On this day 14 years ago, Murugathasan Varnakulasingham, self-immolated outside the United Nations Human Rights Council in protest at the inaction of the international community, in the face of the relentless onslaught of the Sri Lankan military on Tamils in the Vanni.
The 26 year old left a letter behind, in which he said that his actions were intended to wake up the international community, which “failed to stop the genocide against Tamils in their traditional homeland”.
His funeral was attended by over 10,000 people in London and the anniversary of his death is commemorated every year by the Tamil nation.
File photograph: Murugathasan Varnakulasingham's grave in North London.
“The flames over my body will be a torch to guide you through the liberation path.”
Murugathasan Varnakulasingham
02.12.1982 – 12.02.2009