The 24th anniversary commemoration of the "Pongu Tamil' uprising took place at the University of Jaffna on January 17.
The event, organised by the Jaffna University Students’ Union, included the reading of the Pongu Tamil Declaration, followed by the offering of flowers and paying respects at the Pongu Tamil memorial on campus.
The monument on campus states:
"The aspirations of the Tamils namely: right of self-determination; traditional homeland; the Tamils as a distinct nationality; should be recognised."
Students, lecturers, and staff of the university participated in the event on Friday.
In 2001, the Jaffna University community organised a massive uprising event themed "Pongu Tamil".
Despite facing challenges, including security checkpoints and restrictions imposed by the Sri Lankan security forces, over ten thousand people, comprising university and high-school students, residents, and representatives of civil organisations, demonstrated on January 17th, urging the government to respond to the unilateral ceasefire declared by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and engage in negotiations. Thousands more people were turned away by Sri Lankan security forces at checkpoints set up along the major roads leading to the university, residents said.
A declaration signed by the Jaffna University Students Association, Jaffna University Teachers Association and the organisations representing the various support staff of the university, was released at the demonstration. It stated that “At this juncture, we raise our suppressed voices together.”
The uprising in Jaffna sparked rallies in all districts of the Tamil homeland and several diaspora countries.
