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TamilEelam Women's Day

Today is Tamileeam women’s day. Today, Tamil people commemorate 2nd Lt Col Malathi, who lead the path of freedom struggle for the women of Tamileelam and symbolised that struggle.

The little girl who played in the dusty streets of the Alkaddi village in Mannar became the symbol of the freedom struggle that is admired by the world Tamil community. It is the LTTE movement that made this possible. “When one is ready to die for truth ordinary people can change history”, said our leader. 2nd Lt Col Malathi lived and died as an example of this and thus led the way for all the Tamil women. With her memories we must hasten our walk towards our goal. When Tamil women joined the struggle for Tamileelam, many said this is not the path for women’s freedom. Today, Tamileelam women are standing strong proving them wrong.

At one time, women who joined our freedom struggle were looked upon as separate from the women in society. Women fighters commanded respect and exuded confidence both of which was absent among other women in society. In due course however, other women also progressed in many aspects of life with the same confidence and respected attributed to women fighters. In economic power and political awareness women are progressing. Women who were restricted to homes are today working outside in large numbers and they are breaking traditional views that only some occupations are suitable for women. Tamileelam women are performing difficult and highly skilled tasks. This will strengthen the development of Tamileelam. This force of change must gain momentum. This will be possible only through hard work, the expertise women will gain as a result, and the support that is given to these women.

With confidence in the peace process severely weakened our struggle is being strengthened with people’s uprising events and their defensive training. Women participation in them is to be admired. The dream of our leader to create women leaders to lead the people is becoming reality.

We have not got our full freedom. Many parts of our homeland are still under occupation. People living there must throw away their life of slavery and turn into fighting women. Women who supported the female LTTE fighters during the war must now strengthen this contribution.

While on the one side women participation is growing in many aspects of social, political and economic life, male chauvinistic attitudes remain. It is only when our nation achieves full freedom progressive social changes can take place. We must therefore join the freedom struggle to hasten that achievement.

The pain of the women in south Tamileelam is deep indeed. The tragedies in their lives through loss of life mates continue. Only when competent young women decide to strengthen our struggle we will be able free the land and our lives based on that land from occupation.

International community that gives high priority to women’s right and humanitarianism has a role in ending the endless sorrows of the women of Tamileelam. Tamil people expect the international community to understand the political aspirations of the women of Tamileelam as members of the Tamileelam society.

Tamileelam women have arrived at the stage where they must think deeply and decide. Whereas once there were only hurdles for our freedom today we can see the stepping-stones. Once we blamed the history for our plight. If we miss the opportunity today history will blame us. The chauvinistic forces that are killing the peace will not give us anything but misery. Let us realise this and accept the command given to us by history and walk along the path to freedom.

10 October 2005

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