Switzerland & the Struggle for Tamil Eelam - Speech by Federal Councillor Micheline Calmy-Rey, Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs, 2003

தமிழ்த் தேசியம்

"To us all towns are one, all men our kin.
Life's good comes not from others' gift, nor ill
Man's pains and pains' relief are from within.
Thus have we seen in visions of the wise !."
- Tamil Poem in Purananuru, circa 500 B.C

Young Tamils in Switzerland Commemorate
32nd Death Anniversary of Sivakumaran

Swiss Tamil young adults and high schoolers celebrated Tamil Students Uprising day Saturday, 10 June 2006 in Bern, Switzerland, commemorating the 32nd anniversary of Jaffna Student leader P.Sivakumaran who died on 5 June 1974. Sivakumaran was the first one in the history of Tamil struggle to take cyanide when Sri Lanka Police surrounded his hideout in Urumpirai.

Sivakumaran Statute in Urumpirai, Tamil Eelam 2004

Thileepan, the youth co-ordinator in Switzerland, hoisted the Tamileelam flag while the young men and women stood in attention. Bern area co-ordinator Saravanan lit the flame of sacrifice at the start of the ceremony.

Cultural events with music and drama performed by Tamil Youth Organization (TYO) members followed.

Swiss co-ordinator for IBC radio, Krishna Ambalavanar and LTTE's spokesperson for Swiss branch, Albert, speaking at the event praised the Swiss Tamil youth for acting with responsibility and engaging in productive activities in promoting welfare of the Tamil people in the Northeast, urged the youth to work harder to educate and encourage other youth to participate in similar activities.