It’s 23 years since the ‘Pongu Tamil Declaration’ that announce a right to independently determine the political future of the Tamil people among other commonly accepted demands.
Local journalists say the event was organized by the Jaffna University Students Union in front of the memorial at the University. Apart from the students, teachers also joined the remembrance day event.
Pongu Tamil Declaration also called Tamil’s Uprising Report was released on the 17th of January 2001. It emphasized Tamil’s aspirations, right to self-determination, Traditional Homeland, and Tamil Nationalism among others, and urged the Sri Lankan government to accept the same.
Senior lecturer at the Jaffna University Manickavasagam Ilampirayan while participating in the event appealed to the students to fight non-violently to win the rights of the Tamil people.
“If university students embark on a struggle there will be massive support. The student community has the potential to mobilize the people. You have to realize your strength. University students have the power to win the rights and solve the concerns of our people. I am not asking you to adopt violence or go for an armed struggle. This could be achieved through non-violent means”.
The Pongu Tamil memorial was unveiled at the University campus on the 17th of September 2018, due to the efforts of the Jaffna University Students Union.
While participating in that event, the then Vice-Chancellor of the Jaffna University Ratnam Wigneswaran said the Pongu Tamil memorial is a symbol of the rights of the Tamil people.
