Muslims Distinct Identity Will Be Recognized In the Independent Tamil State: Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam
• Muslims will have the right to participate in formulation of their role in Tamil Eelam.
• Sinhala will also be an official language of the independent Tamil State.
• No religion shall be given the foremost place in Tamil Eelam.
• No discrimination based on religion, ethnicity, language, caste, gender & sexual orientation.
Muslims distinct identity will be recognized in the independent Tamil State of Tamil Eelam & Muslims will have the right to participate in formulation of their role, according to Section: 10 of the Tamil Eelam
Freedom Charter.
Sinhala, along with Tamil and English, will also be an office language of the independent Tamil State of Tamil Eelam,
according to section 14 of this Charter.
Tamil Eelam Freedom Charter was declared on May 18th, by the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE).
This Charter was drafted by TGTE, after extensive consultation from Tamils worldwide. Large number of Tamils from the
island of Sri Lanka also participated. Feedback was received through several meetings around the world and through an online questioner.
The Declaration was made by the Prime Minister of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam, Mr. Viswanathan
Rudrakumaran, in the historic city of Lancaster (Pennsylvania, U.S.A). Lancaster is the birth place of Thaddens Stevens,
a leading champion to abolish slavery and the main force behind the Emancipation Proclamation to free Slaves.
This event was attended by several academics, legal luminaries, politicians, political pundits, professionals from
around the world and TGTE legislators. A two day International Academic conference, attended by several well-known
academics from around the world, was held prior to the proclamation of the Freedom Charter.
Following the proclamation of the freedom charter, Dr. Ramsay Clark, former US Attorney General; Hon. Daniel Mayan M.P.
from South Sudan (SPLM); and Dr. Nuran Nabi, an important Bangladesh freedom fighter, once considered the brain behind
the Bangladesh Liberation Movement Mukti Bahini, spoke and reiterated their support and emphasized the historic
importance of the freedom charter.
Below, please find the Tamil Eelam Freedom Charter:
Tamil Eelam Freedom Charter
Positions:
1. We, the people of Tamil Eelam, have an inherent right to self-determination. Subject to Genocide at the hands of
successive Sinhala national governments and as an essential measure of protection we wish to establish our own
independent and sovereign State of Tamil Eelam.
2. The creation of an independent and sovereign State of Tamil Eelam remains the only viable option to lead a life with
security, dignity and equality, both individually and collectively.
3. For over six decades we have struggled, through both non-violent means and armed resistance, to protect ourselves
from state sponsored Genocide. We demand the international community organize a referendum to enable us to exercise our
right to self-determination and also take all measures to bring to justice the perpetrators of Genocide against the
Tamil people.
4. The North-East of Sri Lanka is our traditional homeland and will be the territory of the State of Tamil Eelam. The
maritime and aerial limits of Tamil Eelam will be established according to international laws.
5. The independent state of Tamil Eelam will embrace wholeheartedly the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all international human rights and humanitarian treaties and conventions.
6. A Constituent Assembly, elected by the people, shall draft the Constitution. The Constitution will avoid any concentration of power in one authority or person and enshrine the independence of the
Legislature, the Executive and Judiciary. Tamil Eelam shall be a Republic adhering to the laws enacted by a Parliament
of elected representatives chosen through direct voting by the people. The people shall have the right to recall their
elected representatives.
7. No religion shall be given the foremost place in Tamil Eelam. The freedom to worship and the cultural right to
practice religious traditions shall be ensured.
8. Tamil Eelam will prohibit capital punishment.
9. The state of Tamil Eelam shall guarantee Constitutional protection of individuals, families and communities from any
form of discrimination on the basis of religion, ethnicity, language, caste, gender or sexual orientation.
10. The rights of all minority groups in Tamil Eelam will be respected and safeguarded. The distinct identity of Muslims
will be recognized. They shall have the right to participate in formulation of their role in Tamil Eelam. Whenever the
hill country Tamils choose to settle in Tamil Eelam, citizenship rights will be extended to them forthwith and the state
shall implement special programs for their welfare.
11. All freedom fighters shall be honored as national heroes. All those who sacrificed their lives shall be honored as
martyrs. The welfare of the families of the martyrs and cadre shall be the responsibility of the state. All civilians
who lost their lives during the freedom struggle shall be remembered through a national monument. May 18 will be
established as a National Day of Mourning and November 27 will remain as the National Maaveerar Day.
Foreign Policy:
12. Tamil Eelam shall maintain close relations with all nations that have democratically elected governments. Expressing
solidarity with the people of India and to foster peace and security in the Indian Ocean region, Tamil Eelam will forge
a special relationship with India.
Economic Policy:
13. The economic policy of Tamil Eelam will be shaped with the needs and resources of the people of Tamil Eelam in mind
and to cultivate global cooperation as well as recognizing the significant role of the Tamil diaspora.
Language Policy:
14. Tamil, Sinhala and English shall be the official languages of Tamil Eelam.
Education Policy:
15. Education shall be compulsory and free for all.
Health Policy:
16. Health will be a fundamental right and all citizens will have access to free healthcare.
Development Policy:
17. Development includes economic as well as social, human resource and cultural development in a sustainable way. An
important goal of development policy would be to create social equity and minimize disparities.
18. Some of the objectives of development projects in Tamil Eelam will be to ensure that all citizens have: Their own
shelter; Basic livelihood; Protection from infectious diseases and adequate nutrition, especially for children, pregnant
mothers and the elderly.
Environment Policy:
19. Land, water and space resources within the territory of Tamil Eelam will be conserved. Large-scale reforestation
projects, especially of the Palmyra resource destroyed during the war, will be undertaken as a priority.
20. Emphasis will be given to renewable energy forms such as solar, wind and wave. All non-renewable resources will be
used cautiously keeping in mind the needs of future generations.
Citizenship Policy:
21. Citizenship will be extended to all those born in the homeland or descended from those born in the homeland.
Provisions will be made for obtaining citizenship through naturalization and also for holding dual citizenship.
Web: www.tgte-us.org
Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam
ENDS