“Release cemeteries of the LTTE war dead”: Selvarajah Kajendren
A Tamil representative has urged the President to release the cemeteries of LTTE war dead in the North and Eastern Provinces, which are occupied by the army.
The Deputy Leader of Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF) Selvarajah Kajendren MP requested President Ranil Wickremesinghe in Parliament on November 16 to make the burial grounds a public place for Tamils to commemorate their deceased relatives.
The parliamentarian further mentioned that Kodikammam, Ellankulam, Kopai in Jaffna district, Theravil, Mulliyavalai, Alampil and Tunukkai Alankulam in Mullathivu district and Thandiadi martyrs cemetery in Batticaloa district are currently being occupied by the army.
Selvarajah Kajendren also requested the president to inform the Sri Lanka Police and Army to stop interfering with Tamils who are clearing the burial grounds where the LTTE war dead are buried, and allow them to commemorate their deceased relatives.
Continuous interruptions
In the last few days, the army had obstructed the Tamils in the North and East who were engaged in the clearing of burial grounds in order to commemorate the Tamil LTTE war Heroes’ Day on November 27.
On November 2, when a group of people including the deputy leader of the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF), and Member of Parliament Selvarajah Kajendren, were engaged in clearing the overgrowth in the midst of rain, soldiers demanded them to stop the work.
At the same time, photojournalists in Jaffna filmed the army soldiers installing Buddhist flags on the road in front of the cemetery.
Tamils who were engaged in cleaning activities at MullaitivuThunukkai Alankulam Cemetery, Mannar, Manthai West Artikali Valley Cemetery, and Theravil cemetery as well as those engaged in cleaning activities at Trincomalee, Sampur, Alankulam Cemetery had to face obstacles from the Army personnel and. The police had requested the leader of Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF), Member of Parliament Gajendra Kumar Ponnambalam to stop the activity.
