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| TNA rally at Chavakachcheri. Photograph @uthayarasashali |
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) called for an end to Sri Lankan state oppression, and for the Tamil people's right to self-determination, in a series of events across the North-East yesterday marking May Day.
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| TNA rally in Chavakachcheri. Photograph Tamilwin |
In mass rallies in Chavakachcheri, Kilinochchi, and Batticaloa, Tamils demanded an end to the state's land grabs and militarisation in the North-East, saying it was oppressing Tamil workers and reducing them to unemployment.
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| TNA event in Chavakachcheri - NPC Chief Minister Wigneswaran and TNA MP Sumanthiran front row. Photograph Uthayan |
"Whether that's our President or the military they can't stay in our land.. The military - that we don't want - will need to leave soon!" Northern Provincial Chief Minister, C.V.Wigneswaran told crowds gathered at the the TNA's main event in Chavakachcheri.
"The voice of our Tamil people will soon be heard telling the troops to get out of our land," he said, to a loud applause from the crowd.
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| TNA MP Suresh Premachandran, TNA NPC Councillor Ananthy Sasitharan and TNA MP Mavai Senathirajah attended Chavakachcheri May Day event. Photograph @AnanthySasi |
The event was also attended by MP Mavai Senathirajah, MP M.A. Sumanithiran, MP Suresh Premachandran, and Northern Provincial Councillor Ananthy Sasitharan.
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| Ananthy Sasitharan marches holding placard reading - "Where are our loved ones that we handed over to the military, [Sri Lankan] government, give us an answer". Photograph Tamilwin. |
Thirty-two resolutions against such oppressive acts, as well as one calling for the Tamil people's right to self-determination were adopted by the TNA at that event, TNA Secretary, Mavai Senathirajah told Tamil Guardian later that evening.
"The government wants to oppress us, the military is taking our lands and our jobs, and people are still displaced, it means that our people cannot work or find employment," he said.
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| TNA rally in Batticaloa. Photograph Uthayan |
The TNA leader, R. Sampanthan, is understood to have addressed an event in Batticaloa, where TNA MPs P. Ariyanenthiran and S. Yogeswaran, as well as other provincial council members, R. Thurairatnam, K. Kurunakaran, K. Thurairajasingham, G. Krishnapillai and N. Intharakumar, led rallies.
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| TNA members in Kilinochchi. Photograph Tamilwin |
The party's rally in Kilinochchi was equally well attended with crowds addressed by TNA MP S. Sritharan, and TNA NPC Minister of Agriculture Ayngaranesan, Minister of Education Kurukularasa, as well as NPC member Pasupathippillai.
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| TNA event in Kilinochchi. Photograph Tamilwin |