- Thileepan
Thileepan also known as Lt. Col. Thileepan(1962 –
26 Sep ,1987 ), was aLTTE political wing member who died during ahunger strike during the IPKF operation ofJaffna ,Sri Lanka .ref|2ref|1Reasons for fast
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.ref|1The publicly stated goals of his fast were ref|2
* 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withdraw from schools in Tamil villages and the weapons given by the Sri Lankan government to 'homeguards' should be withdrawn under the supervision of the Indian army.Death
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 spreadFact|date=March 2007.His death created an anti-Indian mood in Jaffna that was pro-India till then.ref|1
Resumption of hostilities
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 comeFact|date=March 2007.ee also
*
Indian Peace Keeping Force
*Indo-Lanka accord References
*Note|1 [http://www.atimes.com/ind-pak/DD13Df02.html SRI LANKA: THE UNTOLD STORY] Chapter 35: Accord turns to discord By
K.T.Rajasingham *Note|2 [http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=6341 Thileepan commemorations in 2001]
*Note|3 [http://www.tamilnation.org/tamileelam/maveerar/thileepan.htm Tamilnation on Thileepan]
*Note|4 [http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1806875,001302310000.htm Hindustan Times report on Thileepan 2006]
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