Rajani Thiranagama Commemoration, 20-21 September 2014 in Jaffna
Dr. Rajani Thiranagama, a prominent human rights activist and author, a medical doctor, and head of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Jaffna, was assassinated near her home in 1989 at the age of thirty-five. Her death was an immense tragedy for the community and was symbolic of a climate of terror and human disregard that ultimately left hundreds of thousands dead throughout the country. Rajani’s death represented a moral crisis within the community, and a crisis of governance and education that continues to mar our future.
A Tamil from northern Sri Lanka, she married a Sinhala political activist from the south, and despite being aware of the dangerous consequences of speaking out, chose to remain in the north with her people. She was one of the founding members of the renowned human rights group UTHR-J (University Teachers for Human Rights Jaffna) and the co-author of their book The Broken Palmyrah, which exposed the atrocities committed by all parties to the conflict, including the Sri Lankan armed forces, the Indian Peace keeping Force and armed groups such as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and other militant movements. Rajani was also at the forefront of establishing Poorani, a home for women in Jaffna, who were rendered destitute by the threatening and constraining conditions of war in the north of Sri Lanka. As a feminist and social activist, Rajani strove hard to create spaces for women’s collective action. After Rajani’s assassination, two of her co-authors, Rajan Hoole and Kopalasingam Sritharan, and fellow members of the UTHR-J, have continued to report on the human rights situation in Sri Lanka, inspired by Rajani’s memory and determination. Forced to remain underground since Rajani’s death, UTHR-J are one of the few non-partisan voices in Sri Lanka. In 2007 they were awarded the prestigious Martin Ennals Human Rights Award.
Democratic societies, democratic practices, an equal and just world!
Rajani remains an inspiration and symbol of hope to many in Sri Lanka who desire a just peace with democracy and dignity for all. We hope to explore spaces for a democratic practice in which people are able to participate. The post- war period offers us space to focus on the needs, aspirations and self-expression of people who have been dispossessed during the long period of war and in the current context of development and post-war reconstruction. We wish to honour Rajani’s memory with a series of events on the 20th and 21st of September. We earnestly request your presence at these events as both a show of solidarity with the people of Jaffna and all those gathered in the name of democracy at this crucial juncture of our shared history.
Solidarity for peace, democracy and the marginalized!
Support political and social practices for a new society!
Proposed events
- 20th September, 9:30am – Rajani Thiranagama Commemoration Meeting at the Medical Faculty, University of Jaffna.
- 20th September, 2pm – A procession for peace, democracy and social justice. (Starting at the Medical Faculty, University of Jaffna and ending at Veerasingham Hall with a short meeting.)
- 21st September, 9am – A seminar on “A more just and democratic society”, at Kailasapathy Hall, University of Jaffna.
BBS Rep / September 10, 2014
There were many parties who had a grudge against Rajani. It does not matter who pulled the trigger the fact is a person of real value for our society was snuffed out. We are living in a country where human life continues to be treated with very little value.
We are indeed a country of fools who time and again keep voting in monsters in, mollycoddle them, worship them and ultimately keep getting treated like dogs by them.
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Siva Sankaran Sarma / September 10, 2014
“It does not matter who pulled the trigger”
No doubt you’d be saying exactly the same thing if it wasn’t a We Thamizh that pulled the trigger, eh? :D
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Eusense / September 10, 2014
BBS,
You saying “It does not matter who pulled the trigger…..” sounds fishy. Who pulled the trigger for Luxman Kadirgamar,Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, T. Maheshwaran, Kethesh Logananathan, Nataraja raviraj, Joseph Pararajasingham, Cheliyan Perimpanayakam, Neelan Thiruchelvam, Ms. Sarojini Yogeswaran, A. Amrithalingam, V. Yogeswaran, Alfred Duraiyapah and many other Tamil statesman?
So all this and more is “does not matter”?? You are not asking for justice??
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Tamil from the north / September 11, 2014
Hey Eusense, do you want to know who pulled the trigger on all you have listed besides L. Kadirgamar, it was the LTTE. L Kadirgamar was shot at close range using a pistol by one of his body guards in the back of his head on the orders of the gas station cashier Goat Rajapakse. It was quite nicely orchestrated after setting up a long range rifle on a stand. Who do you think CBK was going to appoint as the next PM, think before blaming everything on the LTTE.
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eusense / September 11, 2014
TFN,
Give me evidence for Kadirgama assassination before I take your word . So, you too don’t want justice for the murder of the other respected Tamil leaders???
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Tamil from the north / September 12, 2014
Eusense; if you understand bullet wounds you will understand what I am saying. A sniper rifle is a high powered rifle, has the capability of splitting open a skull at that close range. A pistol simply kills someone. Also he was shot around 8.30pm, why didn’t your wonderful military do a cordon and search operation until 10.30pm? What were they doing, sucking their thumbs and sleeping as usual. Neelan T, was a sad death. The damn LTTE was 100% to be blamed. But the LTTE has been wiped out with a few exceptions. The exceptions are still living and working for your wonderful government. Why don’t you go after them? Just like Neelan, the LTTE has murdered many more decent people from all sides. But don’t compare apples to oranges. One is an elected government and the other is (was) a bloody terrorist outfit. Goat has murdered so many people just like VP/Kittu from the LTTE. Rajani was murdered by the dreaded LTTE. Do you need more evidence?
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eusense / September 13, 2014
TFN,
So… your are the one who decided Gota did! But you have to try a little harder on that. Your story is enough evidence for people who were born yesterday.
Did you say the LTTE was wiped out for a few exceptions? OK, that is the reason for not removing the Army from the N&E. Also, don’t you think under these conditions only a fool will devolve power to PCs of the N&E?
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Tamil from the north / September 14, 2014
Eusense, you dumb moron the LTTE survivors are working for the rajapakses. Then explain why you need the 3rd class military in the N&E? This is to further oppress the people and keep them under subjugation. I for one, is not blinded by the LTTE. The LTTE buggers and the hambantota clown and his family are corrupt murderers. You on the other hand, is a bloody fool who cannot see beyond two feet. The LTTE bugger KARUNA AMMAN, when he commanded the LTTE in the east, murdered 600 policemen who surrendered to him in absolute cold blood. These were (majority) Sinhalese. Today, this low life pariah is a government minister. Are you so dumb to understand this?
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Tamil from the north / September 12, 2014
Bloody Eusense bugger, Maheswaran was assassinated by the thug Douglas Devananda who bum sucks pakses day in day out. Have you ever listened to Maheswaran’s wife who accused this scoundrel douglas in the parliament for the murder of her husband? Nataraj Raviraj was also murdered by this low life piece of shit ‘dog’las. Who murdered Lasantha? Your bloody Goat Rajapakse. You nincompoop and a mutt of the highest degree, go and educate yourself first before talking crap you piece of trash. Joseph Pararajasingam was murdered by Karuna’s group who also happens to bum suck the pakses and works as a minister in the UPFA government. Now I know what a clown and a dumb arse you are.
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Amarasiri / September 12, 2014
“She was one of the founding members of the renowned human rights group UTHR-J (University Teachers for Human Rights Jaffna) and the co-author of their book The Broken Palmyrah, which exposed the atrocities committed by all parties to the conflict, including the Sri Lankan armed forces, the Indian Peace keeping Force and armed groups such as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and other militant movements. Rajani was also at the forefront of establishing Poorani, a home for women in Jaffna, who were rendered destitute by the threatening and constraining conditions of war in the north of Sri Lanka. “
Very sad.
While it is likely that it was LLTE Terrorists who pulled the trigger, because they had the least tolerance.
It was also LTTe who Expelled Muslims and Sinhala from Jaffna and the North. They are slifhtly better than ISIS, or SSIS, the satanic state of Iraq and Syria.
The those practices are being carried out by Raja-Paka, under the so called Para-Sinhala “Buddhism” , in Lanka, the Lanf of native Veddah Aethho.
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K.A Sumanasekera / September 10, 2014
Who Killed Dr Mrs Thiranagama…?
Have the perpetrators of this crime being punished’?..
Has Ms Navai Pillai included her death in the UN Investigations list?
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Tamil from the north / September 10, 2014
Idiot sumanasekera, talks crap again. Who killed Dr. (Mrs) Thiranamgama, it is the dreaded LTTE. Everyone knows that for a fact. LTTE was not an elected government, but a terrorist outfit. Are you expecting Navi Pillay to investigate a terrorist outfit and their atrocities. UN is mainly there to investigate atrocities committed by an elected government. Did you even go to school to understand the difference between an elected government and a terrorist outfit. A terrorist outfit does not have to play by rules, but an elected government has to and required to do so. Now what do you have to say for that.
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K.A Sumanasekera / September 11, 2014
Thank You…
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Peace Lover / September 11, 2014
dont expect a reply from K A Sumanasekera as he is a person with a very low IQ who gets an erection when he talks in support of the regime
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eusense / September 11, 2014
TFN,
The only thing I have to say about that is, you are retarded.
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Tamil from the north / September 12, 2014
Eusense, you are a bloody curse on the people of Lanka. It also takes one to recognise the other. So shut up!!!
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paul / September 10, 2014
Rajani’s husband himself blames the LTTE in this recent article in CT.
https://www.colombotelegraph.com/index.php/the-legacy-of-a-new-woman-in-our-generation-sunila-abeysekera-1952-2013/
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Maveerab / September 10, 2014
Rest in Peace.
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Dr. Gerard R. Francis / September 11, 2014
I had the honor and pleasure to learn Anatomy from Rajani and to later call her as a friend. Her murder is a loss to all; students, friends,activists, Family , country and the world. She believed strongly that just one (or few) individual(s) could change the world . That belief was not in vain. We each need to live up to that, rather than squabble on such forums.
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Gerard Francis,MD / September 11, 2014
I had the pleasure , nay honor to learn Anatomy from Rajani and to later call her as a friend. Her murder is a loss to all; students, friends,activists, Family , country and the world. She believed strongly that just one (or few) individual(s) could change the world . That belief was not in vain. We each need to live up to that, rather than squabble on such forums.
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Dr Romesh Senewiratne-Alagaratnam / September 11, 2014
The Canadian documentary “No More Tears, Sister” presents the perspective of Rajani’s husband and sister who have no doubt that she was killed by the LTTE. Yet there have been some I know who have tried to blame the killing on the government or rival Tamil gangs.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C803NOvmTqk
The documentary makes it clear that Rajani who went to England to campaign against the imprisonment of her sister (for supporting the LTTE) became a favoured spokesperson in support of the LTTE, supported by elements of the London diaspora. Rajani and her sister had both been brainwashed by the Marxist rhetoric of the early LTTE’s intelligentsia at Jaffna University, but her sister Nirmala found out the truth about how ruthless the organization was when they busted her out of jail, gave her a cyanide capsule and took her “for her safety” to India. It was Nirmala who had involved Rajani with the LTTE in the first place, but when she was in the LTTE camp in India she learned that the organization was dominated by fear and paranoia and they had little understanding of the Marxist, feminist ideals that had attracted Rajani and Nirmnala to the organization.
According to the documentary, Rajani had difficulty accepting the negative things Nirmala was saying about the LTTE, but started asking uncomfortable questions in London. This displeased the LTTE, who thought she had grown too big for her boots. The final straw was the publication of a book on human rights abuses that openly accused the LTTE of atrocities and documented them carefully.
. Also, the documentary says that some foreign human rights people had just visited her in Jaffna when she was killed. They don’t name the organization, but it may have been Amnesty International, since AI had been involved in Rajani’s campaign for the release of Nirmala when she was being held in jail in Jaffna on terrorism charges. I don’t think anyone has been charged with the murder to date.
I note that this short article about the commemoration of her killing does not make it clear that the LTTE killed Rajani Thirinagama in a callous act of revenge for courageous whistle-blowing.
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K.A Sumanasekera / September 13, 2014
Pity Ms Pillai’s brief to her investigation team is only back dated to 2005.
My Elders tell me that the LTTE intelligentsia in England was lead by one Dr Balasingham who was a VIP, and a personal friend of the British as well as some EU governments until he passed away.
There is no evidence that the LTTE Intelligentsia is also in the missing persons list which Ms Pillai is brandishing around.
In fact some of these Intelligentsia are on film in recent TV footage from overseas, celebrating late LTTE Leader’s birthdays and death anniversary.
There was one only a few weeks ago where the TNGTA PM was standing on the pavement, wearing a beanie right in front of Ms Pillai’s Office on the banks of the Hudson River.
There were hundreds of Intelligentsia in the background, carrying Red Flags with a Tiger Head.
Although Miss Pillai missed Mrs Thiranagama. at least our HR Champions in SL . like Miss Miss Nirmala, could have pulled a few strings with the ITAK mob and included an investigation even as a sub clause in their must do resolutions.
This won’t bring Miss Thiranagama back.
But it will prove that ITAK is is not LTTE..
Most importantly, Dr Mrs Ranjan’s siblings and Mr Thiranagama would be able to get some Dollars from the LTTE intelligentsia in London and late Dr Balasinghan’s Estate as compensation…
Thanks Dr Romesh….
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Eusense / September 11, 2014
The Colombo Telegraph which publish articles supportive of LTTE and separatism opened a can of worms by publishing this piece.
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justice / September 12, 2014
I hope that these events will not be disrupted by the Terrorism Inflicting Division.
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Gerard Francis, MD / September 12, 2014
While I don’t have horse in the race as to who might or might not have killed Rajani, it would be erroneous to portray as Romesh does that she was a whistle-blower from within the LTTE and was critical of the LTTE and just leave off there for the reader to make assumptions. She was a great humanitarian and social activist.She was critical of some LTTE actions,yes! But she was more than that; she was critical of other militant groups and the Govt. of Sri Lanka and in her book discussed atrocities crimes failings etc of all parties making no friends anywhere.
This was her strength this made here great and did lead to her assassination.
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Dr Romesh Senewiratne-Alagaratnam / September 17, 2014
Gerard,
I am only saying what I have gathered from watching the film. There may be others who know who exactly gave the orders for Rajani’s killing.
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Gerard Francis,MD / September 17, 2014
Romesh,
I thank you for clarifying this matter; that you are only basing your statement on the documentary. That’s all I wanted to point out.
As we all know in this mire there are many murderers and criminals as well as the talking heads that are no better.
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Tamodaya / September 13, 2014
Anyone helping Tamils is cursed.
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Nuwan Jayawardana / September 14, 2014
The mad dog who gave orders to kill Dr Rajini, was hunted down, killed like a mad dog and the dirty fat cascass was left in a stinking and smelly swamp in Nanthikadal. In death, this animals crazy eyes are open and staring into whoever who killed him is disbelief.
May he rot in hell!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Nuwan
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cleo / September 14, 2014
When you analyse the sordid history of terrorism and other forms of aggression not just in Sri Lanka anywhere else in the world, for that matter is, – human lives cruelly snatched off by this evil destructive trend, only God can stop.
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Tamil from the north / September 14, 2014
@Nuwan, to add to your comment, I believe this fellow VP when his turn came, he decided to surrender and got an axe to his forehead. All these Tamil fellows who worship this bugger are howling foul, why? The innocent children whom he forcibly recruited died on their feet or committed suicide when capture was a possibility, but this fellow decided to surrender. The bugger who killed him is Jagath Dias. He was originally taken to A’pura and then on Goat’s orders brought back to Nanthikaddal and axed to death while they held him down. One rule for the ground fighters and another for VP. That gaping hole was no bullet wound, it was an axe. Also as you said, he saw it coming to him as his eyes were wide open in total shock. Also I only wish the same fate will come to the horapakse clan, every one of them. These LTTE buggers, EPDP and all the successive governments have murdered countless number innocent people on both sides. It is a shame we all sit back and watch and still vote these buggers back to power. Nuwan, I will await comments from think tanks such as SA SUMANASEKERA, ELLA KOLA, FATSHITMA FUCKUSHIMA, DAVID BLACKER, EUSENSE.
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Native Vedda / September 14, 2014
Tamil from the north
“He was originally taken to A’pura and then on Goat’s orders brought back to Nanthikaddal and axed to death while they held him down.”
Did Fonseka meet the psychopath (VP) before he was chopped to death?
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Tamil from the north / September 15, 2014
@NV, that portion I do not know. SF is acting like a good man now. When he was at the top, a Sinhalese man I know told me he filed a complaint against the army and the police for torturing Tamil prisoners and SF warned him that he may do something to shut him up permanently. I do not know what he meant by that comment but I assume SF would have killed him. That Sinhalese friend lives in Canada now. It is not just the Tamils, but the entire country has suffered in the hands of these menacing fellows from the armed forces and all the terrorists.
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Oftenbark / September 15, 2014
Hmm… but that didn’t stop Tamils From Jaffna voting for him.
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Tamil from the north / September 16, 2014
@Oftenbark, yes I agree. I am not sure how many Tamils from the north voted for this fellow SF. This is the same fellow who also said, Tamils are a minority and they need to adjust to live with the majority and not ask for equality or something like that, correct me if I have misquoted this. But before that, the low class conniving fox from hambantota called Basil, gave 180 million rupees through Tiran Alles to the poster child for Colgate Toothpaste commercials, Thamilchelvam in the Vanni jungles and prevented the Tamils from voting for Ranil W. This fellow SF is a lesser of two evils. But I agree with your comment overall. Today look what the people of Lanka have to deal with.
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Oftenbark / September 15, 2014
It is now clear that two of Rajini’s students at the Jaffna medical faculty played a dirty role in the killing. They did not pull the trigger personally but as members of the LTTE’s “intelligence” wing had supplied the info on the basis of which she was killed by a tiger hit squad.
One of them functioned later as a doctor in the LTTE medical unit.
Both are now abroad in a European country now..
DBS
http://dbsjeyaraj.com/dbsj/archives/33112#more-33112
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K.A Sumanasekera / September 16, 2014
Shouldn’t these MDs at least, organize some Canadian dosh to Dr Ranjani’s siblings and the widower Husband as compo ???
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I hate Rajapakse / September 16, 2014
@Oftenbark, to add to your comments, I am not sure whether you remember the assassination (carried out by the dreaded LTTE, orders were given by Kittu) of then Principal of St. John’s College (SJC) Jaffna? One of the accomplices to the assassination lives in Canada, married with children. This thug also has a government job. There were some teachers who were in the staff of SJC who also aided in the murder of this great man. One of them is [Edited out]. Most of these fellows who carried out this dastardly crime, wake up every morning and go about doing their thing as if they are angels. Nothing bothers them. The same with these Horapakse clan, they steal, murder, assault, lie and go on as if nothing is wrong.
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K.A Sumanasekera / September 17, 2014
No wonder Miss Pillai put an expiry date on the LTTE atrocities..
Otherwise these allegations can not be ignored in these Temples which belong to HR Gods Like Harper.
And even anonyomous tips are pursued with vigour if the accused persons wear Turbans or have long Beards.
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Native Vedda / September 17, 2014
K.A Sumanasekera
“No wonder Miss Pillai put an expiry date on the LTTE atrocities..”
Your president and particularly yourself said LTTE atrocities are thing of the past and the country is enjoying peace and prosperity.
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Confusdman / September 16, 2014
It matters who pulled the trigger. Let it be Richard Soyza, Lasantha Wickramathunga,Rajini Thiranagama or anyone else who were murdered because of their brave refusdal to keep their mouths shut-we should keep reminding ourselves who were the killars. If you chose your favorite cases to reveal “who pulled the trigger” and forget about others, you as biased as many others and also represneting a one side of the killers.
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Razeek / September 20, 2014
It is funny that so many comments against LTTE for the murder of Rajani. LTTE would not have flourished if the Sinhala-Buddhist government treated the minorities with respect. Pogrom against Tamils in 1958,1977 and 1983. Then recent massacre of Muslims and burning of catholic churches. If the Sinhala thugs, their police ,their army and their government had any modicum of decency there would have been no LTTE and no one would be blabbering about who murdered Rajani.
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