2ND LEAD

Tamils commemorate first death anniversary of Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 November 2008, 23:29 GMT]
Eezham Tamil diaspora as well as the war-affected people in Vanni marked Sunday the first death anniversary of Brigadier S.P. Thamilchelvan, the former political head of the Liberation Tigers who was assassinated with six members of the political division, in a Sri Lanka Air Force targeted air-strike on his residential office in Ki'linochchi on November 02, 2007.



The first commemoration of Thamilchelvan's death held in Ki'linochchi began Sunday at 9:30 a.m presided by Ki'linochchi political wing head, Kalaivaa'nan, with Paranthan political wing, Kuyilinpan, lighting the common flame.

In Puthukkudiyiruppu in Mullaiththeevu district, Sanjeevan, the secretary of the National Liberation Uprising Committee presided over the memorial event in which the mother of three LTTE war dead, Ms. Pon Thiyaagam lit the common flame while LTTE Political Head, B. Nadesan hoisted the Tamil Eelam National flag around 9:30 a.m. Sunday. Ms. Isaichelvi, Thamilchelvan's wife, lit the lamps along with their children and garlanded Thamilchelvan's portrait.

Reports from Jaffna said that the students of major education institutions participated in the memorial events held in their respective institutions, garlanding Thamilchelvan's portrait.

French Tamils attended the first anniversary commemoration event of Brigadier S.P Thamilchelvan Sunday at the La Courneuve Municipal town hall, sources in Paris said. Similar events were held in almost all the cities of Tamil diaspora.

In Paris, a sapling of Cedre de Liban tree which has a life of more than 2000 years was planted in memory of Thamilchelvan, in the town of La Courneuve, where nearly 3000 Tamils live.

Town’s Deputy Mayor Mr Joseph Irani and two Tamil children planted the tree in the presence of  Councilor Anthony Russel.

Councilor Russel speaking at the event pointed to the always smiling face of Mr Tamilchelvan, and his dedicated service to the Tamil struggle. Mr Russel said he met Thamilchelvan  once in Geneva, and could still remember his smile and personable character.

He added that Tamils have their right of self determination, the struggle was legitimate, and the killing of Mr Thamilchelvan showed that the Sri Lankan government was not interested in peace.

Deputy Mayor Mr Joseph Irani said the deliberate and systematic killing of Tamils in Sri Lanka amounts to genocide, and added, he regretted that the world is still maintaining silence on Sri Lanka.

Mr Irani added  that the tree planted will serve as a long living symbol of peace for the Tamils in memory of Mr Thamilchelvan.

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