[sacw] In Memory of Neelan Tiruchelvan

[Harsh Kapoor]

South Asia Citizens Web Disptach
1st of August 1999
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Contents:

# 1. [Sri Lankan] Social Scientists' Association's Tribute to Dr. Neelan
Tiruchelvam
# 2. Statement from Friends of Neelan Tiruchelvan in India
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# 1.
PRESS RELEASE

30 Jul 1999

Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam: A Tribute

It is with deep shock and outrage that the Social Scientists'
Association (SSA) condemns the brutal assassination of Dr. Neelan
Tiruchelvam, parliamentarian, scholar and civil society leader.

With this killing, political forces of ethnic extremism have silenced
a voice of reason and sanity.

Dr. Tiruchelvam, in his intellectual, political and activist life gave
expression to a range of key values and ideals that are essential for
the re-building of Sri Lankan society torn asunder by a multiplicity
of crises of which the ethnic conflict is most intractable
manifestation. He was uncompromising in his commitment to ethnic
reconciliation, inter-ethnic peace, pluralist democracy, human rights,
social justice and decency in public affairs. His was a mind of
considerable intellectual energy and perseverance which shined under
conditions of darkness and barbarism. It is no exaggeration to say
that the terms of Sri Lanka's contemporary discourse of democratic
political reform were largely germinated in his creative mind and
through his tireless interaction with all those who shared with him
the ideals of a decent, peaceful world. Dr. Tiruchelvam earned much
praise and some wrath for this singular contribution he made to enrich
the political and constitutional thinking of Sri Lanka.

He was a great believer in and practitioner of institution building in
both public and civil society spheres. He created and nurtured the
International Center for Ethnic Studies and the Law and Society Trust.
He worked closely with policy-makers and officials in creating and
strengthening such key public accountability institutions as the
Human Rights Task Force, the Human Rights Commission, the Office of
the Ombudsman, the Official Languages Commission. In the last few
weeks of his life, he was working in close collaboration with the
Ministry of Justice, the human rights community and legal scholars in
setting up an Equal Opportunity Commission. Many progressive pieces of
legislation that have been enacted by Sri Lankan parliament in recent
years owe a great deal to Dr. Tiruchelvam's initiatives and inputs.

With the untimely demise of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam all communities of
Sri Lanka have lost a truly visionary bridge-builder. South Asia has
lost one of its most creative democratic-reformist thinkers. We pay
tribute to a colleague who has always been an inspiring presence among
us.

Let this tragic death of a man of peace and moderation become a moment
for the resuscitation of political forces committed to national
reconciliation.

Dr. Jayadeva Uyangoda
Dr. Kumari Jayawardena

Social Scientists' Association
425/15, Thimbirigasyaya Road
Colombo-5
Sri Lanka.
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# 2. Statement from Friends of Neelan Tiruchelvan in India

31 July 1999, New Delhi

We are deeply shocked at the assasination of Neelan Tiruchelvan
by a suicide-bomber reportedly of the LTTE, conducted in a manner
characteristic of that group. Neelam was a person of
extraordinary talent, great intellectual refinement, and
unwavering political commitment to democracy, pluralism,
secularism, justice and humanism. His was a voice of reason which
compelled attention and inspired thousands of thinkers, scholars,
activists and political leaders not just in Sri Lanka, but all
over South Asia.

We in India who had the privilege to have known Neelan always
admired him for his outstanding work on peace and conciliation,
and on political devolution in Sri Lanka, his fierce opposition
to ethno-centric nationalism, chauvinism and militarism, his
remarkable courage, as well his as immense personal charm.

Neelam was killed by forces of barbarism and extreme intolerence
because they cannot possibly coexist with reason, democracy, and
liberal and human values. His death underscores the critical
importance of fighting such forces in our entire region, and of
reaffirming our commitment to what Neelan stood for.

We send our deepest condolences to Seethi, to their children, and
to Neelan's countless friends and admirers.

Romila Thapar,
Ritu Menon,
Achin Vanaik,
Zoya Hasan,
Praful Bidwai
[and others]