Ban imposed on Thileepan’s commemoration Jaffna Social, political activists launch fast in protest of ban

• A tense situation also arose at the Jaffna University when a group of students clad in black dresses visited it

By Romesh Madusanka - Wanni   

A group of social and political activists launched a fast in protest over the Government’s ban on the 33rd commemoration of the LTTE revolutionary leader Rasaiah Parthipan alias Thileepan in Jaffna on Saturday.  

Political party representatives and residents had organised this fast in front of Sivam Hindu Kovil situated in Chavakachcheri.   Those who took part in the fast claimed that the Tamil people have the right to commemorate anyone who has died and this right had been denied to the Tamil people by the present Government, the injunction order they said, obtained from courts banning this commemoration has created a great injustice to the Tamil people, and they demand an immediate justifiable solution.    A tense situation also arose at the Jaffna University when a group of students clad in black dresses visited the University yesterday and the police had to be summoned to quell the situation. Police had informed the concerned students to adhere to the restrictions imposed as per the court order.    In reply, the students argued that they have the right to wear any coloured dress to visit the site and continued to hold the commemoration event near the memorial built in the University grounds in honour of those who died during the war. The students also expressed their opposition to the Government obtaining an injunction from courts.   

Thileepan died on September 26, 1987 after being on a fast unto death.