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| The death of Mr. T. Jeyakumar was mourned in the Vanni and marked by a parade there, while his public funeral was held in Melbourne, Australia. Photo TamilNet |
Over 3,000 Tamils from across Australia and the Pacific filed past Mr. Jeyakumar’s body at a state funeral held in Melbourne on April 3.
Many mourners broke down in tears as they said farewell to a man they had come to know over the past 20 years as a Tamil nationalist and strong advocate for the Eelam cause.
During his 20 years at the head of the Tamil Coordinating Committee in the Asia Pacific, Mr. Jeyakumar united the Tamil Diaspora in the region behind the Tamil cause and built such a momentum that when the tsunami struck the Tamil homelands in 2004 Australian Tamils flew to the island in unprecedented numbers to assist their people.
Tributes were also received from India, Sri Lanka, UK, and other locations where Mr. Jeyakumar’s services to his people had taken him.
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| (top) Several thousand people filed past Mr. Jeyakumar's casket in Melbourne, Australia; (above) the long-serving Tamil activist is survived by his wife, Yoga, and son, Karthic. Photos TamilNet |
With an LTTE flag draped over the body, thousands of Tamils paid floral tributes with red and yellow roses. Many wreaths and bouquets brought by mourners were also placed behind the casket.
A service was also held in the Vanni, with the head of the LTTE’s political wing, Mr. S. P. Tamilselvan lighting the ceremonial flame.
The leader of the Liberation Tigers, Velupillai Pirapaharan, conferred the Maamaniathar (Great Human) award on Mr. Jeyakumar.
Praising him as the leading force behind the Australian Tamils Co-ordinating Committee for the last two decades, Mr. Pirapaharan credited Mr. Jeyakumar with uniting Australian Tamils towards supporting the Tamil Eelam struggle.
"Jeyakumar was a cultured human being. Honest and unselfish, he dedicated his life to serve his people. He was soft spoken and had exemplary qualities," Mr. Pirapaharan said.
The Australasian Federation of Tamil Associations (AFTA) said it “salutes Maamanithar Jeyakumar's selfless contribution to the Eelam Tamil cause and takes a pledge to continue to work for justice to achieve lasting pea-ce in Sri Lanka.”
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| LTTE Political Wing head, Mr. S. P. Tamilselvan lit the lamp of remembrance. Photo TamilNet. |
Mr. Jeyakumar was from Vannarpannai in Jaffna. He is survived by his wife, Yoga and son, Karthik.
LTTE confers Maamanithar award on Thillainadarajah Jeyakumar
The English translation of the Letter from Mr Vellpillai Pirapaharan, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, awarding Mr. Thillainadarajah Jeyakumar the title of Maamanithar (Great Human).
We have lost today a great human being who worked relentlessly to support our struggle, leading the Australian Tamils Co-ordinating Committee for the last twenty years. The whole of the Tamil Nation is mourning his death.
Jeyakumar was a cultured human being. Honest and unselfish, he dedicated his life to serve his people. He was soft spoken and had exemplary qualities. His innocent smile captivated all who came to know him.
Jeyakumar was a patriot. Although he was based in Australia, he continued to deeply love the land of his birth. He strongly felt that the oppressive Sinhala leadership will never willingly offer a just solution to the Tamil people. His experiences convinced him that a separate state is the only way open to the Tamil people to live in peace with honour. His deep knowledge of our struggle, and clear vision for the future lit the flame of liberation in his consciousness.
Across the oceans, beyond several continents, away from his homeland, Jeyakumar contributed the maximum possible by an expatriate Tamil towards the liberation of his homeland. He understood the political climate and the need to obey the law of the land of his adopted country and functioned diligently within this framework.
He united the Australian Tamils to provide moral support and help to the people in his homeland. He set up institutional structures that will continue to strengthen Diaspora engagement with the destiny of Tamil people in Northeast.
Recognizing Jeyakumar's love for his land and his people, and his services to his community, I take great pleasure in awarding the Maamanithar title to him.
Death never destroys great men who lived to uphold truthful goals. They will forever live in the psyche of the Tamil Nation.
