LTTE Tamil Tiger Suicide bomber kills another Tamil Leader, Dr Neelan Thiruchelvam, Member of Parliament
Tamil Parliamentarian Dr. Neelan Thiruchelvam of the TULF was killed in a bomb blast on 29 July 1999. The
But all hopes of bringing in peace were dashed when a suicide bomber of LTTE rode up to him in a motor cycle and fell on his car killing him instantly. This makes Dr. Tiruchelvam the eighteenth parliamentarian to be killed by the LTTE-- an organisation banned by the US, India and Malaysia as a deadly terrorist outfit. Recently, it gunned down in Jaffna, Mrs. Sarojini Yogeswaram, 65-year-old widow, who was nominated by Dr. Tiruchelvam's party, TULF, to be the Mayoress of the elected Municipal Council of Jaffna. The TULF then nominated another lawyer Mr Pon Sivapalan to succeed Mrs. Yogeswaram. He too was gunned down in broad daylight. (Click here to see the list of elected representatives who were killed by the LTTE).
These killings are directed by Mr. Velupillai Prabhakaran, the leader of the LTTE. He has been branded by the New York Times (May 28, 1995) as the successor to Pol Pot -- "the latest Master of Terror".
The question is: why is he committing these crimes against humanity ?The Answer :
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Special Edition by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sri Lanka |
UN chief condemns Sri Lanka murder |
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International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) expresses outrage The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) expresses great shock over the assassination of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam, a prominent constitutional lawyer and moderate opposition member of parliament, Dr. Tiruchelvam's was murdered in a bomb explosion. The advocate was a strong believer in constitutional reforms and actively supported the devolution process as one of the means for ending the ethnic and political conflict that has devastated the island for many years. |
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condemns killing Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy on Saturday condemned the assassination of Sri Lanka's moderate Tamil leader Neelan Tiruchelvam. |
| US
strongly condemns Tiruchelvam killing JULY 30-The United States Thursday strongly condemned the assassination of TULF MP Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam by an LTTE suicide bomber, and described it as an "outrage." Human Rights Watch, the leading human rights organisation in the US also said it was "appalled" over Dr. Tiruchelvam's killing. |
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Here are some related news items......
| Statement by
Sri Lanka Ambassodor S.Palihakkara UN Working Group on Indegenous People -30 July 1999 Madam Chair, I thank you for your statement. Dr Neelan Tiruchelvam was a renowned acedemic and a peace maker widely known nationally and internationally.He passionately believed in, and single mindly worked for a peaceful solution to the ethnic issues in Sri Lanka. Yesterday he made the supreme sacrifice in that process. My delegation would like to express our sincere gratitude to you and to the Working Group for the sentiments expressed on yet another horrendous terrorist act committed by the LTTE when they assasinated Neelan yesterday as he was leaving home for his daily work as a Human Rights defender and a serving MP of the Sri Lanka Parliament. This tragic loss bring to the fore once again the immense danger posed to the human rights defenders by terrorist groups like tha LTTE . It is poignant reminder to all of us that members of some terror groups masquerading as representatives of civil society are moving about in the corridors of these chambers adusing procedures of the UN in oreder cover up dastardly acts such as these.There is ironic timeliness in the work of Economic and Social Council currently meeting in the Conference hall next to our meeting room, in that Council has today reached a consensus on strong puntive action against such abusers of UN procedures. As far as the Government of Sri Lanka is concerned, this terrorist outrage, which has been condemned world wide will further strengthen its resolve to bring to fruition the paece process it has painstakingly pursued in consultation with paece loving Tamil community of Sri Lanka and Tamil leaders like Dr Neelan Tiruchelvam. Terror groups like LTTE should know that such cowardly acts will not scare the peace makers and will not detarct from the Government's committment to find negotiated solutions.The President of Sri Lanka who unreservedly condemned the cruel assasination stated .. " Let us pay respects to the late Dr Tiruchelvam and embrace the vision of ethnic harmony and peace that he has committed and always followed, and thereby rededicate ourselves to slove our country's ethnic crisis in a truely peaceful manner." My delegation will convey the sentiments you have expressed to the members of Dr Tiruchelvam's family. 30th July. |
Statement by
NATIONAL MOVEMENT AGAINST TERRORISM
| PRESS RELEASE by Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Sri Lanka Statement on the Assassination of Dr Neelan Thiruchelvam made by Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, at the briefing of the Diplomatic Corps resident in Sri Lanka on 2nd August, 1999 |
| Amnesty International - News Release - ASA 37/19/99 29 July 1999 SRI LANKA Amnesty International condemns killing of Neelan Thiruchelvam MP |
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