CHENNAI: Supporters of Eelam Tamils made this Sunday a historic day in their two-year struggle towards mobilising support for Eelam Tamils on whom war crimes were committed in Sri Lanka.
Strong winds and rains did not dampen the spirit of thousands of people including IT professionals, nuns, activists, educationalists, media-persons, and cadre of MDMK and Naam Tamilar Katchi, who had gathered at the Marina to light candles in memory of Eelam Tamils killed during the Lankan war on the eve of ‘Victim Torturing Day’.
They demanded punishment for Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa for annihilating the Eelam Tamils. Supporters of the cause raised slogans like, “We will unite in support of Tamil race, punish dictator Rajapakasa, Eelam Tamil country will be formed soon.”
“I have come with my family from Alandur. If we don’t sacrifice this one day for our race, we can’t sleep in peace,” said Balu, who was carrying his newborn baby.
When asked what he meant by Tamil race, he replied, “It is language. We all are united by one language that is called Tamil mozhi. By birth, I am a Malayali, but my parents settled in Tamil Nadu 70 years ago and I now know only Tamil.”
“Thousands of women and children killed by the
Sri Lankan army were our sisters. World-over, Tamils will continue this struggle demanding punishment for Rajapaksa,” said Selvarasu
of Avadi, a central government employee who was walking around carrying a LTTE flag.
“I might be a central government employee, but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t express my support to our race. Do you know the history behind this flag?” asked Selvarasu, explaining how LTTE leader Prabahakaran had designed the flag with the help of a local artist when he stayed in Madurai.
Most of the supporters had come with their family. An IT couple said they had come from Tambaram. Members of the May 17 movement, who had organised the meeting, had informed them about the event.
“IT professionals are aware of the Eelam Tamil issue. Whenever we have free time we browse the website and see the torture they underwent at the hands of the Lankan army,” said Jeya. “We are around 600 IT professionals working in various IT companies in Bengaluru. We hired a bus to participate in the vigil,” said Arul and his friends from Bengaluru.
When the event ended, the women participants and their children ensured that their candles weren’t blown away by the wind. The police, who were getting uncomfortable over the huge gathering, stopped the supporters of Eelam Tamils who had organised a play in which Rajapaksa was hanged. “Police can stop us now, but Rajapaksa will not escape punishment,” said the supporters.