Mass graves and failed exhumations

“Mass graves and failed exhumations” report published today by activist groups including

@itjpsl

,

@JDSLanka

& Families of the Disappeared indicated that there were 20 exhumations of mass graves in the past 3 decades.

100s of remains were unearthed & State has not taken any action to date to identify victims or bring perpetrators to justice. The report also indicated that tens of 1000s of remains could still be buried in undiscovered mass graves.

Known mass graves:

                                    

1989: Remains from the 1987-1989 JVP insurrection period - Hokandara, Ankumbura, Nikawaretiya, Wilpita 1990: Considered as last mass killing of the JVP insurrection period - Wavulkelle 1994: Remains thought to be of JVP suspects - Walpita Government Farm

1994: Remains from the 1987-1989 JVP insurrection period - Sooriyakanda, Essella 1995: Remains thought to be of Tamil young men suspected of being LTTE members - Bolgoda lake 1999: Tamils killed and buried during the occupation of IPKF in 1987 - Duraiyappah stadium

Remains of Tamils killed by Sri Lankan army: 1999: - Chemmani 2000: - Mirusuvil 2010: - Ganeshapuram

2012: 155 bodies without identification of the crime to date - Matale 2013: Victims of disappearance - Thiruketheeswaram 2014: Victims believed to be Muslims killed by Karuna - Kaluwanchikudy 2018: > 318 remains yet to be clarified - Mannar

Remains of Tamils killed by Sri Lankan army: 2019: - Puthukudiyiruppu, Kilinochchi & many more yet to be discovered or not outed by the state!

The state has played a huge role in sabotaging these investigations.

@GotabayaR

has been accused in this report of tampering with records, especially of the area where he was a military officer during the Marxist insurrection in 1989. From #TamilGenocide to many mass graves, the Sri Lankan state continues to get away with its crimes against humanity. Will there ever be justice for victims on the island of #SriLanka which should be renamed the 'Graveyard of Indian Ocean'.

Story of transgender in Eezham

Story of transgender Mary and how she was treated by இயக்கம். They would have handled all representations of LGBTQ+ the same way. They were progressive before the rest of the world was

https://youtu.be/pe2ULuA9sTM

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In 1989, a transgender woman, living in Thellipalai, Jaffna, was brought in for questioning by LTTE due to the way she was dressing/behaving. At that time, Sambavi was in charge of the Tellippalai women's team and started the investigation related to this incident.

The Transgender in question indicated to Sambavi and her team that she can never relate to being a male/dressing like one. She identifies herself as a woman and is comfortable being one. During this time, many did not have knowledge or understanding of the term transgender and these female cadres wrote a letter to the LTTE police headquarters requesting the next course of action.

As per the suggestion of headquarter, this transgender woman was brought in and was examined by a medical team that included a psychiatrist. Post examination, the medical team told concluded that she is transgender and that she should be allowed to live as a woman. She was also issued a letter indicating she should be comfortable in dressing and living her life on her own terms, if she was harassed/teased, she can always come to the LTTE police station for support and action. The very next day, feeling safe and secure, she dressed up in a saree and walked along the streets of Tellippalai to Marudhanar Madam with her held high, as the entire town watched her in awe.

In the same week, 5 young men mocked her as she went to pray at St. Anthony's Church in Manipay. She lodged a complaint at the LTTE police station. 5 men were arrested and they were educated to be tolerant and to understand that as humans, we are all entitled to live how we choose to. They were warned that further harassment will lead to severe punishment.

In the de facto state of Tamil Eelam, everyone was treated equally and fairly. As the rest of the world is catching up on LGBTQ+ in this century, LTTE was far ahead & always wanted an inclusive society for all.

LGBTIQA+

Lack of knowledge & ignorance makes many assume supporting LGBTIQA+ makes you part of the "Western social progressiveness'. It is actually the opposite. It's the 'West' that imposed 'cis genders' on society. MANY native cultures embraced various gender identities.

LGBTIQA+ stands for "lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual & many other terms (such as non-binary and pansexual)". This Longer initialisms may make you ASSUME that it's to accept many 'Western thinking' but rather understand native cultures.

So what is Sex: anatomy you are born with - physically what you see. what is Gender: how do you feel/relate You CAN identify your child as M/F sex but their gender identification is up to them, as they grow. You, nor the world around them have ZERO say!

Biological Contributions to Sex & Gender Identity: During the prenatal period, sex determination & differentiation occur in a series of sequential processes which are influenced by g̲e̲n̲e̲t̲i̲c̲ ̲a̲n̲d̲ ̲e̲n̲v̲i̲r̲o̲n̲m̲e̲n̲t̲a̲l̲ ̲f̲a̲c̲t̲o̲r̲s̲.̲ ̲

During the pubertal period: behavioral and hormonal changes manifest secondary sexual characteristics. This reinforces the sexual identity of the individual through adolescence and into adulthood.

Though we all collectively assume, cis men (xy) and cis women (xx) are how each fetus develops, all humans begin development from the s̲a̲m̲e̲ ̲s̲t̲a̲r̲t̲i̲n̲g̲ ̲p̲o̲i̲n̲t̲: phenotypically FEMALE.

1st few weeks of fetal development, gonad (which later produces your sex organs) remains u̲n̲d̲i̲f̲f̲e̲r̲e̲n̲t̲i̲a̲t̲e̲d̲. ALL fetuses are initially phenotypically female.

After ~ 6 - 7 weeks of gestation, the expression of a gene on the Y chromosome induces changes that result in the development of the testes. Otherwise, it will continue to develop into female genitalia.

Normal and abnormal routes of development lead individuals to become males and females, & responsible for the changes during childhood, reproductive adulthood, and the later stages of life. This has nothing to do with your conspiracy theory but everything to do with biology!

Gender identity is distinct from sexual orientation. This is not a new concept, we have seen this in most of our native cultures. Many natives were prosecuted & killed by 'the West' or by 'religions based on scripture' because it doesn't fit their 'norm'.

Cultural examples: Some Native American & First Nations cultures traditionally recognize the existence of more than two genders: Zuni male-bodied lhamana Lakota male-bodied winkte Mohave male-bodied alyhaa and female-bodied hwamee

These traditional people, along with those from other North American Indigenous cultures, are sometimes part of the contemporary, pan-Indian t̲w̲o̲-̲s̲p̲i̲r̲i̲t̲ ̲c̲o̲m̲m̲u̲n̲i̲t̲y̲.

In Mexico: Zapotec culture includes a 3rd gender in the form of the Muxe. In Hawai'i and Tahiti: Mahu is a traditional third gender Mahu are valued as teachers, caretakers of culture, and healers, such as Kapaemahu Diné (Navajo) have Nádleehi

Ancient Middle East: Akkadian people: a salzikrum (meaning male daughter) - person who appeared biologically female but had distinct male traits. In Ancient Rome: Phrygian goddess Cybele: can be regarded as transgender in today's terms

In early Medina: gender-variant male-to-female Islamic people were acknowledged in the form of the Mukhannathun. In Samoan culture: Fa'asamoa traditions allow a specific role for male-to-female transgender individuals as Fa'afafine

In Hindu tradition: We see many examples: the story of men giving birth (Birth of Murugan) and Arthanareeswarar to state a few As you see, drawing a small circle for gender identity came from the West & now finally they are catching up & accepting the true nature of us. Those who have issues with equal representation and acceptance of all come from regressive hateful beings who tend to their hatred towards race & religion. Trans genocide is something we all should learn to educate ourselves as well. The battles they would and continue to fight to pave the path for MANY rights & opportunities that we enjoy now! So thank them. Understand them. You are no one to draw the line for others!

Thoothukudi Massacre

 May 22: When States became predators that performed massacres in both Tamil homelands. 

1958: 1st anti-Tamil pogrom that took over 1500 Tamil lives & left many displaced

 2018: Thoothukudi Massacre where 13 Tamils were killed & 103+ were injured by the police

ThoothukudiMassacre took place on 22 and 23 May 2018 in Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu. Protesters, in large numbers, marched against the Sterlite copper plant on 22 May 2018. Police opened fire on the protesters, killed 13 people, and left 103+ injured. The protest was against the proposed expansion of a copper smelter plant run by Sterlite Corporation in Thoothukudi town. Protesters opposed the soil, water, and air contamination caused by the factory.

According to research by Tirunelveli Medical College:

• ⬆️prevelance of respiratory diseases* & ear, nose,  throat (ENT) morbidity in the 5-km radius of Sterlite Industries   *at 13.9% which was far higher than the state average
• prevalence of asthmatic bronchitis is 2.8%, 2X more than the state average of 1.29%
• Myalgia was commonly reported
• women found to have menstrual disorders such as menorrhagia & dysmenorrhagiae in this area

According to the report, the cause of all these health effects is due to the air and water population caused by the industry's thermal power plants and automobiles in the area. Iron content in the groundwater in the area was also found to be 17–20X higher than the allowable limit.

A report by National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI) in 1998 indicated that the levels of selenium, arsenic, and lead were higher than what was allowed. The report also indicated dead birds after they consumed the water mixed with the effluent.  It also indicated that the process of cooling the effluents can cause health hazards to the workers & those who reside in that area. It also mentioned that the dug wells and borewells around the spot were found to be non-drinkable because of their high chemical content. Samples from a village 2km NW of the factory had levels of cadmium, copper, lead, chromium, and arsenic 2 -9X higher than allowed levels. Arsenic levels in the soil samples in the surrounding area ranged from 133 - 287 mg/kg, where soils containing more than 50 mg/kg of arsenic that was considered normal.

Another study done by NGO indicated that:

• higher salinity levels that can damage the crops
• water sample with 10X higher than allowed Sulfate level
• soil samples with an exceedingly high level of iron, if ingested by a child, can lead to poisoning

Another study in 2017 indicated that most of the groundwater samples in the area are highly contaminated with heavy metals like arsenic, lead, boron.

Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB) observed that the industry has been releasing poisonous gas into the air. In 1997, TNPCB asked the company to shut down due to sulphur dioxide gas leak which hospitalized more than 90 people.

There was another gas leak in 2013 and the plant was blamed for health issues observed in the area: coughing, wheezing, eye irritation, and miscarriages. Following this incident, then CM Jayalalitha ordered the factory to be shut down. 2018 protest was due to Sterlite's plan to increase the capacity from 400000 tonnes to 800000 tonnes per year. Knowing the impact the factor has on them and their land, people took to the street to protest. The same State that should protect them ordered to police to shoot them down. This DID NOT happen many years but in the era of social media where we witnessed the riot that was done to the people by the State. Though DMK talked about justice, after coming to power, they have done nothing to hold the perpetrators responsible for this massacre.

As we wait for accountability for ALL massacres, the people of Thoothukudi are still waiting...

We remember the lives that were lost!