THIMPU DECLARATION, OF JULY 1985
At Thimpu, in July 1985, six organisations, consisting of the Eelam Peoples Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF), the Eelam Revolutionary Organisation (EROS), the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), the Peoples Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO), and the Parliamentary Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), recognized as the representatives of the Tamil people of Sri Lanka, jointly and unanimously declared:
"It is our considered view that any meaningful solution to the Tamil national question must be based on the following four cardinal principles -
1. Recognition of the Tamils of Sri Lanka as a nation
2. Recognition of the existence of an identified homeland for the Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka
3.Rrecognition of the right of self determination of the Tamil nation
4.Rrecognition of the right to citizenship and the fundamental rights of all Tamils who look upon the island as their country.
"Different countries have fashioned different systems of governments to ensure these principles. We have demanded and struggled for an independent Tamil state as the answer to this problem arising out of the denial of these basic rights of our people... However, in view of our earnest desire for peace, we are prepared to give consideration to any set of proposals, in keeping with the above-mentioned principles, that the Sri Lankan government may place before us."
"It is our considered view that any meaningful solution to the Tamil national question must be based on the following four cardinal principles -
1. Recognition of the Tamils of Sri Lanka as a nation
2. Recognition of the existence of an identified homeland for the Tamils in the island of Sri Lanka
3.Rrecognition of the right of self determination of the Tamil nation
4.Rrecognition of the right to citizenship and the fundamental rights of all Tamils who look upon the island as their country.
"Different countries have fashioned different systems of governments to ensure these principles. We have demanded and struggled for an independent Tamil state as the answer to this problem arising out of the denial of these basic rights of our people... However, in view of our earnest desire for peace, we are prepared to give consideration to any set of proposals, in keeping with the above-mentioned principles, that the Sri Lankan government may place before us."
