50,000 mark Remembrance Day in London

Tens of thousands of Tamils gathered in London Friday, November 27, to commemorate Remembrance Day. Organisers estimate that over 50,000 individuals made the effort to attend the Excel Centre event and pay their respects to those who had made the ultimate sacrifice for the Tamil national struggle.

Carrying red roses, gloriosa lilies (Karthikaipoo: Tamil Eelam national flower) and lamps, British Tamils filed into the main venue, at the Excel Centre in East London, where large cut-outs of Tamil Eelam were displayed on either side of the stage.

The annual commemoration began with a moment of silence in memory of those who gave their lives in the Tamil national struggle.

The traditional lamp was lit by Mr K Varnakulasingham, the father of Murugadas, who self-immolated in front of the United Nations in Geneva earlier this year to draw attention to the slaughter of Tamil civilians in the Vanni.

When the doors opened at 11am, there were already more than 8,000 Tamils waiting to enter the venue. By the time the flame of sacrifice was lit, at midday, over 15,000 Tamil filled the hall, with another 10,000 waiting outside to file in and pay their respects.

The organisers had to urge people who had already paid their respects to leave so that others could enter the main hall. Even as late as 5pm, as many people were leaving the venue to head home, others were making the effort to come in and pay their respects after a day of work.

The flame of sacrifice was lit by Mrs R Sathananthan, the mother of a fighter who died in the Tamil national struggle, while everyone in the hall held a lit candle.

A pre-recorded speech by renowned poet Kasianandhan was broadcast, in which he spoke of the losses of the past year, but stressed that this should not be understood just as a year of loss, but also as a year of opportunity.

The chief address was delivered by Professor Thieran from Tamil Nadu, India. Director Seeman had also recorded an address to the London crowd, which was well received.

Many local politicians also addressed the gathering. Barry Gardiner, Labour MP for Brent North, requested the Tamils to form a transnational government as the next step in the politicization of the struggle. Other parliamentarians to address the event included Susan Kramer, (Liberal Democrat, Richmond Park), Siobhain McDonagh (Labour, Mitcham and Morden), Virendra Sharma (Labour, Southall) and Lee Scott (Conservative, Ilford North). A message of support from Joan Ryan (Labour, Enfield North) was also read.

Prospective parliamentary candidates also addressed the gathered Tamils, including Dr Rachel Joyce (Conservative, Harrow West), Heidi Alexander, (Labour, Lewisham East), David Gold (Conservative, Eltham North), Toby Boutle (Conservative, Ilford South) and Andrew Caralambous (Conservative, Edmonton).

Councillors Keith Prince (Conservative, Redbridge Council), Ranjit Dheer (Labour, Ealing Council) and Dora Dixon-Fyle (Labour, Southwark Council) also addressed the event, as did Prof Bryan Woodriff, Parade organiser and member of the Hampton Royal British Legion.

During the events, there were dramas, poems, and many songs to commemorate the sacrifices made for the Tamil cause. The event concluded at 6.30 pm, as attendees filed out of the Excel Centre to head home.