Chennai sources have stated that Chennai's Marina Beach has been a favorite with protesters. But for more than a decade, protests, demonstrations, agitations etc have been totally banned along the shoreline. The Chennai Police yesterday reiterated its ban on protests or unlawful gathering on the Marina Beach and warned of arrests if protesters are found assembling here.
It was stated that the May 17 Movement, a Tamil National Civil rights activist group fighting for the rights of Sri Lankan Tamils, has called for a candlelight tribute behind the Kannagi statue on the Marina this evening, in memory of the more than a lakh Lankan Tamils killed in the final phase of the war in Sri Lanka. Baahubali actor Sathyaraj, too, has released a video message requesting people to join the meet.
However, the police released a statement in anticipation that said,
"It's illegal to gather or hold protests along the beach and those who
violate will be arrested and prosecuted."
Meanwhile Tamil activist Thirumurugan Gandhi, founder of May 17 Movement said, "Gathering near water bodies to remember the dead is an age old tradition and no law can stop us. The civil war in the island nation spearheaded by the banned LTTE ended in 2009 with the killing of its chief Velupillai Prabhakaran. Over a lakh Tamils were reportedly killed during the final phase of the war according to an UN appointed committee.
