Pirapaharan pays homage to Anton Balasingham

[TamilNet, Friday, 14 December 2007, 14:13 GMT]
Velupillai Pirapaharan, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam, Friday payed homage to late Anton Balasingham, the theoretician and political advisor of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), commemorating the first death anniversary of the former chief negotiator and political advisor.



The LTTE leader, in his tribute to Mr. Balasingham last year, had described his relationship with him as "a platonic relationship par excellence, that was shaped by history and matured with time." Anton Balasingham was bestowed with the title "Voice of the Nation" by Mr. Pirapaharan.

Bestowing the title, as a recognition for his service for the Tamil freedom movement, Pirapaharan had noted: "There is a permanent place for Bala annai in the development and growth of our expanding movement. As elder statesman, as ideologue, as philosopher, above all as my intimate friend, he gave me inspiration and encouragement; gave advice and support. He shared my feelings and my burden. From the very inception of our movement he shared with me burdens of all the trials, tribulations, challenges and difficulties. He stood as the protagonist in the forefront of our political and diplomatic maneuvers."

"I am proud to bestow on Bala annai the title of great honor, Voice of the Nation, as a recognition for his immense service to our movement by his superb performance in political and diplomatic spheres, thus establishing our independent struggle in the international arena in a manner that Eelam Tamils are proud of."

"Bala annai has, in truth, not departed from us. He will remain in our stream of consciousness as an enduring memory, forever."

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