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Tamil Eelam Women’s Day commemorating Malathy’s Martyrdom

Tamil People all over the Tamil Homeland and abroad are commemorating the eighteenth anniversary of Second Lt.Malathy, the first Woman Martyr in the Liberation struggle, today 10 October 2005, the day in 1987 this formidable woman Tiger fighter attained martyrdom in her fight against the Indian Army in a confrontation at Kopay in Jaffna.

Having commanded a unit that was fighting against the Indian army, Malathy’s martyrdom as the first woman fighter has earned for her the reputation of one whose anniversary day is befittingly commemorated as the Tamil Eelam Women’s Day every year. Sahayaseeli Pethuru, a village school girl from the sleeping hamlet Aadkaaddiveli in the western Mannar coast, motivated by the yearning for freedom from military aggression and persecution joined the Liberation movement, leaving her school career abruptly, a phenomenon that was prevalent at that time in view of the oppressive manner in which both Sri Lankan and Indian troops treated the Tamil people.

Excerpts from a statement released by the LTTE Political Committee on 10 October 1987:

“While the LTTE and the people of Tamil Eelam were mourning over their dead heroes, the Government of India mobilised its peace keeping force for a bloody war against the Tamils. Neither the Tamil people nor the LTTE anticipated, even in their wildest dreams, a war with India. India was their protector, guardian and saviour and the presence of Indian troops was looked upon as an instrument of peace and love. For the LTTE, India was their promoter, a friendly power, who provided sanctuary and armed resistance, an ally who respected its role in the liberation war and recognised its political importance. Therefore the Indian decision to launch a war against the LTTE took the Tamil nation by surprise and anguish.”

10 October 2005

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