3rd Lead (Adds photos, details)

Thileepan's 18th anniversary commemorations begin

[TamilNet, Thursday, 15 September 2005, 11:18 GMT]
Preparations to commemorate eighteenth death anniversary of Lt.Col.Thileepan (Rasaiah Parthipan), who fast to death during the occupation of Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Jaffna, have begun in several parts of NorthEast with red and yellow flags symbolizing the Liberation Tigers being flown at main roads, key junctions, business premises and Government buildings, sources said. Thileepan passed away two weeks into his fast after placing five demands to the Indian Government.



Leader of Liberation Tigers, V Pirapaharan, paid floral tribute to Thileepan's framed photograph in an undisclosed location in Vanni.

Posters have been put up and Nallur Kandaswamy Temple premises surrounding the Thileepan memorial have been decorated for special celebrations at the temple venue where Thileepan spent his final hours of the fast. Lt. Col. Thileepan began his fasting on 15 September 1987 and passed away on September 26 at a stage in front of the Nallur Kandasamy temple. Thileepan who was the LTTE's political wing leader for the Jaffna district, made five demands from the Indian government.

1. All Tamils detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act should be released.
2. The colonisation Sinhalese in Tamil areas under the guise of rehabilitation should be stopped.
3. All such rehabilitation should be stopped until an interim government is formed.
4. The Sri Lankan government should stop opening new Police stations and camps in the Northeastern province.
5. The Sri Lankan army and Police should withdraw from schools in Tamil villages and the weapons given by the Sri Lankan government to 'homeguards' should be withdrawn under the supervision of the Indian army.

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