Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day

File:Charles Chauvel candle.jpg MP Charles Chauvel lighting a candle on Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day 2010 in Wellington, New Zealand]]

File:Uthayan Staff Blood Donation in Jaffna.jpg staff donating blood on Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day 2013 in Jaffna, Sri Lanka]]

The Sri Lankan Civil War was an armed conflict where the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) led an insurgency against the Sri Lankan government to create an independent state in the Tamil-majority northeastern regions of Sri Lanka called Tamil Eelam. By 2007, the civil war had cost an estimated 70,000 lives.{{cite news|last=Buerk|first=Roland|title=Defiant Tigers cling to last bastion|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/6898002.stm|newspaper=BBC News|date=16 July 2007|authorlink=Roland Buerk}} Amongst those killed, Sri Lankan Tamils alone made up a total of 54,053 deaths and 25,266 Sri Lankan Tamils went missing or "disappeared".{{Cite web|url=http://www.tchr.net/50_year_arrest_kill.htm|title=Recorded figures of Arrests, Killings, Disappearances|website=www.tchr.net|accessdate=17 March 2023}} The final months of the civil war, between late 2008 and early 2009, witnessed particularly brutal fighting between the Sri Lanka Army and the LTTE.{{cite news|last=Harrison|first=Frances|title=The broken survivors of Sri Lanka's civil war|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-19843977|newspaper=BBC News|date=11 October 2012|authorlink=Frances Harrison}}{{cite news|title=UN chief announces Sri Lanka trip|url=http://www.unhcr.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/refdaily?pass=463ef21123&date=2009-05-20&cat=Asia/Pacific|newspaper=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|date=19 May 2009|agency=Agence France Presse}} Around 300,000 civilians were trapped between the two sides.{{cite web|title=UN must investigate Sri Lanka rights violations|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/un-must-investigate-sri-lanka-rights-violations-2010-05-17|publisher=Amnesty International|date=17 May 2010}} Both sides committed and were accused of major human rights violations.{{Cite web |last=Pioneer |first=The |title=Lankan Civil War and human rights violation |url=https://www.dailypioneer.com/2021/columnists/lankan-civil-war-and-human-rights-violation.html |access-date=2022-05-27 |website=The Pioneer |language=en}}

The civil war ended on 18 May 2009 with the killing of Velupillai Prabhakaran, founder and leader of the LTTE.{{cite news|last1=Hull|first1=C. Bryson|last2=Sirilal|first2=Ranga|title=Fighting ends, rebel leader Prabhakaran dead|url=https://www.welt.de/english-news/article3758496/Fighting-ends-rebel-leader-Prabhakaran-dead.html|newspaper=Die Welt|date=18 May 2009}} A United Nations report found that as many as 40,000 Tamil civilians may have been killed in the final months of the civil war, mostly as a result of indiscriminate shelling by the Sri Lankan military.{{cite news|last1=Aneez|first1=Shihar|last2=Sirilal|first2=Ranga|title=Sri Lanka won't cooperate U.N. war crime probe: foreign minister|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-sri-lanka-un-rights-idUSBREA3616520140407|newspaper=Reuters|date=7 April 2014}}{{cite news|last=Lynch|first=Colum|title=U.N.: Sri Lanka's crushing of Tamil Tigers may have killed 40,000 civilians|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/un-sri-lankas-crushing-of-tamil-tigers-may-have-killed-40000-civilians/2011/04/21/AFU14hJE_story.html|newspaper=Washington Post|date=22 April 2011}}{{cite news|title=UN: Sri Lanka mass deaths may be 'war crimes'|url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2011/04/2011425214422583975.html|newspaper=Al Jazeera|date=25 April 2011}} There are widespread allegations that both sides committed atrocities and human rights violations, including war crimes.{{cite news|last=Davidson|first=Helen|title=Sri Lankan security forces destroyed evidence of war crimes, report claims|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/05/sri-lankan-forces-committed-flagrant-and-reckless-violations-of-human-rights-report-claims|newspaper=The Guardian|date=5 February 2014}}{{cite news|title=Q&A: Post-war Sri Lanka|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-11393458|newspaper=BBC News|date=20 September 2013}}{{cite news|last=Welch|first=Dylan|title=Fraser supports call for Sri Lanka war crimes inquiry|url=http://www.theage.com.au/national/fraser-supports-call-for-sri-lanka-war-crimes-inquiry-20111025-1mi3w.html|newspaper=The Age|date=26 October 2011}} The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights is currently investigating the alleged war crimes.{{cite news|title=United Nations launches Sri Lanka war crimes inquiry; Australia declines to support resolution|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-28/an-un-sri-lanka-probe/5350786|newspaper=ABC News (Australia)|date=28 March 2014|agency=Agence France-Presse}}{{cite news|last=Buncombe|first=Andrew|title=UN launches official investigation into Sri Lankan war crimes|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/un-launches-official-investigation-into-srilankan-war-crimes-9219611.html|newspaper=The Independent|date=27 March 2014}}

The Sri Lankan government, which formerly declared 18 May as Victory Day, celebrates the day with military parades.{{cite news|title=War memorial events banned in North|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/140511/news/war-memorial-events-banned-in-north-98763.html|newspaper=The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)|date=11 May 2014}} The day is also a commemoration for dead military personnel who are celebrated as "war heroes".{{cite news|last=Dias|first=Supun|title=Week-long programme to mark war heroes' week|url=http://print2.dailymirror.lk/news/news/10371.html|newspaper=The Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)|date=12 May 2010|access-date=17 May 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140517222551/http://print2.dailymirror.lk/news/news/10371.html|archive-date=17 May 2014|url-status=dead}} However, there was no official commemoration for the thousands of Tamil civilians killed in the civil war despite the government's own Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission recommending that all citizens killed during the war be commemorated on National Day (4 February).{{cite web|title=Report of the Commission of Inquiry on Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation|url=http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/ca201112/FINAL%20LLRC%20REPORT.pdf|publisher=Government of Sri Lanka|pages=387–388|date=November 2011|access-date=2014-05-17|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120112233146/http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/ca201112/FINAL%20LLRC%20REPORT.pdf|archive-date=2012-01-12|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last=Perera|first=Jehan|title=The rational quest for mutually beneficial solutions starts now|url=http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page=article-details&code_title=91057|newspaper=The Island (Sri Lanka)|date=29 October 2013}} Instead, the government has virtually banned Tamils from commemorating their war dead.{{cite book|title=Report of the Secretary-General's Panel of Experts on Accountability in Sri Lanka|date=31 March 2011|publisher=United Nations|page=80|url=https://www.un.org/News/dh/infocus/Sri_Lanka/POE_Report_Full.pdf}}{{cite news|title=Victims or active agents of change?|url=http://www.ceylontoday.lk/59-45193-news-detail-victims-or-active-agents-of-change.html|newspaper=Ceylon Today|date=18 October 2013}} In the run up to 18 May, security is tightened in the Tamil-majority Northern and Eastern provinces and schools and universities are closed to prevent any public commemoration.{{cite news|last=Perera|first=Melani Manel|title=Sri Lanka preparing Victory Day but only the south will celebrate|url=http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Sri-Lanka-preparing-Victory-Day-but-only-the-south-will-celebrate-31067.html|newspaper=AsiaNews|date=13 May 2014}}{{cite news|title=SL military wants Jaffna University shut down on Mu'l'livaaykkaal Day|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=37201|newspaper=TamilNet|date=6 May 2014}}{{cite news|title=Jaffna University To Close On May 18|url=http://www.thesundayleader.lk/2014/05/11/jaffna-university-to-close-on-may-18/|newspaper=The Sunday Leader|date=11 May 2014}}

The government and its security forces regard any commemoration by Tamils to be commemoration of the LTTE, not civilians.{{cite news|title=No War Commemoration Allowed in Lanka North|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/No-War-Commemoration-Allowed-in-Lanka-North/2014/05/11/article2219195.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307095903/http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/No-War-Commemoration-Allowed-in-Lanka-North/2014/05/11/article2219195.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 March 2016|newspaper=The New Indian Express|date=11 May 2014|agency=Press Trust of India}} The security forces claim that Tamils may commemorate dead LTTE members in private but there have been reports of the military entering homes to prevent commemoration.{{cite news|title=Sri Lanka bans commemoration of Tiger rebels|url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/kt-article-display-1.asp?xfile=data/international/2014/May/international_May252.xml§ion=international|newspaper=Khaleej Times|date=11 May 2014|agency=Agence France-Presse}}{{cite web|title=Living with insecurity: Marginalization and sexual violence against women in north and east Sri Lanka|url=http://www.minorityrights.org/12119/reports/living-with-insecurity-marginalization-and-sexual-violence-against-women-in-north-and-east-sri-lanka.html|publisher=Minority Rights Group International|page=13|date=16 October 2013}}

Under the presidency of Mahinda Rajapaksa, 18 May was known as Victory day, but when Maithripala Sirisena came to power in 2015 the date was renamed as Remembrance day.{{Cite web |title=May 19 is Remembrance Day: Rajitha - Breaking News {{!}} Daily Mirror |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking_news/may-19-is-remembrance-day-rajitha/108-72667 |access-date=2022-05-27 |website=www.dailymirror.lk |language=English}} The date was also moved to 19 May.{{Cite web |title=National War Heroes’ Day commemoration event gets underway |url=https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=90659 |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=www.adaderana.lk |language=en}}

Despite the security restrictions, Tamils in Sri Lanka hold small events on 18 May, which they call Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day, to commemorate those killed.{{cite news|title=Sri Lanka Tamils defy ban on rebel memorial|url=http://www.arabnews.com/news/452083|newspaper=Arab News|date=19 May 2013|agency=Agence France-Presse}}{{cite news|last=Srinivasan|first=Meera|title=Sri Lanka seizes ammunition|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/south-asia/sri-lanka-seizes-ammunition/article5996599.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date=10 May 2014}}{{cite news|title=Mu'l'livaaykkaal Remembrance observed in Vanni|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=35195|newspaper=TamilNet|date=19 May 2012}} Public commemorations are dealt with harshly by Sri Lankan security forces,{{cite news|title=SL police disrupts elected councillors from conducting Mu'l'livaaykkaal Remembrance|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=37215|newspaper=TamilNet|date=16 May 2014}}{{cite news|last=Mohan|first=Sulochana Ramiah|title=TAK to commemorate war dead|url=http://www.ceylontoday.lk/16-64051-news-detail-itak-to-commemorate-war-dead.html|newspaper=Ceylon Today}} and Sri Lankan Tamil politicians have been arrested for commemorating Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day.{{cite news|title=SL Police arrests TNPF politicians on Mu'l'livaaykkaal Remembrance Day in Mannaar|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=36325|newspaper=TamilNet|date=18 May 2013}}{{cite news|title=15 arrested for allegedly marking Prabha's death|url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/130519/news/15-arrested-for-allegedly-marking-prabhas-death-45218.html|newspaper=The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)|date=19 May 2013}}

In the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, political parties, youth organizations, and social movement groups organize a number of remembrance events across the state.{{cite web | url=http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=36328 | title=Idea of the Tamil struggle cannot be killed': Kashmiri Leader | publisher=TamilNet | accessdate=19 July 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=36322 | title=TN Mu'l'livaaykkaal Remembrance meeting condemns Indian-West complicity in genocide | publisher=TamilNet | accessdate=19 July 2014}}{{cite web | url=http://www.tamilguardian.com/article.asp?articleid=4868 | title=Events across Tamil Nadu mark Mullivaikkal massacre | publisher=Tamil Guardian | accessdate=19 July 2014}}

Amongst the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora, where there are no restrictions on commemorating Mullivaikkal Remembrance Day, large public gatherings are held.{{cite news|title=British MPs call for war crimes probes at Mu'l'livaaykkaal Remembrance|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=31788|newspaper=TamilNet|date=20 May 2010}}{{cite news|title=International probe into Sri Lanka's war crimes urged at British rally|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=33968|newspaper=TamilNet|date=19 May 2011}}{{cite news|title=Independent international investigation on Sri Lanka called for at London event|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=35197|newspaper=TamilNet|date=20 May 2012}}{{cite news|title=Diaspora Tamils observe Mu'l'li-vaaykkaal Genocide remembrance events|url=http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=36331|newspaper=TamilNet|date=19 May 2013}}

In 2022, the Parliament of Canada adopted a motion to mark May 18 as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day.{{Cite news |date=2022-05-18 |title=Parliament creates day to remember Tamil genocide in Sri Lanka |language=en |work=National Post |url=https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/parliament-creates-day-to-remember-tamil-genocide-in-sri-lanka |access-date=2022-05-27}} In 2023, Mayor of Brampton Patrick Brown commemorated Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day with a ground breaking for a Tamil Genocide monument to be built in the city of Brampton.{{Cite web |title=Canadian Parliamentarians recognise Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day {{!}} Tamil Guardian |url=https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/canadian-parliamentarians-recognise-tamil-genocide-remembrance-day |access-date=2024-05-18 |website=www.tamilguardian.com}}

• Maaveerar Naal
• Mullivaikal Muttram

{{Reflist}}

{{Sri Lankan Civil War}}

{{Sri Lankan Tamil people}}

Category:May observances

Category:Observances honoring victims of war

Category:Sri Lankan civil war

Category:Sri Lankan Tamil culture

Category:Sri Lankan historical anniversaries

Category:Observances in India