May Day observed as a day of mourning in Vanni

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 02 May 2006, 02:22 GMT]
Hundreds of people in the Vanni wearing black bands, observed the International Workers' Day as a day of mourning, starting in a demonstration march from the Kilinochchi public playground Monday morning around 10 a.m, carrying effigies of Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse, Wimal Weerawansa, Propaganda secretary of JVP, and other Southern Sinhala extremist political leaders, and marching toward a public meeting held at the Cultural Hall in Kilinochchi, sources said. The meeting ended with the burning of the effigies.

Mr. Vettiarasan, the president of the Kilinochchi Traders' Union lit the Common flame while Mr. Para, the head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam LTTE) Law and Administration division, hoisted the National flag.

"We, the Tamil workers of Sri Lanka are unable to celebrate May Day along with the workers of the world and have chosen to observe this as day of grief to the entire Tamils in Sri lanka who are suffering under the Sri Lanka state and its armed forces. We call upon the workers of the world to exert pressure on the Sri Lanka government to pay heed to the advice of the international peace-makers," said Mr. Ganeshapillai, the President of the Kilinochchi district non-governmental organisations.

"Tamil farmers, fishermen, labourers and other daily wage earners are unable make ends meet because of the restrictions placed on them. Sri Lanka Army (SLA) has displaced farmers from their lands declaring the fields as High security zones. The Tamil fishermen are not allowed to fish in NorthEast seas due to fear of the Sri Lanka navy," said Mr. Sivapalan, Secretary of Kilinochchi district Nation upsurging Forum, in his address.

"The aerial bombing and artillery attacks on innocent civilians have made thousands of people to flee from their homes. We call upon the international community to raise its voice against these violence against the Tamils," said Mr. Vettiarasan in his speech.

"The effigies symbolize the Sinhala extremist leader who are unwillling to make progress towards a just and fair solution to the Tamil National quetsion," said the participants in the May Day march.