Today, May 18, marks Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day. On this day in 2009, many of us believed that the killings, violence, sexual assaults, oppression, and genocide committed against the Tamil people would finally come to an end. However, many Tamils believe that efforts to Sinhalaize and Buddhicize the entire island continue to this day.
On this day, we honor the memory of the 146,000 Tamil lives lost. They carried with them hope, courage, and sacrifice so that future generations of Tamils may one day live in peace, freedom, and political dignity.
At our protest camp located along the A9 roadside in Vavuniya, we have continued our struggle for 3,375 consecutive days. We continue to demand answers regarding our disappeared children and call for the restoration of Tamil sovereignty, while appealing especially to the international community, including the European Union and the United States.
Buddhist constructions such as the Thaiyiddi Vihara have created deep concern among local Tamil communities. Many Tamils feel that cultural and religious symbols are being imposed in places where local Tamil people do not want them. Similar tensions continue in Veddukkunari, Navatkuli, and several other areas across the North-East. Many Tamils believe these situations have worsened because of weak and divided Tamil political leadership.
Tamil political leaders must take firm positions to protect the historical, cultural, and political rights of the Tamil people. Many Tamils oppose the establishment of Sinhala-Buddhist symbols in areas where Sinhalese people did not historically live. Some Tamil researchers also argue that parts of the North-East once had Tamil Buddhist traditions, but that Tamils later returned to Saivism due to the conduct and influence of certain Buddhist clergy.
Many Tamils believe that meaningful international intervention recognizing the political dignity, security, and right to self-determination of the Tamil people is the only path toward a lasting solution. Tamils living around the world must peacefully preserve and advance their historical homeland, language, and culture.
At the same time, historical truths must be discussed honestly, responsibly, and carefully. There is no widely accepted contemporary historical evidence confirming that Gautama Buddha personally visited Sri Lanka. Likewise, many historians and researchers consider several narratives in the Mahavamsa, including the story of Prince Vijaya, to contain mythological and epic elements rather than verified historical facts.
Furthermore, there is no broadly accepted historical evidence that Emperor Ashoka had a son named Vijaya. Historians continue to debate the early history of Sri Lanka, the formation of ethnic identities, and settlement patterns on the island.
Tamils have the right to present their political rights, historical claims, and concerns through peaceful, lawful, and democratic means in international forums. Public campaigns and protests should focus on human rights, justice for the disappeared, historical research, and the protection of Tamil heritage.
History is a guiding light for humanity. For Tamils, the restoration of sovereignty is the solution.
Our history, our homeland, and our lost sovereignty must be spoken about in Geneva, across Europe, Australia, Canada, the United States, and especially in Tamil Eelam itself. When Tamils hold banners and demonstrate in the capitals of the world, they must clearly present our history, the identity of the Tamil nation, and the need to restore our lost sovereignty to the international community.
A people without historical consciousness may be silenced. But a people who remember their sovereignty can rise again with dignity and political strength.
Thank you,
G. Rajkumar
Association of the Disappeared in the Tamil Homeland