Tamils hold May day rally in Paris

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 02 May 2007, 11:03 GMT]
Thousands of Tamils participated in the May day rally held in Paris Tuesday starting in Republique and ending in Nation area, sources in Paris said. Participants distributed leaflets urging the French to recognize Tamils right to self-determination, carried photographs of the leader of Liberation Tigers, Velupillai Pirapaharan, and shouted slogans in support of Tamileelam during the procession.

Tamil Youth organizations, Traders associations, members of Tamil sangams, members of Soccer associations, representatives of Tamil schools and other Tamils participated in the event.

Traders closed their shops around 1:00 p.m. to attend the procession.

Rev.Fr. Emmanuel addressing the participants said, with the recently demonstrated addition of Tigers air-capability the Tamils march towards independence cannot be stopped.

Journalist and owner of Eezhanaadu Mr Sivaguru Balachandran said: "We are not terrorists, but are freedom fighters exercising our democratic rights. We are prepared to face all hurdles and continue our fight."