Archive for November, 2006
[TransCurrents News Service]
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) confirmed charges made by the UN’s Allan Rock about Government involvement in child recruitment and emphasised that the SLMMM too has supportive evidence.
The SLMM has confirmed allegations made by the UN of involvement of government forces in child recruitment and said that they too possessed evidence to that effect.
“The statement made by the UN official is correct and the SLMM in its second Geneva report released in August also stressed that we had sufficient evidence to prove that the government forces were involved in child recruitment,” Acting SLMM Spokesperson, Helen Olafsdottir told The Morning Leader.
She added that the SLMM would continue to monitor the situation.
In its second Geneva report, the SLMM said that child recruitment and child abduction continued on a relatively high level in June, July and August but unlike earlier months, a majority of the cases reported were not against the LTTE, but against the Karuna group.
“While it is evident that LTTE was behind most of the child recruiting as confirmed by several of the victims and the LTTE, there are also strong indications that the Karuna (group) were behind several of these abductions,” the SLMM report said.
It further said that there were a number of indications that the government was actively supporting the Karuna group. “Known Karuna supporters have been seen moving to and from SLA camps, and it is evident that the security forces and police in some areas are not taking action to prevent armed elements from operating,” the report said.
Latest reports complied by the SLMM too said that abduction were continuing in Batticaloa. “Batticaloa is more tense than the week before and SLMM received complaints of eight killings and 17 abductions (including three children). Numbers are bound to be much higher as parents of abductees have been threatened by the perpetrators not to report to police or international organizations,” it said in its latest situation report.
Meanwhile the UNICEF in a recentreport states that the breakaway Karuna faction of the LTTE known as Tamil Makkal Viduthalaip Puligal (TMVP) has recruited 142 child soldiers.
“As of 31 October 2006 there are also 142 outstanding cases of under age recruitment by the Karuna group, all of them boys,” the report said.
However the UNICEF estimates that its database only reflects a third of the actual number of children, because often parents do not report abductions in fear of being harassed by these rebel cadres.
UNICEF was given a mandate to monitor child rights violations of the ceasefire agreement at the Oslo round of Peace Talks in November 2002.
According to the latest statistics, as of October 31, 2006, there are 1598 outstanding cases of under age recruitment by the LTTE. Of these, 649 are under the age of 18, and 949 were recruited while under 18 but have now passed that age.
A news report filed by B. Mralidhar Reddy the Colombo Correspondent of “The Hindu” notes that t he report of Mr. Rock has triggered an alarm in the political and diplomatic circles here.
In the words of a western diplomat, “We are shocked that a section of the security forces, whose government is actively engaged in a campaign against the practice of use of children for combat by the LTTE, is now photographing children in villages and facilitating the Karuna group to do the same thing. This is totally unacceptable. If unchecked, the international community might be left with little option but to consider sanctions.” The Hindu” says.
transCurrents feedback : editor@transcurrents.com
November 14th, 2006
By D.B.S.Jeyaraj
The Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL), Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Tiger faction known as the Tamil Makkal Viduthalaip Puligal (TMVP) have all been charged by the United Nations of various acts of omission and commission regarding the recruitment and deployment of child soldiers in north-eastern Sri Lanka.
Former Canadian cabinet minister and ex-ambassador to the UN, Allan Rock has in a press conference held in Colombo sharply criticised all three parties to the conflict in this respect.
The criticism of the government is not about recruiting under-aged children to the armed forces. It is related to aiding and abetting the Karuna faction of the LTTE known as TMVP of conscripting minors. The LTTE is condemned for not honouring its earlier pledges and continuing with recruitment of minors.
Special advisor
Allan Rock was appointed recently as special adviser on Sri Lanka to Radhika Coomaraswamy, the special representative of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on the role of children in armed conflict. Rock undertook a 10 day field trip to Sri Lanka from November 6 to 14.
Rock visited Sri Lanka on an invitation from President Mahinda Rajapakse. He also met representatives of the LTTE and TMVP. Allan Rock conducted a press conference at the end where a statement was issued and questions answered.
The shocking disclosure from the media’s point of view was the accusations leveled against the Karuna faction’s (TMVP) recruitment of children and the state’s complicity in that.
Earlier the question of child soldiers in Sri Lanka was perceived as pertaining to the LTTE alone. Though it was widely known that the TMVP was conscripting under-aged children with the active support of the armed forces the fact that a respected UN official had articulated these charges for the first time had a bombshell impact on the local and foreign media.
Selective reporting
While sections of the local and foreign media have given prominence to the charges against the GOSL and its allied TMVP, the state controlled media has emphasised the condemnation of the LTTE by Allan Rock and blacked out the other charges.
Likewise the pro-Tiger media too while highlighting the accusations against the GOSL and TMVP has conveniently ignored Rock’s criticism of the LTTE.
At the Colombo press conference Allan Rock was required to answer queries raised by the media. The questions and answers along with selective reportage are likely to convey different impressions of Allan Rock’s revelations. However the statement released by the UN on Ambassador Allan Rock’s findings shows that he has been quite fair and forthright in criticising all three parties to the conflict.
The statement is excerpted here in full as it outlines Rock’s field trip and pinpoints the findings against the GOSL, LTTE and TMVP respectively:
Statement from the Special Advisor on Children and Armed Conflict
“Allan Rock, the Special Advisor to the United Nations Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict on Sri Lanka, has concluded his 10 day mission to the country Colombo, 13 November.
During those 10 days, the mission visited Colombo, Ampara, Batticaloa, Kilinochchi and Jaffna districts. The mission enjoyed the full cooperation of the Sri Lankan government and met with all parties concerned with the ongoing conflict. In his meeting today with President Rajapakse, the Special Advisor expressed his appreciation for the extensive efforts made by the Government of Sri Lanka to facilitate his visit and access to all areas.
The purpose of Mr. Rock’s visit was to ascertain first-hand the situation on the ground, mainly in the north and east, with a particular focus on compliance with the Action Plan for Children Affected by Conflict.
The Action Plan was endorsed by the Government and the LTTE following their commitment during peace talks in 2002 and 2003 to work with UNICEF and the Government to end the recruitment of children and to release under-age recruits in their ranks.
The mission’s initial findings reveal that the LTTE has not complied with its commitments under the Action Plan to stop child recruitment and release all the children within their ranks. Under-age recruitment continues and the LTTE have yet to release several hundred children as verified by UNICEF.
The mission also found that the so-called Karuna faction continues to abduct children in government-controlled areas of the east, particularly Batticaloa District. Since May of this year, 135 cases of under-age recruitment by abduction have been reported to UNICEF, with evidence that this trend is accelerating.
The mission also discovered a disturbing development involving the Karuna abductions. It found strong and credible evidence that certain elements of the government security forces are supporting and sometimes participating in the abductions and forced recruitment of children by the Karuna faction.
The mission met with the parents of many of the abducted children in Batticaloa District. As a result, it learned of eye-witness evidence that links the Karuna faction abductions to certain government elements. Based on the evidence as a whole, the mission concluded that some government security forces are actively participating in these criminal acts.
Apart from the issues of child recruitment and abductions, the mission also observed the deteriorating humanitarian situation in certain areas of the north and east. During his visits to Vaharai and Jaffna, Mr. Rock saw first hand the fear, isolation and critical unmet needs of IDP children there.
The Special Advisor met with the leadership of the Muslim Community in Batticaloa and elsewhere, and learned of their feelings of isolation and vulnerability. The mission concluded that special efforts should be made to acknowledge the rights and needs of the Muslim Community.
With respect to attacks on civilian areas, the mission called on all parties to respect their obligations under International Humanitarian Law.
In the case of LTTE, the mission reminded it of its obligation to ensure that military assets are not placed in areas where civilians, especially children, can be at risk. It also called on the LTTE not to engage in the use of civilians as human shields.
With respect to the Government, the mission reminded it that it has a responsibility to ensure that no civilians are targeted in military operations.
On these various issues, Mr. Rock sought and received several assurances and commitments by the parties involved.
The LTTE gave him assurances that they would work with UNICEF, commencing immediately, to accelerate the release from their ranks of all children, with the objective of completing that process by January 1, 2007. They also committed to better training for their military commanders in relation to recruitment, and a process of discipline for those who do not comply.
The Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP), on behalf of its military wing Karuna, undertook to publish formal policy statements forbidding under-age recruitment, and to release any children who may now be in its ranks. The TMVP agreed to work with UNICEF in an effort to trace the whereabouts and arrange the release of those abducted children whose families have complained to UNICEF.
Mr. Rock also received assurances from President Rajapakse concerning the allegations that elements of the Sri Lankan security forces have been complicit with the Karuna faction in its child recruitment, and that they participated in or facilitated child abductions. The President made clear to Mr.Rock that he will order an immediate and thorough investigation to determine whether such things have occurred and, should the evidence support that conclusion, he will take action to hold accountable those who are responsible.
The Special Advisor welcomes all such assurances and will seek concrete evidence of compliance by all parties before the submission of his formal written report to the Security Council in January next year.”
“It is increasingly clear that children are at risk from all sides,” said Rock. “It is crucial that ways be found to monitor and protect their rights and interests. Wherever I traveled, I saw with my own eyes that systems meant to safeguard children’s rights are either deteriorating or absent. It is apparent that there is an urgent need for an independent monitoring capacity to ensure that children affected by the conflict are protected,” stated Rock.
Assurances
All three parties namely the GOSL, LTTE and TMVP have given assurances to Allan Rock that they would attend to the issues raised and rectify matters. While welcoming such assurances Allan Rock has explicitly stated that he would seek compliance by all parties before he finalises his report. The Special Adviser to the SGSR will compile a vivid report and submit it to the UN Security Council in January next year.
The ‘faulted’ parties have an opportunity therefore to adopt correctional measures in the next few weeks and re-furbish their images. If they think that they could fudge matters as they have done in the past they could be sadly mistaken. The UN Security Council is taking an active and keen interest in issues such as these and has gone in for sanctions. The focus is more on ‘ensuring application’ rather than ‘elaborating standards.’
Congo and Sudan have felt the impact of these new directions. Monitoring and reporting mechanisms are underway in Burundi, Somalia, Ivory Coast, Sri Lanka and Nepal.
Strategy
Sri Lankan national Radhika Coomaraswamy was designated UN Special Representative on Children in armed conflict to the UN Secretary-General in February this year. Coomaraswamy assumed duties in June. In September she addressed the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva. In that speech Coomaraswamy outlined the strategy and goals of the UN in addressing this issue.
Four relevant paragraphs from Radhika Coomaraswamy’s address are excerpted below:
“In the last years my office has advocated a re-direction of the international community’s energies from the elaboration of standards to ensuring their application on the ground. One of our great successes has been to engage the Security Council in a serious consideration of these issues.
“The Security Council itself has moved from general statements on protection of war affected children to the endorsement of the Secretary-General’s monitoring and reporting action plan. This involves the adoption of the monitoring and reporting mechanisms in Burundi, Somalia, Sudan, DRC, and Cote D’Ivoire, Sri Lanka, Nepal in order to provide the council sufficient timely, objective, accurate and reliable information to call violating parties to task and to take appropriate action, including sanctions, against repeat violators.
“Of course, this work is done in close partnership with the United Nations country teams in these countries. Security Council Resolution 1612 (2005) also creates a dedicated Security Council Working Group on children and armed conflict, consisting of all its members, to review monitoring reports, consider other relevant information presented to it, and recommend concrete and targeted measures against violators as well as bring monitoring information to the attention of other destinations for action.
“Under the chairmanship of France, the Security Council working group has held five formal meetings since November 2005; terms of reference of the group have been developed, a yearly work plan developed and two in depth monitoring reports deliberated.
“In June this year my office contributed to the report of the Secretary General on the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo with regard to children and armed conflict. Based on the work of the monitoring and reporting mechanism set up under Security Council Resolution 1612, it outlined the violations by several actors including the security forces of the state.
“As a consequence of this report the Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict adopted certain conclusions and recommendations including writing to the government of the DRC to ensure that it takes effective action against impunity, urging MONUC to be more proactive in arresting Laurent Nkunda, a gross violator of the rights of children, and in requesting the sanctions committee to take necessary action against the MRC. This was a historic occasion, Mr. President, in that the Security Council has now taken concrete targeted measures against those who continue to violate the rights of children with impunity.
“In August this year my office, in close consultation with the UN Country Team and partners, contributed to the report of the Secretary General on children and armed conflict in Sudan. It highlighted incidents and patterns of violations by state and non state actors including the Janjaweed militias, the Sudan armed forces, the Sudan People’s Liberation Army, Sudan Liberation Army and the Popular Defense Forces. We now await the conclusions and recommendations of the Security Council Working Group on the situation in the Sudan.
“Mr. President, the establishment of the Security Council working group signals, in a very visceral way, the council’s full intention to deepen its engagement on what is, at its very heart, a human rights protection issue with obvious peace and security elements. Furthermore, the creation of the Security Council working group ensures that the protection of children in armed conflict is no longer left to a once-yearly glance during the open debate, but a sustained attention to the issue throughout the year.”
Writing on the wall
If the UN Security Council does pursue these issues with vigour and interest as advocated by Coomaraswamy the writing could be on the wall for countries violating rights of children in armed conflict.
While the LTTE and TMVP will be penalised for conscription the GOSL could be in greater trouble. For one thing an elected, democratic sovereign government has to adhere to higher standards. Also apart from the child soldiers issue there are other aspects too like education, nutrition, health etc. of children in armed conflict. The Rajapakse regime is woefully lacking in these respects.
Unless the Rajapakse regime gets away from its militaristic approach to issues and mends its ways, the GOSL could face strictures like Congo in the future.
Allan Rock’s forthcoming report could determine the future course of events in this respect. Sri Lanka is truly between (no pun intended) a rock and a hard place!
transCurrents feedback : editor@transcurrents.com
transCurrents feedback :Contact DBS Jeyaraj : djeyaraj2005@yahoo.com
November 14th, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
The daylight murder in Colombo of Tamil National Alliance MP for Jaffna district Nadarajah Raviraj and his bodyguard Police sgt. Lokuwellamurage Shantha Laxman Lokuwella has placed the Government of President Mahinda Rajapakse in great difficulty. The on going killings of Tamils in the North – East and Colombo by “unknown assassins” has been a regular phenomenon in recent times. While the murders of relatively lesser known people can be glossed over by the Rajapakse regime the Government finds it on the defensive when a well – known Tamil Parliamentarian is murdered on a public road. The concern showed by the International community in this matter has increased pressure on the Government.
[Nadarajah Raviraj's last press conference, which was held at hotel Renuka in Colombo, on September 23rd 2006]
TNA parliamentarians described derisively by the Eelam Peoples Democratic Party’s (EPDP) Douglas Devananda as “Tiger nominated agents” have been increasingly vulnerable after Mahinda Rajapakse became President. There was a time when moderate Tamil politicians were on the hit list of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). With a new re- alignment the Tamil moderates grouped as the Tamil National alliance became to the LTTE what the Sinn Fein was to the Irish Republican Army. While danger from one direction was diminished after this “alignment: new threats from other directions have emerged.
On Christmas eve last year veteran Batticaloa Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham was shot dead at the St. Mary’s cathedral during midnight mass. Pararajasingham had just received holy communion at the altar from Batticaloa Catholic Bishop Kingsley Swampillai. Another Batticaloa MP Jeyanandamoorthy’s house was deliberately targetted by Rocket propelled Grenades in another incident. The family survived miraculously. The TNA nominee to fill Pararajasingham’s vacancy Viknewaran was shot dead in Trincomalee while at work.In another incident Wanni district MP Sivanathan Kishore’s house in Vavuniya was attacked with hand grenades. Now the anti – TNA violence has spilled over into Colombo.
Attempts are being made by vested interests to convey an impression that the Raviraj killing was a consequence of the internecine warfare between the LTTE and its break away Karuna faction. In order to buttress this impression a purported statement from the “seerum padai” has been given publicity. The idea is to show that the Rajapakse regime had nothing to do with Raviraj’s killing and that it was purely an intra – Tamil affair. It is hard to believe that these “running dogs” of the Sri Lankan state could have had the temerity to target a high – profile MP like Raviraj in Colombo without the tacit support of the state. In any case as organizations like the Sri Lanka Democratic Forum (SLDF) have pointed out ” The onus of investigating
the assassination of MP Raviraj, a fierce critic of the current government, rests on the government. There are strong allegations of state complicity in this assassination.”.
The LTTE and its media minions have capitalised on Raviraj’s killing. The overseas tiger media is going on ad nauseam about Raviraj. It is projected as a great loss to the Tamils. The state is being portrayed as anti – democratic for assassinating an elected representative of the Tamils. The “Sinhala” oppressors are being accused of promoting a culture of killing Tamil politicians. Raviraj is being depicted as an Eelam separatist patriot. The conferring of “Maamanithar” (great man) ward by LTTE chief Veluipllai Pirapakaran is described as the highest ever achievement of Raviraj. The tiger media constantly refer to him as “Maamanithar Raviraj”.
The LTTE leader makes glowing references to Raviraj in the citation issued in connection with the “Maamanithar” ward bestowed upon Raviraj post – humously. Pirapakaran observes thus – ” A great soul who carried the ideal of the liberation of our homeland as a burning flame in his heart has been made a victim of the Sinhala oppression.” The tiger supremo also says ” “he (Raviraj) whole heartedly accepted the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and their goals and served the nation. He contributed on several fronts in this freedom struggle”.
There is however a great hiatus between this LTTE rhetoric and the reality of who Raviraj was. The TNA was certainly functioning like an appendage of the LTTE but MP’s like Raviraj were not people who subscribed to the LTTE philosophy or goals. There was a convergence and similarity of views in certain respects but there was certainly no identity of interests between both. Due to political compulsions of broad Tamil unity and personal imperatives of physical security people like Raviraj went along with the LTTE but they were not tigers.
The LTTE leader describing Raviraj as one “accepting the LTTE goals ” and wanting ” the liberation of our homeland” is incorrect to say the least. Raviraj certainly felt deeply about the Tamil predicament and wanted the Tamil people to be free but he was not for separatism. He was a Tamil nationalist but not a racist or extremist. What Raviraj wanted was a united but federal Sri Lanka. He never ever subscribed to the LTTE slogan of “Puligalin Thagam Thamil Eelathayagam”.(The thirst of the tigers is the Tamil Eelam homeland).
Pronouncements and views expressed on ones deathbed or prior to death are treated as sacrosanct. Raviraj did not know that he was going to be shot at 8. 40 am and that he would die at 9. 20 am on Nov 10th. His final media interview was between 7. 30 – 8. 00 am that same morning . Some of the views he expressed then could be regarded as his last testament and will (in political terms”.
What does Raviraj tell “Derana”?
” The people in the north-east aspire to live together. They aspire for the merger of the two provinces, it is a basic human right of those people. In the ancient times, there were Sinhala and Tamil kingdoms in Sri Lanka. It is not new to our people. That is mainly an area of Tamils from ancient times. It does not mean that we want to divide the country. We believe that North and east be considered as a one unit. That should be the base if to find a solution to the ethnic crisis.”
“In 1947 when India achieved independence, Mohamed Ali Jinnah demanded Pakistan to be separated. We asked for 50-50 and then a Federal system and now the LTTE is fighting for separate state. However, as politicians we still believe in a united country”.
Those who know Raviraj intimately will realise that these words of Raviraj came from his heart. The LTTE leaders rhetorical statement may describe the dead MP as a separatist. But the real Raviraj was the man who boldly distanced himself from the LTTE on TV and said “It does not mean that we want to divide the country” and also observed ” now the LTTE is fighting for separate state. However, as politicians we still believe in a united country”. The rhetoric and reality are different.
LTTE propaganda makes out that Raviraj was a tiger in TNA garb. The reality however is that the evolution and early growth of Raviraj’s political career was steeped in anti – tiger politics. It was not the LTTE but the moderate TULF which Raviraj joined at the age of 25. His advent into Jaffna municipal politics was in courageous defiance of the LTTE. This column is appreciative of his courage in taking up municipal office in Jaffna after two TULF mayors and a would be mayor were assassinated by the LTTE. It was with great harship that Raviraj survived in those years living in fear of the LTTE.
Things changed! The TULF along with other Tamil parties formed the TNA and began toeing the LTTE line for political and physical survival. Even then Raviraj like his political mentor Veerasingham Aanandasangaree remained “independent” at heart. The first “crack” between Sangaree and the LTTE came when the TULF president issued an effective rejoinder to some insulting remarks made by Anton Balasingham about the party. Raviraj’s initial reaction was ” Annai katchiyin Maanathai Kaappatrineengal “(Elder brother you have saved the self – respect of the party) Yet circumstances compelled Raviraj to break with Sangaree and be subservient to the LTTE.
The LTTE and pro – LTTE rhetoric harps constantly on the “killing culture” (kolai Kalacharam) setting in as a result of state sponsored terror. Those with different political views are being killed by agents of the state.It is true that the state terror killings are exacting a heavy toll on the Tamil people and those perceived as being supportive of the LTTE are being gunned down.
The reality of the situation is that the culture of killing Tamils with different political opinion was ushered in not by the Sinhala dominated state but the LTTE. It began on July 25th when Jaffna mayor Alfred Duraiappah was shot dead at the Ponnalai Varatharajap Perumal temple. Pirapakaran has publicly claimed credit for the killing. From that day onwards the culture of killing those with different political views continues among Tamils. Other Tamil groups too have engaged and continue to engage in this practice. Yet the pioneers and the greatest exponents of this “culture”both qualitatively and quantitatively are the tigers.
LTTE and pro – LTTE rhetoric also laments about a democratically elected Tamil Parliamentarian being killed bu agents of the state. This certainly is true and the state deserves condemnation for this and other murders such as that of Joseph Pararajasingham. But again what is the reality? The LTTE has killed more Tamil MP’s and ex – MP’s , ex – DDC chairmen, ex – mayors etc than the state or other Tamil groups. Appapillai Amirthalingam, Vettrivelu Yogeswaran, Sam Thambimuthu, Arunasalam Thangathurai. MEM Maharoof, Neelan Tirichelvam, Nimalan Soundaranayagam, Yogasangari (EPRLF) Shanmuganathan (PLOTE) Sarojini Yogeswaran, Pon. Sivapalan, “Pottar” Nadarajah, Sambandamoorthy………
History is often distorted by the victors and powerful. The lesser narratives are submerged or obliterated by the greater narratives. The subaltern is overwhelmed by the dominant. The LTTE narrative about Raviraj depicts him as a tiger fighting for Tamil Eelam in Colombo. The Sinhala hawkish narrative portrays Raviraj as tiger stooge working against a united Sri Lanka while living in Colombo. Both sides “agree” on this being the cause of death.
As is the ironic case in extreme viewpoints both narratives seemingly converge in this instance.But what is the reality of the lesser narrative as opposed to this rhetorical greater narratives?
Raviraj lived and worked in Colombo. His bodyguard who died along with him was a Sinhala Policeman. Raviraj’s mother describes the bodyguard as “part of our pfamily” and laments about the dead cops wife and two young children.Raviraj’s teen aged daughter Praveena in speaking about her father says ” He thought the Sinhalese loved him and he loved them in turn. He didn’t see ethnic differences, but he saw that it was red blood which unites us all,” Raviraj’s wife Sashikala says about her husband ” He was a genuine, open person with a good heart who had close ties with people of all backgrounds.”
Peace activist and reputed columnist Jehan Perera describes Raviraj in a manner that may very well serve as his epitaph -
” Raviraj was a Tamil leader who helped to educate the non Tamil population about the perspectives of the Tamils and their sufferings. On Tuesday November 14 he had agreed to be a speaker at a Religious-Political Dialogue organised by several civic organisations. He was friendly with all, and always prepared to engage with others, even with those of a very different political mind set. Although the Sinhala language skills at his disposal were limited, he courageously made use of them to debate the representatives of the nationalist Sinhalese political parties and provide another perspective on current and national issues. With his killing this important avenue of information is likely to close for both the general public and the international community to whom he spoke with a measure of credibility.”
This then is the real Raviraj. These little narratives provide an insight as against the greater narratives of the LTTE and the anti – LTTE sections that distort reality.
Raviraj worked wih all sections of the people, involved himself in many issues and helped build bridges between the Tamils and other commuities. He was a connector of people and not a divider of communities.This is the difference between rhetoric and reality. The fact that a large gathering of people from diverse , multi – ethnic backgrounds paid their respects demonstrates that ordinary people understood that difference. Ravi’s death is a loss to us all and diminishes humanity.
transCurrents feedback : editor@transcurrents.com
transCurrents feedback :Contact DBS Jeyaraj : djeyaraj2005@yahoo.com
November 14th, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
The coastal village of Kathiraweli in the Eastern district of Batticaloa was the scene of Sri Lanka’s latest massacre of innocents in its on going ethnic conflict. At least 47 people were killed and 136 injured in an appalling incident where the Sri Lankan Armed forces fired artillery shells and MBRL rockets indiscriminately at an Internal Displaced Persons (IDP) camp and its environs. The majority of the innocent victims were displaced Tamil civilians.
Kathiraweli is a coastal village in the Koralaipattru Division in Batticaloa North. It is quite close to the Verugal river which demarcates the Trincomalee and Batticaloa district border. Kathiraweli is situated along the Batticaloa – Trincomalee road and is about 83 km to the North of Batticaloa town.
The Eechilampatru – Verugal areas of Trincomalee South and the Kathiraweli – Vaaharai – Panichankerny areas of Batticaloa North are under the control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The continuous aerial bombardment and artillery shelling of Trincomalee Tamil villages in Muthur East and Eechilampatru divisions resulted much destruction and displacement. The bulk of those displaced moved into the Vaaharai – Kathiraweli region and are housed in makeshift refugee camps.
[People in Vaaharai, meeting SLMM officials]
One such camp for IDP’s was located at the Vigneshwara Vidyalayam school in Kathiraweli. It is reported that 6068 people from 1680 families were staying at the school camp and its environs at the time of the attack. Apart from the school buildings a large number of huts and tents had been put up in the school vicinity to temporarily accommodate the displaced people.
The IDP numbers at Kathiraweli had swollen in the last few days as many people from Paalsenai, Panichankerni and Ooriyankattu had moved in due to constant shelling and bombing by the GOSL security forces. Moving from place to place in fear of artillery shelling and aerial bombardment had become almost routine for these wretched of the Eastern earth. It was this camp and its pathetic occupants who suffered the worst on that fateful day.The bavkdrop against which this tragedy unfolded needs to be explained briefly.
Earlier the LTTE had its Trincomalee district in Sampoor in Muthur East division. The LTTE also had a battery of long range artillery stationed there. After the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) had re- taken Sampoor the LTTE relocated these artillery pieces to the Verugal – Vaaharai region. The security forces have been accusing the LTTE of firing artillery from this region against security force camps in Batticaloa North and Trincomalee South. The security forces in turn have been bombing and shelling the Verugal – Vaaharai region consistently and constantly.
According to Defence ministry sources the LTTE had fired 81 mm mortars from the Jungle areas of Kathiraweli at the Trincomalee district army camps in Serunuwara, Mahindapura and Kallar on Wednesday November 8th. The firing commenced at 7. 15 am and went on for 20 minutes. This had resulted in one soldier getting killed and six others (five soldiers and a civilian employee) getting injured. The artillery fire had then become sporadic with a shell or two being fired every forty – five minutes.
The GOSL had recently received some sophisticated radar equipment that was supposedly capable of pinpointing the location of enemy artillery and mortar fire. The mortar locating radars were switched on.The security forces also sent an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) to monitor the target area. The spy plane scoured the skies above Vaaharai and Kathiraweli and returned to China bay.
With the pooling of acquired data the LTTE artillery positions were located as being stationed at a point 2 kilometres north – west of the jungle areas in Kathiraweli.Observation and retaliatory points were set up by the field commanders attached to the Kallar base camp. Ground commanders were instructed to “precisely” identify the LTTE gun positions if and when they fired. According to defence ministry sources the LTTE fired two shells at 11. 25 am . The locating radars which were operational then re- confirmed LTTE artillery positions.At 11. 35 pm the army launched its barrage.
Two Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers fired two salvoes each at the “target” Two 130 mm artillery guns supplemented the MBRL rocket fire. The firing was intense from 11.35 to 12. 10. Thereafter intermittent firing continued till 1. 00 pm. Despite the assertion that LTTE positions away from Kathiraweli were being targetted the actuality on ground was totally and cruelly different.
The GOSL artillery shells and MBRL rockets certainly rained on Ksathiraweli but they didn’t hit any LTTE cannons or mortars. Instead they fell somewhat in the centre of Kathiraweli on the IDP camp at Vikneshwara vidyalayam school and its environs housing makeshift refugee dwellings.
Around 120 bulidings, huts and tents were destroyed or damaged. Some shells fell on the Sonobo chilldrens center in Kathiraweli run by the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization. 12 children were injured. A few shells fell even within the vicinity of the hospital in Vaaharai about 15 km away from Kathiraweli.
” We suddenly heard artillery reports and saw a house nearby exploding and going up in flames. Before we realised what was happening another shell fell on our house” said a victim.” The shells started falling rapidly on the school and nearby places. Everything exploded and burning. We ran screaming everywhere carrying our children” said another.
The human toll was massive. Members of the public, sea tiger cadres and TRO volunteers were engaged in rescue operations from 1 .00 pm to 3. 00 pm. The LTTE’s Thileepan field medical unit administered first aid to victims who were then taken by sea tiger vehicles to the Rural hospital in Vaaharai. Severe restrictions imposed by the GOSL had resulted in an acute fuel shortage in the region. Only LTTE vehicles were running.
The Vaaharai hospital is the only one of its kind in the region. It is hopelessly understaffed and lacks resources. The hospital catering to about 50, 000 people was managed by the Italian Red Cross after the tsunami. With the security situation worsening and further official restrictions only one Italian national and another Sri Lankan Tamil displaced from Eechilampatru hospital function as doctors. The lack of fuel and electricity has hampered the hospital further. There is also a woeful lack of medicine.
According to informed Tamil sources thirty dead bodies – many with mangled limbs – were recovered from the rubble and debris after the shelling spree. A number of injured persons were also brought to the Vaaharai hospital. Of the injured another fifteen died at the vaaharai hospital. Apart from these forty – five dead people another 136 persons were treated for injuries both major and minor.
Meanwhile the ICRC and SLMM had been contacted. The army personnel at the Mankerny camp entry point refused to let them in. The ambulances were also not permitted in. After much pressure and a three hour delay the ICRC and SLMM were allowed in. The ICRC also took a convoy of six ambulances, three cars, one bus and one truck into Vaaharai.. The ICRC brought 69 of the more seriously injured out of Vaaharai to the Valaichenai and Batticaloa hospitals.
Two of those brought in died at the Batticaloa and Valaichenai hospitals respectively. Initially more people were admitted to Valaichenai hospital. Gradually they were transferred to Batticaloa. At the time that this article is being written 60 of the surviving 67 parients are in Batticaloa. Only seven are at Valaichenai hospital. The condition of 17 injured people is said to be critical. 16 of the injured 62 are children below the age of ten.
The number of those killed is 47 at this point of time. 45 of these bodies are in Vaaharai while there is one each in Batti and Valaichenai. The 47 dead comprise 28 males. 9 females and 10 children. Six of the dead children were infants.
The SLMM which undertook a hurried count of bodies at Vaaharai said that they had counted only 23 bodies. The SLMM however said that there could be more bodies. Monitors also confirmed that the firing had come from the army.
Most of the victims in the attack were displaced persons from the Muthur East and Eechilampattru divisions in Trincomalee district. 31, 903 displaced people from 8441 families of Trincomalee are currently in the Vaaharai – Verugal region.Some victims were native residents of Kadiraweli and Vaaharai.There are about 10, 000 such people living in the Koralaipattru North AGA division. There are reportedly 60, 646 displaced people in the Batticaloa district as of Oct 23rd.
Many of the people and IDP’s in the region had been moving from place to place in recent times as the Sri Lankan security forces had been shelling and bombing the area regularly during the past weeks.This column has been spotlighting the pathetic predicament of these people regularly in the past. The Rajapakse regime has been shelling and bombing the people of Muthur East and Eechilampatru from April 25th this year. They have been driven from place to place and finally housed at a IDP camp. Even there these people have no safety or refuge.
The reputed Human Rights organization Amnesty International has issued a statement on the incident. A paragraph excerpted from the AI statement reads thus – “Amnesty International is appalled that the military should attack a camp for displaced people — these were civilians who had already been forced from their homes because of the conflict. Amnesty International condemns all attacks on civilians and is particularly saddened and shocked to see such a large-scale attack on civilians just days after the government’s announcement of its Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses.”.
After the usual diversionary tactics the GOSL has finally admitted to its “guilt” in the matter. For the first time since he assumed Presidential office Mahinda Rajapakse has expressed regret over Tamil civilians getting killed. Keheliya Ramukwella too has not been his usual abrasive self and has acknowledged responsibility on behalf of the security forces.
Both however are trying to exonerate the army of responsibility for this massacre by blaming the LTTE for using the civilians as human shields. The various army, defence and national security websites also accuse the LTTE of being indirectly responsible for the deaths as they were allegedly using the IDP”s as human shields. While boasting on the one hand that the sophisticated radars in their possession could pinpoint the exact location of enemy artillery the “national security media” also tries to wriggle out of culpability by accusing the LTTE of rapidly shifting its artillery elsewhere..
These purile attempts to apportion blame elsewhere has few takers among discerning observers. “The Island” newspaper which is usually “patriotic” and “pro – national security” has in a hard – hitting editorial (Nov 10th) called for a probe. Here are some excerpts –
” The army cannot trot out any excuses in extenuation of the civilian deaths on Wednesday. The LTTE never hesitates to achieve its military objectives at the expense of civilians, be they Tamils, Sinhalese or Muslims. A professional military must be different from a group of terrorists, if it is to be worthy of its name. ”
” The army must always be mindful of its mission; it has been deployed to protect citizenry and defend the country. A hunt for terrorists must end where the safety of civilians begins. Even if hundred terrorists were to escape, the army must hold its fire if there is the slightest doubt that it will harm civilians. There is no alternative!”.
[SLMM Official in Vaaharai - Photo: LTTEPS.org]
The ground reality also casts doubts on the GOSL attempt to charge the LTTE of using civilians as a human shield. The SLMM questioned people in Vaaharai and Kathiraweli whether there were any LTTE artillery guns or positions in the vicinity of the school camp when it was attacked. The people replied in the negative.
“Our monitors saw there were no military installations in the camp area, so we would certainly like some answers from the military regarding the nature and reasons of this attack,” said Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission spokeswoman Helen Olafsdottir to Reuters.
Another Tamil woman told Reuters ” There were a lot of explosions, so many people dead and wounded; “A lot of children died. ” “I jumped into a bunker with my daughter,” she said, clutching two bags containing clothes and a bottle of soda. “My husband stayed behind to protect our belongings. There are thousands of people trying to leave.”
Even though the LTTE may not be guilty of using civilians as a shield in firing artillery at the armed forces the tigers are guilty of restricting civilian movement. The people living in the Vaaharai region are undergoing much difficulty and many have tried to cross over into GOSL controlled territory. This desire to relocate is not necessarily an indictment of the LTTE or an endorsement of the GOSL. It is merely a natural human yearning to seek safety and relative comfort.
The LTTE however has forcibly prevented Tamil civilians frm leaving. One reason for this is LTTE vulnerability if civilians leave en masse. Despite its vintage and the modern guerilla warfare techniques the old dictum of Mao Ze Dong of Guerillas being like fish in an ocean of people still remains valid. So if the people vacate an area it is like the ocean being drained. The GOSL campaign of driving the people out of Sampoor throiugh systematic violence resulted in the weakening of the LTTE in that area. The tigers do not want that to be repeated here.
So the LTTE has been preventing people from leaving. But some have been quietly trickling out. 568 people had fled in recent times from Kirimichai and Kattumurivukulam to GOSL areas. The artillery shelling of Kathiraweli had deep impact on the people’s psyche. Unable to face hardship and danger indefnitely more than 2000 people from Vaaharai – Kathiraveli tried to walk en masse to GOSL areas through the Mankerni entry/exit point. The tigers blocked them at Panichankerny and fired in the air to scare them away. Despite this 283 persons from 61 families have managed to defy the LTTE and come out.They have harrowing tales of experiences at the hands of the LTTE.
A statement issued by the UN has drawn attention to this aspect. Jan Egeland, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs has observed ” However, there have been equally disturbing reports that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) prevented some 2,000 civilians from fleeing to safety. Shelling between the two parties has continued in Vaharai over the last few days.”
“The people trapped in this camp are terrified and feel that they are completely at the mercy of others,” said Allan Rock, Special Adviser on Sri Lanka to the United Nations Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict. “The time has come for all parties to respect the basic human rights of these people, which are simply not being observed at the moment,” he added. After his visit to the camp today, Mr. Rock described it as a “shocking sight.”
Many inhabitants of the Vaaharai – Panichankerny, Kathiraweli region as well as the new influx of displaced people from Muthur East and Eechilampatru – Verugal are living amidst great hardship and grave danger. The aerial bombardment and artillery shelling takes a regular toll. There is practically no economy there. Most people are displaced living in makeshift camps. There is no health, education or sanitary facilities.NGO’s are not allowed access.
Adding to their problems has been the callous and cruel attitude of the GOSL. Only a restricted amount of food has been allowed in under the UN World Food Program. This has been grossly inadequate. Even this distribution has been suspended from Oct 20th. From November 1st all movement to and from the region has been stopped. Even the ICRC was not allowed for more than a week till the Kathiraweli massacre of innocents. The army has made it known to the people that it expects them to vacate the region as soon as possible.
The objective is well – known. The security forces want the people to leave the region as it was done in Sampoor and Muthur East. The armed forces commanded by Mahinda Rajapakse want to take full control of the Koralaipattru division. They want the area de- populated as in the case of Sampoor befire moving in.In order to expedite this de – populating process the army camps of Valaichenai paper factory, Karadikulam, Cadjuwatte and Mankerny have been regulaarly shelling the region. K-firs have also been dropping bombs. Additional security personnel have been stationed at Cadjuwatte and Mankerny in readiness for a ground based offensive.
The writing is on the wall then for the people – both old and new inhabitants – of the region. It is this deprivation, fear, insecurity and frustrating agony that impels these people into seeking safety and relatve comfort elsewhere. The GOSL for its own military reasons wants the peole to leave. The LTTE for its own military imperatives do not want the people to leave. The people most of them displaced persons are caught in the middle. It is sheer hell.
In that context the shelling of Kathiraweli IDP camp does not appear to be an error or miscalculation. It seems a deliberate, merciless exercise to instil terror into the people through massive destruction. The idea apparently is to compel the people to flee the area. This then is state terror at its worst.!
If there is a valid ceasefire on the Kathiraweli attack is a crime against humanity. If there is no ceasefire on then it is a war crime. From another perspective it amounts to Ethnic cleansing. Whatever the definition there is little doubt that the massacre of innocents in Kathiraweli was a deliberate and despicable act. Let me end this article with the concluding paragraph of the AI statement –
“Amnesty International calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to initiate an immediate inquiry by international and independent human rights experts into this incident and all serious violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law. Amnesty International reiterates the urgent need for the Government of Sri Lanka to establish a strong and effective international human rights monitoring operation as a matter of urgency to respond to the dramatic deterioration of the human rights and humanitarian situation. Such a mechanism must have the full cooperation of both the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE and the support of the United Nations and its member states.”
transCurrents feedback : editor@transcurrents.com
transCurrents feedback :Contact DBS Jeyaraj : djeyaraj2005@yahoo.com
November 11th, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
“Many people have eye- witnessed the murder of TNA Jaffna MP Naradarah Raviraj and his Police bodyguard ” authoritative Police sources said yesterday.
The Tamil National Alliance MP from Jaffna district and his bodyguard Sgt. Lakshman Lokuwella from Gampaha were shot dead in broad daylight at about 8. 39 am in Colombo.
The spot where the shooting occurred was in close proximity to the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the Registrar of Motor Vehicles Department. There were many people who saw the shooting and have come forward to give information Police sources said yesterday.
“We have received a lot of information and vital evidence is available as some items have been left behind. We are confident of a breakthrough.” a senior Police official said.
Raviraj was shot close to his residence in Manning town Narahenpita.
[Sri Lankan police and military investigators inspect the vehicle-Photo AP]
The Jaffna MP had returned home after a discussion – interview on “Derana” TV from 7. 00 am – 7.30 am. He had quickly changed clothes . had breakfast and started out again to his law office.
Raviraj a lawyer by profession had his own law firm: “Raviraj and Associates”.
Though the MP had his own driver the man was on leave. The driver had requested a further extension of leave a few days before the killing.
According to Raviraj’s brother in law the MP had then told the driver good – humouredly ” Even if I die you can have your leave”.
The TNA Parliamentarian had first tried to use his wife’s car but finding the battery had run down chose to use his own vehicle.
Raviraj had asked his bodyguard Sgt. Lakshman a native of Gampaha to get in and climbed into the drivers seat.
The Toyota Landcruiser Prado bearing the No WP KE 1279 was then slowly driven along Martha road by Raviraj. The vehicle was turning into Elvitigala Mawatte when a motor cycle numbered JE 3507 came near from the opposite side.Two men with helmets were on it.
One got down from the pillion , removed his helmet , went across and stood on the pavement . He had a shoulder bag.
Raviraj’s vehicle was cruising along very slowly when the man tore apart the bag he was carrying and started firing. The weapon was a T – 56. The assassin did not pull the gun out but fired while it was yet inside the bag.
The assassin fired away at point blank range on Raviraj’s vehicle from the front, side and rear. An entire magazine was exhausted in the firing. He then ran quickly and climbed on to the motor cycle pillion again.
The assassins had then turned into Martha road and sped away. The bag containing the T – 56 as well as the helmet of one rider were found on the side of the road.
Police also say that a three – wheeler parked close to the spot had also driven away after the shooting. It is suspected that the three – wheeler driver was a “look – out” for the assassins and had tipped them off by mobile telephone about Raviraj’ s vehicle approaching.
Raviraj was hit five times and Lokuwella eight times. Both victims were taken to Colombo National Hospital speedily. Lokuwella was pronounced dead upon admission.
Raviraj was in critical condition and urgent surgery was done but Raviraj was dead at 9. 20 am.Hospital sources said the MP was “clinically dead” even when admitted.
Within an hour of Raviraj’s death Police officials cordoned off the Manningtown flats and conducted a search operation.
A top Police official speaking on condition of anonymity said that the Police if allowed to function independently could “crack ” the case easily. “We dont need Scotland Yard. We can do it but will we be allowed to do so”? He asked.
The official also said that a Tamil organization with strong links to the Government was the prime suspect.
Meanwhile President Mahinda Rajapakse has instructed Inspector – General of Police Victor Perera to conduct a speedy probe into the killing. The IGP in turn has authorised Colombo DIG Pujitha Jayasundara to unmdertake the investigation. Rajapakse has also initiated steps to bring in Scotland Yard detectives from Britain to assist in the investigation.
Raviraj is the second Tamil National alliance MP to be assassinated after Mahinda Rajapakse became President. Veteran Eastern Province Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham was shot dead last year at the St. Mary’s Cathedral in Batticaloa during midnight mass for Christmas. Joseph was returning to his pew after partaking of Holy communion from Batticaloa Catholic Bishop Rt. Rev Kingsley Swampillai when the assassins came from near the altar and shot him dead in full view of the terrified congregation.
Rajavarothayam Sampanthan, Leader of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) told the press, “Raviraj’s assassination is a clear attempt by the paramilitary operating with the Sri Lanka Army to stifle the Tamil parliamentarians’ voice in and out of the Parliament to inform the International Community of the Sri Lanka Government’s genocide against the Tamils.” Sampanthan further said, “Almost an year has passed since the assassination of Batticaloa parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingam and the Sri Lanka government is yet to bring the killers to book. This reveals the covert connections the government has with them.”
Ranil Wickremasinghe, the Leader of the Opposition and the head of United National Party (UNP) condemning the assassination said, “Within a year of parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham’s assassination Raviraj has been killed. This is a threat to democracy. We strongly condemn this cowardly act and urge the government to take legal actions to bring the killers to justice besides providing adequate security measures to Tamil parliamentarians.”
S. B. Dissanayake, a senior member of UNP, after visiting the Colombo National Hospital morgue where the remains of Raviraj is kept said, “The Sri Lanka government should hold itself responsible for Raviraj’s assassination without blaming Karuna group or any other and tell the public who the killers are.”
Mano Ganeshan, parliamentarian and leader of Western Peoples’ Front party said the GoSL should take responsibility for Raviraj’s assassination.
‘Tamils’ struggle cannot be contained by this cowardly killing,” said TNA parliamentarian Sivajilingam. He added that the killers of Raviraj are the paramilitaries operating with the Sri Lanka Army.
transCurrents feedback : editor@transcurrents.com
transCurrents feedback :Contact DBS Jeyaraj : djeyaraj2005@yahoo.com
November 11th, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Nadarajah Raviraj , one of the bright young stars in the Tamil political firmament is no more. The 44 year old Tamil National Alliance parliamentarian from Jaffna district was brutally shot dead on Friday November 10th.
Both Raviraj and his police bodyguard Sgt. Lakshman Lokuwella were gunned down as they were driving along Elvitigala Mawatte.The shooting occurred close to Raviraj’s residence in Manningtown, Narahenpita at about 8. 30 am in the morning.
Fellow Parliamentarian and TNA colleague MK Sivajilingam told the AP news agency that Raviraj an attorney at law by profession was on his way to courts when he was shot. He had just returned after a morning panel discussion on “Derana” TV .
Raviraj is the second Tamil National alliance MP to be assassinated after Mahinda Rajapakse became President. Veteran Eastern Province Parliamentarian Joseph Pararajasingham was shot dead last year at the St. Mary’s Cathedral in Batticaloa during midnight mass for Christmas. Joseph was returning to his pew after partaking of Holy communion from Batticaloa Catholic Bishop Rt. Rev Kingsley Swampillai when the assassins came from near the altar and shot him dead in full view of the terrified congregation.
Nadarajah Raviraj is a native of Chavakachcheri in the Thenmaratchy sector of Jaffna. His father was a schoolmaster at Chavakachcheri Hindu College in Sangathanai.
Friends recall with affectionate nostalgia that Nadarajah Master’s nickname among students was :”kilangu” (potato). Soon Raviraj too was called “kilangu” in his student days due to this.
An old boy of Driebergs College, Chavakachcheri and St. Johns College , Jaffna Nadarajah Raviraj passed out as a lawyer and took his oaths in 1987. He joined the Attorney – General’s Dept in 1990 and worked there till 1993.
He quit the AG’s dept in 1993 and became a human rights lawyer attached to the Home for Human Rights . He worked there till 1996. Thereafter he began private practice and soon set up his own law office Raviraj and Associates. Raviraj was involved in human rights work from 1984 onwards furing his law College days.
Raviraj became enamoured of democratic politics at a time when most Tamils of a younger generation were aligning with militant groups. He joined the Tamil United Liberation Front and worked actively for the party along with other young Tamil lawyers like former Jaffna mayor Pon. Sivapalan and ex – Batticaloa MP Thurairajasingham.
Raviraj owed his rise in politics to TULF stalwart Veerasingham Aanandasangaree who regarded his younger colleague as a protegee. Sangaree who was senior vice – president of the TULF then promoted Raviraj within the party.
Raviraj became TULF central Committe member in 1990. In 1998 he was appointed Legal adviser to the party. Raviraj was made TULF Politbureau Member in 2000 and in 2001 became Administrative secretary of the party.
The TULF of an earlier era faced great danger at the hands of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Other militant Tamil groups now functioning as “democratic” parties were also not well – disposed towards the grand old democratic party of Sri Lankan Tamils.
It was amidst great physical danger that the TULF contested the Jaffna Municipality in 1998. Raviraj too was on the list. The TULF with its slogan of “unarmed democracy” (Aayuthamatra Jananayagam) topped the polls in Jaffna despite not having resources like other parties such as EPDP, PLOTE , TELO and EPRLF.Raviraj became a municipal councillor.
Sarojini Yogeswaran became mayor and was shot dead by the LTTE. Pon. Sivapalan then succeded her. Sivapalan along with Jaffna military commander Brigadier Mendis and several others were killed when the LTTE exploded a claymore mine concealed in the ceiling. The mayoral aspirant Pon. Mathimugarajah was assassinated by the LTTE in front of the Nallur Kandaswamy temple.
In spite of the danger involved Raviraj backed up by Aanandasangaree came forward to don the mayoral mantle. Instead of becoming mayor directly Raviraj was appointed deputy mayor in 1990. Instead of becoming Mayor immediately Raviraj functioned as acting mayor. He was the de – facto and not de- jure mayor for a while
Raviraj adopted this razor’s edge stance and managed to survive . In 2000 October Raviraj contested the Parliamentary elections on the TULF ticket but failed to win a seat. In 2001 Raviraj was formally appointed as Jaffna mayor. But within months Raviraj was elected to Parliament and resigned Mayoral office.
By 2001 there was a sea change in Tamil “moderate” politics. The TULF, Tamil Congress, EPRLF and TELO joined hands and formed a loose alliance known as the Tamil National Alliance. They started moving close to the LTTE and began toeing the tiger line.
The TULF then faced danger at the hands of Douglas Devananda’s EPDP which treated the new political formation as potential danger. When the TULF went into the Islands to do propaganda the EPDP saw it as an affront and challenge. The EPDP had for long regarded the Kayts division as its fiefdom.
A gang of EPDP goons led by Napoleon and masterminded by Mano accosted the TULF in Thambatty in Naranthanai and launched a brutal assault. Raviraj driving up in the front vehicle displayed great physical courage in combatting the challenge. Two TULF activists were killed and people like Mavai Senathirajah and Sivajilingam sustained injuries. It was this incident which turned the tide against the EPDP then.
Raviraj too won and entered Parliament for the first time in 2001 December. There was however a split in the TULF during this time when the old warhorse Aanandasangaree fell foul of the LTTE which wanted him ousted. The TNA was now fast becoming a puppet of the LTTE. Sangaree resisted LTTE domination and paid the price as most of his colleagues and followers deserted him and paid pooja to the tigers.
The unkindest cut for Sangaree was the “transformation ” of Raviraj. The young MP had initially backed his political mentor but gradually parted ways with his senior colleague.
In 2004 April Raviraj was re- elected as Jaffna district MP but Aanandasangaree was defeated in an “undemocratic” poll conducted under dubious means. Raviraj soon became a rising star in the TNA which contested under the house symbol of the Ilankai Thamil Arasu Katchi (ITAK).
One of Raviraj’s strong points was his fluency in Tamil, English and Sinhala. This enabled him to participate fully in Parliament debates, media discussions and interviews and public meetings. He was a forceful speaker and conveyed his views precisely and clearly. He was capable of quick repartees and often made pithy and pungent comments.He also participated in demonstrations particularly those concerning freedom of _expression. Raviraj had many friends among the Colombo media.
He participated in many TV shows in all three languages. He was perhaps the best known :face among TNA Parliamentarians” to the “Sinhala” South
Raviraj was in Canada some years ago and I heard him speak at a public seminar on the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka. Raviraj was the last speaker. There were a couple of Canadian mainstream MP’s at the meeting. As is usual among western politicians who “grace” minority community occasions just to keep up “appearances” the two gentlemen began moving out as Raviraj was on the rostrum.
The young Tamil MP was not fazed and made a public appeal that both MP’s should not leave but sit and listen to his speech. Taken aback both men promptly returned to their seats, tuned in and after it was over engaged in long discussions with the Sri Lankan Parliamentarian.
I also recall that Raviraj could not have dinner with me as arranged earlier because his departure from Toronto had to be expedited due to an urgent matter. I was not at home when he called to inform me of the sudden change of plan.After returning to Colombo Raviraj was courteous enough to telephone me and apologise profusely .
The situation in Sri Lanka began deteriorating after Mahinda Rajapakse became President. An undeclared war is being conducted against the Tamil people. The basic human rights of the Tamil people are being violated with impunity.
[Committee for Tracing the Abducted Persons held a demonstration near Colombo Fort railway station, on Nov 1, 2006 - Photo: TamilNet]
Raviraj was in the forefront of those resisting this creeping state terror. He joined hands with those of different political beliefs and ethnicities to fight for common causes. A case in point was his active involvement in the Civil Monitoring Committee (CMC) set up to monitor extra – judicial executions, disappearances and abductions.Raviraj worked with people like Siritunga Jayasuriya, Mano Ganesan MP (Colombo District), Vasudeva Nanayakara MMC, Dr.Vickramabahu Karunaratne, and Appapillai Vinayagamoorthy etc in this regard.
I also know for a fact that Raviraj was one of the few Tamil MP’s who interacted closely with diplomats, human rights activists and media persons about issues affecting the Tamil people. Though he did not hog the limelight in this Raviraj worked quietly behind the scenes in keeping the “world” informed about what was happening in the Island.
Raviraj has participated in conflict resolution workshops hosted by Institute of Federalism in Switzerland, Conrad Adeanaur Foundation in Germany and Peace Institute in Austria among others.
Raviraj along with a few other MP’s was the livewire of the TNA. The TNA is being forced to adopt a more militant yet non – violent stance in espousing the Tamil cause. After many non – violent demonstrations in Parliament the TNA began taking to the streets to articulate Tamil grievances. The demonstration opposite the UNHCR office in Bullers road was the beginning of a new series of envisaged protests.
[Sri Lankan Parliamentarians of Tamil National Alliance in front of the UN office in Colombo on Thursday, Nov 9th - Photo TamilNet]
Once again Raviraj played a crucial role in organizing and conducting the demonstration. 19 of the 22 TNA Parliamentarians participated. Apart from handling logistics Raviraj’s voice could be heard shouting slogans and demands loudly in all three languages.He also interacted with the media and obtained much publicity for the event.
Given the prevailing political culture where all Tamil dissent is ruthlessly suppressed a voice such as that of Raviraj’s too had to be silenced from the viewpoint of those wielding power in the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.. There is a coordinated campaign going on in the North – East where all Tamils with leadership potential are being killed, disappearing, leaving the country or simply becoming invisible.This trend spills over to Colombo frequently.The instruments of state terror are very often Tamil groups and organizations aligned with the Government
Nadarajah Raviraj was one such Tamil who had to be silenced.The brutal murder of Raviraj is a calculated attempt to terrify and intimidate the Tamil people and their representatives in Parliament.His fellow Parliamentarian Selvam Adaikkalanathan of the TNA expressed this viewpoint succintly.
“A democratic voice of Tamils has been silenced in Sri Lanka’s capital today.Resourceful Tamil politicians, journalists and activists are being systematically killed in Sri Lanka. Raviraj tirelessly worked to improve the conditions of the people living under economic embargo to relieve the humanitarian catastrophy. He had a convincing way of dealing with even the crude bureaucracy of this failed state,” Mr. Adaikalanathan said.
“He fought from their platform. His voice in the Sri Lankan Parliament, and in the South, where injustice and oppression originate, was much feared.” By silencing the democratic voices of the Tamils, the Sri Lankan military and its paramilitaries such as the EPDP will not be able to silence the Tamil struggle,” the MP added.
LTTE supremo Velupillai Pirapakaran has conferred the customary “Maamanithar” title on Raviraj describing him as a courageous Tamil who defied Sinhala oppression from within its citadel.
Raviraj was married to Sashikala a teacher at Bishops College, Colombo. He has a daughter Praveena (15) and son Yuthishtran (10).
Nadarajah Raviraj leaves behind his mother, wife and two children. My condolences to the family. May Ravi’s soul attain eternal peace and solace.
transCurrents feedback : editor@transcurrents.com
transCurrents feedback :Contact DBS Jeyaraj : djeyaraj2005@yahoo.com
November 10th, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Sea Tigers Division has claimed victory in a fierce naval battle off the Northern coast of Point Pedro.
The fighting occurred in the evening on Thursday November 9th about 4 nautical miles off the Pt. Pedro coast.
Two Dvora fast attack craft boats of the Navy were sunk while a third was severely damaged. Two black sea tiger suicide boats laden with explosives rammed into the boats.
LTTE Defence spokesperson on defence affairs Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan told the media that some vessels of the sea tigers were engaged in marine “training” exercises along the Nagar Kovil coast when a flotilla of eight Naval Dvora fast attack crafts moved close to the shore and attacked them.
This led to a fleet of twelve sea tiger boats engaging with the navy . The fleet had been ready for rapid deployment to protect the sea tiger boats involved in training exercises.
After a fierce sea skirmish the navy boats had retreated and proceeded towards Kankesanthurai. The sea tigers had given chase along with a few black sea tiger suicide boats.
The LTTE had engaged the navy again off Inbarutti along the Vadamaratchy coast. Three K-fir jet bombers and two Ukrainian Mi 24 helicopter gunships had lent air support to the navy.
A black sea tiger suicide vessel had rammed into the middle of a Dvora at 5. 35 pm. The boat had exploded and sunk rapidly.
Another explosive – laden black sea tiger boat had rammed into the back of a second fast attack craft. This had resulted in the boat catching fire.
With the sailors on board jumping off the ship a sea tiger squad had quickly climbed aboard.
The LTTE cadres had rapidly removed some equipment and weapons on the ship.
One 23 mm Cannon, five PK-LMGs, four 50 calibre guns and an Auto HK Grenade Launcher with ammunition were among the guns seized by the Sea Tigers.
The second Dvora already burning began sinking at 6. 05 pm.
A third Dvora sustained much damage in the fighting but was towed away by other Naval vessels to KKS.
The LTTE boats gave up the chase after aerial attacks by the Sri Lankan Air Force.
The LTTE retrieved the body of one SLN sailor.
Also four navy men were captured as prisoners of war.
The tigers are expected to hand over the sailor’s body to the ICRC in Kilinochchi shortly. Arrangements will also be made for the ICRC and SLMM representatives to visit the four navy men in LTTE custody.
At least twenty – six naval personnel were killed in the sea battle. The Navy has reported eighteen sailors as missing.
The LTTE says that five of their fighters including black sea tigers died in the clash.
Meanwhile the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) has accused the LTTE of targeting the passenger ship “Green Ocean” carrying 308 civilians and security personnel. The navy boats giving protection to the ship were attacked by the LTTE it is charged.
The “Green Ocean” has reportedly docked safely at KKS it is said.
The LTTE has denied that the “Green Ocean” was attacked and said the ship was no where to be seen when the sea skirmish took place.
The charge about “Green Ocean” being targeted is only a red herring to deflect attention away from the negative publicity caused by the massacre of displaced Tamil civilians at the Kathiraweli refugee camp say the tigers.
The GOSL has also claimed that 22 of 26 LTTE boats were destroyed and that the remaining four had retreated .
The LTTE has refuted this claim and pointed out that the LTTE had captured four navy personnel alive and also taken away guns from the navy Dvora.
“Are these the actions of defeated and retreating sea tigers” the LTTE has asked rhetorically.
Sea Tiger special commander “Col’ Soosai has said that deputy sea tiger commander Cheliyan led the counter attack against the Sri Lanka navy off Pt. Pedro.
transCurrents feedback : editor@transcurrents.com
transCurrents feedback :Contact DBS Jeyaraj : djeyaraj2005@yahoo.com
November 9th, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
At least 47 Tamil civilians were killed and more than 160 injured in the Batticaloa district coastal village of Kadiraweli in a barrage of artillery and MBRL rocket fire launched by the Sri Lankan Army stationed at the Kallara (Kallaru) military camp in Trincomalee district.
The 47 dead comprised 28 adult males, 9 women and 10 children. More than 160 were injured of whom 76, 57 and 36 were at the Vaaharai, Valaichenai and Batticaloa hospitals respectively. Those with comparatively less serious injuries are at the Vaaharai hospital while the more serious victims are at the other two hospitals.
The firing began at 11. 35 am on Wednesday November 8th and went on for 40 minutes till 12.10 pm.
According to Defence ministry circles the artillery and Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher barrage was a retaliatory measure as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had earlier in the morning fired artillery at the Serunuwara camp in Trincomalee district injuring five soldiers.
The Army had responded to this attack by launching an artillery barrage on the Batticaloa coastal village of Kadiraweli situated close to the Trincomalee district border.
The Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) claims that the LTTE artillery fire came from Kadiraweli and tries to justify army action on those grounds.
The tragic reality however is that only innocent civilians mostly displaced Tamil people were killed and injured in the attacks.
Most of the victims were housed at the Internal Displaced Persons (IDP) camp at the Vigneshwara Vidyalayam school in Kadhiraweli.
[Internally Displaced People wounded in Sri Lanka Army artillery attack on IDP refuge at Kathiraveli Vigneswara School - TamilNet Photo]
It is reported that 6068 people from 1680 families were staying at the school camp and its environs at the time of the attack. The IDP numbers at Kadiraweli had swollen in the last few days as many people from Paalsenai, Panichankerni and Ooriyankattu had moved in due to constant shelling and bombing by the GOSL security forces.
According to Kadiraweli residents and IDP’s now at Batticaloa the artillery and MBRL barrage had commenced suddenly and without any warning. An Unmanned spy plane was scouring the skies above Kadiraraweli and Vaaharai as the firing was in progress.
” We suddenly heard artillery reports and saw a house nearby exploding and going up in flames. Before we realised what was happening another shell fell on our house” said an injured woman.
” The shells started falling rapidly on the school and nearby places. Everything exploded and burning. We ran screaming everywhere carrying our children” said another wounded man.
It is reported that of the children killed at least six were infants below the age of one.
Among the Thirty – six injured admitted to Batticaloa hospital sixteen are children.
Apart from the Vikneshwara school IDP camp and its environs about 120 dwellings consisting of houses, huts and tents in Kadirweli and Vaaharai had been hit in the artillery barrage.
The school buildings continued to burn till late in the evening.
Among places affected in Kadiraweli were the Sonobo childrens home run by the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) Twelve children in the Sonobo home were injured.
The crisis was aggravated further when shells fell within the vicinity of the Vaaharai hospital about 15 km away from Kadiraweli. The hospital is the only one catering to health needs in the LTTE controlled region of Koralaipattru North AGA division. It has only two doctors, an Italian national and another displaced from Eechilampattru AGA division in Trincomalee district.
Most of the victims in the attack were displaced persons from the Muthur East and Eechilampattru divisions in Trincomalee district. 31, 903 displaced people from 8441 families of Trincomalee are currently in the Vaaharai – Verugal region.
Some victims were residents of Kadiraweli and Vaaharai.There are about 10, 000 people liviving in the Koralaipattru North AGA division.
[Internally Displaced People wounded in Sri Lanka Army artillery attack on IDP refuge at Kathiraveli Vigneswara School - TamilNet Photo]
Many of the people and IDP’s in the region had been moving from place to place in recent times as the Sri Lankan security forces had been shelling and bombing the area regularly during the past weeks.
Though most of the shelling had come from the Mankerny, Cadjuwatte, Karadikuli and Valaichenai paper factory camps the massacre of innocents on Wednesday was caused by firing from the Kallara camp in Trincomalee district.
The affected region was virtually cut off from the rest of the Country with Defence Secretary Gothabhaya Rajapakse refusing access to NGO”s and other organizations.Only the ICRC and UNHCR was allowed limited access.
The problem had worsened from October 20th when all food distribution was suspended. Earlier food was sent twice a week from Batticaloa under the World Food Program scheme.
From November 1st all transport to and from the region was stopped at the Mankerni entry point.
The GOSL first refused to allow ICRC and SLMM monitors in to Vaaharai for several hours. The SLMM and ICRC went in only at about 5 pm.
After blocking initially for some hours the GOSL allowed ambulances to go in and bring out the wounded. Eight ambulances brought the victims out to Batticaloa and Valaichenai.
The SLMM spokeswoman Helen Olafsdottir said that the SLMM had initially counted 23 bodies at Vaaharai. She also confirmed to the media that the artillery firing had come from the army but declined to pinpoint the location at this stage.
Army spokesperson Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told the BBC that there had been exchanges of artillery fire between GOSL forces and the LTTE.
The Army websites alleged that the LTTE was using refugees as a human shield.
There were also unconfirmed reports that the LTTE was preventing terrified civilians from leaving the region and moving into GOSL areas for safety.
Meanwhile The Amnesty International has issued a stern statement on the incident and called for an immediate inquiry. The AI statement is reproduced in full below.
AI Index: ASA 37/033/2006 (Public)
News Service No: 290
8 November 2006
Sri Lanka: Amnesty International calls for inquiry into attack on
displaced civilians
Amnesty International is deeply concerned by reports of the killing today of as many as 65 civilians taking refuge in a school in Kathiraveli, a coastal hamlet 15 km north of Vaharai in the eastern district of Batticaloa.
The Sri Lankan Army (SLA) reportedly fired multi-barrel rockets and artillery shells which hit a school where internally displaced people (IDPs) were taking shelter. As many as 40 bodies are reported to have been recovered from the scene and more than 100 have been wounded. It is likely that many more may have been injured as the area targeted was densely populated and inhabited by some 5000 IDPs.
Amnesty International is appalled that the military should attack a camp for displaced people — these were civilians who had already been forced from their homes because of the conflict. Amnesty International condemns all attacks on civilians and is particularly saddened and shocked to see such a large-scale attack on civilians just days after the government’s announcement of its Commission of Inquiry into human rights abuses.
A Sri Lankan military spokesman has confirmed heavy artillery and mortar bomb exchanges in Batticaloa district, but has accused the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of using civilians as human shields. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) estimates that 60,646 people remained displaced in Batticaloa district alone, as of 23 October 2006, and over 200,000 have been displaced in the north and east of Sri Lanka since 7 April 2006.
Amnesty International condemns the targeting and killing of innocent civilians and calls on the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to take immediate and adequate precautions to protect civilian lives. All parties to the hostilities must comply with international humanitarian law, which prohibits murder or other violence to those taking no active part in hostilities, requires parties to ensure that their forces comply with the principle of distinction between civilian and military targets and do not target civilians or carry out indiscriminate attacks.
Amnesty International calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to initiate an immediate inquiry by international and independent human rights experts into this incident and all serious violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law. Amnesty International reiterates the urgent need for the Government of Sri Lanka to establish a strong and effective international human rights monitoring operation as a matter of urgency to respond to the dramatic deterioration of the human rights and humanitarian situation. Such a mechanism must have the full cooperation of both the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE and the support of the United Nations and its member states.
AI Index: ASA 37/033/2006 8 November 2006
transCurrents feedback : editor@transcurrents.com
transCurrents feedback :Contact DBS Jeyaraj : djeyaraj2005@yahoo.com
November 8th, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
The Geneva conclave has come and gone! As predicted in these columns the parley was a failure. The summit took place without any agenda because both parties could not agree to a common one. Both sides came with their own agenda and spoke at rather than talking to each other. In the end they could not even decide on a date for the next round of talks or even draft a joint communiqué. Unable and unwilling to ” agree to disagree” they read out their separate statements to the press Even then t hey were more interested in projecting their particular point of view to their respective constituencies.
My heart goes out to the much maligned, grossly misunderstood Norwegians. To Erik Soheim. Jon Hanssen – Bauer, Hans Brattskar and all those other vikings who toil valiantly against overwhelming odds to bring an end to bloodshed and strife among two groups of “pissu” and “paithiyam” people. Erik Solheim cut a tragic and lonely figure on the TV screen as he read out his statement that sought hard to find a silver lining in a dark cloud. Here is the statement in full -
” The consultations took place in Geneva on 28-29 October 2006 following requests by the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to meet to discuss humanitarian issues and political questions. At the Co-chair meeting in Brussels on 12 September, the Tokyo co-chairs (EU, Japan, USA and Norway) encouraged the parties to meet for consultations.
Parties deserve recognition for accepting this call by the co-chairs, coming for these consultations at a time when conflict is more apparent than peace in Sri Lanka.
The parties agreed that the peace process will need to address the three following areas:
• Human suffering
• Military de-escalation and reduction of violence
• Political components leading up to a political settlement
The Government presented the political process between the UNP and the SLFP. The international community has welcomed this initiative. The GOSL also made a reference to the work of the All Party Conference.
Discussions were also held on the urgent humanitarian situation and the need to address the plight of a very large number of civilians. Several issues were discussed. The LTTE requested the A9 to be opened. The Government refused to do so at this point. No agreement was reached between the parties on how to address the humanitarian crisis.
No date for a new meeting was agreed upon. Norway will be in ongoing dialogue with the parties to discuss all possible ideas on how to move the peace process forward.
Both parties reiterated their commitment to the ceasefire agreement and promised not to launch any military offensives. The international community has repeatedly expressed that it expects the parties to show restraint and fulfill these commitments.
I encouraged the parties to allow themselves some time to reflect on the situation and not to draw hasty conclusions or take actions that could increase the suffering of civilians in Sri Lanka. “.
Representatives of the four co – chairs engaged the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) delegations before and after their return from Geneva. The US was absent in the meetings with the LTTE. Little is known of what transpired in these meetings but it does not require Kautilyan skills to gauge that among other matters both sides would have been urged not to launch military offensives at this juncture. Sadly events on ground are rapidly moving towards greater conflict.
Artillery firing along the border – axis of Kilaly – Eluthumattuvaal – Nagar Kovil had commenced from Nov 1st. Both the GOSL and LTTE have accused each other of firing artillery and mortars at each others positions. The Army says that a corporal Nandakumara was killed at Muhamalai and four others injured in two incidents of firing. With the Nandasena incident occurring at 1. 30 am on Thursday the bombing that followed seems to be a revenge rather than result oriented exercise.
On Thursday Nov 2nd two air strikes were launched from the skies over Kilinochchi district. Around 11. 45 am areas between Pallavarayankattu and Poonagary were bombed. In the afternoon at about 2. 15 pm Aanandapuram and Thiruvaiyaaru within Kilinochchi town limits were bombed. The Kilinochchi hospital though not directly hit was caught up in the bombing melee. Nearly a thousand patients fled from the premises. Five civilians were killed and twelve injured. The incident was the first of its kind where Kilinochchi the interim capital of the LTTE in the North was bombed.
Apart from the Northern province the Eastern arena of war was full of destructive activity too. From Tuesday Oct 31st 6.00 pm to Wednesday Nov 1st 5 am an incessant barrage of artillery and MBRL rockets were fired from the army camps at Valaichenai paper factory premises, Karadikkuli, Cadjuwatte and Mankerni. The shelling was directed at the LTTE controlled areas of Panichankerny, Ooriyankattu, Sallitheevu, Kandaladdy, Vaaharai and Thattumunai in Batticaloa North.
On the following morning on Wednesday Nov 1st an air strike commenced at 7. 15 am. Three Sri Lankan Air Force bombers flew five sorties and dumped at least 43 bombs on the LTTE controlled areas of Kattumurivukkulam and Kadiraweli. The casualty figures are not known yet though at least twelve houses are reportedly damaged or destroyed.
The Armed forces justify the shelling and bombing as pre-emptive strikes. They say that 189 Tamil civilians fleeing from the LTTE controlled areas of Kattumurivu and Kirimichai claimed refuge at the Mankerni and Punanai Army camps. The civilians had complained to the army of an influx of LTTE men and materials into the region. The LTTE had allegedly compelled them to dig bunkers and build fortifications.
Against this backdrop the GOSL position is that the LTTE is preparing to launch an offensive and that the air strikes and artillery firing is only a pre-emptive bid to counter that. The Tigers on the other hand charge that the army is preparing to mount an offensive into the Vaaharai – Panichankerny region under LTTE control. Additional personnel from other areas are being transported daily in ten buses to the Mankerny and Cadjuwatte camps they allege.
This is the scenario in the North too. It may be recalled that the LTTE complained of a massive inflow of Security force men and materials into the Kilaly. Eluthumadduvaal – Nagar Kovil camps even as talks were on in Geneva. The Tigers charged the GOSL of preparing for another offensive to retake Elephant Pass .
Likewise the GOSL accuses the LTTE of getting ready to launch another offensive to capture Jaffna. It charges the LTTE of launching artillery attacks as a prelude. Of late the GOSL has another charge too. It says that the LTTE is attacking along Muhamaalai to prevent the entry point from being opened. This however is an echo of a charge that the LTTE is leveling against the GOSL.
With dark clouds of war gathering across the political horizon all prospects of peace are diminishing. It was only on Oct 29th that both the GOSL and LTTE solemnly pledged in Geneva that they would not launch offensives. The Ceasefire Agreement clause 1.3 forbids offensives. ” The Sri Lankan armed forces shall continue to perform their legitimate task of safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka without engaging in offensive operations against the LTTE.” This has for long been observed in the breach.
[Geneva Talks 2, Photo: TamilNet]
But at Geneva the commitment on offensives was renewed again. As Erik Solheim observed:
” Both parties reiterated their commitment to the ceasefire agreement and promised not to launch any military offensives. The international community has repeatedly expressed that it expects the parties to show restraint and fulfill these commitments.”
Solheim also said – ” I encouraged the parties to allow themselves some time to reflect on the situation and not to draw hasty conclusions or take actions that could increase the suffering of civilians in Sri Lanka”.
Instead of honouring their promises or pausing to reflect preparations are afoot to launch major operations. The artillery firing and aerial bombardment are as usual preparatory exercises. Like the proverbial Tamil saying about the tinkle from the elephants bell preceding the animal (Yaanai varum pinne, Mani osai varum munne) the artillery and aerial bombardment precedes forward movement on ground.
In a sense both parties are taking off from where they were forced to stop due to Geneva. The GOSL had set its sights on certain military objectives and was keen on achieving them despite recersals at Muhamaalai and Panichankerny or setbacks in Habarana and Galle. Likewise the LTTE had after changed its strategy of withdrawal into a more formidable one prior to Geneva.
Both sides were unable to proceed with their war plans because of International pressure. Both sides “suspended” war briefly and went to Geneva to appease International sentiment and depict the other side as the bad guys. Making public promises and breaking them is nothing new to both sides. In fact such conduct is a key element of the Rajapakse regime (Poronthuvela enda; passa balamu). Nimal Siripala is his “aluth” masters voice. Suppiah Paramu Thamilselvan of course is being his usual self again of lying for “thalaiver” (leader) and “Iyakkam” (Movement).
[Jaffna residents stranded in Vavuniya - Photo: TamilNet]
The issue of closure and/or opening of the Muhamaalai checkpoint on the A – 9 highway is entangled in this war hysteria. The GOSL does not want to open up the Muhamaalai point for its own military reasons. It wants goods to be taken by sea for the same reason. The LTTE wants the Muhamaalai point opened up for military reasons. It refuses to accept goods being taken by sea for the same reasons.
The Jaffna peninsula meanwhile experiences severe shortage of food, medicine, fuel and essential items and is heading for a humanitarian catastrophe but the powers that be are in no mood to relent. Neither the GOSL which is claims to be the de – jure ruling entity nor the LTTE that has taken over as the de – facto ruling entity evince any real concern over the tragic plight of their pathetic subjects the Tamil people of Jaffna. Their concerns and objectives are militaristic despite assertions that they are humanitarian.
The GOSL has two sets of politico – military objectives in the North and East.In the North it wants to retain the Jaffna peninsula and Islands, retake Elephant Pass, Paranthan, Kilinochchi, Poonagary and the North – Western seaboard from Kalmunai to Thallady. In the East it wants complete control of Trincomalee district and the Batticaloa – Amparai littoral from Vaaharai down to Potuvil.The Western hinterland of Batticaloa – Amparai it hopes to “manage” through the Karuna faction.
The LTTE will naturally resist these military manouevers to the best of its ability. But Velupillai Pirapakaran is not a man who will let the enemy dictate the time. mode and terrain of conflict for long. It is only a matter of time before he enlarges the conflict arena and enhances the terms of combat.The GOSL has ushered in a new phase this time by bombing Kilinochchi, the de-facto LTTE capital. There are bound to be repercussions.
The stage then is being set for resumption of hostilities on a major scale. Both sides would say that they are adhering to the Geneva undertaking of not resorting to offensives. The GOSL would have us believe that they are only launching ” Defensives”. The LTTE would have us believe that they only engage in strategic defensive operations. There is much commonality at least in this.
There will be no victors. Neither side can totally vanquish or annihilate the other. There will be “see – saw” ups and downs in military fortunes. They can however inflict great damage on each other and themselves. Only one thing is certain. The people of Sri Lanka in general and the Tamils in particular will undergo much suffering , hardship and misery. The Muhamaalai closure is but a cruel harbinger of tough times lying ahead.
transCurrents feedback : editor@transcurrents.com
transCurrents feedback :Contact DBS Jeyaraj : djeyaraj2005@yahoo.com
November 4th, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Kilinochchi the interim capital of northern territory controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was bombed on Thursday November 2nd by the Sri Lankan Air Force.
Israeli built K-fir jet bombers flying in pairs conducted two sorties between 2 .15 and 2. 45 pm and dropped sixteen bombs in the east and south – east of Kilinochchi town limits.One of the bombs failed to explode.
Kilinochchi has been the functional interim capital of LTTE controlled territory in the Northern Province. This is the first time that planes belonging to the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) have bombed kilinochchi although bombs have fallen on areas on the outskirts of Kilinochchi on earlier occasions.
The bombs fell mainly in the township of Aanandapuram and Thiruvaiyaaru in the east and south – east of Kilinochchi. At least five civilians were killed and about twelve injured in the bombing.
About five of the bombs fell within 150 – 300 metres from the boundary wall of the Kilinochchi hospital situated along the A – 9 Highway.It is about one and a half km from the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) office.All other bombs fell within a 6 00 metre radius of the Hospital.
[The inauguration ceremony of the new General Hospital in Kilinochchi district, was held on July 10, 2006: Photo: TamilNet]
The SLMM officials went to the scene of bombing within minutes of the bombing. The SLMM had to cut short its inspection tour when an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) began scouring the skies.
SLMM Spokesperson Helen Olafsdottir told the BBC that the SLMM turned back due to security reasons and would re -inspect the area later on. The SLMM is insecure after several nasty incidents including one in Maavilaaru where former SLMM chief Ulf Henrikksson’s life was endangered by Sri Lankan armed forces shelling when he went to open the anecut.
Two air strikes were conducted by the Air Force in the North on Thursday. K-firs first bombed areas between Pallavarayankattu – Ponagary in the North – Western region of Kilinochchi district around 11. 45 am to 12 noon. No casualties were reported at the time this article was written.
According to the Sri Lanka Army website the reported air strike occurred in Mannar. This is what the Army report stated.
” SRI LANKA AIR FORCE fighter craft this morning (2) on intelligence received struck two Tiger (LTTE) terrorist targets in MANNAR and KILINOCHCHI causing extensive damages to a Sea Tiger base and another weapon training camp.
Fighter craft bombed the Sea Tiger base north of MANNAR this morning after intelligence confirmed that several weapon -laden boats were about to leave the Sea Tiger base for a major offensive against the Security Forces.
The LTTE military training center, situated about 10 km to the south east of KILINOCHCHI was another target taken by Kfir fighting jets of the Air Force a few hours after the attack on MANNAR.”.
In spite of the claim that an LTTE sea tiger base was bombed north of Mannar all available information indicates that the sea tiger base in Naachikkuda to the North of Mannar was not hit by the SLAF. It appears that the K-firs had unloaded bombs further to the north of Nachikudah in an area between Pallavarayankattu and Poonagary.
The second air strike according to defence ministry reports was on a weapons training camp about 10 km to the South – East of Kilinochchi. This again was blatantly inaccurate.
The bombs fell in an area about 800 – 1600 km metres to the South and South – East of Kilinochchi junction. The bombs fell mainly in Aanandapuram and Thiruvaiyaaru. Both places are within Kilinochchi town limits.
Aanandapuram is named after Veerasingham Anandasangaree the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) President who was Kilinochchi MP from 1970 to 1983.
Thiruvaiyaaru takes its name after the village in Thanjavoor district in Tamil Nadu where Thiyagarajar the most famous of the Carnatic music trinity was born.
The Kilinochchi hospital is located in Aanandapuram. Thiruvaiyaaru is adjacent to Aanandapuram. Actually the outer boundary wall of the Hospital is the “border” of Aanandapuram and Thiruvaiyaaru.
The bombs fell within the vicinity of Kilinochchi Hospital. Kilinochchi Zone Education Secretariat, Kilinochchi Technical Institute and Kilinochi Central College. Mercifully none of these places were hit but the fact that bombs fell within close proximity resulted in fear and pandemonium.
Five bombs fell within 150 – 3 00 metres from the Hospital which is the largest of its kind within the Northern Mainland. The explosions and vibrations resulted in windowpanes shattering, tiles cracking , roofing sheets shifting and much equipment losing equilibrium.
Worse still was the human terror and panic. People began screaming and fleeing the hospital building. Mothers with their children, old people, invalids, sick persons and the disabled all began running away. Three patients and three hospital staff sustained minor injuries. Some others too had cuts from broken glass and sprains through falls sustained while fleeing.
With bombs exploding outside there was widespread panic in the hospital and pandemonium reigned. Many bedridden patients were taken out by their relatives. In addition, many who were receiving intravenous treatment pulled out the tubes and ran out of the hospital. Parents could be seen carrying out their children. Young people carried old people out.
Bombs had damaged the Hospital staff and nurses quarters buildings. Fragments of the bombs and other debris was scattered all over Hospital premises. All hospital activity came to a standstill.
According to Hospital authorities there were more than 2000 people inside the Hospital premises at the time of the bombing. Of these 300 – 325 patients had been admitted to the wards in the hospital. There were also about 600 – 650 outpatients awaiting or undergoing treatment. There were also a number of people who had accompanied patients or had come to visit patients. This number along with Hospital staff amounted to around 2000 or more said the officials.
There were 18 expectant women admitted in the wards at the time of the attack. Three were in labour. Most of the pregnant women also fled the hospital. Some of them are admitted to smaller hospitals and clinics. Expectant women scheduled for surgery are back at the hospital.
With fear of further bombing the hospital was virtually deserted by 3. 30 pm. Only a skeleton staff remained to attend to victims of the bombing and urgent cases. Gradually fears subsided and some patients and people have begun trickling in along with other hospital staff.
Hospital authorities had earlier appealed to the International Committee of the Red Cross to declare the Hospital as a safety zone. The ICRC had informed the Hospital that flying the Red Cross flag in the premises was adequate enough for it to be treated as a safety zone in terms of the Geneva cobventions and International Humanitarian law.The authorities had felt safe until the bombing.
Usually people rush into Hospital premises during air raids or artillery attacks because hospitals are not targetted during conflict. But all civilised norms have been violated under the Rajapakse regime where civilians and civilian institutions are specifically targetted.
It had been long rumoured that the Air Force would deliberately destroy the Kilinochchi hospital as a prelude to an invasion into tiger territory. This had been the method employed in the East where hospitals in LTTE controlled areas were rendered inactive through aerial bombardment and artillery shelling.
Though the hospital was not targetted in Kilinochchi the people started panicking because of the prevailing mindset when the bombs began falling in the vicinity. Students from schools and office – workers in the vicinity too started running away.People were seen running helter -skelter in fearful frenzy in the aftermath of the bombing.
The bombs that fell in Aanandapuram and Thuruvaiyaaru fell on a few houses, buildings and compounds. One bomb that wrecked a house resulted in the deaths of five inmates all relatives. The killed persons were Murugesu Shanumugarathinam (56) his sons Saji Shanmugarathinam (20), Krishanth Shanmugarathinam (18), his brother Murugesu Markandu (62) and sister Rathinam Saraswathy (59).
Both Saji and Krishanth were students at Kilinochchi Central College.Only their mother a teacher at Thiruvaiyaaru Maha Vidyalayam and sister a student at St. Theresas Convent are now alive as both were away in school at the time of the bombing. All five victims were innocent civilians from one household.The house was about 600 metres away from the Hospital
Shrapnel and flying debris had injured around six other people in the area. None of them were fatal. This along with those incurring minor injuries at the Hospital the number of injured amounted to about twelve. Five were dead in the bombing where according to GOSL a training camp was taken out.
The Kilinochchi bombings seem to be a tit for tat attack. The alleged provocation is the death of a soldier and injuries to four others caused by LTTE shelling of Muhamaalai. Contrary to GOSL claims no LTTE training camp ten km away from Kilinochchi was bombed.
Brigadier Prasanna Samarasinghe the sensitive and gentlemanly Military spokesperson was evasive and vague when questioned by the BBC Tamil service about the bombings. The Country however waits for crudely insensitive Keheliya Rambukwella to come out with the usual “kaivaaru” at his regular press briefings.
[Photo: Frontline]
The GOSL seems to have ushered in a new phase to the on going conflict this time by bombing Kilinochchi, the de-facto LTTE capital. The bombing could be the precursor to many more incidents of this type. This has not been done before and it comes in the aftermath of Geneva where solemn pledges were made about calling off offensives. There are bound to be repercussions.
transCurrents feedback : editor@transcurrents.com
transCurrents feedback :Contact DBS Jeyaraj : djeyaraj2005@yahoo.com
November 3rd, 2006
Next Posts