{"id":156651,"date":"2016-02-01T00:12:03","date_gmt":"2016-01-31T18:42:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=156651"},"modified":"2016-02-04T13:47:38","modified_gmt":"2016-02-04T08:17:38","slug":"manickavasakar-a-living-symbol-of-the-continuity-of-the-tamil-struggle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/manickavasakar-a-living-symbol-of-the-continuity-of-the-tamil-struggle\/","title":{"rendered":"Manickavasakar: A Living Symbol Of The Continuity Of The Tamil Struggle"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran<\/span><\/a> –<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Visuvanathan<\/a>

Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran – PM \u2013 TGTE<\/p><\/div>\n

It is not only a privilege but also a moral and political imperative for me as a Tamil and as the Prime Minister of the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) to write this letter stating Mr. M. K. Kanagendran\u2019s service to the Tamil nation at large and to the TGTE<\/span><\/a> in particular.<\/p>\n

Mr. Kanagendran\u00a0(a.k.a M. K. Eelaventhan)<\/span><\/a> has been an elected member of the TGTE since its inception on May 18, 2010. He participates in each and every Parliamentary sitting and committee meeting.<\/p>\n

The TGTE is a democratically elected Transnational Government of a million strong Tamils (from the island of Sri Lanka) living in several countries around the world. TGTE was formed after the mass killing of Tamils by the Sri Lankan Government in 2009.<\/p>\n

The TGTE has twice held internationally supervised elections among Tamils around the world to elect 132 Members of Parliament. It has a bicameral legislature and a Cabinet. It held one of its Parliamentary sittings in the British Parliament.<\/p>\n

\"Manickavasakar\"<\/a>The TGTE is leading a campaign to realize Tamils\u2019 political aspirations through peaceful, democratic and diplomatic means. The constitution of the TGTE mandates that it should realize its political objective only through peaceful means.<\/p>\n

Due to Mr. Kanagendran\u2019s activism for the last 50 years, the sacrifice he has made resultant to the above, his political acumen, his commitment to ensure that the Tamils live in the island of Sri Lankan with equality and dignity, his deep understanding of the theoretical underpinnings of the Tamil struggle (he is indeed one of the architects of the theoretical framework of the Tamil struggle) and his knowledge of contemporary politics, whenever he starts to talk there is always spellbound silence on the floor. Needless to say he is one of the moral icons of the Tamil struggle. He also acts as a mentor for the young members.<\/p>\n

Mr. Kanagendran is a living symbol of the continuity of the Tamil struggle. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the \u201cVaddukotai Resolution\u201d voted for by the Tamil people in the island of Sri Lanka in 1976. On that occasion all the major Tamil political parties pledged to campaign peacefully for the establishment of an independent and a sovereign state of Tamil Eelam. Mr. Kanagendran is one of the few living people who played a major role in the passage of the Resolution. In keeping with the spirit of this Resolution and to move politically forward towards the aspirations of Tamil people, the TGTE is organizing various events such as the launch of writing the Constitution for Tamil Eelam, and organizing Conferences on topics such as \u201cYes to Referendum\u201d. There has been a consensus among the TGTE members that Mr. Kanagendran will play a central role in all these events.<\/p>\n

I must also say that even though Mr. Kanagendran is more than 80 years old, he retains an inspiring energetic spirit. Last year TGTE launched a Million Signature Campaign urging the UN to refer Sri Lanka to the International Criminal Court. Mr. Kanagendran has been at the forefront of collecting signatures in Canada. I heard stories that when he stands and collects signatures in public places people bring chairs and drinks for him. On some occasions the youths have asked him to be seated and they have taken the Petition and collected signatures on his behalf. That is the affection and respect he enjoys from the Canadian public.<\/p>\n

Mr. Kanagendran is prime example for the younger generation of a life dedicated to social \u2013 political activism and service to humanity.<\/p>\n

*Visuvanathan Rudrakumaran (Prime Minister – TGTE) wrote this letter for\u00a0former TNA MP, M K Eelaventhan who is to be deported to Sri Lanka.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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