Tamil Children march towards Tamil Eelam.
Rajkumar Subramaniam
Chapter 3
1. On August 4, 1987, after returning to Tamil Eelam from India,
LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran addressed a mammoth meeting held at
Suthumalai attended by several hundred thousands of Tamil people.
He declared that "We are surrendering our arms to the Indian army
relying on the basis of assurances given by the Indian Prime
Minister Rajive Gandhi. From this minute the protection of both
the Tamils and the LTTE is the responsibility of "India". As
announced by LTTE leader Prabhakaran, arms were handed over at
the Palaly army camp.
2. However, the Indian Prime Minister Rajive Gandhi did not
honour any of the assurances given to LTTE leader Prabhakaran.
Theelepan, the Political leader of the Jaffna District, went on a
fast unto death over five demands made to the Indian government.
He started his fast on September 15, 1987 by refusing to eat or
even drink water in front of the Nallur Kanthaswamy Temple.
The Demands Placed were:-
i: All Tamils arrested and kept/ detained in prisons under the
prevention of Terrorism Act should be released forthwith;
ii. Sinhalese colonization of Tamil Eelam under the guise of
"Rehabilitation" should be halted;
iii: All development work under the guise of "Rehabilitation"
should be suspended pending the establishment of an interim
administration;
iv: All police stations that are being opened up in Tamil Eelam
should be closed; and
v. All Home Guards should be disarmed under the supervison of the
Indian army. All army camps and police stations housed in schools
in Tamil villages should be closed.
3. Since none of the above demands were met Theelepan attained
martyrdom at 10.48 am on the morning of September 26, 1987. The
Indian government ridiculed Theeplepan's death.
4.On the morning of October 3, 1987, 17 Tigers sailing on the
boat "Kadal Pura" in the sea were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy
and handed over to the army at Palaly camp.
5. The Indian government failed to take any concrete steps to
cause the release of the 17 Tigers. Instead Prime Minister Rajive
Gandhi was engaged in bargaining with the LTTE. When Rajive
Gandhi realised the Tigers were averse to any bargaining he
indirectly gave the go ahead to fly the arrested Tigers to
Colombo as desired by Lalith Athulathmudali, Minister for
National Security.
6. On October 5, 1987 following the treachery by Rajiv Gandhi the
17 Tigers took cyanide. 11 Tigers, including Kumarappa and
Pulendran, attained martyrdom. Another Tiger died in hospital.
The remaining 5 were imprisoned and after several years released.
7. October 7, 1987 the bodies of the 12 Tigers were cremated at
"Thiruvil".
8. October 7, 1987 the Indian army blasted two Newspaper offices
owned by private individuals. They arrested the employees who
worked there. Then they looted the Tigers'"Tharisanam" T.V
equipment. The unarmed Tigers present were arrested and the
building blasted by the Indian army.
9. On October 10, 1987 the Indian army mounted a massive military
offensive against the Tamil people and the Tamil Tigers. Again
the responsibility to protect the Tamil people became the duty of
the Tigers. Since LTTE leader for a "defensive War" against the
Indian army.
10. On the evening of October 10, 1987 the first salvo against
the Indian army was fired by the Tigers.
11. During the period the Tamil people and the Tamil Tigers were
engaged in a war with the Indian army, the leader of the LTTE
Prabhakaran came to be identified as the "National Leader" of the
Tamils by the people of Tamil Eelam, Tamil Nadu and the Tamil
diaspora spread all over the world. Today the Tamil Nation
accepts Prabhakaran as the National Leader of the Tamils and
feels confident that under his leadership liberation of Tamil
eelam with become a reality.
12. April 19, 1988. On this day Annai Poopathy declared a "Fast
unto Death". Her fast unto death was over the following demands
-The Indian army which came to maintain peace should cease
hunting the people;
-To seek a just solution and to usher in peace and tranquillity,
India should invite the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for
talks.
-Annai Poopathy finally attained martyrdom. Her sacrifice will be
edged in golden letters in the annals of the Liberation struggle.
Annai Poopathy who gave her life to the Liberation Tamil Eelam
became Annai for the entire Tamil Eelam.
13. On November 19, 1988 the Indian government forced the Sri
Lankan government to conduct a ham election for the north_East
provincial council and installed a puppet Tamil group created by
it. But the Provincial council, devoid of any real power, folded
up in due course.
14. In 1989 Tamil National leader Prabhakaran declared November
27th, the day the first Tiger Sathiyanathan attained martyrdom,
as Hero's Day. He declared that Hero's Day should be celebrated
annually in memory of all the Tigers who sacrificed their lives
in the fight for the Liberation of Tamil Eelam.
15. On March 24, 1990 the Indian army withdrew completely from
Tamil Eelam after losing the 2 year war against the Tigers. Again
Tamil Eelam came under the control of the LTTE.
16. When the 15 months of talks between the Srilankan government
and the LTTE failed due to perfidy on the part of the government
the cease fire in force between the governments and the Tigers
was called off.
17. On June 10, 1990, Eelam War II between the LTTE and the Sri
Lankan government broke out. The war still continues to this day.
18. On July 10, 1990 Black sea Tigers launched a suicide attack
on the Srilankan Naval command ship "Edithara" anchored in the
Bay of Bengal. In this attack Major kantharoopan, Captain Vinoth
and Captain Collins attained martyrdom.
19. On September 26, 1990 the Jaffna Fort occupied by the
SriLankan army was captured. At 10.48 a.m the Tigers flag was
hoisted on top of the Fort.
20. On March 2, 1991 Ranjan Wijeratne, the Defense Minister of
Srilankan, who bragged that he would "kill Prabhakaran, the
Tigers are just a bunch of boys in shorts who on seeing the
Sinhalese soldiers will urinate" was killed in a car bomb attack.
The Sri Lankan government accused the Tigers of carrying out the
attack.
21. On May 4, 1991, the Black Sea Tigers attacked the Sri Lanka's
command ship "Abitha". The ship was completely damaged. Captain
Jayanthan and Captain Sithamparam attained martyrdom.
22. On May 21, 1991 the ex-indian Prime Minister Rajive Gandhi
was killed by a suicide bomber in Tamil Nadu by a Tamil woman
named "Thanu". The Indian government accuses that the suicide
bomber was a member of the women Tigers. Court proceeding s
regarding this killing still continues in India.
23. On July 10, 1991 the Srilankan army mounted a military
offensive to break the seige of Elephant Pass army camp. For 31
days from July 10 to August 31, a conventional battle was waged
between the Sri Lankan army and Liberation Tigers. 599 Tigers
attained martyrdom. More than 400 Srilankan troops also got
killed. All over the world a historically important perception
came to be formed that there are two armies in the Island of
Ceylon.
24. On August 8, 1992 nine high ranking personnel including
Jaffna Area Commander Lt. Gen. Denzil Kobbakaduwa and Northern
Naval Commander Rear Admiral Jaymaha were killed in a
sophisticated land mine explosion at Araly.
25. On August 28, 1992 a SriLankan naval jet speed boat anchored
at mandativu coast was abducted by the Tigers. The British made
ship was equipped with 20mm automatic guns, telecommunication
equipment and two speed motors.
26. On October 2, 1992 the Tigers attacked the Srilankan army
camp at Kaddaikadu. Arms worth 60 million rupees was captured by
the Tigers.
27. On November 16, 1992 Srilanka's Naval Commander Vice Admiral
Clancy Fernando was killed in Colombo by a suicidal bomber.
28. On April 26, 1993 Lalith Athulathmudali the ex-minister fro
National Security who was considered responsible for the worst
form of military aggression committed against Tamil Eelam was
killed by a lone gunman. The Sri Lankan government claims the
gunman is a member of the LTTE>
29. On May 1, 1993, the Sinhalese President Ranasinghe Premadasa
was killed by a suicide bomber at Armour street junction,
Colombo. The Srilankan government claims this attacker is also a
member of the LTTE.
30. On July 25, 1993 the tenth anniversary of the July 1983
holocaust, the Tigers attacked and destroyed the Srilankan army
camp at Mankindi, in manal Aru(MULLAITUVU). Arms worth 50 million
rupees was carried away by the Tigers.
31. On August 26, 1993 two SriLankan naval boats were destroyed
by Black Sea Tigers at Kilaili. On the same day another naval
boat was also attacked and destroyed by the Sea Tigers. Major
Nilavan and Captain Mathan attained Martyrdom.
32. On August 31, 1993, an Israeli made Dvora class battleship
was sunk in an attack off the Point Pedro coast. Major Pugazhagan
and Captain Maniarasan attained martyrdom.
33. On September 28, 1993 "operation yal DEvi", launched by the
Srilankan security forces from Elephant Pass., was repulsed by
the Tigers. The Sri Lanka army withdrew to Elephant Pass camp
after suffering heavy loss of lives and arms.
Today Tamil children who should carry books are seen with
A.K 47 rifles hanging on their shoulders. These fighters stand
guard surrounding Sinhalese army camps and borders of Tamil Eelam
to protect the Tamil Eelam Tamils and their homeland.
Without struggle there is no salvation. The newly elected
Sinhalese President of Srilanka has vowed to defeat the Tamils
through military means. He claims there is no ethnic problem,
only a terrorist problem. By saying this he conspiring to destroy
the Tamils and their country Tamil Eelam. Under these
circumstances, the Tamil Children living in foreign countries
should March forward to help liberate our motherland. This Your
duty.
"We should think and feel proud that we are Tamils. Our langauge
is Tamil. Our country is Tamil Eelam. March forward to discharge
Your duties".
World Tamil Movement Library
1231 Ellesmere Road, Suite 202
Scarborough, Ont
(416) 285-1947
--
We Pledge and Vow to my people that we shall keep along the path carrying
our guns and despite all plots and difficulties until we gets our Home
Land.International law says those who face occupation should confront the
occupation and resist with all means available. LEADER << V.PRBHAKARAN >>
Murthy Gandikota
In article <CGxsG...@freenet.carleton.ca> aj...@Freenet.carleton.ca (Rajkumar Subramaniam) writes:
You have done an excellent job of documenting the history. Please
accept my congratulations. For me the most moving parts in your
post were the fasting of Theelapan who refused to eat or drink,
and ultimately in your words...
>Since none of the above demands were met Theelepan attained
>martyrdom at 10.48 am on the morning of September 26, 1987.
His demands were just. I think he is a true hero. Indian Army and
PM Rajiv Gandhi, betrayed the Tamils in Sri Lanka a big time. Of
course, they both paid for it dearly.
By the way, are you posting this from Sri Lanka? Welcome aboard! From
news reports, Sri Lanka is the new kid on the Internet, after Al
Gore's hand-waving.
M
--
Murthy Gandikota (908) 582-5860
Rm. 6H-514 , Building 6, P.O.Box 636
Mountain Avenue
Murray Hill, NJ 07974-0636, USA