2ND LEAD (PHOTOS ADDED)

Thamilchelvan laid to rest, 25 000 attend funeral

[TamilNet, Monday, 05 November 2007, 13:38 GMT]
More than 25,000 people took part in the funeral procession of LTTE's Political Head and Chief Negotiator S.P. Thamilchelvan, despite the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Kfir bombers circling over the Ki'linochchi town. The remains of Brigadier Thamilchelvan were taken in procession from the LTTE Peace Secretariat to Ki'linochchi Cooperative Training Hall Monday morning and kept there for the public to pay their last respects till 4:45 p.m., where Liberation Tigers Intelligence Wing Chief Pottu Amman and the new Political Head, P. Nadesan, addresed the gathering. Mr. Thamilchelvan was laid to rest at Kanakapuram Heroes Cemetery at 7:45 p.m. Monday.

Mr. Thamilchelvan's funeral cortage towards Heroes cemetery started around 4:45 p.m. and reached the cemetery at 6:15 as SLAF bombers circled over the town.

Several LTTE commanders, officials, religious leaders and Tamil National Alliance parliamentarians took part in the funeral procession.

During the last three days of national mourning announced by the political division of the LTTE, the remains of Thamilchelvan were taken in procession to the twelve sectors (Koaddams) of the LTTE-administered Vanni where thousands of people had paid their last respects to the slain leader.

Meanwhile, LTTE officials in Ki'linochchi said they were receiving hundreds of condolence messages from foreign diplomats, NGO officials and other missions on Sunday and Monday through telephone and email.

Thousands of Tamils all over the world were also sending in their condolences through various media outfits and email.







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