APPEAL FOR TOLERANCE AND NON-VIOLENCE ON THIS DAY DECLARED AS THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF TOLERANCE & NON-VIOLENCE.
The world celebrates the 16th of November (today) declared by the United Nations as the day for Tolerance and Non-Violence, for the promotion of which I was awarded the UNESCO’s Madanjeet Singh Prize for the year 2006. The next would be for 2008.
The sad events taking place in the country everyday is disturbing. Apart from the combatants dying from both sides, a lot of innocent people also die due to Clay-more mine attacks, shelling and bombing. Hardly one day passes without somebody dying of violence everyday in the North and the East. The score for the past three days in Jaffna alone is six. No one has any right to take another person’s life. We must learn to tolerate and should not give vent to our anger.
Parliament is not the place to promote discord among various communities. I am surprised at one of the Members claiming the Tamil people, the LTTE and his Organization as one. Surely the Tamils are a Peaceful lot and are committed to non-violence and cannot be claimed as one with a terrorist outfit which is blood thirsty. Another politician had compared a leader of the same Terrorist outfit with the late Mr. S.J.V.Chelvanayagam, affectionately called as Eelathu Gandhi and much loved by the Tamil people because of his tolerance and non-violence that prompted the people to call him Gandhi of Lanka. This great Leader committed to non-violence, should not be compared with a Leader of the most ruthless organization in the world.
On this day, as one honoured with an Award, established on the 125th Anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi by Hon. Madanjeet Singh, I appeal to all to shun violence and to promote tolerance among all sections of the people for permanent Peace in the country.
V.Anandasangaree,
President – TULF.
