Tamil survivors commemorate 33rd anniversary of Puthoor massacre

Last week, Tamil commemorated the 33rd anniversary of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) massacre of nine civilians in Puthoor, Vatharawathai.

The memorial comes amidst an ongoing culture of suppression of Tamil memorials. 

Tamil commemorators took a moment to remember the lives of civilians slaughtered next to a destroyed monument dedicated to the massacre.

The commemoration was followed by a pooja held for the souls of the massacred victims to rest in peace at the Pillaiyar kovil. The children, spouses and relatives of the victims offered flowers, lit a flame and observed a moment of silence.

Ananthi Sasitharan, Tamil activist and former Provincial Council member, said; 

"The Indian government is yet to even acknowledge the many massacres, and deaths of civilians that the Indian military that came to the island under the ostentatious title of the Indian Peace Keeping Force is responsible for. But us Tamil people that continue to be refugees in our own land will rebuild the monuments that were destroyed during the war to remember our people that have been killed."