Sri Lankan police warned Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) members and activists that they will be "taken away" if they commemorate Brigadier S P Thamilselvan today.
A short while ago Sri Lanka Police entered our Kokkuvil Head Office and warned members not to commemorate Brigadier S.P Thamilchelvan, warning anyone commemorating would be 'taken away'. They also recorded names and contact details of all our activists present in the office.
— Tamil National People's Front (@TnpfOrg) November 2, 2020
The TNPF tweeted that the police took note of the activist's names and contact details who were present at their Kokkuvil Head Office earlier today.
This latest act of intimidation comes as Sri Lankan security forces continue their crackdown across the Tamil homeland. In September, the Sri Lankan authorities began intensifying their crackdown by banning several events planned across the North and East to commemorate the anniversary of Lt Col Thileepan’s fast unto death. Tamil political parties and civil society actors carried out a hartal and a series of protests across the North-East in defiance of a Sri Lankan court ban and intimidation from the security forces, preventing them from commemorating those who gave their lives for Tamil rights.
Read more here: Hartal shuts down North-East as protests against Sri Lankan repression steps up
Today marks thirteen years since S. P. Thamilselvan, the head of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), was assassinated by the Sri Lankan air force (SLAF). On November 2, 2007 Sri Lankan air force jets carried out a strike on a residence of members of the LTTE's political division. Five other LTTE officials - Lt. Col. Anpumani (Alex), Major Mikuthan, Major Nethaaji, Lt. Aadchiveal and Lt. Maavaikkumaran - were killed alongside Brigadier Thamilselvan, in the attack.
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