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Communist Party of India pledges support to Thirumavalavan's fast
TamilNet - January 16, 2009
Veteran leader of the Communist Party of India (CPI) Tamil Nadu, R. Nallakannu Thursday pledged his party's support to Thirumavalavan's fast-unto-death campaign demanding immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka.
Mr. Thirumavalavan blamed the Indian establishment for not asking Sri Lanka to stop war or sending Pranab Mukherjee, the Indian External Affairs Minister to Colombo, as promised. The VCK leader decried the Indian Government's inaction and said that by insulting the demands of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Karunanidhi, New Delhi had in effect insulted the whole Tamil population.
"Every Tamil organization in Tamil Nadu has raised its voice against the genocide. The unanimous resolution by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, the 60km long human chain, the Chief Minister's all-party delegation to the Prime Minister – nothing seems to have any effect on India's guilty silence. That is why this final struggle is being waged – in case New Delhi decides to ignore the genuine expectations of sixty five million Tamils in India, they will teach the Government the right lesson at the right time," Thirumavalavan said.
"Just because the Indian Government remains silent, or aids Sri Lanka in its genocidal pogrom, one cannot remain silent. We cannot allow the destruction of a twenty-five year old liberation struggle," he further said.
In another interview to regional media, he also requested the Board of Cricket Control in India to refrain from sending Indian players to Sri Lanka on January 26 for a series against the island nation. He argued that just as India has decided that its players will not tour Pakistan because of Islamabad's alleged involvement in the terrorist attack in Mumbai, India should not send its cricketers to play in a country that carries on the genocide of Tamils.
C. Mahendran, the joint state secretary of the CPI, addressing the gathering cited the instance of Bhagat Singh's fast in prison and its relationship to the Indian independence struggle, Bobby Sanders fast and the Irish liberation struggle, Nelson Mandela's fast in South Africa, and Thileepan's sacrifice for the Eezham struggle.
Tamil National Alliance MP Shivajilingam detailed the deteriorating human rights situation in Mullaiththeevu and appealed to the people of Tamil Nadu and the Tamil Diaspora to rally together to save the Eezham Tamils.
Srikantha, another TNA MP, observed that Tamils in Sri Lanka had enough reasons to suspect India's intentions and motives. He said that India's silence had to be broken at least at this juncture. Srikantha also explained how the Geneva conventions were being totally disregarded by the Sri Lankan government which was bombing people whom it claimed its citizens.
Dravidar Kazhagam President Veeramani urged Thirumavalavan to give-up the fast because it would damage his health irreparably. Veeramani termed any fasting as an irrational reaction.
Thirumavalavan who agreed with Veeramani, said that he had taken up this extreme measure since he was left with no other alternative to save the Tamil people on the verge of destruction. "I cannot go to Vanni and fight for the rights of my brothers and sisters standing shoulder to shoulder with them, nor can I go by boat to the Tamil heartland, I am left with no other choice."
Directors Sekar, Jananathan, Thangkar Bachchan, Thamilar Thesiya Iyakkam President Thiyagu, poet Inquilab, Dravida Iyakka Tamilar Peravai President Suba Veerapandian, Dr.Ezhilan, Convenor, Confederation of All Students for Tamil Eelam and representatives of the All India Forward Bloc also visited the venue.
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