French stamp issued in tribute to slain Tamil diaspora leader Col. Parithi

The Tamil Traditional Network-France, in collaboration with the French postal service La Poste, launched a commemorative stamp in tribute to Nadarajah Mathinthiran, also known as Colonel Parithi, the former leader of the CCTF, who was tragically assassinated in Paris on November 8, 2012. 

As the leader of the French Tamil Coordinating Committee (CCTF),  Col. Parithi was held as an inspiration and guiding light by French Tamils and TCC members worldwide. Mathinthiran was shot dead as he walked out of the organisation's office in Paris. A suspect who was detained by French police a few days later in connection with the murder claimed to have been offered a 50,000 Euros award and a Sri Lankan passport by an associate of the Sri Lankan Embassy in France for the murder, reported the French newspaper le Parisien. No one has ever been convicted.

The ceremony was presided over by M. Abdel Sadi, Mayor of Bobigny and Departmental Councilor of Seine-Saint-Denis, who unveiled the stamp in the presence of several important political and public figures. The stamp was officially revealed by Dharmathi Nadarajah Kamalambikai, the mother of Nadarajah Mathinthiran, and M. Abdel Sadi. The very first copy of the stamp was handed to M. R. Siritharan, President of the Association des Commerçants Tamouls de France.

Several members of the French parliament and municipal councillors were present at the event, including Mme Oldhynn Pierre, Municipal Councilor of Bondy and Departmental Councilor of Seine-Saint-Denis, Mme Raquel Garrido, Member of Parliament for Seine-Saint-Denis, M. Alexis Corbière, Member of Parliament for Seine-Saint-Denis.

The guests strongly expressed their support for the fight for justice in the assassination of Mathinthiran, emphasizing that this stamp symbolises the sacrifice and commitment of the Tamil community in their pursuit of justice.