Marking the Tamil national remembrance day today amid military warnings against any act of remembrance, the Jaffna based newspaper, Uthayan, published a full page remembrance message on the second page of its print edition. "We bow our heads in memory of our heroes who gave their lives to protect the rights of the people," the message read, depicting two hands holding a lit lamp. The message was also published online on the Uthayan's website. Uthayan print edition 27 Nov 2014, page 2
The memories of Tamils who dedicated their lives towards the Tamil people’s liberation will not be erased despite the Sri Lankan state’s relentless efforts to do so, said Ananthy Sasitharan.
Updated 15:30 GMT Photograph: Lamps being lit at a home in Jaffna. Tamil Guardian Maaveerar Naal was commemorated in secret on Thursday in the North-East, despite heavy military presence all over the region. A source at one Jaffna event held in a private location told Tamil Guardian, “this is not an advertising stunt. Just to tell the world, that still our feelings, as Tamils, are alive.”
Students at the University of Jaffna marked Maaveerar Naal in secret, despite a heavy military presence around the campus. Photograph: Uthayan Soldiers and police were gathered around a memorial monument in the university grounds where they expected students to attempt to light a ceremonious flame.
Thousands of British Tamils gathered at the ExCel Exhibition Centre in London on Thursday, to commemorate the nation's day of remembrance - Maaveerar Naal. The event began with the ceremonious lighting of a flame of remembrance, coinciding with the death of the first Tamil cadre killed in the struggle against Sri Lankan state oppression. The ceremonial flame was lit by the mother of Isaipriya, a Tamil news anchor and journalist who was killed in May 2009. See our live tweets here . Photographs : Tamil Coordinating Committee (TCC) In London, British Tamils from across began the event with the ceremonious lighting of remembrance flames to coincide with the death of the first Tamil cadre killed in the fight against Sri Lankan state oppression.
Northern Provincial Council member Thurairasa Ravikaran led a Maaveerar Naal tribute in Mullaithivu. Ravikaran was joined by over fifteen citizens, including the mother of a Maaveerar.
Tamil women, who were recently conscripted into the Sri Lankan military, were taken from Mullaitheevu to a Sri Lankan military party in Mihintale and raped on Saturday, reports Tamilnet . After being returned to their original areas, the Tamil women’s complaints to the Sri Lankan police were ignored, whilst being belittled by the Sri Lankan military Civil Security Department (CSD).
2nd lead 14:45 GMT Poster in the North-East saluting fallen fighters (TamilNet) Police in the North-East have arrested three people for activities relating to the Tamil remembrance day, Maaveerar Naal, reported the Uthayan on Tuesday. Two arrests were made in Mirusuvil and one near Puththur junction and the detained were in possession of Maaveerar Naal posters, according to sources.
Sri Lankan intelligence officers are to launch an investigation into the Uthayan, alleging that the newspaper had celebrated LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's birthday, reports BBC Sinhala . The investigation was launched after the Jaffna based daily published an article which included a photograph of a billboard in India, which featured Prabhakaran's image and the words: "60th birthday of the leader of the Tamils. The auspicious day the god of our nation was incarnated.”
The Tamil National People’s Front's office has been surrounded by Sri Lankan military personnel since this afternoon at 4pm local time, the party said. The military surveillance comes on the day before the Tamil national remembrance day, Maaveerar Naal, and on the day of the birthday of the LTTE leader, V. Prabhakaran. Intelligence officers have been stationed at the office door, the party said, adding that as a result local residents are afraid to leave their houses due to the overwhelming military presence. Earlier this week, the TNPF issued a statement calling on the international community to provide protection for Jaffna University students and staff facing death threats by unidentified persons, thought to be connected to the Sri Lankan military.