A new monument commemorating the 2001 Pongu Tamil declaration was unveiled at Jaffna University on Monday.
The monument displays a form of the Pongu Tamil declaration from the original massive Tamil nationalist uprising of 2001, that states “the aspirations of the Tamils namely: right of self-determination; traditional homeland; the tamils as a distinct nationality; should be recognised.”
The original board has been taken down to be displayed in a more sheltered location as it has endured over a decade of weather damage, student union representatives said.
The original Pongu Tamil (meaning ‘Tamil Uprising’) movement was started in Jaffna on January 17, 2001, with rallies following in all districts of the Tamil homeland and several diaspora countries, and saw Tamils attend in their tens of thousands.
The rallies were held almost annually in the Tamil homeland until the end of the war. Support for the movement was so widespread in the homeland that churches and temples would ring their bells in tandem with the rallies.
Organisers faced military crackdowns and Sri Lankan forces employed tactics such as roadblocks and using paramilitary groups to threaten locals to prevent attendance.
The Jaffna University community released a declaration on the day of the first rally which said:
“Through this process, we want to see a just solution that recognises the Tamil people’s aspirations of the recognition of the Tamil nation, recognition of our homelands and recognition of our right to self-determination.”
“We call on the international community to understand the real hopes and aspirations of our people who have long been suppressed.”
“Your conscience must lead the way to finding a just and peaceful solution for our lives.”
Read more: Massive demonstration in Jaffna (TamilNet; January 17, 2001)
