‘We will continue to travel in the path of Annai Poopathy’

Commemorative events took place in Kilinochchi and Vavuniya today to mark 32 years since the death of Annai Poopathy, a Tamil activist who fasted unto death in protest against the atrocities committed by Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF).

In Kilinochchi, former Tamil National Alliance (TNA) MP S Sritharan led a commemoration, which was attended by activists including the Secretary of the Kilinochchi District Branch of the Karachchi Pradeshiya Sabha, and the Vice-Chancellor of the Karachi Divisional Secretariat.

“In 1988, our nation was trapped under the occupation of the Sinhalese rulers and its allied forces,” said the parliamentarian at the event, commenting how at that that “Annai Poopathy devoted herself to the field of nonviolence”.

“After 89 years, 23 countries have gained independence,” he added stating that the Tamil people are still struggling for self-determination. “Though the methods of struggle change, the ambition remains unchanged,” he concluded. “We will continue to travel in the path of Annai Poopathy with confidence that we will succeed.”

In Vavuniya, Tamil families of the disappeared who have been leading roadside protests, also remembered Annai Poopathy. In a small commemorative ceremony, at the site of their demonstration, activists and relatives of the forcibly disappeared gathered to pay tribute.