Drawn by: York University Student, Allen Marshall.
When the Indian and Sri Lankan governments signed the Indo-Lanka accord in mid 1987, the Tamil people were undecided as to whether the treaty was to their benefit or not. When large numbers of Indian troops arrived on the island, the Tamil people initially viewed them as ‘liberators’ from the excesses of the Sri Lankan army, even though the Indo-Lanka accord was primarily aimed at securing Indian strategic objectives in the region and the ending of Tamil nationalism on the island.
Many Tamil concerns guaranteed by the Indian government (such as the Sinhala colonization of the Tamil homeland) continued to persist and the Tamil people started to realize that things had not improved.
In an effort to persuade the Indian government to honour its obligations (or perhaps to force Delhi to reveal its hand) Thileepan anna, the former political wing leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, began a fast-unto-death on 15 August 1987 in the grounds of the Nallur Kandaswamy temple. Notably, as well as refusing to eat, Thileepan Anna wouldn’t drink water either.
His demands were that the Indian and Sri Lankan governments withdraw Sinhalese army camps from Tamil areas, stop the continuing Sinhala colonization in the Tamil homeland, suspend all rehabilitation work until the formation of an interim (Tamil) government for the Tamil homelands, halt the setting up of Sinhala manned police stations in Tamil areas and release all political detainees.
The Sri Lankan and Indian governments ignored his protest. As the days went by, the Tamil people watched Thileepan anna grow weaker and weaker. Within days, public concern had turned to alarm, though most Tamils felt that there would be a last minute gesture from the Indian government.
On 26 September 1987, Thileepan anna died. His death sparked widespread anger across the Tamil homelands.
Each year, the Tamil people mark the anniversary of Thileepan anna’s death. Sports events, literary contests, science and art exhibitions and other public events take place across the Tamil homelands in his honour.
Some people fast in remembrance and many others undertake voluntary work. The Tamil expatriate communities across the world also mark this period.
Source: Tamilnation.org
Tags: Poetry/Art
