A memorial float dedicated to Annai Poopathy travelled through Jaffna today and will make its way to Batticaloa to mark 36 years since her fast unto death.
Poopathy Kanapathipillai - fondly known as Annai Poopathy- began a hunger strike on March 19, 1987, demanding an immediate ceasefire to the atrocities committed by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF).
The IPKF are accused of perpetrating several atrocities while occupying the North-East including massacres, enforced disappearances and sexual violence during their 'peacekeeping' campaign between 1987 and 1990.
The memorial float, organised by the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF), began its journey outside a memorial dedicated to Lt Col Thileepan in Nallu, Jaffna.
Local residents laid flowers for both Annai Poopathy and Lt Col Thileepan, an LTTE political wing leader, who also fasted unto death in a protest appealing to the Indian government to honour pledges made to the Tamil people. TNPF MP Selvarajah Kajendren was amongst those who paid tribute to Annai Poopathy and Lt Col Thileepan.
