Politicians from across Tamil Nadu condemned the demolition of the Mullivaikal massacre memorial in Jaffna University on Friday, urging for the memorial to be re-constructed and pledged solidarity with protesting Eelam Tamils.
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K Palaniswami, of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party tweeted his condemnation of the racism-fueled act carried out by the Sri Lankan government with aid of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna. Palaniswami said the destruction of the monument was "shocking" and strongly condemned the move by authorities.
Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) chief coordinator, Seeman labelled the annhilation of the Mullivaikal massacre monuments as an attempt to provoke Tamils.
"This has to be regarded as the continuation of genocidal activities of rulers who perpetrated ethnic cleansing,” he said, adding that "this gory act of Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinism is unacceptable and highly reprehensible".
"The demolition of the commemorative structures of Mullivaikal has caused an outrage amongst Tamils across the world," the NTK leader added. “Those who said the war has ended and peace returned; what is their answer to such kind of erasure of identity?”
"In the month of Thai, a month of festivities to the Tamils, the government of genocide-perpetrator Rajapaksa has carried out the destruction as a gift for Pongal," he continued. "They can devastate our language; obliterate our race; snatch our rights; encroach our lands; incite oppression; unleash repression or call us terrorists. But no hegemon or chauvinism can comprehend our yearning for freedom."
See his full statement here.
M K Stalin, president of Dravida Munetra Kalagam (DMK) also condemned the demolition of the Mullivaikal memorial in a tweet earlier today, tagging the Office of Prime Minister India's official account and urging the Indian Prime Minister to pay heed, adding that “this is the expectation of Tamils globally”.
O Paneerselvam Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and coordinator of All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam also tweeted, “While they are fighting for justice for the civilians that were killed brutally… this disgraceful act of racism further hurts Tamils and should be condemned”.
Kamal Hassan, a famous Tamil Nadu actor who recently ventured into politics also tweeted,
“It is impossible to forget the massacre of masses of people. Neither can we forget the killing of those who came to surrender. The Mullivaikal memorial is not just a structure. History will not change. Those who demolished the monument, what can you do to the memories?”
Thol. Thirumavalavan, the founder-president of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) also criticised the act of "Sinhala racists," noting that “the Sinhala majoritarian state has not only denied justice to the victims of the genocide, but even prevents people from remembering and paying homage to the victims”.
Thirumavalavan also further raised concerns that this incident took place mere days after Minister, S Jaishankar’s visit to Sri Lanka, asserting “that the Government of Sri Lanka has nothing but disregard for India.”
See the full text of his statement in English below.
