Thileepan

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Thileepan also known as Lt. Col. Thileepan(1962 – 7 Sep 1987), was a LTTE political wing member who died during a hunger strike during the IPKF operation of Jaffna, Sri Lanka.[1][2]

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[edit] Early life

His real name was Rasaiah Parthipan and was born into a middle class minority Tamil family in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. His father Rasaiah was a school teacher. His mother passed away 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. He was given the name Thileepan. He was injured in military operations with the LTTE and was at the time of his death, the LTTE political wing leader of the Jaffna peninsula.[3]

[edit] Reasons for fast

On the 15th of August 1987 at 9.30 a.m at the Nallur Murugan Temple, Thileepan began his fast. LTTE's main objective was to highlight the so called failures of the Indian forces to satisfy it's political demands [4].

Just prior to his fast the relationship between the LTTE and the IPKF administration was its lowest point[5]

The publicly stated goals of his fas were [6]

  • 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withdraw from schools in Tamil villages and the weapons given by the Sri Lankan government to 'homeguards' should be withdrawn under the supervision of the Indian army.

[edit] 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 spread.

His death created an anti-Indian mood in Jaffna that was pro-India till then.[7]

[edit] Resumption of hostilities

Several days later the LTTE began hostilities against the Indian Peace Keeping Force.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

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