Tamils remember Kumarappa, Pulendran and those who chose death over surrender

A remembrance event for Lt. Col. Kumarappa and Lt. Col. Pulendran, two senior Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leaders, and ten others who died in 1987, was held in Theeruvil, Jaffna, organised by the Tamil National People’s Front (TNPF).

Local residents, party members, and relatives of the fallen gathered to pay their respects at the memorial site where lamps were lit and floral tributes offered. TNPF representatives recalled the two commanders’ sacrifice and the events that led to their deaths - a moment that has come to symbolise Tamil resistance and betrayal by the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF).

Kumarappa and Pulendran were captured by the Sri Lankan Navy off the coast of Point Pedro in October 1987, even as the Indo-Lanka Accord was in effect and a ceasefire formally in place. Despite international appeals, they were handed over to the IPKF, alongside several other cadres. 

The ten other cadres were Major Abudullah, Captains Karan, Ragu, Palani and Miresh, Lts Thavakumar, Anbalagan, Second Lt. Anandakumar, Lt.Reginald and Captain Nalan.  The incident occurred within two months of the IPKF arriving on the island.

All 12 cadres swallowed cyanide and died on 5 October 1987, after finding out that the Sri Lankan army and IPKF were planning to take them to Colombo. They died at the Sri Lankan Army’s Palaly base in Jaffna.

Their deaths sparked widespread outrage and were followed by mass demonstrations across the North-East. In the years since, Tamils have continued to commemorate them as symbols of steadfastness, honour, and the principle of self-sacrifice in the face of occupation.

In 2018 the Urban Council of Valvettithurai cleared and attempted to rebuild the Theeruvil memorial monument for the fallen cadres which was destroyed by the Sri Lankan military after a court ruled in its favour. Despite the court ruling in favour of the Tamil residents, the project has been subject to heavy police intimidation and surveillance.

In November 2019 police were identified filming members of the public which led to criticisms of the officer in charge (OIC) maintaining surveillance of the public. In the face of this heavy intimidation, the council was still able to clear the ground for the monument.

Here are photos of the previous memorial monuments in Theeruvil, Valvettithurai.

^{Photographed in the early 90's}

^{Photographed in the early 90's}

^{The partly destroyed memorial in 2010.}

^{The partly destroyed memorial in 2010.}

The monument, pictured in 2017.