Lt.Seelan remembered in Muttur east

[TamilNet, Sunday, 16 July 2006, 14:53 GMT]
Twenty third death anniversary of Charles Anthony (nom de guerre Lt Seelan), the LTTE first martyr from Trincomalee district and the first attack commander of the LTTE, was observed Saturday evening at Lt.Seelan Memorial Hall in Muttur east. Mr.S.Elilan, LTTE Trincomalee district political head delivered the keynote address, sources said.

Charles Anthony Brigade of the LTTE would certainly play a vital in the freedom struggle in future, said Mr.Elilan.

At the commencement of event, District Martyrs' Unit Head Mr.Thangan hoisted the Thamileelam National Flag. Mr.Muthurajah, Principal lit the common flame of sacrifice and Mr.Pragash, Head of the LTTE district headquarters lit the flame of sacrifice, sources said.

LTTE district commander Vasanthan garlanded the photograph of Lt.Seelan and commander Kunchan the photograph of Lt. Sankar. Mr.Kaliyan, District Intelligence head garlanded the photograph of Colonel Kittu. Mr.Poologasingham, National Resurgence Forum District Head also spoke. Mr.Thirugnanam presided over the event, sources said.

On Lt.Seelan's association with the Liberation Tigers, Taraki, late Senior Editor of TamilNet wrote: "Seelan was a relatively junior member of the LTTE (in the late seventies). He was working under the directions of several seniors who were closely associated with Prabhaharan at the time.

"The Tigers were struggling to survive after the split in the movement, which saw Uma Maheswaran and his loyalists going off with most of the organisation's assets. The attack on the Chavakachcheri Police station led by Charles Anthony was the turning point in the military fortunes of the LTTE...

"Charles Anthony was killed in 1983. Great was the LTTE leader's grief. Three years later Prabhaharan, a scion of a conservative Hindu family that owns the old Shiva temple in Valvettithiurai, named his first-born Charles Anthony. When he formed the LTTE's first conventional military formation in 1991, he called it the Charles Anthony Padaippirivu."