The 16th anniversary of the Mullivaikkal tragedy — a day that marks the catastrophic loss endured by the Tamil people in May 2009 — was commemorated with profound emotion both in the Tamil homeland and by diaspora communities around the world.
In Mullivaikkal, remembrance events were organized under the auspices of the Mullivaikkal Memorial Collective. Agathiyar, the spiritual head of the Thenkayilai Atheenam, read the Mullivaikkal Declaration, followed by a moment of silence to honor the victims.
Ceremonies included the lighting of the flame of sacrifice and the offering of floral tributes. Over 10,000 people, including religious leaders and the general public, gathered to pay heartfelt homage to those who perished. The event served as a poignant call for justice, aiming to draw international attention to what has been described as the Tamil genocide.
Documents previously submitted by the late Bishop of Mannar, Rt. Rev. Dr. Rayappu Joseph, to the United Nations Human Rights Council, reported that more than 140,000 Tamil civilians were killed or disappeared during the final stages of the war in Mullivaikkal.
