Police disrupts Mullivaykal memorial event at NPC office



 16 May 2014

An attempt to commemorate the Tamil genocide at the office of the Northern Provincial Council in Kaithady, Jaffna, was disrupted by Sri Lankan police.

NPC Councillors Ananthy Sasitharan and Shivajilingam made preparations to hold the rituals outside the office, as the gates were padlocked and police officers and officers from the Terrorism Investigation Department, were inside and outside the premises.

However when Shivajilingam lit the camphor against the outside wall of the premises, police officers stamped on the culturally significant flame, extinguishing it. They kicked and broke other utensils, while shouting in Sinhalese.

The councillors went on to hold a minute of silence for the victims of the Sri Lankan army and proceeded to speak to the people and journalists that were there.

Councillor Shivajilingam condemned the fact that Tamils are not even in a position to mourn their dead.

“The Sri Lankan state is intent on showing the next generation of Tamils that we are a defeated people. But we will not stop.” he said ending his speech, with the Tamil saying that the longing of Tamils is Tamil Eelam.

Speaking to the Tamil Guardian, Councillor Ananthy Sasitharan also condemned the attack by the police.

“I lived through those horrific months and saw so many people die in front of my eyes. It is our responsibility to commemorate those that died,” she said.

“The international community can see that we are oppressed. We want to gather and mourn with people who went through the same experiences, but the government tells us to mourn on our own. We went through so much suffering and the Sri Lankan state continues to put us through more suffering. They are violating our basic human rights.”

“Instead they are celebrating their victory day and their Buddhist festivals in areas where there are no Buddhists, forcing Tamils to celebrate with them,” she said.

Her comments were echoed by NPC Councillor MK Shivajilingam who told the Tamil Guardian after the event that whilst the government were celebrating, the Tamils were in a state of mourning.

He added that "the actions of the government today has demonstrated to the world once again the lengths they will go to disrupt even the smallest Tamil efforts to mourn our dead".

Video courtesy of Aayutha Elutthu