[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 12, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H6822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
                       PLIGHT OF THE TAMIL PEOPLE

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Davis) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DAVIS of North Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I stand with the Eelam 
Tamils in Sri Lanka.
  Following the British departure in 1948, the unification of these 
kingdoms under a Sinhalese-dominated Sri Lanka led to the 
marginalization of the Tamil people.
  This process disregarded the Tamils' right to self-determination. 
State-sponsored discrimination and violence against Tamils sparked a 
tragic 30-year ethnic conflict, resulting in the 2009 Tamil genocide.
  Despite the United Nations Human Rights Council's efforts for 
accountability, Sri Lanka, with China's support, withdrew in 2020, 
further blocking justice for the Tamil community.
  The recent arrest of Tamils for participating in peaceful events 
under the Prevention of Terrorism Act are deeply troubling.
  Therefore, I call upon my colleagues in Congress to recognize and 
address the ongoing oppression of the Tamil people. We must support a 
permanent solution that ensures stability and peace in this vital part 
of the Indo-Pacific. We must honor our commitment to human rights, and 
we must honor democracy.

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