Tamilnet.Com
[April 07, 2006 04:08 GMT]
Vigneswaran shot dead in Trincomalee!
Pirapaharan confers Maamanithar 
title to Vigneswaran!

Mr.Vanniasingham Vigneswaran, President of the Trincomalee District Tamil Peoples' Forum (TDTPF) was shot dead Friday around 9.30 a.m. by an unidentified person when he was about to enter the main branch of the Bank of Ceylon (BoC) located along Inner Harbor Road between the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police and Trincomalee Harbor Police. The assassination of the key Tamil activist has taken place when the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) was about to announce the appointment of Mr. Vigneswaran as the national list Parliamentarian to fill the position held by Joseph Pararajasingham MP who was slain in Batticaloa on Christmas eve, TNA sources said. 

Tension prevails in Trincomalee town. 
The incident took place inside the High Security Zone between two Sri Lanka Army (SLA) checkpoints, opposite to the Trincomalee Harbour, near the SLN Command in Trincomalee. 

The TDTPF under the leadership of Mr.Vigneswaran has been spearheading the campaign for the removal of the controversial Buddha statue, which was erected in a land close to the Trincomalee central bus stand last year. 

In June 2005, two grenades were lobbed into Mr. Vigneswaran's residence by an unidentified attacker. 

Tamilnet.Com
[April 08, 2006 12:31 GMT]
Pirapaharan confers Maamanithar 
title to Vigneswaran!

Leader of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Velupillai Pirapaharan, bestowed the title Maamanithar (Great Human being) on Mr.Vanniasingham Vigneswaran, President of the Trincomalee District Tamil Peoples' Forum (TDTPF) who was shot dead Friday. "Steadfast and honest, he opposed the genocidal war by the successive Sinhala governments which destroyed thousands of tamil lives and their property, plundered Tamils possessions and resources, and was intent on destroying Tamil National symbols. Vigeswaran fought to free Tamils from this menace," Pirapaharan said in the statement conferring the award.

Translation of the statement issued from Liberation Tigers Political Office in Kilinochchi Saturday follows:

"Tamil Nation has lost today a highly principled man who worked relentlessly towards the freedom of Tamil Nation. A flame of freedom that burnt brightly in our Nation's capitol has been extinguished. A strident voice that fought for the unity and solidarity of the Tamil Nation has gone silent. A Tamil activist who served as a backbone to the rise of Tamil Nationalism has been killed by the cowardice attack by the enemy. Vigneswaran's loss has plunged our Nation into unspeakable grief.

Vigneswaran is a shining light possessed with high ideals. His exemplary qualities attracted everyone towards him. Tamil people held him in high esteem and loved him. His loss is irreplaceable.

Vigneswaran firmly believed that separate Tamil eelam is the final solution to the Tamil National struggle. Steadfast and honest, he opposed the genocidal war by the successive Sinhala governments which destroyed thousands of tamil lives and their property, plundered Tamils possessions and resources, and was intent destroying Tamil National symbols. Vigeswaran fought to free Tamils from this menace. He embraced fully the ideals and struggle advanced by our movement towards freedom.

His life was closely entwined with Trincomalee soil and lives of Tamil people. He deeply loved his people. While living amidst Sri Lanka Army (SLA) occupation, he raised his voice to the world that the Trincomalee soil belonged to Tamil people. Even while aware of danger to his life, he courageously fought against injustice. As the President of the Trincomalee District Tamil Peoples' Forum, he was instrumental in strengthening Tamil National Alliance (TNA) support in his district.

I am deeply honored to confer the Maamanithar (Great Human being) award on Mr V Vigneswaran recognizing his love for his people and their freedom, and his unprecedented contributions to the Tamil struggle. Death never destroys great men who lived to uphold truthful goals. They will forever live in the psyche of the Tamil Nation."

Courtesy:  Tamilnet.com