TNA calls for end to Sri Lankan state oppression at May Day![]()
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) called for an end to Sri Lankan state oppression, and for the Tamil people's right to self-determination, in a series of events across the North-East yesterday marking May Day.
In mass rallies in Chavakachcheri, Kilinochchi, and Batticaloa, Tamils demanded an end to the state's land grabs and militarisation in the North-East, saying it was oppressing Tamil workers and reducing them to unemployment.
"Whether that's our President or the military they can't stay in our land.. The military - that we don't want - will need to leave soon!" Northern Provincial Chief Minister, C.V.Wigneswaran told crowds gathered at the the TNA's main event in Chavakachcheri. "The voice of our Tamil people will soon be heard telling the troops to get out of our land," he said, to a loud applause from the crowd.
The event was also attended by MP Mavai Senathirajah, MP M.A. Sumanithiran, MP Suresh Premachandran, and Northern Provincial Councillor Ananthy Sasitharan.
Thirty-two resolutions against such oppressive acts, as well as one calling for the Tamil people's right to self-determination were adopted by the TNA at that event, TNA Secretary, Mavai Senathirajah told Tamil Guardian later that evening. "The government wants to oppress us, the military is taking our lands and our jobs, and people are still displaced, it means that our people cannot work or find employment," he said.
The TNA leader, R. Sampanthan, is understood to have addressed an event in Batticaloa, where TNA MPs P. Ariyanenthiran and S. Yogeswaran, as well as other provincial council members, R. Thurairatnam, K. Kurunakaran, K. Thurairajasingham, G. Krishnapillai and N. Intharakumar, led rallies.
The party's rally in Kilinochchi was equally well attended with crowds addressed by TNA MP S. Sritharan, and TNA NPC Minister of Agriculture Ayngaranesan, Minister of Education Kurukularasa, as well as NPC member Pasupathippillai.
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