ARTIST ANIKARTICK (VASU engira KARTHIKEYAN)
THILEEPAN Portrait 02 by Artist Anikartick,Chennai,TamilNadu,India
Rasaiah Parthipan also known as Lt. Col. Thileepan was a LTTE political wing member who died during a hunger strike during the IPKF operation of Jaffna, Sri Lanka.[1][2]
Personal life[edit]
His real name was Rasaiah Parthipan and was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. His father Rasaiah was a school teacher. His mother died during his childhood and he was brought up by his single father. He was a popular student in Jaffna Hindu College, a prominent high school in Jaffna, before joining the LTTE. prior to the 1983 Black July pogrom.
LTTE[edit]
Rasaiah Parthipan joined the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 1983 prior to Black July pogrom. He was given the name Thileepan. He became the LTTE political wing leader of the Jaffna peninsula. He was a determined person who fasted unto death.
On the 15th of September 1987 at 9.30 a.m at the Nallur Murugan Temple, Thileepan began his fast. His main objective was to bring awareness and action to a list of public demands made by himself and the Tamil Tigers, at a time when the relationship between the LTTE and the IPKF administration was deteriorating.[3]
The publicly stated goals of his fast were [4]
All Tamils detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act should be released.
The colonisation of Sinhalese in Tamil areas under the guise of rehabilitation should be stopped.
All such rehabilitation should be stopped until an interim government is formed.
The Sri Lankan government should stop opening new Police stations and camps in the Northeastern province.
The Sri Lankan Army and Police should withdraw from schools in Tamil villages and the weapons given by the Sri Lankan government to 'homeguards' should be withdrawn under the supervision of the Indian army.
Death[edit]
Although several groups requested Thileepan as well as the local IPKF administration to intervene and stop the fast, Thileepan died on the 26th of September 1987.
There was widespread grief in Tamil areas. Thousands of people from the North and East flooded Jaffna as news of his death spread[citation needed].
His death created an anti-Indian mood in Jaffna that was pro-India till then.[5]
Resumption of hostilities[edit]
Several days later the LTTE began hostilities against the Indian Peace Keeping Force. The death of Thileepan was hence seen as a pivotal moment in Sri Lankan History and Sri Lankan - Indian relations for years to come[
THILEEPAN Portrait 02 by Artist Anikartick,Chennai,TamilNadu,India
Rasaiah Parthipan also known as Lt. Col. Thileepan was a LTTE political wing member who died during a hunger strike during the IPKF operation of Jaffna, Sri Lanka.[1][2]
Personal life[edit]
His real name was Rasaiah Parthipan and was born in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. His father Rasaiah was a school teacher. His mother died during his childhood and he was brought up by his single father. He was a popular student in Jaffna Hindu College, a prominent high school in Jaffna, before joining the LTTE. prior to the 1983 Black July pogrom.
LTTE[edit]
Rasaiah Parthipan joined the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 1983 prior to Black July pogrom. He was given the name Thileepan. He became the LTTE political wing leader of the Jaffna peninsula. He was a determined person who fasted unto death.
On the 15th of September 1987 at 9.30 a.m at the Nallur Murugan Temple, Thileepan began his fast. His main objective was to bring awareness and action to a list of public demands made by himself and the Tamil Tigers, at a time when the relationship between the LTTE and the IPKF administration was deteriorating.[3]
The publicly stated goals of his fast were [4]
All Tamils detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act should be released.
The colonisation of Sinhalese in Tamil areas under the guise of rehabilitation should be stopped.
All such rehabilitation should be stopped until an interim government is formed.
The Sri Lankan government should stop opening new Police stations and camps in the Northeastern province.
The Sri Lankan Army and Police should withdraw from schools in Tamil villages and the weapons given by the Sri Lankan government to 'homeguards' should be withdrawn under the supervision of the Indian army.
Death[edit]
Although several groups requested Thileepan as well as the local IPKF administration to intervene and stop the fast, Thileepan died on the 26th of September 1987.
There was widespread grief in Tamil areas. Thousands of people from the North and East flooded Jaffna as news of his death spread[citation needed].
His death created an anti-Indian mood in Jaffna that was pro-India till then.[5]
Resumption of hostilities[edit]
Several days later the LTTE began hostilities against the Indian Peace Keeping Force. The death of Thileepan was hence seen as a pivotal moment in Sri Lankan History and Sri Lankan - Indian relations for years to come[