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A symbolic protest titled “Viduthalai” (Freedom) was held at Kittu Park in Nallur today, with demonstrators demanding the immediate release of Tamil political prisoners still held under Sri Lanka’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA).
Organised by the activist collective Voice of the Voiceless, the event drew civil society members, former detainees, and local residents who gathered to express solidarity with prisoners held without charge or trial, some for decades.
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A highlight of the protest was the exhibition replicating prison life, offering a stark visual representation of the harsh conditions endured by Tamil detainees. The installation served as a reminder of the systemic abuse and indefinite detention enabled by the PTA, which has long been condemned by human rights organisations for disproportionately targeting Tamils in the North-East.
As part of the demonstration, activists initiated a symbolic water collection ceremony for the “Tree of Freedom” campaign. Water collected from across the Tamil homeland will be poured when the tree is planted, representing a collective call for justice and the liberation of political prisoners.
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The event also marked the launch of Thuruverum Kaivilangu, a book by former political prisoner Vivekanandanoor Sathees, who spent 15 years behind bars. His memoir sheds light on the lived realities of Tamil prisoners, many of whom were arrested on unsubstantiated grounds and remain incarcerated decades after the end of armed conflict.
See more photographs below.
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