Tiger territory
23Jul08
The tiger symbol features in posters around the Pongu Tamil event at Mason Park, Homebush.
UP to 2000 members of the Tamil community gathered in a Homebush park to venerate the leader of the outlawed guerrilla movement in war-torn Sri Lanka.
The event, known as Pongku Thamizh or Pongu Tamil, was organised by the Tamil Civic Centre and held at Mason Park in Underwood Rd on Sunday, July 6.
An advertisement on the Tamil Sydney website stated: "Tamils in Sydney are organising Pongku Thamizh 2008 in support of Eelam Tamils' (in Sri Lanka) right to self-determination, which means 'Tamil upsurge', an annual move aimed at Tamil awakening through cultural programs".
According to another website, tamilnet.com, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader V Pirapaharan (also known as Velupillai Prabhakaran) spent the same day commemorating the "356 Black Tigers (male and female who) have laid down their lives ... since July 5, 1987".
The website describes in detail suicide bombing attacks on the Sri Lankan army, then mentions the release of six music albums to raise money for the Tigers. Pongu Tamil was declared at Jaffna University on January 17, 2001 with the statement: "The aspirations of the Tamils, namely right of self-determination, traditional homeland, the Tamil as a distinct nationality should be recognised".
A resident who asked not to be named told the Inner-West Weekly Mason Park was used "to indoctrinate and germinate the seeds of terrorism among young Australian children".
The man, who took the main photograph, said he had to chant with the supporters so that he could go unnoticed.
"The chant was 'Soorya Thevan ... Prabhakaran' which means 'Sun God ... Prabahkaran'. It went on for nearly six hours over loudspeakers. What if this was for Bin Laden!" he said.
He described children as young as two or three holding banners displaying the Tamil Tiger symbol and pictures of Prabhakaran, who is wanted by Interpol and the authorities in Sri Lanka and India for numerous crimes against humanity.
He has been linked to the assassination of former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.
In the park, the Australian flag was displayed on stage beside the Tiger symbol and a huge picture of Prabhakaran.
The resident said the words Pongku Thamizh "strictly mean an occasion to take pride in being a Tamil but it has been hijacked by terrorist supporters and has become an occasion to drum up support for the militaristic aims of the LTTE, and the raising of funds for the LTTE's war chest under the guise of celebrating the Tamil culture".
"The LTTE front organisations are known for resorting to various schemes to circumvent Australian laws, and make it appear they are engaged in normal community activities."
Before the event, several people raised concerns and appealed to Strathfield Council to review applications for permits to use council facilities.
Strathfield Council released a letter to concerned residents on the Friday before, saying the event had been cancelled.
But a council spokesman said this week the council had initially closed the park for the weekend due to wet weather but the weather improved and it was re-opened.
The resident said: "Council workers were seen busy on Sunday providing assistance to set up stages, generators and to erect Prabhakaran's image at Mason Park."
The council spokesman told the Inner-West Weekly the Tamil Civic Centre had organised the event and the council's only concern was that about 2000 people turned up instead of the 250 to 500 estimated by the Tamil Civic Centre.
"Events that involve over 500 people require organisers to apply for a large event hire so council can formulate a traffic plan, organise waste management and inform residents of the event," he said.
"Unfortunately, none of this occurred due to the under-estimation of attendees by the Tamil Civic Centre."
Attempts to contact the Tamil Civic Centre were unsuccessful.
