The United States Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC), founded in 2009, is a grass root advocacy organization committed to work for a political solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. To this end, USTPAC coordinates advocacy and political activism on a national scale.
Justice and Accountability Must Be Realized in Sri Lanka
Dismay on delayed Report tempered by promises for stronger outcome- says USTPAC WASHINGTON, Feb. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — On February 16, the Human Rights Council followed recommendation of the High Commissioner for Human Rights to postpone the release of the OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (OISL) until September. While this decision is a great disappointment to […]
USTPAC Urges President Obama to Continue Leadership on Accountability in Sri Lanka
US and India must lead mediating power sharing for durable solution to the ethnic conflict WASHINGTON, Jan. 22, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — President Obama's upcoming visit to India underscores the growing cooperation and collaboration between the world's oldest democracy and its largest democracy. This collaboration holds immense importance to the Tamils in the island of Sri […]
USTPAC Welcomes the Oral Report of the High Commissioner for Human Rights on Sri Lanka
WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The US Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) welcomes the 22 September 2014 report of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on Promoting Reconciliation, Accountability and Human Rights in Sri Lanka. USTPAC commends the UN High Commissioner for a robust assessment of the challenges to justice, accountability, and human […]
USTPAC Launches a #getthepicture Campaign
Interactive maps highlight pattern of massacres of Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The US Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) today launched a #getthepicture campaign to highlight the frequency and severity of massacres and other serious violence against the Tamil civilian population in Sri Lanka. The campaign follows on the heels of a joint letter to the UN […]
Black July in Sri Lanka, Yesterday and Today
USTPAC marks 31st anniversary of anti-Tamil violence in Sri Lanka, highlights the denial of justice to the victims of Black July and urges international action. WASHINGTON, July 30, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — July 2014 marks the 31st anniversary of "Black July 1983," the pogrom against the Tamils living in Sri Lanka, carried out with total impunity […]
USTPAC Condemns The Violence Against The Muslims In Sri Lanka
Stronger international oversight urged to ensure accountability and protection of ethnic and religious groups WASHINGTON, June 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The United States Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) strongly condemns the attack on the Muslims in the town of Aluthgama in Sri Lanka on Sunday and calls on the international community to address the rampant impunity […]
WASHINGTON, March 28 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — On Thursday, March 27, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) adopted a resolution on Sri Lanka, A/HRC/25/L.1/Rev.1, which creates an international investigation into widespread human rights violations committed during the war that ended in May 2009. "Tamils have waited nearly five years since end of the armed conflict for a […]
USTPAC Reiterates Call for Commission of Inquiry on Sri Lanka
U.S. Draft Resolution on Sri Lanka Promotes neither Reconciliation nor Accountability WASHINGTON, March 5, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The United States Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) expressed its deep disappointment with the United States' draft resolution on Sri Lanka, presented at the 25th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The absence of a clear call […]
International Probe a Must in Sri Lanka – USTPAC
Washington urged to stay vigilant against Sri Lanka's Ploy to buy more time WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — United States Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) welcomes recent high level visits to Sri Lanka by Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Nisha Biswal and Ambassador-At-Large for Global Criminal Justice, Stephen Rapp, and […]
USTPAC joins fifty-five organizations world-wide in a New Year message, casting grave doubts on domestic probes by the Sri Lankan government, and pledging to promote credible international investigations into the deaths of tens of thousands of Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka. WASHINGTON, Jan. 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The United States Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) […]
US Congressional Caucus on Ethnic and Religious Freedom in Sri Lanka Praised by USTPAC
United States lawmakers hoping to resolve ethnic conflict that has contributed to the deaths of tens of thousands of mostly Tamil citizens WASHINGTON, Nov. 15, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The United States Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) welcomes the launch of the Congressional Caucus on Ethnic and Religious Freedom in Sri Lanka at the US Congress this […]
Death Threats Against Sri Lankan Human Rights Defender Are Condemned by USTPAC
State-run media carry out smear campaign against Nimalka Fernando Just days before Sri Lanka hosts a Commonwealth summit, Sri Lankan state media is making death threats against prominent human rights campaigners. Amidst continued rights abuses in the heavily militarized North-East, new threats to human rights defenders serve as yet another example of why the island […]
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights reports on Sri Lanka's failure to address past and ongoing rights violations. The report, which follows two UN Human Rights Council resolutions on Sri Lanka and a recent country visit by the High Commissioner, raises serious allegations of entrenched impunity, continued violations, and flagrant disregard for democracy and the […]
USTPAC Hails Tamils' Landslide Victory in Sri Lanka's Provincial Vote
In Sri Lanka's Northern Provincial Council vote held on Saturday, the Tamil National Alliance defeated the Sri Lanka government alliance securing firm control of the Council. Despite violence and voter intimidation with suffocating military presence, Tamils signal to chart their own destiny. WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — United States Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) […]
United States Tamil Political Action Council marks 30-yr anniversary of anti-Tamil violence in Sri Lanka, expresses concern over further deterioration and calls for international action to protect Tamils. WASHINGTON, July 25, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — This week Tamils living in the US and all over the globe somberly remember the dark days of "Black July 1983," a […]
The Geneva based UN Human Rights Council adopted a second resolution on Promoting Accountability and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka putting Sri Lanka under close scrutiny for grave rights violations, but the new resolution falls short of creating an international investigation mechanism called for by the High Commissioner for Human Rights. WASHINGTON, March 22, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ […]
Tamil Groups Welcome UN Rights Chief's Call for Independent International Investigation in Sri Lanka
LONDON, TORONTO, WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The British Tamils Forum, the Canadian Tamil Congress, and United States Tamil Political Action Council acknowledge the Report by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, which emanates from United Nations Human Rights Council Resolution 19/2. While welcoming High Commissioner Navanethem Pillay's continuous […]
The USTPAC Condemns the Saudi Execution of Sri Lankan Maid Rizana Nafeek
USTPAC condemns the Saudi Arabian government for beheading young Sri Lankan maid who was a child when the alleged offence took place, and blames Sri Lankan government for failure to rise above ethnic considerations to adequately intervene to stop the slaughter. WASHINGTON, Jan. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — United States Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) is […]
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The United States Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) welcomes the Report of the United Nations Secretary General's Internal Review Panel on UN Action in Sri Lanka, released November 14th, 2012. This internal review, undertaken by Charles Petrie, reveals UN involvement in Sri Lanka to be a "grave failure" in preventing […]
United States Tamil Political Action Council (USTPAC) welcomes the call made by 31 lawmakers requesting Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to stay engaged in Sri Lanka to ensure compliance with the UN Human Rights Council resolution calling for accountability and reconciliation WASHINGTON, Sept. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — On the last day of congressional sessions before […]
