May 17 Movement
May 17 Movement is a prominent Tamil National Civil rights movement fighting for the justice for Eelam Tamil Genocide & the rights of Tamils in Tamil Nadu.
Formation | 2009 |
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Type | [Leftist Rights Movement] |
Purpose | Political Movement |
Headquarters | Chennai, Tamil Nadu |
Fields | Tamil Eelam Struggle, Tamil Nationalism, Human Rights Protection, Rationalism, Communism, Environmentalism |
Key people | Thirumurugan Gandhi, Praveen Kumar, Lena Kumar |
Website | may17iyakkam |
History
May 17 Movement was formed in May 2009 during the war in Sri Lanka when thousands of Tamils were killed. It was founded by activist Thirumurugan Gandhi in 2009. It is a Tamil nationalism movement based in Tamil Nadu, works for Worldwide Tamil people and caste annihilation. This is the only active movement actively involved in the exposing the controversial TFA(Trade Facilitation Agreement) policy of the World Trade Organization (WTO) accepted and signed by the Government of India.
May 17 movement consistently advocates for the liberation of Tamil Eelam, a separate state of Eelam Tamils. It has also spoken in the Geneva human rights sessions in the United Nations (UN) since 2015, in support of the nations without states, indigenous peoples and communities which have faced war crimes against the imperial forces. Lead by Thirumurugan Gandhi, it has represented the Tamil civil society in Permanent Peoples' Tribunal for Sri Lanka in Bremen, Germany in 2013.
May 17 Movement coordinates and Gathers all the people at Chennai Marina beach (Tamizhar Kadal) to conduct the candleLight Vigil on 3rd Sunday on the Month of May every Year to mark the remembrance of 2009 Tamil Eezham Genocide. Every Year leaders from various parties, and peoples from various demography across tamilnadu gathers for this event. Regardless of their political differences, all the leaders participate and mourn for the genocide happened for tamils and unanimously raise slogan for Liberation of Tamil Eezham as the only solution, and demand for the Referendum for Eezham.
Documentary
May 17 Movement released a video documentary named "*பாலைவனமாகும் காவிரி டெல்டா: மீத்தேன் (The desertification of Cauvery Delta: Methane)" on fracking in Tamil Nadu.
References
- Ravikumar, N (18 May 2015). "Victims' Cries Haunts Refugees Even 6 Years After Lankan Tamils' Massacre". New Indian Express. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- "News India South Tamil groups protest against Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's India visit". India Today. 25 May 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- Jebakumar, R Prince (5 April 2014). "Tamil Groups Yet to Take Poll Call". New Indian Express. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- "Tamils Should Protest Against UN, Demand Referendum: May 17 Movement". salem-new. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- "Pro-Tamil group lays siege to Congress office". New Indian Express. 24 February 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- "UN Ignored Plight of Lankan Tamils". New Indian Express. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- Vannan, Gokul (16 May 2012). "Call to boycott Lankan products". New Indian Express. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- "Tamils should protest against UN, demand referendum: May 17 Movement". Tamilnet. 12 August 2012. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- "Massive rally on X-Mas day at Marina". CNN-IBN. 21 December 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2015.
- Vannan, Gokul (27 June 2011). "Huge support for Eelam at Candle light vigil". New Indian Express. Retrieved 23 September 2015.