THE STRUGGLE FOR TAMIL EELAM

நாட்டுப்பற்றாளர் - Naatup Patralar

"Every one of us, in our various fields, is engaged in the struggle for liberation"

"தமிழீழத் தேசிய எழுச்சியின் வெகுசன வடிவமாக அறப்போர் புரிந்த அன்னை பூபதி அவர்களின் நினைவு தினத்தை நாட்டுப் பற்றாளர் தினமாகக் கடந்த ஆண்டு தமிழீழத் தேசியத் தலைமை பிரகடனப் படுத்தியிருந்தது. அன்னை பூபதியின் நினைவு தினத்தை நாட்டுப் பற்றாளர் தினமாகத் தமிழீழத்து மக்களும் புலம் பெயர்ந்த தமிழ் மக்களும் உணர்வு பூர்வமாக நினைவு கூர்ந்தார்கள்." நாட்டுப்பற்றாளர் தினம் - அன்னை பூபதி ஒரு குறியீடு! - Sanmugam Sabesan

"He was a prophet scorned by his generation. He was scorned after 20 years of association by S.J.V.Chelvanayakam, whom he considered as his political mentor. He was scorned by his fellow parliamentary colleagues (of the then Federal Party of late 1960s), who had settled cozily for the chairs in the legislative assembly. He was even scorned by the Tamil voters of his Kayts constituency in the 1970 and 1977 general elections. But, Vaithianathan Navaratnam who became a proctor in 1936 and entered the public life was made of stern stuff, even in his will to outlast his political contemporaries..." more

"Every one of us, in our various fields, is engaged in the struggle for liberation and Jeyaseelan who was known for his selfless dedication to the cause, though no more with us physically, will in spirit, be a force urging us to take our struggle forward"

Liberation Tigers conferred "Tamil National Patriot" titles to the two sisters, Ms. Yogarasa Yogeswary, 26, and Thurairasa Vathany, 17, who were victims of a revenge killing, Wednesday night, by suspected paramilitaries, at Palacholai in Batticaloa. Their bodies were kept for viewing at Illupadicheni Tamil School and were cremated with full military honors at the LTTE Cemetary for Patriots Saturday, daily Batticaloa Eelanaatham reported.  Batticaloa Senior LTTE military Commander Banu, LTTE commanders, LTTE fighters and Palacholai residents paid their last respect to the sisters.  Head of Batticaloa Heroes welfare, Selvanmama, presided the memorial event where the titles were conferred on the sisters. Amparai district Head of LTTE political wing, Dayamohan, spoke at the event.  Palacholai, a village in Vantharumoolai, is located 18 km north of Batticaloa town. (TamilNet, December 10, 2005 22:14 GMT)

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Sunday conferred "Nattupattalar" (National Patriot) title on the departed veteran sportsman Mr.A.S.Gunaratnam. Attorney-at-Law Mr.K.Sivapalan read out the statement issued by the LTTE Trincomalee district political secretariat conferring the title at an event held Sunday morning at Trincomalee Hindu Cultural Hall where the body of late Mr.Gunaratnam was kept for paying last respects by the people of the east port city.

"We confer " Nattupattalar" title on late Mr.Gunaratnam for his services rendered to Tamil cause and against oppression of Tamils in the capital of Tamil nation, Trincomalee," said the statement of the LTTE. A condolence meeting was held Sunday evening before the body was taken to Vavuniya. The body of late Mr.Gunaratnam was brought to Trincomalee from Colombo Sunday early morning. The body will be kept in Vavuniya for public viewing on Monday. From there it would be taken to Killinochchi for public viewing. The body will be taken to Jaffna Tuesday evening from Killinochchi and the cremation will take place Wednesday morning at Kombayanmanal cemetery in Jaffna, family sources said.

Mr.A.S.Gunaratnam, retired Assistant Director of Sports in the North East Provincial Education, Cultural, Sports and Youth Affairs Ministry and currently Assistant Director of the North East Youth Affairs Ministry passed away Friday in Colombo after a brief illness. He had been a colorful personality in the field of sports not only in the North East but also at the national level. He had been fluent in all three languages, Tamil, Sinhala and English. He was 68 at the time of his death, family sources said.

Mr Gunaratnam accompanied the Sri Lankan athletic team as the Manager to the 10th World Athletic Meet-2005, held in Finland early this year. He was also the manager of the Sri Lankan team that participated in the 10th Asian Athletic Meet held in Bangkok in the year 2002.

At that time of death he was holding important positions in the Sri Lanka Athletic Association (Assistant Secretary), Sri Lanka Football Association (committee member) and World Football Referees Association (member) at national level, sources said.

He joined as a Sports Officer in the Sri Lanka government service and served in the districts of Anuradhapura, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Jaffna, Killinochchi, Batticaloa, Amparai and Trincomalee. He later rose to the position of the North-East Provincial Assistant Director of Sports.

He was born on 1.11.1938 in Nainativu in Jaffna district and had his primary and higher education in Jaffna Vaitheeswara Vidiyalayam and Jaffna Central College. At sixteen he became the marathan champion at national level.

He has been the advisor of Trincomalee District Tamil Peoples Consortium during his latter part of life. He had been playing a vital role in Tamil cultural and political activities in the Trincomalee district. He played an active role in the recent Tamil Resurgence Convention held in Trincomalee.

Mr.R.Sampanthan, parliamentary group leader of the Tamil National Alliance Friday evening paid his last respects to the sports veteran in Colombo where his body was kept for viewing. Mr.Sampanthan said the death of Mr.Gunaratnam has created a void in the development of sports activities in the northeast province. Mr.Sampanthan said Mr.Gunaratnam in his latter part of his life had been instrumental in promoting Tamil activities especially in the Trincomalee district.

On Sunday morning his body will be kept for viewing in Trincomalee, first at NE Provincial Ministry of Education office and later at the Trincomalee Hindu Cultural Hall. Thereafter his body will be taken to Jaffna for cremation, family sources said. (TamilNet, December 18, 2005)

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) conferred the title "Tamil national patriot" on Mr. Nadaraja Sivakadadcham, Principal of Kopay Christian College, who was shot dead Tuesday night at his residence in Jaffna by unknown gunmen. This was revealed in a statement issued by the LTTE Jaffna district political secretariat located in LTTE held Pallai division in Jaffna district Wednesday. Excerpts from the message delivered in Tamil follow:

"We strongly condemn the murder of Mr Nadaraja Sivakadadcham, principal of Kopay Christian College and president of Kopay Region Resurgence Consortium by Intelligence operatives of the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and traitors from Eelam People Democratic Party (EPDP).

"Mr Sivakadadcham rendered invaluable service towards education of Tamil youths and for the social welfare of his community in Kopay. Above all, he worked until his death for the liberation of his people.

"We wish to convey our sympathies to his grieving wife, children and relatives who are devastated by his death.

"By murdering Mr Sivakadadcham, enemies are seeking to dampen our peoples thirst for freedom. The historical truth, however, dictates that the incident will further ignite the fire of national liberation in our people."  (TamilNet, October 13, 2005 01:10 GMT)

The Political wing of the LTTE in its condolence message Saturday said that it honourd Vidwan Sokkan by declaring him Patriot (Natup Patralar). He worked hard in his old age too to mould a new generation that should dedicate for the development of Tamil language and literature, the condolence message added. Art and Cultural Association of the LTTE in its condolence message said the demise of veteran Tamil scholar Mr.K.Sokkalingam (Sokkan) as an irreparable loss to the Tamil nation in the development of the language and culture.

"Mr.Sokkan passed away at a crucial juncture when his services are needed in building the war-ravaged Tamil nation," said the message.

Meanwhile the funeral of late Mr.Sokkan is to be held on Monday noon in Jaffna, family sources said.

Mr.Sokkan has authored several literary and research works on Tamil language and its literature, which could be useful for the development of the language in future, the message added. He has left his permanent imprint in the literary field that could be remembered forever by Tamils, the message said. (TamilNet, December 11, 2004 22:57 GMT)

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) conferred the title "Tamil national patriot" on Mr. Selliah Ratnam, retired Assistant Government Agent and the Jaffna district co-ordinator of SIHRN who passed away Sunday in Colombo Apollo Hospital after a brief illness. The remains draped by the Tiger flag were kept first at SIHRN office in Killinochchi district secretariat and later at Thooyavan Political Science College of the LTTE Tuesday for the public to pay homage. The LTTE in its condolence message paid a glowing tribute to late Mr. Ratnam for having rendered immense services to the Tamil national cause. "His talent and experience played a crucial role in building the Tamil nation", LTTE said.

"Mr. Ratnam, a retired Sri Lanka Administrative office later worked with the SIHRN and Peace Secretariat in Killinochchi with devotion and dedication to the Tamil cause," said the message.

"Mr. Ratnam, who mastered all three languages had been a good administrator and considered a beacon light to guide the younger generation. His demise is an "irreparable loss in the sphere of building Tamil nation", LTTE message added.

The remains of Mr. Ratnam were later taken to his native village Velanai in Jaffna district Tuesday and kept at Puliyankoodal Children's Welfare Centre hall. A large number of people from the area paid their last respects to late Mr. Ratnam.

"The services of Mr. Ratnam were valuable to the Tamil national cause at a time when the liberation struggle took an international dimension. His demise is an irreparable loss to the Tamil liberation struggle," said Mr.C.Ilamparithi, Jaffna district LTTE political head addressing the condolence meeting Tuesday at Puliyankoodal, Velanai.

Mr.Ilampairithi recalled the services Mr. Ratnam rendered to the people of Velanai in 1990 during the time of crisis. "Our national leader has conferred the title 'Tamil national patriot' on him taking into consideration the vital role he played in the Tamil liberation struggle and later in the SIHRN and Peace Secretariat," said Mr.Ilampairithi.

Later the remains were taken to Velanai Divisional Secretariat office for paying homage.

The remains of Mr. Ratnam were kept in his Jaffna residence Wednesday, which is located in Anaipanthy, Navalar Road and later in the evening at Jaffna Veerasingham Hall.

The remains of the late Mr. Ratnam draped with Tiger flag were taken to the Kombayanmanal cemetery with band music in attendance.

Cremation of Mr. Ratnam was held Wednesday evening at the Kombayanmanal Hindu cemetery. A condolence meeting was held at the site presided by Mr.P.Paheerathan, President of the International Tamil Students Federation. Mr.C.Ilamparithi, Jaffna district LTTE political head, Mr.S.Ilampirai, and Lecturer of the Jaffna University, Mr.S. Antony, and President of the Jaffna University Arts Faculty Students Union made funeral orations. TamilNet, August 19, 2004 07:40 GMT

"Today, we cherish the memory of a great martyr and salute her supreme sacrifice. Mother Poopathi has earned our highest esteem as one of the noble martyrs who have become legends in the history of our liberation struggle. As a woman, as a mother, as the maternal head of the family, Poopathi amma transcended her ordinary life and the bonds of existential attachment in sacrificing her life for the emancipation of her nation. .." Velupillai Pirabaharan on Second Anniversary of Annai Poopathy's death,  April 1990