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Video Uthayan |
Defying intimidation by the Sri Lankan military, Tamils took part in a protest in Nelliyadi, against the murder of the Tamil man, Nimalarooban, an inmate in a Sri Lankan prison.
See here for reports by Uthayan.
Holding banners and placards, protesters demanded the release of all Tamil political prisoners, and asserted the rights of the Tamil nation.
The protest took place despite Sri Lankan Army personnel ordering Tamil civilians not to take part, reports Uthayan. Buses travelling to Parithithurai were reportedly stopped by the army and passengers subjected to intense questionning, searches and ordered not to take part in the Nelliyadi protest.
According to TamilNet, the army told travellers at two ad hoc check points, that the military and police were given "firing order" to contain the protest. The Reverend Father Marimuthupillai Sivasakthivel told protesters how he too had been warned of the "firing order" if he were to attend. See here for a clip of his address.
During the protest, masked men on motorbikes drove through carrying Eelam flags, as the Sri Lankan Army stood by watching. Protesters believe the men were from the Sri Lankan military intelligence, aiming to disrupt a peaceful protest, reports TamilNet.
The protest was organised by TNPF, who remained defiant despite the attacks on the homes of some protest organisers earlier this week. The TNA MP Sritharan, and members of the Democratic Peoples Front (DPF) also took part, along side members of socialist parties.
Addressing the protest, TNPF leader, Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, asserted that the Sri Lankan government was suppressing the rights and day-to-day freedoms of the Tamil nation to the point where Tamils were resorting to protesting against one issue one day, and another issue another day. Stating that the Tamils were not the enemies of the Sinhala nation, he said the Tamil demand for independence was only as a result of the genocide faced.
See here for sound clip of his address in Tamil, and TamilNet's translation of his address.
Condemning the murder of Nimalarooban and the on-going imprisonment of Tamil political prisoners, TNA MP Sritharan asserted the Tamil nation was not defeated, and Tamils would not stop until they had their rights and freedom.
