 So far, 1,307 LTTE fighters have sacrificed their lives for the advancement of
the Tamil Eelam liberation struggle and for drawing world attention to it. The
courageous death of each and every one of these fighters is a heroic
chapter in the story of the Tamil Eelam liberation struggle.
In this, the death of the first fighter Lt. Shankar is a unique
chapter.
27 November 1982 is the day in which Lt. Shankar (Sathianathan) gave his
life for the liberation struggle. That was an unforgettable day. Today,
LTTE fighters are giving their lives almost daily. Daily events in their
memory are also being held.
But Shankar's death was unique. There was a sacrifice even in his death
itself.
Regrettably it was a situation when the LTTE was not able to publicly
announce his death, the first in the organisation's history, to the
outside world. The news of his death, had it been announced by the LTTE,
would have put many LTTE supporters in danger of being hunted by the
oppressive Sinhala government.
So his death was not made public immediately and it was only on the first
anniversary of his death, was it announced to the outside world.
LTTE fighters have died in different circumstances; on the battlefield,
by taking cyanide to avoid capture, killed by the enemy after a traitor's
acts, killed by a traitor's hand, succumbing to battle injuries when
treatment has failed.
In all these ways, 1307 fighters have laid down their lives for the ideal
of Tamil Eelam and a dawn for the Tamil people.
To commemorate these fighters together, the LTTE has decided to declare
November 27, the remembrance day of Lt. Shankar (the first LTTE fighter
to die), as Maveerar (Heroes) day and to celebrate that day annually as a
rising day.
Courtesy: 'Tamil Eelam', (Voice 17) November 1989 - A journal published by the Political
Section of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
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