TULF 'will continue struggle'

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 30 December 1998, 23:32 GMT]
The funeral of Mr. Pon Mathimugaraja, the Tamil United Liberation Front's (TULF) Jaffna Branch Secretary, took place in Jaffna today. His body was kept at the TULF office at Stanley road where a commemoration meeting was also held. Mr. Anandasangary, the vice president of the party, spoke at the meeting,

"The bullets cannot destroy us. We will not run away in fear. We will continue our non-violent campaign" Mr. Anandasangary said.

"How many thousands were killed after the Thirunelveli incident in 1983?" he asked. He was referring to the massacre of thousands of Tamil in Colombo and other parts of the island by Sinhalese mobs in retaliation for an ambush on Sri Lanka Army (SLA) troops at Thirnelveli in July 1983.

How much property was destroyed?. We should consider these facts," he said.

"Earlier the killings were carried in the name of "Sangiliyan forces". Now they are being carried in the name "Patrons of Free Tamil Eelam". Is this freedom for the Tamil people?" he asked.

The first Mayor of Jaffna appointed after elections in February was shot dead earlier this year. The shadowy Sangiliyan Force claimed responsibility for the killing of Sarojini Yogeswaran (TULF), but then later withdrew the statement. The Police blamed the Liberation Tigers for the attack.

The second Mayor of Jaffna, Pon Sivapalan died in a bomb blast that killed the SLA commander of Jaffna and other senior SLA and Police officers. The TULF have not appointed a replacement.

"The TULF will continue its non-violent struggle" said Mr. Anandasangary

Mr. Pon Mathimugaraja was shot dead in Jaffna on Saturday. The Police have blamed the Liberation Tigers for the killing also.