Mu’l’livaaykkaal remembered as symbol of protest in Australia, Canada

[TamilNet, Monday, 21 May 2012, 05:50 GMT]
Exhibiting a spirit of commitment to the Tamil Eelam freedom struggle and seeking to undo defeatist mentalities of some in the diaspora, Eezham Tamil youth in Australia and Canada organized Mu’l’livaaykkaal remembrance events in their countries as symbolizing Tamil resistance to oppression and genocide, on Friday and Saturday respectively. Speaking to TamilNet, the organizers asserted that Mu’l’livaaykkaal was not a time to weep and mourn, but an occasion to remember the heroic deeds of those who went down fighting for freedom though a genocidal army assaulted them without respite with the aid of world powers, and an occasion to pledge commitment to the ideals of struggle for Tamil Eelam.

Speaking to TamilNet, Seran Sribalan, Tamil youth activist from Australia said “Throughout the history of Tamil Eelam struggle, we have seen different types of problems and atrocities. But the Tamil resistance was able to overcome it. Similarly with Mu’l’livaaykkaal. While the occasion tells the world about the genocide of our people, it also reminds us that we will continue to fight till Tamil Eelam is won.”

On Friday, a full capacity crowd of Tamils gathered at the Bahai centre in Sydney to remember the May massacre, three years ago in their homelands. Meena Krishnamoorthy, who was eye witness to the war crimes of the Sri Lankan state, talked about her harrowing experiences in that period.

Senator Lee Rhiannon from the Greens Party, a mainstream Australian political outfit that has principally stood by struggle of the Eezham Tamils, expressed regret at the conditions of Tamil refugees in Australia, and pledged her party’s solidarity to Tamils in Australia fighting for the rights of the same.

Thiru Kathiravel from the TYO stressed the importance for the youth to move forward without compromising the goals of the struggle.

The Australia TYO had also organized an awareness campaign on Friday noon named “G for Genocide” to inform people of the situation in the Tamil homeland.

TYO Canada organized Tamil Uprising Day to mark Mu’l’livaaykkaal remembrance at Queen’s Park, near the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, on Saturday, drawing huge crowds mainly from second generation Eezham Tamil youth in Canada.

The event was titled “Tamil Uprising Day” to symbolize that events to mark Mu’l’livaaykkaal should be used to remember, commemorate and take a vow upon thousands that were brutally killed there that the founding principles of the Tamil freedom struggle namely; nation, homeland and the right to self determination struggle will not be compromised, the organizers of the event told TamilNet, adding that this was imperative at a time when certain sections of the diaspora have marked Mu’l’livaaykkaal remembrance with mourning alone.

Speaking at the event, Vijay Than from TYO Canada opined that the memory of Mu’l’livaaykkaal must be used a catalyst to advance the struggle of the Tamil nation and that should further strengthen the resolve of the Tamils to work towards the liberation of Tamil Eelam.

"There can be no peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka without justice and self-determination in Tamil Eelam. There will be no peace until the genocide stops; there will be no peace without national liberation; there will be no peace until the Sri Lankan Armed Forces leaves our land and our skies," said Krisna Saravanamuttu, spokesperson of the National Council of Canadian Tamils.

"There is an international revolution brewing amongst the youth and students in the diaspora and the homeland. We reject the unitary state of Sri Lanka and therefore condemn the genocide, ethnic cleansing, and colonization of occupied Tamil Eelam,” he added.

James Clarke from the Canadian Peace Alliance, Canada’s largest peace organization, also affirmed the solidarity of his group with the cause of the Eezham Tamils.