Paying respect at the Memorial of Stalwarts
Garlanding Amirthalingam’s Statue
Asiriyar Dr. K. Veeramani delivered a thought provoking speech, the excerpts from which are as follows:
“In the past history of the war, innumerable stains of blood still remain – reminding us the horror. They can never be wiped off by the tear drops shed by us. Even wiping off those stains is not sufficient. We have to learn useful lessons from those stains. We should stand united in spite of difference of opinions and views. We should be seen by the world as one single powerful force. That day is not too far. Before that we must all toil together synergistically.
Only our perspiration can cause changes. Changes caused by sweat alone would last forever – not the changes caused by our shedding tears.
Even after the lapse of 15 years after the war, the rights of Eelam Tamil have not been retrieved. Counting the years passed is of no use at all. Consoling and comforting one another would be meaningless.
Many political stalwarts have sacrificed and laid down their lives for the sake of the rights of the Tamils. Thousands of warriors lost their precious lives. What lesson have we learnt after all those losses? We must think deeply over the changes to be sought by us. While thinking over the changes required, we should ignore all the petty differences among ourselves. Let us not bother about irrelevant disparities and stand firmly united. This is the humble view of all wishers like us. Rest assured, we are all with you at all times.
This is the right time to widen all our approaches in order to retrieve all the rights of the Tamils – such as the rights pertaining to our language and culture. This event is not just a meet at a venue in my opinion. This confluence is a turning point for fruitful changes. This venue is the centre wherefrom historic changes would shortly crop up.
It is our duty to make the younger generation understand our history as clear as crystal. Darkness is not something to last forever. When dusk falls, dawn is sure to break. Stalwarts like Amirthalingam and Selva strove for this break of dawn. Recalling their unparalleled sacrifices, we should march ahead to reach our goal. The solutions for all our problems are almost close to our reach.”
