Rasaiah Parthipan
| Rasaiah Parthipan | |
|---|---|
| Born |
November 27, 1960 Jaffna, Sri Lanka |
| Died |
September 26, 1987 (aged 26) Jaffna, Sri Lanka |
| Nationality | Sri Lankan |
| Other names | Thileepan |
| Occupation | Tamil Militant |
| Known for | Hunger Strike |
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.
Personal life
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 and his aunt. 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
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.
Reasons 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.
The publicly stated goals of his fast were
- 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withdraw from schools in Tamil villages and the weapons given by the Sri Lankan government to 'homeguards' should be withdrawn under the supervision of the Indian army.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
Thileepan was firm on his demands and was unrelenting unless Tamil demands were meet, he would not end his fast. IPKF Commander Harkirat Singh who was based in Jaffna wanted J N Dixit to visit and talk to Thileepan but his request was turned down.Thileepan died on the 26th of September 1987.[1]
There was widespread grief in Tamil areas. Thousands of people from the North and East and other parts flooded Jaffna as news of his death spread.[1][2][3][4]
His death created an anti-Indian mood in Jaffna that was pro-India till then.[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 come.[3]
See also
References
- 1 2 3 Brigadier Samir Bhattacharya (24 January 2014). NOTHING BUT!: BOOK FIVE: ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR. Partridge Publishing India. pp. 195–. ISBN 978-1-4828-1731-7. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ↑ Gautam Das; Mrinal K. Gupta-Ray (2008). Srilanka Misadventure: India's Military Peace-keeping Campaign, 1987-1990. Har-Anand Publications. pp. 57–. ISBN 978-81-241-1363-9.
- 1 2 Ē. Es Pālaciṅkam (1 January 2004). War and Peace: Armed Struggle and Peace Efforts of Liberation Tigers. Fairmax Publishing. p. 116. ISBN 978-1-903679-05-0.
- ↑ "Tamil Rebel Dies After 12-Day Fast; Crowds Press Demands". Los Angeles Times. 27 September 1987. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ^ SRI LANKA: THE UNTOLD STORY Chapter 35: Accord turns to discord By K.T.Rajasingham
- ^ Thileepan commemorations in 2001
- ^ Tamilnation on Thileepan
- ^ Hindustan Times report on Thileepan 2006