Protesters to block A9 on Sri Lanka's Independence day
[TamilNet, Monday, 02 February 2004, 00:15 GMT]
Vavuniya North Consortium of Peoples' Organizations called upon all Tamils in Vavuniya to fly black flags and to observe 4 February, the Independence Day of Sri Lanka, as a day of mourning, civil sources said. Consortium also invited people to come forward to block the traffic along A9 to show people from the South that Tamil struggle will continue until fundamental rights of Tamil people are recognized and respected.
Excerpts from the memorandum issued by the consortium follow:
"Successive Sri Lanka Governments have denied the fundamental rights of Tamil people from the time of SriLanka's Independence in 1948. Tamil people have been subjected to racially motivated violence and genocide.
"Sri Lanka Army (SLA) still occupies privated residences, displacing many Tamil families and denying their rights to live in their own homes. Tamils displaced by Army occupation are languishing in refugee centers.
"Power struggle among Sinhala leaders for personal gains and the resulting political uncertainty is used an excuse for not redressing Tamil peoples' grievances. While forcing many Tamils into abject poverty, the Sinhala parties gladly unite to celebrate the Independence day.
"While thousands of people, who have been displaced internally several times and the independence snatched from them, are struggling to make a living, Sri Lanka is preparing to celebrate its 54th Independence.
"Forth coming 4th February is not an Independence day for the Tamil people. It is a day of mourning. We call upon all Tamil speaking people to show their protest by flying black flags. We also call upon all vehicle owners and passengers to avoid using A9 on that day," the memorandum concluded.
Meanwhile, Batticaloa Peoples Organization, requested Batticaloa residents to avoid having celebrations of all kinds on 4th February and to fly black flags in residences and places of business.
Mr.K.Arumugam, president of the consortium of Hindu organizations in Batticaloa, in his memorandum, urged Tamil speaking people in Batticaloa not to participate in any Independence day celebrations.