Tamil Americans pay tribute to Anton Balasingham

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 February 2007, 01:29 GMT]
Several hundred Tamil Americans braved the weather to pay tribute to the later Anton Balasingham, theoretician and political advisor of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), at a memorial event held in Manmouth Middle School in New Jersey, 5:00 p.m. Saturday. Mr Balasingham was diagnosed with bile duct cancer in the middle of November, and passed away on 14 December 2006.

Balasingham Memorial
Balasingham Memorial
Attendees to the event observed a minute of silence and then paid floral tribute to the photograph of Mr Balasingham at the start of the event.

Mr Visuvanathan Rudrakumar, the legal advisor to the LTTE, speaking at the event said: "Mr Balasingham gave the political and theoretical framework for the Tamil Nation’s legitimate political aspirations. He believed that since the Tamils are denied political space to exercise their right to self-determination they have a right to establish an independent Tamil Eelam as manifestation of the exercise of that right.

Balasingham Memorial
Rudrakumar speaking at the function
"As a consummate negotiator, he understood the lack of political consensus and dearth of political will in the south and the limitations of the representatives of the government of Sri Lanka. Given the above, he showed flexibility in the peace talks with the hope that the Sinhala political leadership would evolve in a position to become a partner with the ability to deliver in the negotiating process. He did not believe in zero-sum game he was for a win-win situation. Unfortunately, given the dysfunctional politics in the south his patience and his hopes did not materialize," Rudrakumaran said.

Dr Ilankovan, a prominent Tamil American from Tamil Nadu, spoke of his association with Mr Balasingham during his exile in Chennai. "He was the central figure in formulating the political strategy for the Tamil people. His loss has left a great void at a critical juncture in the history of Tamil struggle," Dr Ilankovan said.

Several other prominent Tamil activists spoke at the event. Speakers commented on the concern Mr Balasingham had for the welfare of people undergoing immense hardship in the east due to the military offensive. "His deeply philosophical mind was at peace in accepting his death, and concern for the suffering of his people was always his foremost concern even at his last few days," speakers, who were able to talk to Mr Balasingham while he was very sick, said.

Poems extolling the qualities of Mr Balasingham were read and children performed cultural before the conclusion of the event.


Chronology:

 

Latest 15 Reports
24.04.22 05:44  
தீவின் நெருக்கடிச் சூழலில் ஈழத்தமிழர் தேசம் கடைப்பிடிக்கவேண்டிய நிலைப்பாடுகள்
09.04.22 14:44   Photo
குறிதவறும் ஈழத்தமிழர் தலைமைகளுக்கு வரலாறு தருகின்ற எச்சரிக்கை
21.01.22 07:24   Photo
ஈழத்தமிழர் தேசத்தின் தலைமைத்துவம் தேர்தல் அரசியற் கட்சிகளுக்கு அப்பாலானது
02.11.21 15:32   Photo
13 ஆம் சட்டத்திருத்தத்தால் கட்டமைக்கப்பட்ட இன அழிப்பை எதிர்கொள்ள முடியுமா?
15.09.21 08:19  
English version not available
17.05.21 19:23   Photo
Ananthi blames war criminal Silva for blocking collective memorial at Mu'l'livaaykkaal
09.04.21 14:46  
English version not available
23.03.21 12:41   Photo
No focus on Tamil genocide, geopolitics gets played out in Geneva in favour of QUAD formation
21.03.21 13:34   Photo
Navi Pillay explains ‘human rights’ limitations in Geneva on Tamil genocide
15.03.21 20:36   Photo
Deceived Tamil activists in UK falsely claimed ‘substantial changes’ to Zero draft
09.03.21 21:34   Photo
UK repeatedly wronged Tamils says hunger-striker, demands genocide justice
26.02.21 11:53   Photo
Tamils witness false dilemma in Geneva as geopolitical formations pit against each other
19.02.21 14:02   Photo
UK not prepared to push for ICC option in new UNHRC Resolution
07.02.21 23:16   Photo
Unprecedented P2P uprising paves the way for rights-oriented politics of Tamils and Muslims
22.01.21 08:01   Photo
Gotabaya sets up deceptive COI citing ‘sovereignty’ and ‘non-aligned’ foreign policy
 
Find this article at:
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=21140