Tamil MP seeks permission for war dead memorial in former war zone

A demand has been made in the Sri Lankan Parliament for erecting a memorial in Mullaivaikkal, where thousands of unarmed Tamils died during the final phase of the brutal war which ended in a bloodbath in May 2009.

Mullivaikkal is remembered as the site where alleged mass killings and acts of Tamil genocide took place. An annual event is being held there for the Tamils from Sri Lanka and the diaspora coming over to pay their respects, tributes and to grieve in silence.

Thurairasa Ravikaran, elected on the Ilankai Tamil Arasu Katchi from the Vanni district made a moving appeal to enable the relatives of those to pour out their grief and seek solace.

“Our people who have lost their relatives and living there in grief express a heartfelt desire that they want a recognized memorial to pay their tributes”.

Recalling the culture and heritage in remembering the dead, Ravikaran told the Parliament such a practice has been in existence since time immemorial among the Tamils. He added the Tamils were a highly civilized society and one of the oldest races in the universe.

“In our nation’s history, it is of paramount importance to have a memorial to pay tribute to the huge number of relatives who have died”.

While making an appeal for a memorial in Mulliwaikkal Ravikaran made a parallel reference to the tombstones erected in memory of those who lost their lives in the Asian Tsunami in 2004.

“During the Tsunami, not only in Mullaitivu, but in many places there are memorial tombs have been built with the names of those who lost their lives inscribed on it. This paves the way for remembering those who lost their and their descendants forever,” he told the house.

He recalled the huge loss of lives as a human tragedy and said a memorial would enable future generations to get connected with those who were killed.

“In the memorial built in memory of the Mullivaikkal human tragedy, if the names of those who lost their lives are inscribed, then it would be useful for future generations to remember them. That would also reflect the culture of our nation,” he added further.

“That would also reflect the heritage of our nation. A memorial should be built in Mullaivaikkal where the May 18 tributes are paid as memory and testimony of the national tragedy.

When we bury somebody we build a tombstone over the place where they are interned. On the day of remembrance, the relatives go there to decorate with flowers, light lamps, sprinkle milk, offer food to the holy spirits, and weep to pour their sorrows out. So we need a memorial for our people to come there cry with grief and try to get over their sorrow. We need the permission for that for our people”.

According to international agencies and those who were struck in the war zone during the final phase, thousands of Tamils were killed in the heavy fighting in what was marked by the then government of Mahinda Rajapaksa and led by his brother Gotabaya Rajapaksa as a “No fire Zone”.

The new NPP government headed by Anura Kumara Dissanayaka acknowledged the Tamils have a right to memorialize their dead and pray tributes, but made it clear no display of any emblems, flags, or banners to what they call terrorists or banned organizations could be displayed during the memorial service.

Cabinet spokesperson Dr Nalinda Jayatissa has gone on record saying this.

“Commemorating relatives is one thing. Promoting the LTTE or any other terrorist organization is another thing. Therefore, the two should not be confused. We have made it very clear that we respect the right of those people to commemorate their relatives, but we will not allow anything illegal or prohibited by the government.”

Globally the first memorial tombstone was laid at Savran on the outskirts of Paris, where thousands of Tamil diaspora come regularly and pay their solemn tribute to their relatives who lost their lives in the war.
The UN has recognized the right to memorialization as one of the fundamental rights.