THE FeTNA RESOLUTION CONDEMNS

US STATE DEPARTMENT PUBLICATION
"PATTERNS OF GLOBAL TERRORISM"

The Board of the Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America, representing 32 Tamil Sangams (societies) in the US and Canada, at a meeting held on July 5th 1997 at the Doubletree Hotel in Pittsburgh, PA, reviewed with pain of mind and grave concern the statements, "Tamils historically have served as drug couriers moving narcotics into Europe" in the Department of State publication 10433 of the office of the Coordinator for Counter terrorism, which was authored by Ambassador Philip C wilcox Jr.

It was decided to condemn in the strongest terms such a broad brush statement against Tamils who number nearly 70 million spread in various countries throughout the world, without any basis for such statement.

It was unanimously resolved to:

  1. Write to the President of the US, with a copy to the Secretary of State, condemning such a statement, and requesting its deletion and an apology from Ambassador Wilcox.
  2. Bring the matter to the notice of member Sangams requesting them to write similar letters.
  3. Bring this matter to the notice of the participants at the Joint Convention of members of the Sangams belonging to the Federation and the Tamil Nadu Foundation held in Pittsburgh, PA, from July 3rd through 6th 1997 and to request them to sign a petition in this regard.