs, and progress towards goal attainment, with public reporting and community feedback loops.

Appendices

·        Appendix A: Timeline Table - Historic Tamil Kingdoms, ISGA, and Political Milestones

·        Appendix B: Comparative Table - Legal Provisions and Applicability to Tamil Case

·        Appendix C: Stakeholder Mapping Matrix (High-Contrast Visual)

·        Appendix D: Sample Advocacy Communications and Policy Brief Templates

·        Appendix E: Glossary of Terms and Acronyms

Appendix A: Timeline Table – Historic Tamil Kingdoms, ISGA, and Political Milestones

Period/Year	Event/Development	Notes/Impact
3rd Century BCE	Establishment of Early Tamil Kingdoms (Chola, Pandya)	Cultural and linguistic foundations
10th Century CE	Chola Empire expansion into Sri Lanka	Tamil administrative and architectural legacy
1948	Ceylon Independence	Tamil concerns excluded from the post-colonial state
1976	Vaddukoddai Resolution	Formal call for Tamil Eelam
2002	Ceasefire Agreement & ISGA Proposal	ISGA: Interim Self-Governing Authority
2009	End of Civil War	Heightened militarization of Tamil regions
2025 (Projected)	DCTE-2030 Advocacy Milestone	UN engagement and legal mobilization

Appendix B: Comparative Table – Legal Provisions and Applicability to Tamil Case

Legal Instrument	Key Provisions	Applicability to the Tamil Eelam Case
UN Charter (Articles 1 & 73)	Right to self-determination	Supports decolonization framework
ICCPR & ICESCR	Civil, political, and economic rights	Violations in the occupied Tamil regions
UN Declaration on Indigenous Rights	Cultural autonomy, land rights	Tamil identity and heritage protection
Geneva Conventions	Protection during armed conflict	Alleged war crimes and post-war abuses
Montevideo Convention (1933)	Criteria for statehood	Tamil Eelam meets historical and territorial criteria

 

Appendix C: Stakeholder Mapping Matrix (High-Contrast Visual)

Stakeholder Group	Influence Level	Interest Level	Position on Tamil Eelam	Engagement Strategy
UN Decolonization Unit	High	High	Neutral/Formal	Legal submissions, lobbying
Diaspora Tamil Networks	High	High	Supportive	Mobilization, funding
Sri Lankan Government	High	Low	Opposed	International pressure
Global Human Rights Orgs	Medium	High	Supportive	Evidence sharing, campaigns
Regional Powers (India)	High	Medium	Mixed	Strategic diplomacy

Appendix D: Sample Advocacy Communications and Policy Brief Templates

1. Policy Brief Template

Title: [Issue Title]

Executive Summary: [Concise overview]

Background: [Context and history]

Legal Basis: [Relevant international law]

Recommendations: [Actionable steps]

References: [Citations]

Contact: [Advocacy group info]

2. Sample Letter to UN Special Rapporteur

Dear [Name],

We write to bring urgent attention to the ongoing military occupation and suppression of Tamil self-determination in Sri Lanka...

Sincerely, 

[Organization Name] 

[Contact Info]

3. Social Media Advocacy Post

"Decolonize Tamileelam! Reclaim our land, our rights, our future. #DCTE2030 #TamilJustice #UNDecolonize"

Appendix E: Glossary of Terms and Acronyms

Glossary/Acronyms	Definitions
Eelamtamil	Indigenous Tamil-speaking people of Sri Lanka’s Northern and Eastern Provinces.
C24 (Special Committee on Decolonization)	The UN General Assembly body monitoring decolonization and self-determination.
ISGA	Interim Self-Governing Authority (2003-2006), de facto Tamil administration, product of internationally mediated ceasefire.
UNHRC	United Nations Human Rights Council.
OHCHR	Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
UNGA Res. 1514, 1541	Historic General Assembly Resolutions on decolonization.
UNDRIP	United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
PTA	Prevention of Terrorism Act; repressive Sri Lankan law.
FPIC	Free, Prior, and Informed Consent: key doctrine in Indigenous rights.
Rome Statute	The Treaty establishing the International Criminal Court defines crimes against humanity.
Chemmani	Site in Jaffna known for mass graves of disappeared Tamils.
Vaddukoddai Resolution	1976 Tamil political demand for a sovereign state.
Transitional Justice	Legal and institutional mechanisms for truth, accountability, reparations, and reform post-conflict.

Chronology Table: Key Milestones in Tamil Struggle and State Response

Year	Event/Political Stage	Outcome/Impact
1833	British colonial merger	Nullification of indigenous Tamil sovereignty
1948	Ceylon independence under Soulbury	Tamils marginalized in unitary, Sinhala-majority state
1956	Sinhala Only Act	Systemic exclusion, civil disobedience begins
1977	Vaddukoddai Resolution	Democratic electoral mandate for Tamil Eelam state
1983-09	Civil war; ISGA, de facto Tamil state	Parallel Tamil governance, international mediation
2009	Military defeat of Tamil de facto state	Intensification of occupation, mass rights crimes
2015-25	Renewed advocacy, international focus	Limited UN resolutions, ongoing impunity

Conclusion and Next Steps

Summary of Key Demands:

·        International remediation for British colonial errors and incomplete decolonization.

·        Recognition of Tamils as a People and Indigenous nation, entitled to sovereign self-determination.

·        Immediate and effective international action to halt ongoing systemic abuses, secure justice, and enable authentic Tamil governance.

Urgent Call:
All members of the Tamil community, human rights advocates, professionals, and political leaders are urged to engage with and actively support this international process-lobbying, documenting, and amplifying this movement across global forums until full and just decolonization is achieved for the Eelam Tamils.

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For further engagement, advocacy materials, and communications training, consult Appendices D and E, and connect with international networks and civil society coalitions specializing in transitional justice, Indigenous rights, and decolonization policy.

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End of Dossier

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