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40 ஆயிரத்துக்கும் அதிகமானோர் பங்கேற்பு
[சனிக்கிழமை, 12 யூலை 2008, 08:46 பி.ப ஈழம்] [புதினம்
நிருபர்]
லண்டன் பொங்கு தமிழ் - 2008 நிகழ்வில் யாழ். மாவட்ட
நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்
செ.கஜேந்திரன் ஆற்றிய உரை
லண்டன் பொங்கு தமிழ் - 2008 நிகழ்வில் மட்டக்களப்பு
மாவட்ட நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்
எஸ்.ஜெயானந்தமூர்த்தி ஆற்றிய உரை
பிரித்தானியாவில் இன்று நடைபெற்ற பொங்கு
தமிழ் நிகழ்வில் 40 ஆயிரத்துக்கும் அதிகமான தமிழர்கள்
பேரெழுச்சியுடன் பங்கேற்றனர்.
இந்நிகழ்வு பிரித்தானியாவின் வேல் பகுதியில் உள்ள
றிச்சர்ட்சன் இவன்ஸ் மைதானத்தில் இன்று சனிக்கிழமை
பிற்பகல் 3:40 மணிக்கு தொடங்கியது.
நிகழ்வின் பொதுச்சுடரினை தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின்
மட்டக்களப்பு மாவட்ட நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்
எஸ்.ஜெயானந்தமூர்த்தி ஏற்றினார். தொடர்ந்து, அகவணக்கம்
நடைபெற்றது. இதனைத் தொடர்ந்து, அரங்க நிகழ்வுகள்
தொடங்கின.
பிரித்தானியா வாழ் தமிழ் இளையோர்கள் ஐம்பதுக்கும்
அதிகமானோர் மஞ்சள், சிவப்பு வர்ண உடையணிந்து மேடையில்
பொங்கு தமிழ் எழுச்சிப் பாடல்களைப் பாடினர்.
"We want Tamileelam" என மேடையில் இளையோர்
முழங்க, அங்கு கூடியிருந்த அனைத்து மக்களும் சேர்ந்து
முழங்கினர்.
நாடகம் மற்றும் தமிழர்களின் மங்கல வாத்தியங்களான தவில்,
நாதஸ்வரக் கச்சேரி ஆகியன நடைபெற்றன.
தொடர்ந்து, பிரித்தானிய தமிழர் பேரவையின் சார்பாக
மட்டக்களப்பு மாவட்டத்தின் முன்னாள் நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்
மாமனிதர் ஜோசப் பரராஜசிங்கத்தின் மகன் டேவிட்
பரராஜசிங்கம் தமிழிலும் ஆங்கிலத்திலும் உரையாற்றினார்.
இதனைத் தொடர்ந்து, பிரித்தானியாவின் லிபரல் கட்சி
நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் எட்வேர்ட் டேவ் உரையாற்றினார்.
தொடர்ந்து, பிரித்தானியாவின் தொழிற்கட்சி நாடாளுமன்ற
உறுப்பினர் சிவோன் மக்டோனா உரையாற்றினார்.
இதனைத் தொடர்ந்து, தமிழ் உள்ளுராட்சி அமைப்பின் சார்பாக
சுரேஸ் கிருஸ்ணா உரையாற்றினார்.
தொடர்ந்து, சோசலிச எதிர்ப்பின் ஆசிரியரும் அதன் கெளரவ
உறுப்பினருமான லியாம் மக் எய்ட் உரையாற்றினார்.
தொடர்ந்து, தமிழீழ விடுதலைப் புலிகளின் கலை பண்பாட்டுக்
கழகப் பொறுப்பாளரும் கவிஞருமான புதுவை இரத்தினதுரையின்
உரை ஒலிக்க விடப்பட்டது.
இதனைத் தொடர்ந்து, பிரித்தானியாவின் தொழிற்கட்சி
நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் வீரேந்த சர்மா உரையாற்றினார்.
தொடர்ந்து, "உலகத் தாயே ஒன்றுபடு" எனும் பொங்கு தமிழ்
பாடலுக்கு இளையோர்கள் எழுச்சி நடனம் வழங்கினர்.
இதனைத் தொடர்ந்து, பத்து வருடங்களுக்கு மேலாக பிரித்தானிய
தொழிற்கட்சியின் அரசியல் விவகாரங்களுக்கு பொறுப்பாக
இருந்த மைக் கிறசன் உரையாற்றினார்.
தொடர்ந்து, மனித விவகாரங்களுக்காக குரல் கொடுத்துவரும்
ஐரோப்பிய நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் பானாட்ஸ் சாறா லுட்பேட்
உரையாற்றினார்.
இதனைத் தொடர்ந்து, பிரித்தானிய தமிழ் உள்ளுராட்சி மன்ற
அமைப்பின் தலைவர் தயா இடைக்காடர் உரையாற்றினார்.
தொடர்ந்து, பிரித்தானியாவின் தொழிற்கட்சி நாடாளுமன்ற
உறுப்பினர் டோன் பற்றின் உரையாற்றினார்.
இதனைத் தொடர்ந்து, பிரித்தானியாவின் கிங்ஸ்ரன் பகுதியின்
முன்னாள் நகரபிதா யோகன் யோகநாதன் உரையாற்றினார்.
தொடர்ந்து, நடன நிகழ்வு நடைபெற்றது.
இதனைத் தொடர்ந்து, தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின்
மட்டக்களப்பு மாவட்ட நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர்
எஸ்.ஜெயானந்தமூர்த்தி சிறப்புரையாற்றினார்.
கொசவோ விடுதலை அமைப்பின் முக்கிய பிரதிநிதி ஒருவரும்
தென்னாபிரிக்க தேசிய காங்கிரசின் முக்கிய உறுப்பினர்
ஒருவரும் நிகழ்வில் சிறப்புரையாற்றினர்.
இதனைத் தொடர்ந்து தமிழ்த் தேசியக் கூட்டமைப்பின் யாழ்.
மாவட்ட நாடாளுமன்ற உறுப்பினர் செ.கஜேந்திரன்
சிறப்புரையாற்றினார்.
அரங்க நிகழ்வுகளைத் தொடர்ந்து "We want Tamileelam" என
மேடையில் இளையோர் முழங்க, அங்கு கூடியிருந்த அனைத்து
மக்களும் சேர்ந்து முழங்கினர்.
இதனைத் தொடர்ந்து பொங்கு தமிழ் பிரகடனம் படிக்கப்பட,
அங்கு கூடியிருந்த அனைத்து மக்களும் பிரகடனத்தினை
முழங்கினர்.
"தமிழரின் தாகம் தமிழீழத் தாயகம்" எனும் உறுதிமொழியுடன்
இரவு 7:30 மணியளவில் நிகழ்வு நிறைவடைந்தது.
பிரித்தானியாவில் முதல் தடவையாக நடைபெற்ற பொங்கு தமிழ்
நிகழ்வில் 40 ஆயிரத்துக்கும் அதிகமான தமிழர்கள்
பங்கேற்றனர். அரங்க நிகழ்வினை நோக்கி மக்கள் வந்து
கொண்டிருந்த போது லண்டனின் பிரதான சாலை முடக்கத்துக்கு
உள்ளாகியிருந்ததாக தெரிவிக்கப்படுகின்றது.
இந்நிகழ்வினை விடுதலைப் புலிகளின் அதிகார வழி வானொலியான
புலிகளின் குரலும், லண்டன் ஐபிசி தமிழ் வானொலியும் நேரடி
ஒலிபரப்புச் செய்திருந்தன.
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Tamilnet
Report, Sunday 13 August 2008 Around 30,000
people attended the Pongku Thamizh (Tamil Upsurge) rally
in London at the Rorehampton Vale sports ground on
Saturday, choking traffic in one of the highways, said
the organisers. A number of British parliamentarians
cutting across party lines, international
representatives of liberation movements, rights
activists, and politicians from Tamil and Sinhala
communities addressed the event, and sent messages in
support of the event. Even by conservative estimates,
nearly 150,000 Tamils of North America, Europe, Africa
and Australia have so far demonstrated their support to
the cause of Eezham during the last one-month through
Pongku Thamizh 2008.
The overwhelming response of Diaspora Eezham Tamils to
the call of Pongku Thamizh was not only impelled by the
stepped up sufferings in Sri Lanka, but also was due to
suppressed anger over the attitude of the International
Community, opined an independent observer reading the
mood of the people who attended the London rally.
Dr Bajram Rexhepi, the Mayor of Mitrovica in Kosovo,
spoke of the similar history between the Tamils and the
Kosovans. He mentioned that though they had
international support, the intransigence of the
Milosevic government meant that Kosovo remained
oppressed until they fought for their freedom.
Mentioning that the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) was
identified as a terrorist organisation by a number of
countries, he said his country was finally freed in
1999, but even then they had to prove that they would
not abuse their people�s human rights, which they
finally succeeded in doing in February this year. �It
was not easy,� he said, adding that �we will show
solidarity and support for your struggle.�
Professor Thiyagaraj Dasaratha Chetty of the African
National Congress restated his government�s position
that there can be no solution without the involvement of
the two principle parties and that no solution can be
imposed from outside. The Liberation Tigers are engaged
in an armed struggle as a response to structural
failures and though two states may be the answer, that
too has problems that need to be addressed, he said. The
South African government is willing to help with all
efforts that lead to reconciliation and peace, he said.
Liam MacUaid,
editor of Socialist Resistance and a member of
Respect, spoke of his family�s experience of being
forced to leave their home (in Belfast) at the end of
the guns of an occupying army. He expressed the
solidarity of the workers with all oppressed people,
such as the Tamils.
[ Note by
tamilnation.org
From
Liam MacUaid
Blog
at
http://liammacuaid.wordpress.com/2008/07/12/pongu-thamil-2008/
 "This
is true. I�ve
been invited to
speak at this
year�s Pongu
Thamil on behalf
of
Socialist
Resistance -
presumably not
near the top of
the bill. It�s
the annual
festival for
Tamil people in
London and gets
an audience of
15-20,000. Even
though SR�s
editorial team
is often asked
to speak to
crowds of that
size commonsense
suggested it�s
best not to
speak off the
cuff at an event
like this .
Below is what
I�ll be saying
Sisters /
brothers /
friends and
comrades -
As you have just
been told I
originally come
from Belfast.
Like some of the
people here
today my family
was forced at
gunpoint to
leave its home
by a sectarian
militia. Like
many of you and
your families I
know what it is
like to be
spread-eagled
against a wall
at rifle point
by the troops of
a hostile
occupying army.
So when I say
that I give my
solidarity on
behalf of
Respect and
Socialist
Resistance to
the Tamil people
in their just
struggle for
self-determination
it is more than
rhetoric. It
comes from the
heart and, if I
have anything
different to say
here today from
what the other
speakers will
say to you, it
will be to
present some of
that recent
Irish experience
to point out
some of the
traps that
enemies and
false friends
will lay for you
in your
struggle.
Today is the 12th
of July. That is
a special date
in the Irish
calendar. As we
stand here tens
of thousands of
Orangemen are
walking the
streets using a
17th
century battle
to justify 21st
century
prejudice and
discrimination.
A lie has been
told so often
that it almost
seems like the
truth. Peace,
justice and
freedom have not
been established
in Ireland. The
country remains
partitioned. One
part is still
occupied by the
imperialist
army.
Politicians and
former
revolutionaries
now find
themselves in
coalition
government with
the most
right-wing,
reactionary
party in
mainstream
European
politics.
They grovel to
war criminal
like George
Bush, Tony Blair
and Gordon Brown
� men whose
armies are
responsible for
the deaths of
uncounted
thousands in
Iraq and
Afghanistan and
who now seem
almost certain
to attack Iran.
The absence of
violence is not
peace. What you
see when you
look at Ireland
today is the
complete victory
of
imperialism
and the most
reactionary
forces in Irish
society.
Don�t
accept what
you are told
about
imperialist
attempts to
broker peace
deals. They
do not bring
peace with
justice or
self-determination.
Who in their
right mind
could
believe that
the
Americans
and Israelis
would ever
give real
peace,
justice and
freedom to
the
Palestinian
people? Only
a fool! And
it is the
same
wherever
imperialism
dabbles.
Take for example
the decision of
the European
Union to LTTE in
Europe for
�their
involvement in
terrorist acts�.
I am a
Marxist. As such
I disagree with
relying solely
on armed
struggle to
liberate a
nation or a
class. As a
Marxist I
support the
right of an
oppressed group
to use whatever
methods it
thinks are right
to free itself.
But that same EU
takes no action
against a Sri
Lankan
government which
uses its troops
to carry out
extra judicial
executions with
impunity,
support
terrorist
militias or
force thousands
of people from
their homes.
The Tragedy of
Vaharai
If, as I
believe, the
Tamil people
will
find only
enemies and
false friends
among the
governments of
Europe,
where can they
find their real
friends? Where
will they find
the people who
will support
them in their
quest for
equality,
autonomy and the
right of self
determination?
Who will stand
beside them in
the struggle
against the
racism they face
in the cities
where they have
come for work
and security?
My answer to
these questions
is that you will
find your real
friends in the
workers�
movement and the
progressive
socialist
organisations.
There is a
socialist
proverb �you dig
where you
stand�. It means
you fight where
you are.
If you are not
yet in a trade
union. Join one.
There you will
be able to make
workers from all
over Britain
aware of the
struggle of the
Tamil people.
You can organise
delegations of
trade unionists
to go and see at
first hand the
injustices your
friends and
families face at
home. You will
be able to get
your union to
take a stand in
defence of the
Tamil people and
provide
practical
support.
If you are not
involved in
political
organisations in
Britain you
should do so.
All the same
issues that face
you in your
daily lives face
millions of
other working
people. Your
wages are frozen
while your bills
are rising. It�s
impossible to
find somewhere
to live.
Politics is how
we fight these
things.
Naturally I am
biased. I am a
member of
Respect and I
think that if
you want to
fight for social
justice in
Britain and to
work with
friends who
will, without
conditions,
support the
struggle for
peace and
justice in
your homeland
that you should
join us. We will
welcome you.
Victory to the
struggle of the
Tamil people!
Self
determination
for the Tamil
people!"]
A message of support from Dr. Vickramabahu
Karunaratne of the Nava Lanka Sama Samaga Party (NSSP)
was read out by local party member Sashie Peiris, in
which he expressed his regret at being unable to attend,
and his support for the Tamil cause.
Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrats Foreign Affairs
spokesman expressed the need to �get the message� to
the Sri Lankan government that they need to get back to
the peace negotiating table. He also called for an end
to the human rights abuses in Sri Lanka.
Andrew Pelling MP (Conservatives) said the problem
in Sri Lankan can only be resolved by negotiation and
called on the parties to come back to the table.
Welcoming the efforts by Britain that resulted in Sri
Lankan being removed from the UN Human Rights Council,
Virendra Sharma MP (Labour) stressed that there was
no quick fix. �Sri Lanka is not just a failed state�, he
said. �There is no cure.� Mr Sharma said he understood
that the crowd felt Tamil Eelam was the only solution
and promised to work with the British government to
force the Sri Lankan government to take steps towards
solving the conflict.
Mike Griffiths MP (Labour) said while he understood
the Tamil suffering, there was great ignorance of it
among the British populace. Stating that many peoples
cry for self-determination, he said Tamil raises are
raised too in the same cry at events like the Pongku
Thamizh gathering. Pledging to re-double his efforts to
restore peace in Sri Lanka, Mr. Griffiths called on all
those gathered to do the same.
 Comparing
her experiences as a migrant to Britain,
Siobhan McDonnagh, Labour MP, spoke of understanding
Tamil experiences and thanked the Tamils for their
contributions in Britain.
Baroness Sarah Luxford MEP (Liberal Democrats) called
for there to be many more opportunities to hear Tamil
voices expressing their opinion. �It is deeply important
to anyone concerned with human rights and justice that
we get a political solution that recognises the cultural
and linguistic identity,� she said. She urged all
parties to return to the negotiating table and called
for an end to human rights abuses.
 Dawn
Butler MP
(Labour) spoke of seeing the Tamils �walking with
purpose for a purpose� to attend the event. Stressing
that governments must listen to the sound of so many
Tamil voices, she stated her belief that change was
possible. �We will make a change together,� she pledged.
Messages of support were also received from Tony Benn MP
(Labour), Robert Evans MEP (Labour), Stephen Hammond MP
(Conservatives), Simon Hughes MP (Liberal Democrats),
Susan Kramer MP (Liberal Democrats), Joan Ryan MP
(Labour) and Roy Padayachie (South Africa�s Deputy
Minister of Communications).
Independent sources said that more than 25,000 people
attended the event though the estimation by the
Metropolitan Police was between 20,000 and 30,000. A
small number of police were present, as were security
officials organised by the event organisers to ensure
the event was peaceful and crowd control was maintained.
Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarian S.
Jeyananthamoorthy said that Tamils have historically
ruled themselves, and that this has been denied them
since the colonial times. �Tamils are fighting now to
reclaim what is ours,� he said.
S Kajendren, TNA MP for Jaffna, spoke of the war
currently being fought on Tamil soil. �The Tamils are
not terrorist,� he said, expressing the hope that the
freedom of the Tamil people would be achieved soon.
Thaya Iddaikarar, British Tamil Councillor, compared the
Tamil struggle to the sacrifices the British people were
prepared to make in their defence of the Falkland
Islands.
Solicitor Matt Foot expressed his shame at being a
British citizen when the government, elected on an
ethical foreign policy, banned liberation struggles like
the LTTE and the PKK. �Seeing you gives me hope that we
can fight,� he said.
Other speakers included Suresh Krishna, of the Tamil
Councillors Association, former Kingston Mayor Yogan
Yogananthan, Merton Mayor Martin Whelton,
The event began with the lighting of the common flame of
sacrifice by the parliamentarian for Batticaloa, S.
Jeyananthamoorthy, followed by the traditional moment of
silent respect.
The folk dance drama that followed was an interactive
event, with full participation. Expression of support
for Tamil Eelam were greeted with overwhelming applause
from the audience, and chants of �We want� roused the
crowd to its feet with responses of �Tamil Eelam�.
The programme also included traditional Nathaswaram
music, the broadcasting of a poem by poet Puthuvai
Ratnathurai, and dancing by local youth to Pongku
Thamizh songs. David Pararajasingham of the British
Tamil Association delivered the welcome address, before
the politicians took to the stage to express their
support.
Arriving from across the British capital, with some
making the journey from outside London, Tamils gathered
to reinforce the global call for �motherland, nation,
self-rule�.
The traffic congestion attendees blocked the main A3
road leading to the event, with the traffic backed up
for over a mile even after the event had begun.
As a balloon flew overhead expressing the sentiment that
�Tamil Eelam must be free�, mini stages set amongst
where the Tamils were gathered commemorated the great
rulers of the Tamil kingdoms in Jaffna, including
Sangkiliyan, Ellalan, Pandara Vanniyan and Princes
Kuruvichchi Nachchiyar.
As is now common at all Tamil events in London, a food
stall provided traditional foods and soft drinks, while
children were entertained with face painting, balloons
and flags. Shops around the grounds also sold Tamil
Eelam t-shirts and umbrellas.
The large crowd, waving the red and yellow flag in the
Tamil colours, braved the weather to turn out in force,
with most staying through to the end despite periodic
bouts of rain. The red, black and yellow Tamil Eelam
umbrellas were not only colourful, but also useful in
the British weather.
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