The Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) commemorated Annai Poopathy today to mark 36 years since she began her fast unto death to protest the atrocities committed by the Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF).
TNPF members lit a flame and laid flowers at Annai Poopathy's resting place in Navalady, Batticaloa.
Poopathy Kanapathipillai, fondly referred as 'Annai Poopathy', was a member of the Navatkerny Mother's Front when she began her fast unto death on March 19, 1988. The IPKF are accused of perpetrating several atrocities while occupying the North-East including massacres, enforced disappearances and sexual violence during their 'peacekeeping' campaign between 1987 and 1990.
She had called for an immediate ceasefire and peace talks between the IPKF and the LTTE. She died on April 19th 1988, after thirty days of fasting.