Tamil Centre for Human Rights - TCHR

Centre Tamoul pour les droits de l'Homme - CTDH

Centro Tamil para los Derechos Humanos

(Established in 1990)

Website : www.tchr.net

    

  

Head Office

9, rue des Peupliers

95140 - Garges les Gonesse

FRANCE

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Table of Contents

 

Appeal                                                                                                                                03

 

History in a nutshell                                                                                                       05

Peace talks between Tamil and Singhala leaders since 1927                                               09                                                                                                                           

Colonisation                                                                                                                                 10

Since 1827 - Tamil and Sinhala populations in the Eastern province                       

Since 1827 - Tamil and Sinhala populations in Batticaloa district

Since 1963 - Tamil and Sinhala population in Amparai district

Since 1827 - Tamil and Sinhala populations in Trincomalee district                           11

 

Ethnic cleansing

Sri Lanka police send Tamils back to their villages

Ranil on forced eviction of Tamils                                                                              12

Send Tamils to India – UNP!

Mahinda 'dividing' Sri Lanka

The United States condemns the forced removal of Tamils                                       13

Norway condemns enforced removal of Tamils from Colombo

Canada condemns the forced removal of citizens of Tamil

Indian PM concerned over eviction of Sri Lankan Tamils                                                      14

BJP slams move to evacuate Tamils from Colombo

Eviction is not ‘winning hearts and minds’

 

Recorded figures                                                                                                             16

Arrests, killings, disappearances, rapes, displacements and Injuries

to the Tamils in the North East, Colombo and other regions

 

Journalists and other staff

           Killed, attacked and harassed            1990 - 2000                                                              17

                                                                      2001

                                                                      2002                                                              18

                                                                      2003                                                              19

                                                                      2004                                                              20

                                                                      2005                                      

                                                                      2006                                                              21

                                                                      2007                                                              22

 

Humanitarian workers

46 Humanitarian staff killed in Sri Lanka                                                                               24

Humanitarian staff injured                                                                                         25

Attack on NGO's office

 

Killing of religious dignitaries and laymen                                                                 26

Arrest & injury

           

Recent killing of academics and parliamentarians                                                      27

Death threats to parliamentarians

 

Massacres and killings of Tamils                                                                                  28

            Killings by the IPFK in the North East                                                                       32

Massacres and killings - Amparai district                                                                    33

Batticaloa district                                                                  

Trincomale district                                                                 34

Mullaitivu district                                                                    35

Vavuniya & Mannar district                                                   

Kilinochchi district                                                                  36

Jaffna district                                                                       

Colombo and other districts                                                   37

 

 

1

 

Military occupation of      

Civilian dwellings/land, schools, place of worship and public buildings                                  38

Amparai District – Division 1                                                                                  

Batticaloa District :                                                                                              

Division 1                                                                                                      Division 2                                                                                                     39

Division 4                                                                                                      40

Trincomale District :                                                                                                         

Division 1                                                                                                      41

Vavuniya District :                                                                                                  

Venkalachcheddikkulam Division                                                                  43

Vavuniya Division                                                                                        

Mannar District :                                                                                                   

Mannar Division                                                                                            44

Nanattan Division                                                                                         45

Madhu Division                                                                                                        

Adampan Division                                                                                         46

Jaffna District :                                                                                                     

Valikamam East Division                                                                              

Valikamam West Division                                                                              47

Valikamam Division                                                                                      

Vadamaradchi Division                                                                                             48

Islands Division                                                                                                       

Thenmaradchi High Security Zone                                                                49

Schools within the High Security Zone in Valikamam North                          51

Temples within High Security Zone in Valikamam North                                            52

 

Christian Churches damaged/destroyed

by aerial bombing and shelling in the North                                                                55

 

Hindu Temples / Kovils damaged/destroyed by aerial bombing and shelling

Amparai                                                                                                       64

Batticaloa                                                                                                  66

Jaffna                                                                                                                     69

Killinochchi                                                                                                 82

Mannar                                                                                                       90

Mullaitivu                                                                                                   

Trincomalee                                                                                                95

Vavuniya                                                                                                      99

 

Annexes

 

NGOs Intervention in the UN Human Rights Forum

Are the Tamil people not as fashionable as the Bosnians? IED                                            103

There is no hope for the Tamils within a united Sri Lanka – LIDLIP                          

Many people in civil society are asking, “ ‘Security’ – for whom? – IADL                                104

17 humanitarian aid workers were brutally massacred - IED                                      105

Human rights defenders are killed by the Armed forces - Interfaith International      106

The rule of law situation in Sri Lanka is deteriorating – IMADR                                              107

 

Government hand in abductions racket bared                                                              108

Cafe d’ APRC                                                                                                                    109

The APC smokescreen                                                                                                     

Long walk to freedom                                                                                                     110

 

TCHR summary, March 2007 – August 2007 (Names, Dates, Place of incidents etc)

            Arbitrary arrest / detention                                                                                        112

            Extra judicial killings / summary executions                                                                118

            Enforced or involuntary disappearances                                                                               128

 

 

2

 

 

 

                                                                                                         10 September 2007

 

The President

Members and Delegates

Human Rights Council - 6th Session

United Nations

1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

 

Distinguished Sirs / Mesdames,

 

First of all, we extend our congratulations to you for your appointment as the Chairperson of the 6th session. We regularly report on the human rights violations taking place in the Island of Sri Lanka. Our reporting is based on indisputable facts, the authentic details of which we receive from our sources directly from the North East and other parts of the Island. The United Nations human rights monitoring bodies have appreciated the veracity of our reporting.

 

In our submission to the 6th session, we will be high-lighting the human rights violations perpetrated against the people in the North East and other parts by successive governments that ruled the island since independence in 1948.

 

Our report includes the history in a nutshell, colonisation & ethnic cleansing in the East, recorded figures of violations from 1956 to 2007, killing and harrassment of journalists, humanitarian workers, religious dignitaries, academics, parliamenterians - and major massacres and killings. Also the report includes details of military occupation of civilian dwellings/land, schools, places of worship and public buildings. We have also included details of cultural genocide in the North East with a list of 299 Christian churches and 1348 Hindu/Saiva temples/kovils which were fully or partially damaged by aerial bombing and shelling in the North East.

 

The incidents we have mentioned in our report since 1956, have never been subject to an independent inquiry - nor have the perpetrators been arrested and punished nor have the victims been compensated. There are many more incidents to be added to those we have in this report.

 

Impunity is a very serious problem in Sri Lanka. Many notorious human rights violators in the Security forces especially in the Army, Police and the Paramilitary have received the best promotions and appointments as Ministers and to high profile jobs in the government. The government of Sri Lanka encourages and allows the perpertrators to move freely in society - and the violations continue.

 

In the Northeast the human rights situation has been deteriorating for many long years. Genocide, cultural genocide, multiple displacements are occuring and a systematic economic embargo to the North East is starving the people.

 

First hand witnesses to these Crimes against humanity - cemeteries full of murdered bodies, hospitals full of child and adult casualties, camps full of displaced people, people starving due to the economic embargo and buildings destroyed in all parts of North East. The security forces have created “High Security Zones” in the densily populated residential areas of the Northeast and are occupying civilian homes and public buildings.

 

Sirs / Mesdames,

 

The Sinhala constitution denies fundamental and political rights to the Tamil people. The introduction of the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) in 1979 and 27years of emergency rule (ER) have inflicted terror upon the Tamil people in the island. ER and the PTA permit the Sri Lanka security forces to arrest, torture, rape and kill the Tamils with impunity. Only a few cases have attracted international news coverage - and international human rights and humanitarian organisations are paying attention to these.

 

Press freedom and freedom of expression are in peril in Sri Lanka. Journalists are arrested, tortured, abducted, disappeared and killed over-night. Misinformation is heavily used internally and internationally by the government of Sri Lanka to distort the real picture of what is happening in the conflict areas.

 

Ethnic cleansing of Tamils and Singhalisation in the North East continues with foreign help.  As part of the ethnic cleansing, the murdering of religious leaders and laymen inside and outside places of worship has also been taking place over the years.

 

3

So far more than 100,000 Tamils have been killed and more than 200,000 have been multiply internally displaced. Another 600,000 or more Tamils have sought asylum in foreign countries.

 

Sirs / Mesdames, If we analyse respect for human rights by the government of Sri Lanka, the following truth becomes crystal clear - Sri Lanka has a regular habit of pretending to take some action on the massive human violations only a month before the beginning of the UN Human Rights' forums. These hollow promises of action are intended to avoid or counter any criticism that may be made by these forums, rather than to vigorously promote and protect human rights in real and effective terms.

 

Typical examples of this are the establishment of a Commission of Inquiry and an International Independent Group of Eminent Persons (IIGEP) in September 2006. We predicted the fate of the IIGEP in our earlier reports.

 

It is well known that for the last twenty four years, the LTTE has been engaged in an armed struggle with the support of the Tamils in exercise of their right to self-determination in the Tamil hereditary regions.

 

After nearly a quarter century of armed conflict, there is a de-facto government in the Tamils' hereditary region under the LTTE administration. It has been in existence for more than 15 years and it has its own infrastructures - police and judiciary, Law College, Banking and Educational institutions, as well as welfare centres for children, disabled people, elders and war victims. This has been well witnessed by diplomats, dignitaries and VIPs.

 

Sirs / Mesdames, the reports of the UN Special rapporteurs, Special representatives of the UN Secretary General and the Working groups and furthermore the statements by international NGOs to every UN Human Rights forum clearly indicate that the human rights situation in Sri Lanka is far from improving - in fact it is rapidly deteriorating.

 

As Sri Lanka is a signatory to various UN covenants and conventions, it has an obligation to maintain international standards and to abide by iternational law.

 

In the past, UN action on various other country situations reminded us that "Naming and Shaming" is one of the preventive techniques in the protection of human rights. Therefore the reports of the UN dignitaries and other appeals, reports, joint-statements, interventions, written statements by various NGOs to the UN Human rights forums must all be taken into consideration in this period to apply UN action on Sri Lanka.

 

At this crucial situation, there is no doubt that International human rights law and international humanitarian law are severely and massively violated by Sri Lanka. Considering these facts, the best mechanism in hand which can be used, is to charge the President of Sri Lanka, the Commander-in-Chief of the Sri Lanka Security Forces and other Military officials with War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity.

 

In addition, we urge this session to take immediate steps to alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe that is being deliberately inflicted by the government of Sri Lanka on civilians in the North East.

 

Sir, being the President of the 6th session of the Human Rights Council, you can see that the international community is failing in its duties regarding Sri Lanka and that it is backing an aggressor which is perpetrating war crimes and crimes against humanity against a people who have been struggling for their Right to Self-determination for many decades.

 

We appeal to you to take immediate action during this session of the Human Rights Council.

 

Thank you,

 

Yours sincerely

 

 

S. V. Kirubaharan

General Secretary

4

 

 

 

History in a nutshell

 

1505     The Portuguese arrived in Ceylon during the existence of three sovereign kingdoms, one Tamil Kingdom in Jaffna, and two Sinhala Kingdoms in Kotte and Kandy.

 

The island was divided into three kingdoms, a Tamil kingdom in the North East, the Kandy kingdom of the highlands and the Kotte kingdom situated in the South.

 

1619     Tamil sovereignty ended in June when the Portuguese defeated the Tamil King, and the Jaffna Kingdom became a Colony of the Portuguese.

 

1658     The Dutch arrived in Ceylon and the Jaffna Kingdom became a Dutch Colony.

1795     The British arrived in Ceylon and the Jaffna Kingdom became a British Colony.

 

1802     Ceylon became a British Crown Colony.

 

1833     For the first time in over 2,500 years of its recorded history, the entire island of Ceylon was brought under a single administration based on the recommendations of the Colebrook-Cameron Report.

 

1862     Tamils from Southern India were brought as labourers to work in the tea plantations in the hill country by the British. During the same period Tamil labourers from South India were taken to work in the sugar cane plantations in South Africa, Mauritius and in many other British colonies.

 

1885     Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan ­ Tamil leader called for increased representation in Legislative council for Tamils.

 

1915     In June, Sinhala Buddhist-Muslim riots in Ceylon. Riots spread from the central province to the western and northwestern provinces.

 

There were heavy casualties amongst the Muslims. According to available records, 36 Muslims were killed and 205 Muslims were injured and raped. Nearly 85 mosques were damaged and more than 4,075 Muslim-owned shops were looted by the Sinhala rioters.

 

1919     The Ceylon National Congress (CNC), the first full-fledged "Nationalist" political party was formed by a celebrated Tamil, Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam.

 

1921     Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam quitted the CNC, denouncing it as a party representing mainly a section of the Sinhalese.

 

1927-1931 Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan and Sir Ponnambalam Arunachalam had talks with Sinhala leaders when the Donoughmore Commission announced its recommendations in 1927. The talks ended in a failure as the Sinhala leaders ignored the aspirations of the Tamils.

 

1944     The first Tamil political party, “All Ceylon Tamil Congress-ACTC” was founded by G. G. Ponnambalam to champion the cause of the Tamils against Sinhala Buddhist domination.

 

1947     The United National Party (UNP) was formed.

           

The first constitution of Ceylon was adopted by an Order in Council rather than by a Constituent Assembly. It was known as the (Lord) “Soulbury Constitution” which remained in force until 1972.

 

1948     The British left Ceylon ­ independence was granted to “Ceylon” and the power to govern Ceylon was handed over to the Sinhalese who were numerically superior.

 

After the stringent 15 November 1948 Citizenship Act and the laws of disenfranchisement were enacted and adopted, the Tamils of Indian origin Tamils in the hill country (plantation Tamils) were deprived of selecting their representatives to the Parliament. More than a million plantation Tamil workers were rendered stateless.

 

1948-50 The Government launched massive Sinhala colonisation schemes in the Eastern province. Gal oya in Batticaloa, Allai and Kathalai in Trincomalee were colonised under pretexts of development.

 

1949     Dissension with the “Tamil Congress” party led to the formation of the “Tamil Federal Party” (FP) under the leadership of S. J. V. Chelvanayagam.

 

1951     S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike broke away from UNP and forms the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP).

 

5

 

1956     On 14 June S. W. R. D. Bandaranayake father of President Chandrika Kumaratunga proclaimed the “Sinhala Only Act” which made the Sinhala language the only official language of Ceylon.

 

The peaceful Satyagraha campaign staged by the Tamils to protest against the “Sinhala Only Act” at the Galle Face Green, in front of the Parliament in Colombo was brutally savaged by Sinhalese thugs with the connivance of government. The outbreak of first anti-Tamil riots in the island. More than 150 Tamils were burnt or hacked to death and million rupees worth of properties belonging to Tamils were looted and destroyed.

 

Year	Killing	Rape	Injuries	Displaced
1956	150	20	300	3000

 

1957     Soon after the “Sinhala Only Act” was passed in Parliament, talks were initiated between the Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike and the Federal Party leader S. J. V. Chelvanayagam.

 

On 26 July an agreement known as "Band Chieva" pact was signed between Bandaranayake and Chevanayagam. This agreement was based on a quasi federal system devolving certain powers to the Tamils in the North East provinces.

Within a week of signing the “Banda-Chelva” pact, it was unilaterally abrogated by the Prime Minister Bandaranaike due to vehement protests staged by the UNP, Buddhist clergy and SLFP. J R Jeyawardena of United National Party-UNP undertook a march to Kandy in protest against this pact.

 

1958     Anti-Tamil pogrom broke out in the island. Many Tamils were massacred and million of rupees worth of properties belonging to the Tamils were looted and destroyed.

 

 

Year	Killing	Rape	Injuries	Displaced
1958	355	100	350	35000

 

 

1965     Dudley Senanayake leader of the UNP formed the government with the help of the Federal Party and other parties.

 

Talks were held between the Prime Minister Dudley Senanayake and S. J. V. Chelvanayagam.

 

On 24 March, an agreement known as "Dudley-Cheva" Pact was signed between Dudley Senanayake and S. J. V. Chelvanayagam.

 

The agreement was abandoned without being implemented due to opposition from the SLFP, the Buddhist clergy, and UNP backbenchers.

 

1971     Armed revolution by the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna was suppressed by Srimavoa Bandaranayke. Thousands of Sinhala JVP youths were killed.

 

Talks were held between various Tamils leaders and Srimavo Bandaranayake on constitutional amendments.

No agreement was reached but the Sinhala leaders went ahead undeterred with their republican constitution amending the minimum safeguards granted to Tamils by the earlier constitution.

 

1972     Ceylon became a “Republic” on 22 May and Ceylon was officially renamed as the “Republic of SRI LANKA”

The United Front government enacted a Sinhala-Supremacist "Republican Constitution" for the country, which made Buddhism the state religion.

Formation of Tamil United Front (TUF) comprising Federal Party led by, S. J. V. Chelvanayagam, Tamil Congress (TC) led by GG Ponnambalam, and Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) led by Savariamoorthy Thondaman.

 

State discrimination against Tamil students' admission to Universities reached the peak with the introduction of "Standardisation". University admission based on merit was abandoned deliberately to stop Tamil students entering Universities.

A youth group comprising self-sacrificing and disciplined youths named Tamil New Tigers (TNT) was formed by Mr. V. Pirabaharan to fight for the right to self-determination of the Tamils in the North East.

 

1974     On 10 January, Sinhalese Police unleashed an unprovoked violent attack on those attending the prestigious “4^th Tamil Research Conference” in Jaffna, leaving nine innocent civilians dead.

 

6

 

1975     On 5 May the Tamil New Tigers -TNT was renamed as Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ­ LTTE. Mr. V. Pirabaharan was named the Chairman and military commander of the LTTE.

 

1977     In July, Tamil United Liberation Front-TULF, contested and won overwhelmingly at the Parliamentary election giving them a mandate to establish the “Right to Self-determination” of Tamil Eelam in the North East. J. R. Jeyewardena of UNP became the Prime Minister, with a five-sixth majority in the Parliament. The TULF became the major opposition party in the parliament.

 

Talks took place between Prime Minister J.R. Jayawardena and the Tamil United Liberation Front. No agreement was reached. Anti-Tamil pogrom occurred immediately after elections in the areas where Sinhalese were in the majority killing hundreds of Tamils.

 

Year	Arrest/Torture	Killing	Rape	Injuries	Displaced
1974	25	9		15
1977	45	150	90	35	15000

 

 

1979     The government enacted the draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), banning the Tamil militant organisations. On 11 July, the Jaffna peninsula was brought effectively under martial law under Public Security ordinance. Anti-Tamil pogrom broke out in the island. Many Tamils were killed and properties belonging to Tamils were looted and destroyed.

 

Year	Arrest/Torture	Disap.	Killing	Rape	Injuries
1979	150	22	13	13	15

 

1981     In June, another anti-Tamil pogrom was unleashed. Increased military repression in the North. The Jaffna Public Library was burnt down by the Sri Lankan armed forces, allegedly under the direction of two senior government ministers, Gamini Dissanayake and Cyril Matthew. 95,000 volumes of books including numerous culturally important and irreplaceable manuscripts and the buildings were totally destroyed by arson. The Jaffna city market, the office of the Tamils daily newspaper “Eelanadu”, the office of the political party TULF, etc were burnt down by the Sri Lanka security forces.

 

Year	Torture	Disap.	Killing	Rape	Injuries	Displaced
1981	200	4	35	50	37	5000

 

1982     Government sponsored a Sinhala settlement in the Tamil populated Mullaitivu.

 

1983     Major anti-Tamil pogrom took place in July all over the island with the buoyed up support of the government. During the four days riots, more than 6,000 Tamils were killed and over 250,000 were rendered refugees. Thousands of Tamils fled the country and went to India and to Western countries. Billions rupees worth of Tamils properties was looted and destroyed by the Sinhala rioters.

           

Between 27-28 July, fifty-three Tamil political prisoners were massacred inside the walls of the Welikadai prison in Colombo by the Sinhala inmates. The government masterminded this massacre and the Sinhala attackers were released from the prison and were rewarded with houses and properties in the Sinhala settlements in the Tamil homeland.

Hundreds of youths joined the LTTE movement and the TULF Members of Parliament sought asylum in India.

 

J. R. Jeyawardena’s government enacts the 6th amendment to the constitution and rejected the right to self-determination of the Tamil people in the island on 8^th August. This amendment outlawed the mandate voted by the Tamils in 1977 general election. The Sixth amendment and the Prevention of Terrorism Act in 1979 along with the Emergency Law provisions became the instruments through which repression was unleashed on the Tamil people.

 

Year	Arrest/Torture	Disap.	Killing	Rape	Injuries	Displaced
1983	1425	571	6000	750	3383	250000

 

 

 

1984     At the beginning of EELAM WAR-I.

 

1985-87 State repression and counter attacks intensified in the North East resulting in all-out war between the Sri Lankan state and the LTTE. LTTE effectively took control of the Jaffna peninsula and other Northern areas.

7

1986     In November, talks between the LTTE representatives and President J. R. Jeyawardena took place through the mediation of the Indian Prime minister in Bangalore, India.

 

1987     On the 29th July 1987, a peace accord known as “Indo-Lanka” pact was signed between Sri Lanka and India. Even though this accord purported to bring an end to the island’s ethnic crisis, it was signed by India and Sri Lanka without any consultation with LTTE and the Tamils of the North East of the Island.

 

The LTTE’s first public meeting was held in Suthumalai on 4 August 1987. The LTTE Leader Mr. Pirabaharan’s speech in this meeting became known as the “Suthumalai Declaration”.

 

 

1989     Talks between the LTTE the President Premadasa took place in Colombo. LTTE’s chief negotiator Dr. Anton Balasingham, Mrs Adel Balasingham and many other LTTE high-level leaders took part in the talks.

 

1990     At the beginning of EELAM WAR ­ II. Hostilities broke out again between the Sri Lankan forces and the LTTE. Economic blockade was imposed causing severe shortage of food and medicine in the North

 

1994     The People's Alliance led by Chandrika Kumaratunge won the Parliamentary elections with the pledge to "end the war and bring peace". The LTTE unilaterally announced a temporary ceasefire to welcome the change of government.

 

Talks between the LTTE and the PA government led by President Chandrika Kumaratunga commenced in Jaffna. Kumaratunge won the Presidential election. LTTE chief negotiator Dr. Anton Balasingham, and many other LTTE high-level leaders participated in the talks.

 

1995     On 5 January, the Government of Sri Lanka (President Chandrika) and the LTTE (Leader V. Pirabahakaran) signed an agreement for cessation of hostilities. The Government announced lifting of the economic embargo on some items only on paper, but the embargo continued. Later Chandrika government argued that there was no such thing as an economic embargo in the Tamil region. This was considered by civil society and the international humanitarian organisations as an “Utter lie with hidden agenda”.

 

The LTTE gave a two-week ultimatum in March to the government to implement what they had promised to the civilians. This ultimatum was later extended by another three weeks until April 19th. Talks ended in failure.

Government launched a major offensive in July in several parts of the Jaffna peninsula after imposing a press censorship. This was the beginning of EELAM WAR-III.

 

2001     The LTTE have announced unilateral cease-fires many a time. One lasted for four months. President Chandrika’s government refused to reciprocate the cease-fire declared by the LTTE and opted to continue with its military agenda.

 

The Tamil political parties formed a front known as the “Tamil National Alliance (TNA)” and contested the Parliament elections in the North East on the 5th December 2001 and won in 16 electorates. TNA’s Election manifesto.

 

            In December, the UNP government headed by the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe came into power with the mandate for peace and negotiations with LTTE. The LTTE declared a one month cease-fire and it was renewed. The government also declared one month cease-fire and renewed it.

 

2002     LTTE released 10 prisoners of war as a gesture of good will for peace.

 

The Norwegian government re-activated its peace role. The Norwegian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesenand and Mr. Eric Solheim met with the LTTE chief negotiator Dr. Anton Balasingham in London and the Prime Minister and other ministers in Sri Lanka.

On 21 February, an historic agreement, a “Memorandum of Understanding” was signed between Mr. V. Pirabaharan, the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ­ LTTE, and the Sri Lanka Prime Minister Mr. Ranil Wickremasinghe. This MOU was worked out under the facilitation of the Norwegian government.

2003     As there is non implimentation of the out come of talks, in May, the peace talks between the LTTE and the government Sri Lanka came to a halt.

 

            In November, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) submitted its proposals for Interim Self-Governing Authority – IGSA in the North East region to the Sri Lankan Government through the Norwegian facilitators on November.

 

This proposal was totaly ignored by the Singhala leaders.

 

 

 

8

 

2004     In the General elections the political party "Tamil National Alliance (TNA)" won overwhelmingly in 22 electorates in the Tamil region, North East.

 

Their election manifesto stated, "Accepting LTTE’s leadership as the national leadership of the Tamil Eelam Tamils and the Liberation Tigers as the sole and authentic representatives of the Tamil people, let us devote our full cooperation for the ideals of the Liberation Tigers’ struggle with honesty and steadfastness".  

 

2005     In November, Mahinda Rajapaksa won the Presidential election with the support of the Sinhala extreme political parties.

 

2006     In February, and October. 1st round of peace talks in Geneva was after two and a half years of interval. As there is non implimentation of the agreement signed in the 1st round of peace talks in Geneva, once again the 2nd round of peace talks came to a stalemate in October.

 

 

 

* * * * *

Peace talks between

Tamil and Singhala leaders since 1927

 

Year                                 Talks                         

1927-1931                                                Ramanathan brothers had talks with Sinhala leaders when the Donoughmore Commission announced its recommendations in 1927

1957                                                                      Sinhala Only Act.

Talks between S. W. R. D. Bandaranayake, Prime Minister and S. J. V. Chelvanayagam was leader of Federal Party

 

Talks on Banda Chelva pact

 

1965                                                         Talks between Dudley Senanayaka, Prime Minister and S. J. V. Chelvanayagam was leader of Federal Party

Talks on Dudley Chelva Pact

 

1971                                                         Tamils leaders (TULF) and Srimavo Bandaranayake on constitutional amendments

 

1977                                                                      J.R. Jayawardena and the TULF leaders

 

1978-1982                                                        Many between TULF and JR

 

1985                                                                      Thimpu – LTTE was one of the parties

 

1986                                                                      LTTE & J. R. Jeyawardena Bangalore

 

1987                                                                      Indo-Sri Lanka accord (It was signed without the concern of the Tamils)

 

1989-1990                                                        LTTE & President Premadasa

 

1994-1995                                                        LTTE & President Chandrika

 

2002-2003 May                             LTTE & Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe

 

2006 February & October             LTTE & President Mahinda Rajapaksa

 

(see page 109 & 110)

 

 

9

 

Colonisation

 

The following statistics show how the Sri Lankan governments and its destructive agents plundered and robbed 50% of the ancestral lands of the Tamils of the Island of Sri Lanka. The author of this report is Mr K. Sachithanandan. He was a lecturer at the University of Jaffna and adviser to the United Nations on Food and Agriculture in twenty-three countries. Also appointed as a research officer in the Fisheries Corporation in Colombo. (Report dated 1990)

 

Since 1827 - Tamil and Sinhala populations in the Eastern province

(Table is shown on a language basis)

 

                                                          Tamil                          Sinhala

Year                                       Speaking                    Speaking

            1827                                       99.24%                                   0.53%

            1881                                       93.82%                                   4.66%

            1891                                       93.89%                                   5.06%

            1901                                       91.8%                         5.05%

            1911                                       93.4%                         3.76%

            1921                                       93.95%                                   4.53%

            1946                                       87.8%                         9.87%

            1953                                       85.5%                         13.11%

            1963                                       79.25%                                   19.9%

            1971                                       78.61%                                   20.7%

            1981                                       74.4%                         24.92%

 

 

 

Since 1827 - Tamil and Sinhala populations in Batticaloa district

(Table is shown on language basis)

Until 1963 it includes Amparai district

 

                                                          Tamil                         Sinhala

            Year                                       Speaking                   Speaking

 

            1827                                       99.62%                                   0.00%

            1881                                       93.27%                                   4.75%

            1891                                       93.2%                         5.21%

            1901                                       92.34%                                   5.21%

            1911                                       92.95%                                   3.74%

            1921                                       93.12%                                   4.56%

            1946                                       92.55%                                   5.83%

            1953                                       87.64%                                   11.52%

            1963*                                     95.6%                         3.35%*

            1971                                       94.49%                                   4.49%

            1981                                       95.95%                                   3.21%

 

* Creation of Amparai district

 

Since 1963 - Tamil and Sinhala population in Amparai district

(Table is shown language basis)

(Amparai district was created in 1963)

 

                                                          Tamil                         Sinhala

            Year                                       Speaking                   Speaking

           

            1963                                       70.22%                                   29.34%

            1971                                       69.47%                                   30.18%

            1981                                       62.03%                                   37.64%

 

 

10

 

Since 1827 - Tamil and Sinhala populations in Trincomalee district

(Table is shown on language basis)

 

                                                          Tamil                         Sinhala

            Year                                       Speaking                   Speaking

 

            1827                                       98.45%                                   1.53%

            1881                                       90.72%                                   4.21%

            1891                                       91.44%                                   4.3%

            1901                                       89.04%                                   4.22%

            1911                                       90.54%                                   3.82%

            1921                                       92.13%                                   4.38%

            1946                                       75.09%                                   20.68%

            1953                                       78.8%                         18.22%

            1963                                       79.25%                                   19.9%

            1971                                       70.2%                         28.8%

            1981                                       65.38%                                   33.62%

 

 

 

In 1833 the Colebrook-Cameron Commission allocated approximately 26,500 sq.km as the Tamil People’s Ancestral Motherland.

 

In 1901 when the nine provinces came into being, the Tamil administration of the Northern and Eastern Provinces measured approximately 19,100 sq.km Due to some of the area being incorporated into the Sinhalese provinces the Tamil area had been reduced by approximately 7,500 sq.km.

 

After 1948 the government’s settlement plan deprived the Tamils of 7,000 sq.km. in the Eastern Province and 500 sq.km. in the Northern Province. Although the Tamils protested, the Colombo administration ignored the Tamils and settled Sinhalese in these regions.

 

Approximately 7,500 sq.km of Tamil land was plundered by the Sinhala Government’s Demarcation and Resettlement Plan when it came into operation. This has been taking place over the last forty years.

 

Before 1833, 25% of Tamil speaking people occupied 35% of land, which was in their administration as Tamil ancestral homeland. In 1901 this area shrunk from 35% to 29%.

 

Within 162 years the Sinhalese government under its crafty Demarcation and Resettlement Plan has plundered 50% of the Tamil ancestral homeland and is still attempting to colonise more and more!

 

 

Ethnic cleansing

 

On 7 June 2007

*          500 Tamils were forcefully expelled from the lodges in Colombo and sent out of Colombo to Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Vavuniya with Police escort

 

*          Further 400 are being detained in Police stations in Colombo.

 

Sri Lanka police send Tamils back to their villages

 

COLOMBO, June 1 (Reuters) - Ethnic minority Tamils staying in the capital Colombo "without a valid reason" are being sent back to their villages in a bid to stamp out rebel attacks, Sri Lanka's police chief said on Friday.

 

Hundreds of minority Tamils, many from poor rural areas, live in boarding houses in Colombo while they work or search for jobs or seek employment abroad.

 

Many ethnic Tamils in Colombo complain they are being deliberately targeted by the security forces, detained and searched as the state fights a new chapter of a two-decade civil war with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

11

"Because there is no a special label to identify an LTTE terrorist and a civilian, we took the decision to send them back to their villages after they finished their work here in Colombo," Inspector General of Police Victor Perera told a news conference.

 

"Some people who have arrived in Colombo do not have a valid reason to stay," he added. "Anybody can come to Colombo, there is no restriction. But they can't stay loitering in Colombo. We have decided to provide transport facilities for them to go back to their own villages."

 

The move comes after two suspected Tamil Tiger bomb attacks in the capital in a week and a string in recent months as a conflict that has killed nearly 70,000 people since 1983 deepens.

 

Officials suspect that Tiger cells are installed in the capital and seeking to stage attacks. But the planned restriction on Tamils rang alarm bells.

 

"If a democratic society takes this course of action, it is unacceptable because it is clearly a serious violation of their human rights," said Jehan Perera of the National Peace Council, a non-partisan advisory group. "This is a very harsh decision."

 

"This is the first time such a thing has been spoken about officially, so it suggests the conflict is deteriorating," he added. "This is a new low."

 

Fighting is now focused on the north after the military captured the Tigers' eastern stronghold, and a string of land and sea battles has killed around 4,000 people since last year.

 

Ranil on forced eviction of Tamils

 

Daily Mirror, 8 June 2007 - Opposition Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe, yesterday, compared the plight of the Tamils under the Mahinda Rajapaksa administration, to that of the Jews in Germany during World War 2 and of Black Africans, during the apartheid era in South Africa.

 

Speaking in Parliament on the government led eviction of Tamils in Colombo, Mr. Wickremesinghe said that Jews and Black Africans had faced similar persecution in the past, at the hands of Germans and Whites respectively.

 

He said the government’s actions violated the Constitution, which clearly stated that all citizens of Sri Lanka must be free from torture and inhuman and degrading treatment and had the right to free movement and to choose their area of residence.

 

“We are also concerned about the security of the country. If the government suspects anyone they can produce that person before a magistrate and remand the suspect, or release the person,” he said.

 

He noted that when people were evicted from the lodgings in such an arbitrary manner, they would return in anger to blast bombs.

 

Mr. Wickremesinghe added that the situation would bring shame upon Sri Lanka at the European Parliament sessions, and queried as to why the government was creating such a crisis for the country.

(Excerpt)

 

Send Tamils to India – UNP!

 

BBC Sinhala service, 8 June 2007 - Sri Lanka's main opposition party has requested the giant neighbour to allow minority Tamils to settle in India. The United National Party (UNP) legislator Lakshman Kiriella said the party urges India to allow Tamils to migrate until their safety is guaranteed by the island nation.The UNP made the request after hundreds of Tamils were evicted from Colombo's lodges by the police. (Excerpt)

 

Mahinda 'dividing' Sri Lanka

 

BBC Sinhala service, 8 June 2007 - Rights activists have accused of President Mahinda Rajapaksa of working on an agenda to divide Sri Lanka between ethnic lines. Protesting the eviction of hundreds of Tamils from the lodges in Colombo, they said Sri Lankan citizens should have the right to live where they like irrespective of their ethnicity.

12

Siritunga Jayasuriya, chairman of Civil Monitoring Committee (CMC), told BBC Sandeshaya that Sri Lanka authorities are trying to alienate Tamils community in Sri Lanka.

 

War on terror

 

President's Rajapaksa's administration, he said, is working on an agenda similar to that of President Bush's War on Terror. Jayasuriya accused the authorities of trying to divide Sri Lanka. "President Rajapaksa has put the first step towards dividing Sri Lanka into separate countries," Jayasuriya told bbcsinhala.com. (Excerpt)

 

World War II

 

The leader of the Left Front, Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne, questioned under which regulations authorities decided to deport Tamils from Colombo. He compared the eviction of Tamil lodgers to the eviction of Jews by the Nazzis during the second world war. "The Tamils were taken away like animals without offering any food or water," Dr. Karunaratne said. (Excerpt)

 

The United States condemns the forced removal of Tamils

 

June 8, 2007 - The United States condemns the forced removal of Tamils from Colombo.  Such measures violate the Sri Lankan Constitution’s guarantee that every citizen has the right to freedom of movement and choice of residence within Sri Lanka.

 

The United States understands and supports Sri Lanka’s obligation to defend itself against terrorism.  But this action can only widen the ethnic divide at a time when important efforts are underway to reach a national consensus to end Sri Lanka's nearly quarter-century old conflict.

 

We call upon the Government of Sri Lanka to stop the forcible removal of its citizens from Colombo, to make public the destinations of those already removed, and to ensure their safety and well-being.

(The Embassy of the United States – Sri Lanka & Maldives, 8 June 2007)

 

 

Norway condemns enforced removal of Tamils from Colombo

09 June 2007 - The full text of the press release by Norweigian Embassy in Colombo concern the forced evication of Tamils from Colombo :

 

"Norway condemns yesterday’s sudden and enforced removal of civilian Tamils from their dwellings in Colombo.

 

"The move by the Colombo police is a clear violation of international human rights law. The Government of Sri Lanka has legitimate security concerns. Moreover, it has the right and obligation to take measures to guarantee the safety of its population. However, such measures should not indiscriminately target Tamils, or any other ethnic group, and should always be in accordance with international human rights law.

 

"We urge the Government of Sri Lanka to cease any further enforced removal of Tamils from Colombo, and to consider granting immediate permission to return for those already removed from the city. "

 

Canada condemns the forced removal of

citizens of Tamil origin from Colombo

10 June 2007

 

The Canadian High Commission's full text of the press release :

 

"Canada condemns the forced removal of citizens of Tamil origin from Colombo back to the conflict zones in the north and the east".

 

"Whilst Canada acknowledges that the Sri Lankan government has the right and the duty to protect itself and its citizens against potential terrorist attacks, such as the reprehensible bombings in Colombo Fort and Rathmalana in recent weeks, the heavy-handedness of this sweeping action will only alienate the vast majority of innocent Tamils and further complicate the search for a durable peace settlement ."

13

"Canada welcomes the stay issued by the Supreme Court which prevents further removals and notes that President Rajapakse has directed that these people be returned to Colombo if they wish."

 

"Canada reiterates that there cannot be a military solution to the conflict that has besieged this Island for more than 20 years and reaffirms the need for a political solution where the rights and aspirations of all citizens of Sri Lanka can be respected."

 

 

Indian PM concerned over eviction of Sri Lankan Tamils

10 June 2007

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Saturday expressed concern over the eviction of minority Sri Lankan Tamils from the capital Colombo and hoped 'better sense will prevail' in the troubled nation.

 

'On attempt to expel Tamils from Colombo, Sri Lanka, we shared our anxiety with important world leaders,' the prime minister said while returning from Germany where he attended the G8 Outreach Summit.

 

'Hope better sense will prevail. It involves human rights of citizens,' added the prime minister, referring to a pre-dawn raid by the armed police Thursday on the temporary lodgings of Tamils in Colombo and forcing them go return to the northern and eastern provinces.

 

'I heard that this move has been stayed by their Supreme Court. We share the concern.'

(http://www.indiaenews.com/india/20070610/55516.htm)

 

 

BJP slams move to evacuate Tamils from Colombo

The Hindu – 10 June 2007

 

CHENNAI: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday condemned the Sri Lankan Government's move to evacuate Tamils from Colombo.

 

Terming the move "human rights violation," BJP national vice-president S. Thirunavukkarasar said India should join other countries in condemning the "evacuation."

 

The party, he said, also opposed sale of any type of arms to Sri Lanka as these would be used against Tamils. (Excerpt)

 

 

Eviction is not ‘winning hearts and minds’

By Shakuntala Perera

(Daily Mirror – 30 August 2007)

Nationalist politics invariably crossing over to various levels of extremism have always been the bane of Sri Lanka. Such opportunist politics have always beein in the way of the country reaching its development goals. It has more importantly been the biggest obstacle in the way of minorities receiving their due. But, never in the history of this country has the situation dropped to the depths that they have today.

 

Allegations of attempts to change the demography of the country, especially with regard to the contentious Eastern and Northern provinces, increase at an alarming rate. Several development plans of the government especially in the East is showing strong moves to this end.

 

The newly ‘liberated’ Eastern province is today a volcano awaiting eruption. The political agendas of various nationalist groups are threatening the peace of the province as never before. More seriously, they are threatening the lives of innocent people caught in between.

 

Following the first movement of displaced persons, 6,000 families, approx 30,000 persons, took place in April 2006 from the Trincomalee District to the Batticaloa District after the Mavil Aaru clashes between the Government and the LTTE. The IDPs first moved from Trincomalee to Vaharai in the Batticaloa district, then in late 2006 from Vaharai to Batticaloa. The third movement of persons was from West Batticaloa to Batticaloa East.

14

The resettlement plans of the government are accused of attempts to ‘Sinhalise’ the province. The allegation is strongly contributed to by clear moves to cement the demands by religious foundations.

 

Both humanitarian agencies operating in the areas and the people left destitute confirm that there were clear moves by certain political organizations to settle Sinhala families within Muslim villages have only poured fuel to the sensitivities of the area. The anger rising out of the Muslim community is not to be ignored. Such anger has the potential to grow in to militancy as we experience with the LTTE. The frustrations growing out of the situation are not to be ignored.

 

The government by Gazette notification No 1467/3 Board of Investment of Sri Lanka Law No 40(1978), declared a new High Security Zone covering Sampur and Muttur East on 16 February 2007. The declaration of HSZ for an Economic Zone will lead to the displacement of thousands. The government has reportedly already taken action to acquire land for relocation of said displaced families. Eastern Security Forces Commander Parakrama Pannipitiya has been appointed as the Competent Authority for the implementation of the regulations.

 

There are suspicions that ‘a new and trustworthy work force and new communities, most likely Sinhala will be moved into Trincomalee, ‘dramatically impacting on the demography and the ethnic balance in the Trincomalee District.’ Already local communities are expressing fears that their areas are being marginalized and their needs and rights are being ignored in the proposed development plans.

 

Moves under the BOI Trincomalee Development Plan, to establish a nature park and in Seenanveli, north of Illankaiturai Muhattuvaram, a HSZ and a special fishing zone are not without their questionable implications. The residents, most of them Tamils of Veddha descent, from about 8 villages, have been transported and virtually dumped in the open. ‘They are prevented from going home on the pretext of landmines while their meagre possessions have been reportedly looted by ‘Sinhalese’ from the Mahindapura colony, acting allegedly in cooperation with the Army’. The army is also engaged in constructing a Buddhist Temple, Samudragiri Vihara, in Seenanveli.

 

The Coalition of Muslims and Tamils for Peace and Coexistence (CMTPC) maintain the allegations have a sound basis. They allege that the current development plan for Trincomalee or the soon to be unveiled Eastern Development Plan has elements contributing to the mistrust. ‘This concern of minority communities needs to be addressed and their fears allayed as speedily as possible’ they maintain.

 

Certainly the eviction of 251 resettled farmers from Arafa Nagar on 10th, August, without prior notice by the military, demonstrates that it is not purely security concerns that keep the Tamils out of their lands. Such actions and in some instances obstacles placed in the way of resettlement are prompted more by ethnic considerations than by security safeguards. These Muslim families who earlier received the green light to rebuild their lives and continue farming from the security forces were suddenly evicted. All hopes of bringing some normalcy to their hopeless lives were short lived, they found. Five months to be exact.

 

A board declaring it a High Security Zone was erected on August 10, with a warning issued against trespasses. Trespassers were threatened with death. It is such harsh decisions by the State that are pushing the minority communities further and further awy from the Centre. These are far from the ambitious plans that the government spoke about to ‘win hearts and minds’ of the liberated people. In effect these and many other similar examples are pushing the people towards the LTTE. There are serious questions raised if the demands of the LTTE are not justified. Pertinent questions are being asked on the intentions of the government policy in this regard. The people want to know if liberation from one terror group was only going to push them towards another dictatorial rule.

 

South Asians for Human Rights last week charged against the moves to Sinhalise the area. ‘Appointment of numerous Sinhala government officials to the Provincial Council in the East after the de-merger of the Northern and Eastern province; establishment of Sinhala resettlements in Ampara; and building Viharas in Pottuvil, a predominantly Muslim area. The Muslim people, correctly, viewed themselves as being stuck between Sinhala and Tamil nationalisms,’ they allege.

 

The concern of international communities can’t be ignored in this scenario. Human rights violations, what ever form they take must remain the necessary concern of the international stakeholders. Attempts to antagonize them would not help the government in any way. The fact remains that all democratic governments are accountable at some point. It is irrelevant what their interpretation of liberation is. There is simply no justification for the human cost of the most ‘noble’ of causes.

15

Recorded figures arrests, killings, disappearances, rapes, displacements and Injuries in the North East, Colombo and other regions (1956-2007 August)
Tamil Centre for Human Rights - TCHR Email : tchr@tchr.net / tchrdip@tchr.net Website : www.tchr.net
Year	Arrest/Torture	Disap.***	Killing	Rape	Injuries	Displaced
1956*			150	20	300	3000
1958*			355	100	350	35000
1960	60			15	200	0
1972	37				18	0
1973	35				24	0
1974	25		9		15	0
1977*	45		150	90	35	15000
1979	150	22	13	13	15	0
1981*	200	4	35	50	37	5000
1982	300	0	47	45	22	0
1983*	1425	571	6000	750	3383	250000
1984	8257	203	872	214	1720	0
1985	3616	246	777	399	1372	1000
1986	4675	178	889	475	1560	0
1987**	2935	1303	3714	1257	8062	297250
1988**	2460	1253	2929	1219	4502	253000
1989**	4761	1528	1475	1031	2858	0
1990	2555	9381	5798	816	5601	78600
1991	3244	1847	4360	751	4917	1500
1992	2835	1780	3769	691	4020	0
1993	2929	676	2983	410	2885	0
1994	13363	536	2470	424	1663	0
1995	3565	934	3481	779	5028	500000
1996	18870	1678	4074	894	3265	335000
1997	5430	1463	4056	811	1731	255000
1998	9382	1338	2161	342	2909	34500
1999	16639	177	1661	339	1864	51000
2000	4217	134	1573	336	2442	192000
2001	182	5	88	131	120	67000
2002	16		32	21	101	16959
2003	22	5	45	4	52	0
2004	16	4	87	10	61	0
2005	177	194	243	45	338	0
2006	1175	1064	1292	85	2095	279200
2007Aug.	3368	316	565	30	-----	110000
Total	116966	26840	56153	12597	63565	2780009
(actual figures higher than documented)
Tamil Centre for Human Rights - TCHR Centre Tamoul pour les Droits de l'Homme
* = Communal riots ** = Indian Peace Keeping Forces - IPKF
*** = Only 2% of the disappeared have been found 16

Journalists and other staff

killed, attacked and harassed in Sri Lanka

1990-2000

Tamil Centre for Human Rights – TCHR / Centre Tamoul pour les Droits des l'Homme, France

(many more to be included)

 

Date	Name of victim	Reporting for	Incident
18/02/1990	Richard de Zoysa (journalist for UN funded Rome based agency - IPS)	International Press Service	Abducted in and shot dead in Colombo by the Sri Lanka military intelligence.
14/05/1999	Sri Lal Priyantha	Lakbima	Arrested by the Police
15/07/1999	Ten journalists	Freelance & News	Assaulted by the Police
21/07/1999	Several journalists	Freelance & News Papers	Victims of violence by PSD (Presidential Security Division)
07/09/1999	Rohana Kumara	Editor-Satana	Shot dead in suburb of Colombo believed to by the PSD
27/09/1999	Susannah Price (British)	BBC	Received death threats by telephone
02/11/1999	Nadarajah Atputharajah	Thinamurusu	Shot dead by EPDP in Colombo
03/04/2000	Aiyathurai Nadesan	Virakesari	Grenade attack at his home in Batticaloa
20/10/2000	Mylvaganam Nirmalarajan	BBC & IBC, UK	Shot dead at his home in Jaffna by EPDP

 

Journalists and other staff killed, attacked and harassed in Sri Lanka - 2001

Tamil Centre for Human Rights – TCHR / Centre Tamoul pour les Droits des l'Homme, France

(many more to be included)

 

Date	Name of victim	Reporting for	Incident
02/01/2001	N. Thiruchelvam	Lake House	Arrested and tortured in Colombo
20/01/2001	M. Vithiyatharan	Editor-Uthayan	Arrested by Police in Jaffna
21/03/2001	A. Fasmi	Thinakural	Arrested by Sri Lanka Army in Mannar
16/04/2001	Marie Colvin (American)	Sunday Times UK	Shot and injured by Sri Lankan army
23/05/2001	Office of the weekly	Athavan	Hit by a lobbed smoke bomb
07/06/2001	Pirabaharan	Freelance	Attacked by gangsters in Bogawantala
17/06/2001	Dharmaratnam Sivaram	Freelance	Two armed men entered the house, looking Sivaram.
17/07/2001	Aiyadurai Nadesan	Virakesari	Interrogated by the Army in Batticaloa
03/08/2001	A. Manoharan	Lake House	Received death threat
26/12/2001	Dharmaratnam Sivaram	Freelance	Beaten with clubs and knives in Batticaloa
26/12/2001	M. Wijetharan	Thinakathir	Beaten with clubs and knives in Batticaloa

 

 

 

 

 

 

17

 

 

 

 

Journalists and other staff killed, attacked and harassed in Sri Lanka - 2002

Tamil Centre for Human Rights – TCHR / Centre Tamoul pour les Droits des l'Homme, France

(many more to be included)

 

Date	Name of victim	Reporting for	Incident
06/01/2002	Assif Hussein	Sunday Observor	Assif Hussein was warned for writing an article about the Buddhist temple in Kandy
30/01/2002	Ranjan Jayakody	TV channel ITN	Attacked while he was reporting on an irrigation project in the northern town of Gampaha
01/02/2002	Ervin de Silva	Divaina	Attacked by two army deserter and a policeman for written a report exposing a local case of corruption.
30/03/2002	Sarath Chinthaka	Daily Mirror and Lankadeepa	Three armed, masked men believed to be security forces, entered the home forcefully and threatened his wife, who was alone in the house with a child - demanding the recording of a controversial speech by President Kumaratunga. As they couldnt find the cassette, they broke a cupboard, took a dozen cassettes and a recorder, and threatened to kill Chinthaka.
07/04/2002	Sunil S. Thanthrige H.R. Perera	Lankadeepa Daily Mirror	An angry crowd of demonstrators attacked dashing their cameras to the ground.
22/04/2002	Buddhika Weerasinghe	Freelance	Police threatened five reporters who were covering a demonstration outside the prime minister’s residence in Colombo
26/06/2002	P. Sathsivanamdam	BBC & Virakesari	Armed men attacked his house in Muttur
00/06/2002	A.J.A. Abeynayaka	Divaina	Believed to Police prowled around his home iring shots in the air, on several occasions. This harassment was due to his reporting against Kadana police.
00/06/2002	Senathirajah Jeyanandamoorthy	Virakesari & Tamilnet	Journalist neighbour's home was set on fire. Believed to a wrong target
10/07/2002	Nishanta Kumara	Ravaya	Three men, including a member of the ruling UNP known as Sanil, attacked and threatened him with a knife - one asked if he was the human rights "dog" who was trying to send his brother-in-law to prison.
02/09/2002	Chandramorgan & ABC Radio Correspondent	Valampuri ABC Radio	Attached by while they took photographs of the police using tear gas on a crowd of demonstrators.
03/11/2002	Malini Herath	Dinamina	Thugs attacked the home
24/11/2002	Sandhya M. Weeratunga Rukmal Gamage	Dinakara Dinakara	Received telephone threats after their newspaper carried a report about a government minister. Thugs attcked Dinakara’s vehicles driver on 26 November, and asked about the journalists.

 

 

18

Date	Name of victim	Reporting for	Incident
03/12/2002	Wijitha Ranaweera Roshan Garusingha Jagath Kalansooriya	Dinamina Lakbima TV station ITN	Attacked while covering their use of violence by the supporters of a local leader of the ruling party to disrupt a local election. Ranaweera and Kalansooriya were hospitalised.
10/12/2002	Velupillai Thavachelvam	UK-based IBC Tamil Radio	Police attacked while covering a protest in Nelliady, Jaffna against the EPDP presence in the peninsula. He was admitted to hospital in Point Pedro.

 

 

 

 

Journalists and other staff killed, attacked and harassed in Sri Lanka - 2003

Tamil Centre for Human Rights – TCHR / Centre Tamoul pour les Droits des l'Homme, France

(many more to be included)

 

Date	Name of victim	Reporting for	Incident
07/01/2003	S. Jayananthamoorthy	Virakesari	Grenade attack at his home in Batticaloa
24/04/2003	Asoka Fernando	Sunday Leader	Threatened by a priest while covering a visit to Gangarama temple in Colombo
07/05/2003	Ponnaiah Manikavasagam	BBC Tamil Service	EPRLF (V), a paramilitary group threaten to kill
10/05/2003	Ponnaiah Manickavasagam	BBC - Tamil	Received death threats in Vavuniya
00/06/2003	Poddala Jayantha	Silumina	Received death threats for reporting on corruption
27/07/2003	Lasantha Wickrematunga	Editor – Sunday Leader	Minister of Fisheries Mahinda Wijeskera had threatened to kill him.
01/08/2003	Lasantha Wickrematunga	Editor – Sunday Leader	A Minister threatened to kill him
29/10/2003	Athula	Hiru FM radio	Wounded when Sinhala-Tamil cultural festival attacked
08/11/2003	Paul Harris	Daily Telegraph, UK and Jane’s Review	Forced to leave the country because the authorities refused to renew his visa.
19/11/2003	Velupillai Thavachelvam	UK-based IBC Tamil Radio	Military intelligence personnel detained him at the Muhamalai checkpoint in Jaffna.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19

Journalists and other staff killed, attacked and harassed in Sri Lanka - 2004

Tamil Centre for Human Rights – TCHR / Centre Tamoul pour les Droits des l'Homme, France

(many more to be included)

Date	Name of victim	Reporting for	Incident
00/02/2004	S. Sivapalan S. Manoharan	Thinakural Namathu Eelanadu	Beaten with batons by police as they were covering an incident in Manipay. Their accreditation, was taken from them. Their notebooks and cameras were destroyed.
03/05/2004	Dharmaratnam Sivaram	Freelance	Police raided him in Colombo
31/05/2004	Aiyathurai Nadesan	Virakesari & IBC Radio, UK	Shot dead by paramilitary working with Sri Lankan military
16/08/2004	Kandasamy Iyer Balanadarajah	Thinamurasu.	Shot dead in Colombo while on his way to work
12/10/2004	Udaya Kumara Abeyratne	Divaina	Attacked by members of a Pentecostal church near Colombo
25/10/2004	Frederica Jansz Heshani Edward	Sunday Leader Freelance	Attacked while investigating the alleged implication of telecommunications tycoon Thilanga Sumathipala
29/10/2004	Yamuni Rashmika Atula Vithanage	Lanka Radio Hiru FM	Both injured during an attack by members of the ultra nationalist party, Sihala Urumayah
24/12/2004	Kithsiri De Mel	Daily Mirror	Attacked while photographing clashes between police and a crowd in funeral of Buddhist monk.

 

Journalists and other staff killed, attacked and harassed in Sri Lanka - 2005

Tamil Centre for Human Rights – TCHR / Centre Tamoul pour les Droits des l'Homme, France

(many more to be included)

Date	Name of victim	Reporting for	Incident
28/04/2005	Dharmaratnam Sivaram	Freelance: Tamilnet, Daily Mirror,Virakesari,	Abducted and shot dead in Colombo by the paramilitary working closely with Sri Lankan military intelligence.
12/08/2005	Mr & Mrs Selvarajah	SLRC	Shot dead in Colombo in their travel agency
23/08/2005	Y Premachchandran	Sudar Oli	Attacked by JVP while photographing a JVP protest rally
29/08/2005	D. Selvarathnam – Secuirty Guard	Sudar Oli	Two grenades were thrown at the building and watchman was injured
16/10/2005	S. A. Dias, publication manager	Sunday Leader	Dias was assaulted and the printing press was set on fire
01/11/2005	Ranee Mohamed, Berty Mendis	Sunday Leader	Assaulted with batons and swords
15/12/2005	Namathu Eelanadu	Namathu Eelanadu	Army officers searched the office in Jaffna interogated several staff.
17/12/2005	B. Parathipan, a lawyer - renowned journalist Kulukulan Prameshwaran	Thinakkural   Thinakkural Thinakkural	Held in custody overnight after being stopped at a Colombo checkpoint.
19/12/2005	T. Sabeswaran Winston Jeyan J. Jerad	Thinakkural Thinakaran Namathu Eelanadu	Assaulted by members of the security forces, their quipments were also damaged
22/12/2005	K. Navarathnam	Thinakkural	Newspaper deliveryman was shot dead by Sri Lanka security forces

 

 

20

 

 

Journalists and other staff killed, attacked and harassed in Sri Lanka - 2006

Tamil Centre for Human Rights – TCHR / Centre Tamoul pour les Droits des l'Homme, France

(many more to be included)

Date	Name of victim	Reporting for	Incident
24/01/2006	Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan (SSR)	Sudar Oli	Shot dead in Trincomalee by paramilitary forces working with the Sri Lanka Army
02/05/2006	Suresh Kumar - Marketing Manager Ranjith Kumar	Uthayan	Shot dead in "Uthayan" office in Jaffna by EPDP members. Office and computers were badly damaged
16/05/2006	Sunanda Deshapriya Sitha Ranjanee Poddala Jayanthe Dharmasiri Lankapeli Prasanna Fonseka	)Free Media )Movement Journalists Assoc. Fed.of Media Empl Journalist	All have received death threats for meeting LTTE political wing
01/07/2006	Lakmal Silva,	Freelance	Killed by the Sri Lanka Army
24/07/2006	Mariathas Manojanraj	Newspaper distributor	Killed in Jaffna in a mine that was set off by EPDP
25/07/2006	M. Yahoob -	Newspaper distributor	Paramilitary group threatening to kill him for distributing news papers in Batticaloa.
07/08/2006	Group of journalists, including some from the BBC	Journalists / International reporters	Reporters were barred from Muttur reporting on the killing of 17 Tamil employees of the French NGO Action contre la Faim who were killed by the Sri Lanka army on 5 August 06.
15/08/2006	Sathasivam Baskaran	Driver - Sudar Oli press group	Shot dead in Jaffna by EPDP
18/08/2006	Uthayan (News paper in Jaffna)	Uthayan	Four EPDP member set fire to the press causing serious damage to the publishing house
20/08/2006	Sinnathamby Sivamaharajah	Managing Director Namathu Eelanadu and form MP	Shot dead at his home in Tellipalai, Jaffna by EPDP
22/08/2006	Vithyatharan – Editor M. Saravanabavan, Managing Director	Sudar Oli group	Withdrawn the police protection assigned by the President Rajapaksa
29/08/2006	Nadarajah Guruparan	Tamil radio station Sooriyan	Kidnapped in Colombo by the paramilitary working with the Sri Lankan military. Due to international pressure he was released after 25 hours
01/09/2006	Ms Thavarajah Thavamni	Maharaja Television (MTV)	Sri Lanka military intelligence has kidnapped her and released after 15 hrs.
07/09/2006	Uthayan (News paper in Jaffna)	Uthyan	EPDP gunmen continue to threatened the journalists of Uthyan
17/10/2006	Rajpal Abenayaka	Editor, Sunday Observor, Laka House	Dismissed for writing about the comments that the President Rajapaksa made to Sri Lankan diplomat
22/10/2006	Virakesari, Thinakural and Sudar Oli (News papers)	News papers	Paramilitary group with working Army burned 15,000 copies of news paper! All three news papers banned by the paramilitary in the East.
??/10/2006	Sinhalese section of the BBC World Service	BBC World service	Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, accused the Sinhalese section of the BBC World Service a reporter for the British radio of being "payroll" in the Tamil Tigers!

 

21

Date	Name of victim	Reporting for	Incident
??/11/2006	George David	Reuters and the broadcast group Sirasa	Threatened by soldiers in Trincomalee.
06/11/2006	Publish the information only after the police investigation	To all media	According to the state media - Daily News, the IGP Victor Perera wants the media to publish the information on kidnapping of Tamils, only after the police investigation was completed!
26/11/2006	Munusamy Parameshawary	"Mawbima" Sinhalese weekly	Arrested by the Sri Lanka Police and released after four months without any charge – 22 March 07.
27/12/2006	Lasantha Wickremathunga	Editor - Sunday Leader	Threatened to be arrested for revealing information on luxurious bunker was being built for President Rajapaksa
00/12/2006	3 state media journalists	State media	Summoned for questioning by the Police
00/12/2006	Iqbal Athas	Sunday Times	Forced to censor his articles on security issues!
00/12/2006	Rohitha Bashana Abeywardena	Journalist "Hiru"	Threatened by the authority for covering the plight of Tamil residents in the North East.
00/12/2006	Auruddha Lokuhapuarachchi	Reuters	Threatened for covering the plight of Tamil residents in the North East.

 

 

Journalists and other staff killed, attacked and harassed in Sri Lanka - 2007

Tamil Centre for Human Rights – TCHR / Centre Tamoul pour les Droits des l'Homme, France

(many more to be included)

Date	Name of victim	Reporting for	Incident
05/02/2007	Nihal Serasinghe Lalith Seneviratne Sisira Priyankara	All three working trade union monthly news paper "Akuna"	All three kidnapped from three different locations in Colombo by the unknown people and then handed over to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID)
15/02/2007	Subramaniam Ramachandran	Thinakural and Valampuri	Kidnapped by EPDP who work closely with Sri Lanka army. On 22 March, Army admitted of holding him.
24/02/2007	TV channels and other media were urged	All media	President Rajapakse and his brother Gotabaya Rajapakse, urged TV channels and other media to put out a programme accusing "Mawbima", and its owner Tiran Alles. Also former ministers Sripathi Sooyaaracchi and Mangala Samaraweera, were accused of using the newspaper to plot against government.
26/02/2007	Dushantha Basnayake	Financial director "Mawbima"	Arrested by the Sri Lanka Police
08/03/2007	Tiran Alles	Chairman of "Standard" & "Mawbima" newspapers Ltd.	Government frozen the a Newspapers Private Ltd.
06/04/2007	Threat to the journalists by the Health Minister	Cabinet Minister	Health minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said publicly that journalists were behaving like “mad dogs” and should be “vaccinated” as dogs were against rabies.

 

 

 

22

 

Date	Name of victim	Reporting for	Incident
17/04/2007	Champika Liyanaarachchi	Editor – "Daily Mirror"	Defence Secretary, younger brother of the President Rajapaksa threatened to "exterminate" a journalist on the newspaper, for writing articles about the plight of civilian victims of the war.   British High Commissioner, Dominick Chilcott in Colombo, who went to the Daily Mirror offices to express his solidarity to Editor was summoned to the office of the Defence Secretary.
29/04/2007	Selvarajah Rajivarman	Uthayan	Shot dead by EPDP In Jaffna
15/05/2007	Sonali Samarasinghe	Editor – "Morning Leader"	Questioned by by law enforcement authorities
13/06/2007	Tiran Alles	Chairman of "Standard" & "Mawbima" newspapers Ltd.	Arrested by the Police. Considered as taking revenge on Tiran Alles by Rajapaksa's family
19/06/2007	Attack on Press Freedom	Tamilnet	Sri Lankan authority blocked access within Sri Lanka to TamilNet, a website hosted in Norway.
02/08/2007	Sahathevan Nilakshan	Trainee journalist	A journalism student and editor of a publication linked to a student union was shot dead by EDP cadres who work with Sri Lanka military intelligence.
15/08/2007	Kalimuttu Palamohan (KP Mohan)	Thinakural Tamil Daily	Attacked with lethal acid thrown at his face and chest. On 28 June, he was hospitalised for a week after being attacked by Air Force personnel in Colombo
15/08/2007	Iqbal Athas	Sunday Times Defence correspondent and assistant editor	Defence Ministry withdrew special Police protection which was given since 1998. The police protection given after a series of threats by members of security forces.
18/08/2007	Iqbal Athas	Sunday Times	The static guard outside my house was removed
19/08/2007	Iqbal Athas	Sunday Times	State backed demonstration outside his house at Wijerama junction . All the windows tinted, a green double cab parked just beyond the guard point down his resident – he may even get abducted

 

"......a government becomes uncomfortable,

is that you are a LTTE sympathiser"

Iqbal Athas, Defence Correspondent and Consultant Editor of Sunday Times,

 

"...................The most common bogey that they use when a government becomes uncomfortable, is that you are a LTTE sympathiser. When governments are in opposition I am their darling and then when they come into power they feel uncomfortable when I report certain things. .. " (Athas, in an interview to " The Nation" 2 Sep. 2007)

 

Journalists were behaving like “mad dogs”

Health minister Nimal Siripala de Silva

 

Health minister Nimal Siripala de Silva said publicly on 6 April 2007, that journalists were behaving like “mad dogs” and should be “vaccinated” as dogs were against rabies. (Excerpt - Reporters Without Borders, 13 April 2007)

23

 

Humanitarian workers

 

46 Humanitarian staff killed in Sri Lanka

by the security forces and the paramilitary

since January 2006

(Listed by organisations in alphabetical order)

 

No.      Name                                                organisation                                    date

 

1 -        Mr. Primus Anandarajah                     Action Contre La Faim (ACF)             04/08/2006

2 -        Mr. Matahavarasa Ketheeswaran                   -do-                                         -do-

3 -        Mr. G. Sreethraran                                         -do-                                         -do-

4 -        Mr. Narmathan                                               -do-                                         -do-

5 -        Mr. R. Arulraj                                                  -do-                                         -do-

6 -        Mr. P.Pratheeban                                           -do-                                         -do-

7 -        Mr. M. Rishikeshan                                         -do-                                         -do-

8 -        Mr. Y Kodeeswaran                                        -do-                                         -do-

9 -        Ms. K.Kovarthani                                            -do-                                         -do-

10 -      Ms. S.Romila                                                  -do-                                         -do-

11 -      Ms. V.Kokilavathani                                        -do-                                         -do-

12 -      Ms. G. Kavitha                                               -do-                                         -do-

13 -      Mr. S. Ganesh                                                -do-                                         -do-
14 -      Mr. Abdul Latif Mohamed Jauffer                    do-                                          -do-
15 -      Mr. A. Jaseelan                                              do-                                          -do-
16 -      Mr. K. Koneshwaran                                      do-                                          -do-
17 -      Mr. Muraleetharan                                          do-                                          -do-
18 -      Mr. Arumainayagam Alloysius             Danish De-mining Group – DDG       23/07/2007

19-       Mr. Sivarasa Vimalarasa                                 do-                                          19/06/2007
20-       Mr. Thambiah Tharmasiri                                do-                                          11/01/2006

21-       Mr. Narayanamoorthy Kandeepan                  do-                                          -do-
22 -      Mr. Nagarasa Narenthiran                   Halo Trust                                          09/02/2007

23-       Mr. C. Rajendran,                                           do                                           09/01/2007

24-       Mr. Subramaniam Parameswaran                   do                                           04/01/2007

25-       Mr. Gunaratnam Logithas                               do                                           04/02/2006

26-       Mr. Charles Huston Ravindran                        do                                           15/11/2006

27 -      Mr. Rasiah Muraleeswaran                  Housing devel. for tsunami victims  08/07/2006

28 -      Mr. Pathmanathan Shanmugaratnam HUDEC                                               10/04/2006

29 -      Mr. Selvendra Pradeepkumar             do-                                                     -do-
30 -      Mr. Sinnarajah Shanmuganathan       ICRC                                                  1/06/2007

31 -      Mr. Karthigesu Chandramohan                       do-                                                     -do-
32 -      Mr. Mohamed Z. Mohamed Rizvi         Methodist Community Org.(UMCOR) 06/08/2007

33 -      Jeyaruban Gnanapragasam               Norwegian Refugee Council             15/05/206

34 -      Nagarasa Thavaranjitham                   Sri Lanka Red Cross                         20/08/2006

35 -      Mr. Kasinathar Ganeshalingam                      Tamil Rehabilitation Org.(TRO)        29/01/2006

36 -      Mr. Thangarasa Karthirkamar                         do-                                          -do-
37 -      Ms Thanushkodi Premini                                do-                                          30/01/2006

38 -      Mr. Thamiraja Vasantharajan                          do-                                          -do-

39 -      Mr. Shanmuganathan Sujendran                   do-                                          -do-

40 -      Mr. Kailyapillai Ravinthiran                              do-                                          -do-

41 -      Mr. Arunesara Satheeskaran                          do-                                          -do-

42 -      Mr. Krishnapillai Kamalanathan                                  do                                           02/07/2006

43 -      Mr. Muthuraja Aruleswaran                             do                                          24/03/2007

44 -      Mr. P. Jestly Julian                              UN agency UNOPS                            24/08/2006

45 -      Mr. Ratnam Ratnarajah                                  World Bank assisted (NEIAP)                       26/05/2006

46 -      Mr Ragunathan Ramalingam              World Concern Devel. Org.               11/09/2006                

 

 

24

 

 

Humanitarian staff injured

by the security forces and paramilitary in the recent past

 

Name                                     incident         date                organisation                                   

A Serbian aid worker               Injured             21/05/2006     Non-violent Peace Force group         

Mr. Thangarasa Mukunthan    Injured             12/06/2006     White Pigeon, Jaffna  

Mr. Anthonio Mahalucgs         Injured             13/06/2006     Mercy Corps               

Philippine national

Mr. Kanthasami Sivasuthan    Army                18/07/2006     Tamil Rehabilitation Org.(TRO)

                                               assault

 

Attacks on NGO offices

by the security forces and paramilitary in the recent past

 

Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) – 14 August 1997

Sri Lankan Airforce dropped two bombs towards 5 km southeast of Mallavi, where MSF has rehabilitated a hospital and provides gynecological, pediatric, and nursing care.

 

National Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka - 22 January 2002

Sri Lankan Police officer, Mr. Ranman Kodithuwakku (A.S.P) behaved arrogantly and intimidated the NHRC officer and challenge the authority of the Commission, claiming that it had no right to investigate his affairs.

 

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission - SLMM, Batticaloa – 15 January 2006

An unoccupied vehicle parked in the compound of the SLMM was bombed.

 

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission - SLMM, Trincomalee – 18 January 2006

Due to increasing violence, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission - SLMM is suspended its operations in the northeastern Trincomalee district.

 

Inter SOS, ZOA and Non-Violent Peace Force – 21 May 2006

Grenades were lobbed at the offices of three international non-governmental organizations, in government controlled Muttur. One foreign representative of the Non-Violent Peace Force and a local worker were injured in the grenade attacks.

 

Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) - 24 August 2006

Jaffna office of the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation was looted and burned by armed men. Intruders forced a night watchman to leave the office and then destroyed computers, files and other equipment before setting the building on fire.

 

Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) - 4 September 2006

Sri Lankan government has frozen the bank accounts of Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO).

 

Action Contre La Faim (ACF) – 7 September 2006

Following the murders of 17 of its staff members, ACF has announced it will be suspending reconstruction work in Sri Lanka. The organization will maintain a reduced presence in the country.

 

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) – 30 September 2006

"On Saturday September 30 around 11p.m. a grenade exploded in front of the ICRC, Jaffna office. The explosion caused only material damage to the building.

 

Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) – 30 September 2006

Since the September 30, false allegations have been leveled in the Sri Lankan media accusing MSF teams of participating in the conflict. Simultaneously MSF received a letter from the government canceling their existing visas and asking them to leave the country.

 

The Australian Red Cross – 18 October 2006

The Australian Red Cross announced it was temporarily suspending field activities in and around Jaffna.

25

Killing of religious dignitaries and laymen

by the Security forces and paramilitary

 

Name                                                Place of incident                 Date

 

A Hindu priest burnt alive by rioters     Kalutara, South of Sri Lanka   1958

Rev Fr. Mary Bastian                          Vankalai-Mannar                     05/01/1985                

Rev Jeyarajasingham and                  Murunkan-Mannar                   Feb 1985

his wife were found hacked to dead

Fr Wenceslaus                                    Tholagatty-Jaffna                    1986

Fr Chandra Fernando                         Batticaloa                               1988

Fr Herbiet                                           Eravur-Batticaloa                    1990

An American Jesuit priest

Fr Selvarajah                                      Sorikalmunai-Amparai             1990

Rev Inasi Arulpalan                            Konnavil-Kilinochchi                25/08/1997

Ms Sarathambal Saravanbavanantha-           Pungudutivu, Jaffna               28/12/1999    

Kurukal - of a Hindu Brahmin family gang-raped and murdered Sri Lankan Navy soldiers    

Varatharaja Kurukkal Harihara Sarma Kodikamam-Jaffna                  14/11/2004

Sabanatha Sarma                              Maruthanamadam-Jaffna        14/09/2005

Five people killed inside the Mosque  Akkaraipattu Grand Mosque   18/11/2005

Buddhist monk Ven. Nanda Rathan   Mahadivulwewa-Trincomale     13/05/2006

Hindu priest Venkata Krishna Sharma            Kaithady Bridge - Jaffna    26/05/2006

Rev Fr. T. Nihal Jimbrown                   Allapiddy-Jaffna                      20/08/2006

W Winsan Vimalathas                         Allapiddy-Jaffna                      20/08/2006

Fr Nihal Jimbrown's helper

Hindu priest, Selliah Parameshwaram Sandiweli-Batticaloa                07/02/2007

Pastor Victor Emmanuel Yogarajan    Negombo                                01/03/2007

along with his two sons and a friend

Ratnasabapathy Aiyar Somaskantha Velanai, Jaffna                                   30/04/2007

Mawlawi Rafeek                                  Ninthavoor-Amparai                11/08/2007

Muslim religious leader

 

Arrest & injury

 

Hindu priest Ragupathy Sarma                       Modera Kaliamman temple,     Feb 2000

and his wife                                        Colombo - Arrest

 

Hindu priest Kothandathas                 Selva Vinayagar temple,         August 1999

                                                          Kandy - Arrest & torture

 

The chief Hindu priest of Annapani-    Ariyampathi in Batticaloa         24/04/2005    

Hindu temple                                      Injured by a gun shot

 

Hindu priest Bala Jegadeeshwara-     Pettah, Colombo                     14/10/2006

Gurukkal                                             Arrest  & torture        

 

The chief Hindu priest and the )      Velanai, Perunkulam               03/05/2007

Temple Trustee Board Chairman )      Muththumaariamman, Jaffna

                                                          Arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy                              

 

 

 

26

 

Recent killing of academics and parliamentarians

by the Security forces and paramilitary

 

Name                                                                        place of incident                 date

 

Mr Kumar Ponnambalam                                            Colombo                                 05/01/2000

Leading Lawyer – President Council

 

Mr. Ariyanayagam Chandra Nehru-                            Welikanda, Polanaruwa                      07/02/2005

ex-Parliamentarian

                                  

Mr Joseph Pararajasingham - Parliamentarian                       St Mary's church, Batticaloa    25/12/2005

Mr Vanniasingham Vigneswaran                                Trincomlee                              07/04/2006

(inteded to replce the Mr Pararajasingham)

Pon. Ganeshamoorthy                                                          Kankesanturai, Jaffna             04/08/2006

General Manager of Peoples Bank

Mr S Sivamaharajah – ex-Parliamentarian                  Jaffna                                     20/08/2006

Mr Nadarajah Raviraj - Parliamentarian                                  Colombo                                 10/11/2006

Dr. Bala Sugamar – Dean, Arts Fac– Eastern University

Prof S Raveendranath                                                           Colombo                                 15/12/2006

Vice-Chancellor, Eastern University, Batticaloa

 

 

 

Death threats to parliamentarians by

the Sri Lankan security forces and paramilitary

 

 

Mr S. Jeyanandamoorthy, M.P.                     19/11/2006                 Batticaloa District

Mr T Kanagasabai, M.P.                               19/11/2006                 Batticaloa District

Ms Thangeswari Kathiraman, M.P.                 19/11/2006                 Batticaloa District

Ariyanethran, M.P.                                        19/11/2006                 Batticaloa District

Mr K. Pathmanathan, M.P.                             19/11/2006                 Amparai District

Mr C. Chandranehru, M.P.                              19/11/2006                 National List
Mr. Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam, M.P                     02/05/2006                 Jaffna

Mr. Selvarajah Kajendren, M.P                                   13/05/2006                 Jaffna

Mr. Sivanathan Kisshor, M.P.                         29/10/ 2006                Vavuniya

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

27

 

Massacres and killings of Tamils

by Sri Lankan Security forces and paramilitary since 1956

 

Tamil Centre for Human Rights - TCHR/CTDH       Email : tchrgs@hotmail.com / tchrdip@hotmail.com

 

(in date sequence)

 

Date                           Place of incident                                        No. Killed

 

10/06/1956                 Amparai                                                                     150

10/01/1974                 World Tamil Research Conference                  09

01/06/1981                 Jaffna Town                                                   04

24/07/1983                 Thirunalveli                                                     +25

1983                           Anti-Tamil pogrom                                          +5000

25&27/07/1983                      Welikadai Prison                                             53

June 1983                  Pullumalai                                                                  26

28/03/1984                 Chunnakam Market                                        09

16/09/1984                 Point Pedro – Tikkam                                     16

01/12/1984                 Othiuyamalai                                                  32

02/12/1984                 Kumulamunai                                                 7

04/12/1984                 Nanaddan Manthai                                        45

01/01/1985                 Killiveddi                                                         10

16/01/1985                 Mulliyavalai                                                     17

25/01/1985                 Kilinochchi Railway Station                             12

30/01/1985                 Vaddakandal??                                                         70

21/04/1985                 Puthukudiyiruppu                                           32

15/05/1985                 Kumuthini Boat                                                          42

17/05/1985                 Narpaddimunai                                                          23

03/06/1985                 Muttur-Killiveddi                                              35

14/06/1985                 Muttur-Killiveddi (includes 15 villages)             115

16/09/1985                 Nillavelli                                                          29

02/10/1985                 Piramanthanaru                                             11

26/10/1985                            Kaddaiparichan                                              25

11/11/1985                            Kanthalai massacre                                        06

27/11/1985                            Sampur, Muthur                                                         22

12/11/1985                            Thamplalakamam                                           35

06/01/1986                 Vankalai Church                                             08

19/02/1986                 Udumpankulam                                              66

20/03/1986-                Eedimurichchan                                             20

19/02/1986                 Akkaraipattu                                                               102      

08/05/1986                 Pullumalai                                                      69

29/05/1987                 Alvai Temple                                                  40

04/06/1986                 Anandapuram Shelling                                              05

10/06/1986                 Mandaithivu Sea                                            32

26/06/1986                 Sampalthivu                                                   15

28

Date                           Place of incident                                        No. Killed

 

28/06/1986                 Paranthan                                                      07

28/06/1986                            Thamplalakamam (Forest)                              34

09/07/1986                            Mullipothanai                                                  11

16/07/1986                            Peruveli Mallaikaithvu Refugee Camp                        44

17/07/1986                 Thanduvan                                                    17

17/07/1986                 Pullumalai                                                      08

12/10/1986                 Adampan                                                       20

10/11/1986                 Pullumalai                                                                  103 

31/12/1986                            Pankulam                                                       08

26/04/1987                 Paddithidal                                                     17

28/01/1987                 Mahiladythivu-Kokadicholai      (Prawn farm)   137

27/05/1987                 Thonni Thaddamadhu                                    10

15/12/1987                 Kokkilai – Kokkuthouvai                                             131

11/02/1990                 Fancy House Kalmunai                                  111

12/06/1990                 Karathivu Refugee camps                                          35

13/06/1990                 Ninthavoor                                                                 64

24-25/06/1990            Akkaraipattu Methodist Church                     >

Alayadivempu Thirunavukkarasu Vidyalam >            104

30/06/1990                 Pottuvil                                                                      132

20/06/1990                 Veeramunai (Temple)                                                 56

28/06/1990                             Samanthurai Malaikaddu                               37                   

29/06/1990                             Kondaivedduvan                                           56                   

04/07/1990                             School at Karathivu                                       12                   

10/07/1990                             School at Karathivu                           11                   

16/07/1990                             Army from Malwathai camp                 08

26/07/1990                             Vedduvan army camp                        08

08/08/1990                             Malwathai                                          08

11/08/1990                             Mandoor                                                        18

12/08/1990                             Konddavedduvan                                          30

18/07/1990                 Chavalkkadai                                                             32

08/07/1990                 Central Camp                                                 18

02/08/1990                 Adapallam                                                      05

06/08/1990                 Thiralkkerni                                                     54

16/09/1990                 Chavalkkadai                                                 4

22/09/1990                 Ninthavur, Thiraikerny and Adapallam                        45

21/11/1990                 Adapallam                                                                 10

23/05/1990                 Vantharamullai                                                           226

09/07/1990                 Pullumalai                                                      55

20/07/1990                 Sithanddy                                                      80

24/07/1990                 Paranthan                                                      10

27/07/1990                 Sithanddy                                                      57

29

 

Date                           Place of incident                                        No. Killed

 

23/08/1990                 Mandaithivu                                                   20

29/08/1990                 Nelliyadi Market                                              16

05/09/1990                 Vantharumoolai                                              138

05/09/1990                 Vantharumoolai-Kondayankerny camp           48

10/09/1990                 Sathurukoddan Depot                                   184

1990                                      Disappearances                                             +1000

(During Col. Thenekoon’s tenure)

27/111990                  Oddisuddan                                                   12

30/01/1991                 Puthukudiyiruppu junction bombin                  28

17/02/1991                 Vankalai                                                         05

28/02/1991                 Vaddakachchi                                                            09

13/03/1991                            Trincomalee (Iruthayapuram)                          1

12/06/1991                 Mahiladythivu-Kokadicholai                            132

04/12/1991                 Uruthirapuram                                                11

18/05/1992                 Vattapalai                                                      15

30/05/1992                 Tellipalai Temple                                            10

09/08/1992                 Mylanthanai - Punanai                                               36

02/01/1993                            Massacre in the Killaly sea(I)                          52 

02/01/1993                            Massacre in the Killaly sea(I)                          52 

18/09/1993                 Maaththalan                                                   20

28/09/1993                 Chavakachcheri – Sangathanai                                 28

13/11/1993                 Kurunagar Church                                          12

05/12/1993                            ICRC refugee camp – Jaffna                          40     

18/02/1994                 Chundikulam                                                  10

18/04/1995                            Nachchikuda Massacre                                              30 

30/06/1995                 Pendukalchenai                                                         15

09/07/1995                            Navaly St. Peter's Church Massacre               165 

July-Aug 1995                        Bolgoda Lake - Colombo                                           27   

22/09/1995                            Nagar Kovil School Children Massacre           71 

11/02/1996                            Kumarapuram Massacre                                            24

18/02/1996                            Poonaithoduvai in Kilinochchi                         11 

03/03/1996                            Muthumariyamman Temple – Jaffna               07

16/03/1996                            Nachchikuda                                                              16 

20/04/1996                            Massacre in the Killay Sea (II)                        42 

11/05/1996                 Sithandi, Kaluvenkerni                                               18 

17/05/1996                 Thambirai Market                                            07     

03/06/1996                            Puttur – Jaffna                                                           08              

24/07/1996                            Mallavi Town - Mallavi, Vanni                          09    

31/07/1996                            Puthukudyiruppu – Kilinochchi                       10         

25/09/1996                 Vavunikulam                                                  04

25/09/1996                 Kilinochchi town – Kilinochchi                         05       

30

 

Date                           Place of incident                                        No. Killed

 

25/09/1996                            Puthumurippu – Kilinochchi                            05     

26/09/1996                            Vavunikulam – Kilinochchi                              04    

27/09/1996                            Konavil – Kilinochchi                                                  04   

29/09/1996                 Akkarayan – Kilinochchi                                             04 

1996-1997                  Mass Graves including Chemmani                  +800             

29/01/1997                            Ponnalai Bridge in Jaffna                               09   

13/05/1997                 Mulliavalai                                                      10

15/08/1997                 Vavunikulam Church                                      15

08/06/1997                 Mankulam                                                      07

05/07/1997                 Pannankandy                                                06

17/07/1997                            Nedunkerni – Vanni                                       08 

11/08/1997                            Mullaitivu (Manthuvil)                                      40 

15/08/1997                            Vavunikulam - Church – Vanni                       09 

24/09/1997                 Amparai                                                          8

25/11/1997                 Visuvamadhu                                                 06

11/12/1997                 Market Place in Batticaloa                              05

12/12/1997                 Kalutara Prison                                              03      

1996-1998                  Mass Graves in Killinochchi                            179

27/01/1998                            Jaffna Coast – Jaffna                                     09           

01/02/1998                 Thampalakamam                                            08 

26/03/1998                            Vaddakkachchi in East Paranthan                 08

10/06/1998                            Suthanthirapuram in Mullaitivu                        32

12/09/1998                 Pullumalai                                                                  14                   

18/01/1999                 Pullumalai                                                      13

15/09/1999                            Puthukudiyiruppu - Mullaitivu                          22

20/11/1999                            Maddhu church – Mannar                              38

23/01/2000                 Kunjukulam                                                    05

05/04/2000                 Chempiyanpattu                                             04        

17/05/2000                 Batticaloa (near Buddhist temple)                   19

19/05/2000                            Kaithaddy (Home for the aged)                      15     

22/09/2000                 Bay of Trincomalee                                        06

02/10/2000                 Poarnagar, Ichilampathai, Muttur                    07    

04/10/2000                            Muttur (Poomarathaddysenai)                        08 

25/10/2000                 Bindunuwewa detention Centre                                 28   

19/12/2000                            Mirusuvil                                                         08

24/09/2001                 Irupalai Junction-Kopay                                             06 

04/01/2003                 Addalaichenai                                                2

25/12/2005                 Pesalai                                                                      04

02/01/2006                 Dockyard Rd                                                  05

29-30/01/2006                       Welikandai, Polanaruwa                                 07

18/04/2006                 Vatharavathai                                                05

31

 

Date                           Place of incident                                        No. Killed

 

24/04/2006                 Muttur East                                                    15

04/05/2006                 Nelliyadi Junction                                           07

13/05/2006                 Allaipiddy Junction                                         09

13/05/2006                 Puliyankoudalai, Kayts                                               03

07/06/2006                 Nedunkal, Vadamunai                                    10

09/06/2006                 Vankalai                                                         04

27/06/2006                 Mylambaveli                                                   03       

05/08/2006                 Muttur (ACF humanitarian workers)                 17

08/08/2006                 Pandarakulam                                                05

13/08/2006                 Allapiddy – Mankumpan                                 40       

30/08/2006                 Vavuniya Town                                                          16

14/08/2006                 Vallipuram                                                      55

28/08/2006                 Sampoor                                                        21

02/11/2006                 Kilinochchi Hospital area                                05

08/11/2006                 Kathiraveli                                                      40

18/11/2006                 Thandikulam                                                  05

09/12/2006                 Vammivedduvan, Patchenai                           15

02/01/2007                 Padakuthurai                                                 15

16/01/2007                 Kurumankadu                                                04

29/03/2007                 Sithandy                                                        08       

07/04/2007                 Vavuniya-Mannar Road                                             06

01/09/2007                 Paasiththen'ral            - Musali                                               12

(Many more to be included)

 

 

 

Killings by the IPFK in the North East

 

1987                 Indian Peace Keeping Force – IPKF                 

Killings          3714

                                                                                             Disappearances        1303

 

1988                 Indian Peace Keeping Force – IPKF                 

Killings          2929

                                                                                             Disappearances        1253

 

1989                 Indian Peace Keeping Force – IPKF                 

Killings          1475

                                                                                             Disappearances        1528

 

                                                                                             Total Killings              8118

                                                                                  Total Disappearances                       4084

 

 

32

 

 

Massacres and killings of Tamils by the Sri Lankan Security forces

Tamil Centre for Human Rights - TCHR/CTDH    Email : tchrgs@hotmail.com / tchrdip@hotmail.com

(in district sequence)

 

Amparai district

 

 Date                            Place of incident                                         No. Killed

 

10/06/1956                 Amparai                                                                     150

17/05/1985                 Narpaddimunai                                                          23

19/02/1986                 Udumpankulam                                              66

19/02/1986                 Akkaraipattu                                                               102      

11/02/1990                 Fancy House Kalmunai                                  111

12/06/1990                 Karathivu Refugee camps                                          35

13/06/1990                 Ninthavoor                                                                 64

20/06/1990                 Veeramunai (Temple)                                                 56

28/06/1990                             Samanthurai Malaikaddu                               37                   

29/06/1990                             Kondaivedduvan                                           56                   

04/07/1990                             School at Karathivu                                       12                   

10/07/1990                             School at Karathivu                           11                   

16/07/1990                             Army from Malwathai camp                 08

26/07/1990                             Vedduvan army camp                        08

08/08/1990                             Malwathai                                          08

11/08/1990                             Mandoor                                                        18

12/08/1990                             Konddavedduvan                                          30

24-25/06/1990            Akkaraipattu Methodist Church                     >

Alayadivempu Thirunavukkarasu Vidyalam >            104

30/06/1990                 Pottuvil                                                                      132

18/07/1990                 Chavalkkadai                                                             32

08/07/1990                 Central Camp                                                 18

02/08/1990                 Adapallam                                                      05

06/08/1990                 Thiralkkerni                                                     54

16/09/1990                 Chavalkkadai                                                 4

22/09/1990                 Ninthavur, Thiraikerny and Adapallam                        45

21/11/1990                 Adapallam                                                                 10

24/09/1997                 Amparai                                                          8 

04/01/2003                 Addalaichenai                                                2

 

7000 widows in Amparai

 

(Many more to be included)

 

 

Batticaloa district    

  

Date                           Place of incident                                         No. Killed

 

June 1983                  Pullumalai                                                                  26

08/05/1986                 Pullumalai                                                      69

16/07/1986                            Peruveli Mallaikaithvu Refugee Camp                        44

17/07/1986                 Pullumalai                                                      08

10/11/1986                 Pullumalai                                                                  103 

28/01/1987                 Mahiladythivu-Kokadicholai      (Prawn farm)   137

27/05/1987                 Thonni Thaddamadhu                                    10

23/05/1990                 Vantharamullai                                                           226

09/07/1990                 Pullumalai                                                      55

20/07/1990                 Sithanddy                                                      80

27/07/1990                 Sithanddy                                                      57

05/09/1990                 Vantharumoolai                                              138

 

33

Date                           Place of incident                                         No. Killed

 

05/09/1990                 Vantharumoolai-Kondayankerny camp           48

10/09/1990                 Sathurukoddan Depot                                    184

12/06/1991                 Mahiladythivu-Kokadicholai                            132

09/08/1992                 Mylanthanai - Punanai                                               36

30/06/1995                 Pendukalchenai                                                         15

11/05/1996                 Sithandi, Kaluvenkerni                                               18   

11/12/1997                 Market Place in Batticaloa                              05         

12/09/1998                 Pullumalai                                                                  14                   

18/01/1999                 Pullumalai                                                      13

17/05/2000                 Batticaloa (near Buddhist temple)                   19

                       07/06/2006                 Nedunkal, Vadamunai                                    10

                       27/06/2006                 Mylambaveli                                                   03

                       08/11/2006                 Kathiraveli                                                      40

                       09/12/2006                 Vammivedduvan, Patchenai                           15

                       29/03/2007                 Sithandy                                                        08           

(Many more to be included)

 

 

Trincomalee district

 

 

Date                           Place of incident                                         No. Killed

 

                       01/01/1985                 Killiveddi                                                         10

03/06/1985                 Muttur-Killiveddi                                              35

14/06/1985                 Muttur-Killiveddi (includes 15 villages)             115

16/09/1985                 Nillavelli                                                          29

26/10/1985                            Kaddaiparichan                                              25

11/11/1985                            Kanthalai massacre                                        06

12/11/1985                            Thamplalakamam                                           35

27/11/1985                            Sampur, Muthur                                                         22

26/06/1986                 Sampalthivu                                                   15

28/06/1986                            Thamplalakamam (Forest)                              34

09/07/1986                            Mullipothanai                                                  11

31/12/1986                            Pankulam                                                       08

26/04/1987                 Paddithidal                                                     17

1990                                      Disappearances                                             +1000

                                                                      (During Col. Thenekoon’s tenure)

13/03/1991                            Trincomalee (Iruthayapuram)                          1

11/02/1996                            Kumarapuram Massacre                                            24  

01/02/1998                 Thampalakamam                                            08 

22/09/2000                 Bay of Trincomalee                                        06

02/10/2000                 Poarnagar, Ichilampathai, Muttur                    07    

04/10/2000                            Muttur (Poomarathaddysenai)                        08   

                       02/01/2006                 Dockyard Rd                                                  05

                       24/04/2006                 Muttur East                                                    15

                       05/08/2006                 Muttur (ACF humanitarian workers)                 17

                       28/08/2006                 Sampoor                                                        21

(Many more to be included)

           

 

 

 

 

 

34

 

 

Mullaithivu district

 

Date                           Place of incident                                         No. Killed

 

01/12/1984                 Othiuyamalai                                                  32

                       02/12/1984                 Kumulamunai                                                 7

                       15/12/1987                 Kokkilai – Kokkuthouvai                                             131

                       16/01/1985                 Mulliyavalai                                                     17       

21/04/1985                 Puthukudiyiruppu                                           32

                       17/07/1986                 Thanduvan                                                    17

                       27/111990                  Oddisuddan                                                   12

                       30/01/1991                 Puthukudiyiruppu junction bombin                  28

                       18/05/1992                 Vattapalai                                                      15

18/09/1993                 Maaththalan                                                   20

25/09/1996                 Vavunikulam                                                  04

                       15/08/1997                 Vavunikulam                                                  15

                       13/05/1997                 Mulliavalai                                                      10

                       08/06/1997                 Mankulam                                                      07

17/07/1997                 Nedunkerni – Vanni                                       08   

15/08/1997                            Vavunikulam - Church – Vanni                       09 

11/08/1997                            Mullaitivu (Manthuvil)                                      40 

                       25/11/1997                 Visuvamadhu                                                 06

26/03/1998                            Vaddakkachchi in East Paranthan                 08       

10/06/1998                            Suthanthirapuram in Mullaitivu                        32   

15/09/1999                            Mullaitivu                                                                    22

                       14/08/2006                 Vallipuram                                                      55

(Many more to be included)

 

Vavuniya & Mannar district

 

 

Date                           Place of incident                                         No. Killed

 

04/12/1984                 Nanaddan Manthai                                        45

                       30/01/1985                 Vaddakandal                                                 70

                       06/01/1986                 Vankalai Church                                             08

                       20/03/1986-                Eedimurichchan                                             20

                       12/10/1986                 Adampan                                                       20

                       17/02/1991                 Vankalai                                                         05

18/04/1995                            Nachchikuda Massacre                                              30 

16/03/1996                            Nachchikuda                                                              16                  

20/11/1999                            Maddhu church – Mannar                              38

23/01/2000                 Kunjukulam                                                    05        

25/12/2005                 Pesalai                                                                      04

                       09/06/2006                 Vankalai                                                         04

                       08/08/2006                 Pandarakulam                                                05

                       30/08/2006                 Vavuniya Town                                                          16

                       18/11/2006                 Thandikulam                                                  05

                       02/01/2007                 Padakuthurai                                                 15

                       16/01/2007                 Kurumankadu                                                04

                       07/04/2007                 Vavuniya-Mannar Road                                             06

01/09/2007                 Paasiththen'ral            - Musali                                               12

 

(Many more to be included)

 

 

35

 

 

Kilinochchi district

 

Date                           Place of incident                                         No. Killed

 

                       25/01/1985                 Kilinochchi Railway Station                             12

02/10/1985                 Piramanthanaru                                             11

                       04/06/1986                 Anandapuram Shelling                                              05

                       28/06/1986                 Paranthan                                                      07

                       24/07/1990                 Paranthan                                                      10

                       04/12/1991                 Uruthirapuram                                                11

                       28/02/1991                 Vaddakachchi                                                            09

                       18/02/1994                 Chundikulam                                                  10

18/02/1996                            Poonaithoduvai in Kilinochchi                         11 

20/04/1996                            Massacre in the Killay Sea (II)                        42 

                       17/05/1996                 Thambirai Market                                            07     

24/07/1996                            Mallavi Town - Mallavi, Vanni                          09         

31/07/1996                            Puthukudyiruppu – Kilinochchi                       10         

25/09/1996                 Kilinochchi town – Kilinochchi                         05       

25/09/1996                            Puthumurippu – Kilinochchi                            05     

26/09/1996                            Vavunikulam – Kilinochchi                              04    

27/09/1996                            Konavil – Kilinochchi                                                  04   

29/09/1996                 Akkarayan – Kilinochchi                                             04 

                       05/07/1997                 Pannankandy                                                 06

1996-1998                  Mass Graves in Killinochchi                            179

                       02/11/2006                 Kilinochchi Hospital area                                05

(Many more to be included)

 

 

Jaffna district

 

Date                           Place of incident                                         No. Killed

 

10/01/1974                 World Tamil Research Conference                  09

                       01/06/1981                 Jaffna Town                                                   04

24/07/1983                 Thirunalveli                                                     +25

                       28/03/1984                 Chunnakam Market                                        09

                       16/09/1984                 Point Pedro – Tikkam                                     16

                       15/05/1985                 Kumuthini Boat                                                          42

                       10/06/1986                 Mandaithivu Sea                                            32

                       29/05/1987                 Alvai Temple                                                  40

                       23/08/1990                 Mandaithivu                                                   20

                       29/08/1990                 Nelliyadi Market                                              16

                       30/05/1992                 Tellipalai Temple                                            10

02/01/1993                            Massacre in the Killaly sea(I)                          52 

                       28/09/1993                 Chavakachcheri – Sangathanai                                 28

                       13/11/1993                 Kurunagar Church                                          12

05/12/1993                            ICRC refugee camp – Jaffna                          40     

09/07/1995                            Navaly St. Peter's Church Massacre               165   

22/09/1995                            Nagar Kovil School Children Massacre           71 

03/03/1996                            Muthumariyamman Temple – Jaffna               07

03/06/1996                            Puttur – Jaffna                                                           08 

29/01/1997                            Ponnalai Bridge in Jaffna                               09 

1996-1997                  Mass Graves including Chemmani                  +800             

27/01/1998                            Jaffna Coast – Jaffna                                     09

05/04/2000                 Chempiyanpattu                                             04

19/05/2000                            Kaithaddy (Home for the aged)                      15     

19/12/2000                            Mirusuvil                                                         08  

                       24/09/2001                 Irupalai Junction-Kopay                                             06

                       18/04/2006                 Vatharavathai                                                05

 

 

36

 

Date                           Place of incident                                         No. Killed

 

04/05/2006                 Nelliyadi Junction                                           07

                       13/05/2006                 Allaipiddy Junction                                         09

                       13/05/2006                 Puliyankoudalai, Kayts                                               03

13/08/2006                 Allapiddy – Mankumpan                                 40

(Many more to be included)

 

 

 

Colombo and other districts

 

 

Date                           Place of incident                                         No. Killed

                      

                       1983                           Anti-Tamil pogrom                                          +5000

25&27/07/1983                      Welikadai Prison                                             53

July-Aug 1995                        Bolgoda Lake - Colombo                                           27   

                       12/12/1997                 Kalutara Prison                                              03                                           25/10/2000                 Bindunuwewa detention Centre                                 28                                           29-30/01/2006                        Welikandai, Polanaruwa                            07

 

(Many more to be included)

 

 

 

Killings by the IPFK in the North East

 

1990                 Indian Peace Keeping Force – IPKF                 

Killings          3714

                                                                                             Disappearances        1303

 

1991                 Indian Peace Keeping Force – IPKF                 

Killings          2929

                                                                                             Disappearances        1253

 

1992                 Indian Peace Keeping Force – IPKF                 

Killings          1475

                                                                                             Disappearances        1528

 

                                                                                             Total Killings              - 8118

                                                                                             Total Disappearances           - 4084

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

37

 

Military occupation of

Tamil civilian dwellings/land, schools, place of worship and public buildings in the North East

 

(Locations under occupation / vacated and established camps, etc)

 

(Report dated - September 2002)

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

40

 

 

Batticaloa District	Public thoroughfare under Military occupation
G.S Division	Public thoroughfare
Batticaloa city	2nd Lakeside Road
Batticaloa city	Saple Road
Batticaloa city	3rd Cross Road
Batticaloa city	Yard Road
Batticaloa city	Palaiyawaady Road
Batticaloa city	1st Lakeside Road
Valaiyiravu	Rice Mill Road
Periya Urani	Pallikudah Road
Sathurukondan	Inner Road
Kaluwanchikudy	Main Road
Kurumanvelli	Thurai Road
Mandur	Main Road

 

 

 

42

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Vavuniya District – (Venkalachcheddikkulam Division)

Mannar District - (Mannar Division)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

46

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCHOOLS and TEMPLES within the High Security Zone in Valikamam North September 2002

(High Security Zones are effectively under Army occupation)

 

 

 CFA                 = Ceasefire Agreement

GS Division     = Gramasevaka Division

 

Churches damaged/destroyed by Aerial bombing and shelling in the North

 

http://www.tchr.net/religion_churches.htm

 

Damage caused to Hindu Kovils (Temples) in the North-East

 

http://www.tchr.net/religion_temples.htm

 

54

 

 

Annexes

 

Are the Tamil people not as

fashionable as the Bosnians?

by Karen Parker

 

"It would seem to International Educational Development that the Tamil people are not viewed as worthy of attention and this must be viewed as rank and despicable discrimination. What other conclusion is possible when in the face of this long and protracted war, neither the Commission nor the Sub-Commission has issued a resolution since 1987? Have these bodies not paid any attention to the reports of the Commission's Working Groups and Rapporteurs? Are these bodies unaware that Sri Lanka is just behind Iraq in disappearances and that almost all the disappeared are Tamils? "

"Are the Tamil people not as fashionable as the Bosnians? Is the fact that the Tamil people are historically Hindu a problem, seeing that so few other countries are Hindu? Is it because certain foreign powers have such an interest in Trincomalee harbour (in the Tamil areas) for their geo political control of the region? Why is it that the international community imposes sanctions on the Republic of Yugoslavia because of the practically identical situation in Kosovo and says not a word about Sri Lanka?" (In a Statement by Karen Parker – The chief delegate of the International Educational Development/Humanitarian Law Project in the 50th session of the UN Sub Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities - 5 August 1998)

 

UN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

61st SESSIONS MARCH/APRIL 2005

 

International League for the Rights and Liberation of Peoples – LIDLIP

 

Oral Intervention by Verena Graf, Secretary General of the International League for the Rights and Liberation of Peoples, NGO with Special Consultative Status at the United Nations, under agenda (item 5) on the right of peoples to self-determination and its application to peoples under colonial or alien domination or foreign occupation, 18 March 2005

 

"The hopes for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Sri Lanka in the wake of the ceasefire agreement of February 2002 between the then government and the LTTE as sole authentic representative of the Sri Lankan Tamils have largely proved illusory.

 

"Long before disaster struck the island on December 26, 2004, negotiations had been suspended, cooperation largely ceased in the face of the continued occupation of huge tracts of land in the North East by the Sri Lankan army in the name of 'high security zones', of hundreds of thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons waiting in vain to be able to return to their homes, of lack of investment for the reconstruction of the destroyed countryside.

 

"The new government that came to power in 2004 has not advanced the peace process, on the contrary it contains parties totally opposed to any negotiated settlement. If anything, the tsunami that has particularly affected the coastal areas in the North East, already suffering from war related destruction and very poor in comparison to the rest of country, has worsened the situation.

 

"While it galvanised the common people of all communities to come to each others help, the government did not follow suit. Instead of a joined effort at reconstruction and national integration the international aid has been instrumentalised for political purposes.

 

In the name of relief measures, the distribution of aid and the planning for reconstruction have been highly centralised in the president's office and handpicked committees at the expense of the immediate victims, including local NGOs or the Tamil Rehablitation Organisation working in the LTTE controlled areas.

 

"International media accounts as well as local parliamentarians have complained of government inefficiency, if not outright discrimination of the people in the North East, that includes Tamils and Muslims.

 

More over, emergency regulations have been reintroduced, and the army put in charge of the welfare centers. Following the most recent official arms` purchases or the government`s refusal to allow the UN Secretary General in early January to visit LTTE controlled areas devastated by the tsunami, have further raised suspicion that the government`s true intentions aim not just at isolating the Tamils and their leaders but to use the catastrophe to change the balance of forces on the ground and to effectively renounce any negotiations.      

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"In the Norwegian facilitated peace talks, the LTTE had agreed to renounce for the time being the Sri Lankan Tamils' right as a nation for an independent homeland Tamil Eelam and to explore the possibilities to redress decades of collective discrimination within the frame-work of large-scale internal autonomy.

 

"The developments during the last three years compounded by the post- tsunami experiences raise the specter that time is running out; that there is no hope for the Tamils within a united Sri Lanka, that their only chance lies in fighting for external self-determination."

 

UN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

61st SESSIONS MARCH/APRIL 2005

International Association of Democratic Lawyers - IADL

 

Oral intervention made by Deirdre McConnell, International Association of Democratic Lawyers under Agenda Item 9: Question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world, 22 March 2005

 

Mr Chairman,

 

General Assembly resolution 32/130 states that in approaching human rights questions within the United Nations system, the international community should accord priority to search for solutions to mass and flagrant human rights violations.

 

In the island of Sri Lanka, the Tamil people’s human rights and fundamental freedoms have been violated for more than fifty years. Since 1948, legislation has denied the rights of Tamils, in citizenship, language, education, religion, land and other areas.

 

In the 1950s and 60s the Tamil people’s non-violent struggle for equality, justice and dignity was crushed by violent military repression, followed by horrific pogroms of genocidal proportions in which thousands of Tamils were killed. These persistent attacks on the Tamil community eventually gave rise to armed conflict.

 

During twenty years of war over 79,000 Tamils have been killed or “disappeared”; 500,000 have sought political asylum in Europe and other countries and 2375 buildings of religious places of worship have been destroyed in the North East, the traditional Tamil homeland area, in aerial bombings and artillery shelling by military forces.

 

Rape and murder used as a weapon of war systematically by regular armed forces, with impunity, has inflicted horrendous suffering on thousands of Tamil women.

 

There have been no independent inquiries into any of the above endemic and chronic violations against Tamils, despite repeated calls by human rights organisations.

 

Mr Chairman,

The alleviation of the suffering of the Tamil people, thereby creating conditions of normalcy in which peace talks could begin, is central to the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) between the government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam signed more than three years ago, with the facilitation of the Royal Norwegian Government.

 

It is sad to note that although the ceasefire has created normalcy in the seven Southern provinces, normalcy does not exist for the people in the North East.

 

In breach of CFA article 2.1 and 2.5 people are harassed at checkpoints in the NorthEast. Over the last year the incidence of harassment, rape and sexual assault of Tamil civilians by regular armed forces has increased.

 

Violating CFA article 2.2, the army continue to occupy temples and churches in the North East; violating article 2.3 school buildings are still occupied by the Sri Lanka army. In a few cases, the army has withdrawn, but “High Security Zones” have been immediately built nearby.

 

Many people in civil society are asking, “ ‘Security’ – for whom? Certainly not the security of local Tamil people”. The situation of IDPs remains critical, they are prevented from resettling in their own homes due to these militarised zones.

 

Fishermen are still severely restricted in pursuing their livelihood, they are persistently harassed and intimidated by Navy and armed forces.

 

In violation of article 1.8 of the CFA, the government has not disarmed paramilitaries nor ensured they leave the North East. On the contrary, these paramilitaries working with the Sri Lanka armed forces have been responsible for recent assassinations in the East, of human rights activists and political leaders and activists, causing terror and destabilisation.

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Mr Chairman,

 

It was the coastal parts of the North East which were the worst affected when the disastrous tsunami recently struck the island on December 26 last year. The majority of the casualties were Tamils from the North East. 24,500 Tamil people were killed by the tsunami and 10,000 are missing; nearly 700,000 Tamils were displaced and over 120,000 houses in Tamil areas were completely damaged.

 

Mr Chairman,

 

The authorities prevented the UN Secretary General from making a humanitarian visit, which he requested, to the North East, the areas in the island most affected by the tsunami. This is a serious violation of the UN Charter, Chapter XV Article 100 by the Sri Lankan government.

 

In conclusion, this Commission has the capability, the ability and the authority to immediately send a mission to Sri Lanka and ensure that in the affected areas the victims of these human rights violations receive redress. We urge the Commission to take urgent action.

 

 

UN SUB COMMISSION ON THE PROMOTION

& PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

 

58th SESSIONS - AUGUST 2006

 

International Educational Development

 

Oral intervention made by Karen Parker, International Educational Development under Agenda Item 2 at Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights, 58th Session, 14 August 2006

 

Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights

Fifty-eighth session

Agenda item 2

Statement of International Educational Development, Inc.,

 

While we welcome the action undertaken by the Human Rights Council in regards to attacks on protected facilities and persons under the Geneva Conventions and humanitarian law as a whole in Lebanon, the Council has not called for action regarding several other conflicts in which targeting of protected facilities and persons is equally serious. One of these is the conflict in Sri Lanka, where since the elections in November there has been the worst levels of fighting since the 2002 Cease Fire Agreement. In the past few weeks, the level of fighting has increased dramatically, as have the numbers of military operations of the government armed forces flagrantly targeting protected facilities and persons.

 

For example, on 6 August 2006 17 humanitarian aid workers from the French NGO Action Contre le Faim were brutally massacred in the government-controlled areas in Trincomalee, prompting 3 independent experts of the Council (H.Jilani, human rights defenders; P. Alston, extrajudicial, arbitrary and summary executions; J. Ziegler, the right to food) to issue a press release on 11 August 2006 in which they state: “the deliberate targeting of humanitarian workers is a serious violation of the basic principles of international and humanitarian law and the Declaration of Human Rights Defenders.” Also on 6 August 2006, several members of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission narrowly escaped attacks from the government forces in Maavil Aaru. On 9 August 2006 government forces attacked an ambulance belonging to Nedunkerni hospital killing a doctor, 2 nurses and the driver. On 14th of August, the government forces deliberately bombed a girl’s orphanage killing 60 girls and wounding 120 who were between the ages of 15 and 18. An attack on St. Philip Mary church in Allaipiddy left 15 dead and more than 100 injured.

 

Since the renewed fighting, there are more than 100,000 newly displaced, many without food or water. UNICEF and the UNHRC report the continued blockage by the government forces of urgently needed aid to the rapidly increasing numbers of displaced, prompting the UN officer in Sri Lanka to express concern. UNHCR reports that of the over 40,000 newly displaced in Muttar, more than half are women and children, but in a statement on 8 August 2004 indicated they were not allowed access.

 

The situation of Tamil civilians is made much worse because so many Tamils are still displaced by the Tsunami and because most of the international aid raised on their behalf was not allowed to be delivered. For example, the American Red Cross, that received hundreds of thousands of $$US for Tsunami victims in Sri Lanka, was told by US authorities that they could not distribute it in the Tamil areas.

 

The Sri Lankan government also severely restricted aid to the Tamil Tsunami victims, only allowing aid raised by the Tamil diaspora and then restricting that as well. In addition to the hundreds of thousands of Tamil refugees who have sought and obtained asylum outside of Sri Lanka, the current figures of internally displaced indicates nearly 1/3 of the entire Tamil population is displaced or in exile.

 

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We have long indicated to the Sub-Commission that the United States geopolitical interests in ports and airfields in the Tamil areas has been a major impediment to resolving this long conflict and we invite you to consult our written statements in this regard that we submitted to both the Sub-Commission and the Commission. In light of this we were alarmed by recent pronouncements in Colombo and elsewhere by high State Department officials: in our view the US has given the government of Sri Lanka a “green light” to undertake actions that violate humanitarian law under the pretext that due to the unabated demonization of the Tamils by Sri Lankan and US authorities, no one will dare defend them, and in any case, no one will be able to do anything about it.

 

However, because now the UN independent experts, UNICEF and UNHCR have spoken up, and because the UN is in a process to reform its work, we hope that the Sub-Commission, which as rightly undertaken to address attacks against medical and other protected persons in time of war, will inform the Council of its concerns regarding Sri Lanka and the situation of the Tamil people and will request that the Council act. (Excerpt)

 

 

UN SUB COMMISSION ON THE PROMOTION &

PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS

 

58th SESSIONS - AUGUST 2006

 

Interfaith International, Geneva, Switzerland

 

Oral intervention made by Deirdre McConnell,  Interfaith International, Geneva, Switzerland, under Agenda item 5(a) Racism, racial discrimination and xenophobia

 

Mr Chairperson,

Interfaith International is happy to note that the Sub Commission has prevention of discrimination as one of its agenda items, especially at a crucial time of this august forum.

In today’s world various types of discrimination have paved the way towards Civil war, Ethnic Conflict, Armed conflict, and so on. Many of these conflicts, fought in exercise of the Right to self-determination, have as their ultimate goal, a durable solution to the political problems which are based on discrimination and xenophobia.

In the past, this august forum has heard much about the discriminatory application of law and practise of the Sri Lanka government against the Tamil people, therefore we do not need to go into much detail.

Since Independence, Sinhala dominated governments brought much systematic discriminative legislation against Tamil people.

As soon as Sinhala leaders obtained power in 1948, the Tamils working on the tea plantations were disfranchised and their citizenship was denied. A one language Act (Sinhala only) was forcefully introduced by the Sinhala politicians and nine (1956, 1958, 1961, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1982 and 1983) state sponsored anti-Tamil pogroms destroyed the economy and the cultural heritage of the Tamil people. In the meantime, the Tamil politicians of the day protested - against these denials of political rights, Sinhala colonisation in the Tamil regions and destruction of Tamils properties, demanding justice, by non-violent methods, for nearly thirty-five years.

However these struggles in and outside of the parliament were continuously suppressed by the Sri Lankan security forces made up of 95% Singhalese. In 1972, discrimination in the education system (standardisation) where Tamil students had to gain more marks than the Singhalese students for University entrance, gave birth to the Tamils’ militancy in the island.

During this period, in the 1977 general elections, the Tamil people in the North East overwhelmingly voted to exercise their right to self-determination. As the Singhala dominated government ignored this democratic mandate and continued to implement their racist policies, an armed conflict was born in the island in 1983.

After a long struggle and massive civilian casualties, a defacto government covering 70% of the Tamil hereditary land has been in existence, that is, for the last 15 years. Since 2002, this has been well acknowledged by many foreign dignitaries and diplomats who have visited the NorthEast.

The Tsunami natural disaster which struck mostly the Tamils areas, caused severe casualties to the Tamil people. Again the people in the North East received discriminatory treatment by the Sri Lankan government. The aid which was sent by the international community was never distributed equally and even the P-TOMS Post-Tsunami agreement for reconstruction of the Tsunami affected areas was blocked by the Sinhala judges in the South.

Mr Chairperson,

It is now four and a half years since the Ceasefire Agreement was signed between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam - LTTE and the government of Sri Lanka. There are still 800,000 internally displaced people who are prevented from resettling due to the Sri Lankan military occupation of their land.

106

The current situation in the island is alarming, human rights violations over the last 10 months have increased disturbingly. A further 60,000 displaced people in the Trincomalee area are being denied food and aid in an embargo imposed by the government. More than 700 Tamil civilians have been killed by the security forces and the paramilitaries working with them since November 2005. In the last week it appears that once again the government has declared war on the Tamil people. The ceasefire agreement has been violated several times, especially since last April with the beginning of Aerial bombardment of Tamil areas by the Sri Lankan air force.

On Monday 14 August 2006, sixty-one school girls were killed and 129 seriously injured in the brutal and callous deliberate bombing of a children’s home in Mullaitivu in broad daylight, by the Sri Lanka Air Force. Soon after this bombing the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), and UNICEF personnel, visited the spot and confirmed that it is a children’s home known as Sencholai and not a military installation as claimed by the Sri Lanka Government.

The shelling and bombings from land, air and sea by the Sri Lankan security forces in the Tamil regions have caused severe destruction to Tamil homes and lives, property, public buildings, and cultural places. These and many other actions of the Sri Lanka government are persistently in serious breach of the Geneva Conventions.

On Saturday 5th August, 17 Tamil humanitarian workers, from the French International Non-Governmental Organisation Action Contre la Faim, were massacred at point blank range by government security forces. UN VIPs in the field of human rights, the Special Representative of the Secretary General on Human Rights Defenders, Hina Jilani; the Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial, arbitrary and summary executions, Prof Philip Alston and the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Jean Ziegler, jointly made a statement on 11 August, expressing serious concerns and calling for a vigorous independent investigation to be held and the perpetrators to be brought to justice. They urged the government to render the findings public.

Attacks on Tamil journalists, parliamentarians and human rights defenders have escalated. Journalists following up human rights violations have been killed with impunity, by the security forces. Those defending Civil and Political rights and those defending Economic, Social and cultural Rights are also being killed by the Sri Lanka armed forces.

In a stark incident on 06 August 2006 the SLMM was nearly bombed by the government Air Force which attacked, despite an agreement being in progress concerning the irrigation issue in Trincomalee. This shows how the international monitors are being treated.

When speaking from Colombo about the killing of the 17 humanitarian workers, the SLMM Head, Maj. Gen. Ulf Henricsson, told Reuters on 11 August:

"I have experienced this in the Balkans before. When you're not let in, it's a sign that there's something they want to hide. You have a lot of time to clear it up"……….."They are denying us access to the whole area, so we cannot monitor. There were journalist trips arranged to Muttur last Saturday and Sunday. That was possible, but we had no access. Why? For security reasons? Of course not. There are other reasons. I have recommended to the facilitator -(Norway) to at least consider a withdrawal."

SLMM’s monitors say there is evidence that Sri Lankan troops have been involved in extrajudicial killings of Tamils in the North and East. According to information coming out of the latest fighting in Jaffna, the Tamil people are being prevented from fleeing to safety, by the Sri Lanka security forces.

Mr. Chairperson,

The ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka started because of the Sri Lankan government’s discriminatory policies and refusal to accept the Tamils as equal citizens of the island.

The present attitude of the Sri Lanka government clearly indicates that this is a war of aggression with destructive and genocidal intent against the Tamil people in the island.

We appeal to the dignitaries and members of civil society internationally to monitor and pressurise the Sri Lankan government not to carry out genocidal attacks on the Tamil people.

 

UN COMMISSION ON HUMAN RIGHTS

61st SESSIONS MARCH/APRIL 2005

 

International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR)

 

Oral intervention made by Ayako SHIOTA, International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism (IMADR) under Agenda Item 9: Question of the violation of human rights and fundamental freedoms in any part of the world, 23 March 2005

 

Mr chairperson,

 

It is of utmost importance that post-tsunami rebuilding and relief activities of all governments in Asia respect human rights. We urge the governments to consult the displaced and the affected and to involve them in planning their lives, livelihood and housing.                                          107

 

In addition to the discrimination we have referred to earlier, the Sri Lankan government has failed to consult the IDP's in the rebuilding process. We view with grave concern the introduction of the State of Emergency in Sri Lanka and the presence of military along the buffer zone demarcated by the government. Those returning back home have been chased away and the tents and temporary shelters removed by the police and armed forces. This is a grave violation of human rights and dignity of the IDPs in all the provinces.

 

The present rebuilding activities of the Sri Lankan government is exacerbating the ethnic differences. The remote villages in the Eastern province received the rations only in mid March. Many of the displaced up to date have not received the monthly allowance. No major construction activities have commenced to rebuild hospitals, schools, and roads in any of the affected provinces.

 

The affected communities have expressed its appreciation to the international and local NGOs more than its government - that failed to effectively address their needs. The affected people in the South and Eastern provinces have held several demonstrations demanding effective interventions from the government in the recent weeks.

 

It is not possible for Sri Lanka to achieve the Millennium Development Goal without resolving the ethnic conflict.

 

Furthermore, the rule of law situation in Sri Lanka is deteriorating. The political prejudice reflected in the recent judgement given against the former Minister S.B.Dissanayake, is the clear demonstration of this fact. Torture, police brutality, and killing of witnesses, of important cases have increased.

 

* * * * *

Government hand in abductions racket bared
The Sunday Leader – 26 August 2007

By Rupert De Alwis Seneviratne

 

* Air Force Sergeant Deshapriya spills the beans

* STF, Army, SLAF, Navy and Police personnel in abduction team with Karuna

* Forces team accused of taking 10% of ransom through Gajanayake

* Rs.18,000 paid as rent for safe house in Gothotuwa, 200 metres from IDH

* Two Muslims murdered believing they were Tigers

* Move to implicate Mangala over stolen vehicle as diversion

* Karuna Group used to identify Tiger suspects in Colombo

* Abducted businessmen taken to Karuna camp in Welikanda

 

CID investigations into the diabolical abduction racket that has gripped the capital city and its suburbs since early last year, have revealed details which allegedly link the hawkish Rajapakse government to the dreaded 'white van snatch.'

 

The CID on June 21, took into custody former Sri Lanka Air Force Squadron Leader, Nishantha Gajanayake in connection with the multi-million rupee abduction for extortion scam, a man closely connected with Karuna Amman and his band of men.

 

It was in fact senior UNP MP Lakshman Seneviratne who first revealed details of Gajanayake's connection with the abduction-extortion racket when he raised the matter in parliament on June 6.

 

Gajanayake revealed

He told the House that Gajanayake operated with the blessings of the defence establishment and was occupying Room No. 706 at the Holiday Inn and 'conducting his business' unknown to the management of Holiday Inn.

 

Ironically, even though the government was denying the abductions and berating Seneviratne for misleading parliament on the one hand, given the international backlash it would trigger, the government could not turn a blind eye to the abject fear that gripped Colombo on the other.

 

The country, mind you, was gruesomely recording up to six abductions and killings per day.

 

Gajanayake arrested

Meanwhile, three days after Seneviratne's statement in parliament and even as a defensive No Confidence Motion against Seneviratne had been lodged by a government shaken at its core, Gajanayake was taken into custody. It is then that the whole plot involving the forces personnel and the Karuna Group began to unravel.

 

Certainly, that unlawfully armed Karuna cadres and government security forces personnel, walk hand in hand in the east, liberated or otherwise, is a well established fact.

 

Evidence that has now surfaced brings to light an alleged close and malfeasant connection between security forces personnel and the Karuna Group in the ransom and murder racket in Colombo as well.

But for a government under siege over gross human rights violations, economic disaster and political upheaval, desperate and underhand measures are now afoot to stem the embarrassment in the face of such details coming to light. (Excerpt)

108

Cafe d’ APRC

Daily Mirror, Colombo – 27 July 2007

 

The All Party Representative Committee (APRC) reminds one of a sunny Parisian cafe where a bunch of retired bored men and women gather to engage in casual deliberations about various political issues, and, in the meantime, enjoy a good cup of coffee. President Rajapaksa set up the APRC six months after assuming power with the express wish of finding a political solution to the decade old ethnic problem. Irrespective of whether it is a Trojan horse or a genuine one, the president’s choice of the jockey, Prof. Vitharana, is commendable. Though the APRC was set up by the Government with the participation of other political parties, there is hardly any evidence to prove that the government or its ministers are enthusiastic about it - with the exception, of course, of the leader of the Lanka Samasamaja Party, Prof. Tissa Vitharana and the members of the international community.

 

Despite endless criticism, some analysts tend to believe that the APRC is perhaps the final glimmer of hope for the desperate situation in the country. It may not be the most desired route to take but surely it is the only presently available one. Speaking at the “Nagenahira Navodaya”, a function organised by the Government to celebrate the recapturing of Eastern province, President Rajapaksa reminded us that he established the APRC so that all parties could come together to formulate a political solution to the burning ethnic problem.

 

However, what we are interested in and would like to discuss in this article is to inquire into the possibility of receiving mass support for a constitutional change that would give equality and justice to everyone irrespective of their ethnicity, religion and region. In order to make this inquiry into such public attitudes on the APRC and the other related issues, the authors used data from the latest Peace Confidence Index (PCI), publish by Social Indicator, the survey research unit of the Centre for Policy Alternatives.

 

The results of the PCI survey of February 2007 show that it is only 14% of the Sinhala community who are aware about the APRC even after six months of its existence. Levels of awareness amongst the same group regarding the APRC’s majority and minority reports were even lower. We are certain that if one conducted a survey awareness of the happenings of some of the Sinhala dubbed Indian teledramas, one would see two to three times the amount of awareness than the APRC, a mechanism that has been setup to design the future of the country.

 

It is hard not to believe that this is what the Government wants. If one analyses most of the speeches of Rajapaksa and his ministers, it is quite clear that war and military victory is the message for the local audience while peace process, APRC and political solution are is just the window display for the international audiences. (Excerpt)

 

The APC smokescreen

The Morning Leader – 22 August 2007

 

There was scepticism in the air both amongst hawks and doves when President Mahinda Rajapakse announced his proposal for the establishment of an All Party Conference to resolve the Tamil problem which had dragged on for well over half a century. Firstly, it had been attempted before and failed. Secondly with public opinion torn asunder under the conditions that existed, it was impossible to work a common formula that could have brought the warring parties together. That seems to be the scenario even now as the APRC — the committee appointed to work out a formula by the APC — meets today for the 50th and presumably the final time.

 

The diligent professor of virology, Tissa Vitharana has been working hard to bring together all the racist, cantankerous, humanitarian, belligerent, utopian and opportunistic ideas together and make some sense out of it, but try as he may, he will find controlling viruses is easier than bringing order to our political viruses.

 

The latest threat emanating is from the Jathika Hela Urumaya (JHU) which unleashed a barrage against Vitharana saying that the APRC proposals for devolution of power was a move to impose a federal system even exceeding the parameters for devolution in the Indian and US constitutions. That the JHU should object to any form of federalism should not come as a surprise. It is a fundamentalist party committed to a Sinhala Buddhist state even though its fundamentalism has varied in certain instances such as in the purchase of duty free luxury cars.

 

The problem appears to be in the alliance between the JHU and the ruling party the SLFP. The senior partner of the alliance, the SLFP does not seem to have any control or influence over its junior ally. Is the tail wagging the dog? The JHU proposals will be included as a separate annexure in the final document it has been reported. What form the final report will take or its main recommendations will be are not known.

 

There is quite a lot of confusion on where President Rajapakse and his party stand with regard to the APC and APRC. After the creation of the APC Rajapakse has been maintaining an aloofness from the APC, letting it pick up its own steam. But that should not be the attitude because an organisation such as this needs leadership, if it is to build up a consensus. After quite a while, the SLFP submitted its own proposals to the APRC which instantly became a standing joke among those involved. The SLFP proposed district level devolution which had been proposed years ago and rejected by Tamil parties including the LTTE. The proposal appeared ridiculous because after six rounds of negotiations with the participation of donor countries, a federal solution was agreed upon that was later rejected by Pirapaharan. In this context where would the district level proposal take us?

 

109

 

 

 

The basic question is: Does President Rajapakse consider the APC as an instrument that would resolve the problem? By putting out a mild and innocuous proposal he is covering his back. He wants the UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe to stick his neck out and risk the wrath of the Sinhala electorate. But Wickremesinghe had done precisely that. At the presidential election he stood for a federal solution while Rajapakse along with the JVP and JHU beat the war drums on a unitary state and won the election in connivance with the LTTE.

 

Will President Rajapakse’s sole contribution to the APC be the district council level proposal and after that will he watch matters take its course? With none of the MPs of the Tamil National Alliance, the proxies of the LTTE, participating in the APC, will such outdated proposals such as district level devolution have any bearing on the resolution of the problem?

 

President Rajapakse’s disinterest in the APC had made critics wonder whether this is a smokescreen for him to get over his immediate problems. With the donor nations breathing down his neck to produce a set of proposals that could satisfy the aspirations of the Tamil minority, was this his way of buying time? While the APRC was meeting over and over again while splitting hairs, he launched his military offensives in the east and now claims that the east is under his control.

 

Defence analysts say that he now intends warring in the Wanni and destroying Pirapaharan’s empire. If those are his intentions these APRC talks are mere eye wash. His JHU and former close allies, the JVP want him to war in the Wanni.

 

Besides Rajapakse cannot summarily dismiss the monks’ concerns. He depends on them and even the JVP – which threatens to do many things to the government but pulls back its actions — for his parliamentary majority.

The fall out of the much ballyhooed APRC after its last meeting will be watched by all. (Excerpt)

 

Long walk to freedom

By Nikhil Mustaffa

 

Daily Mirror, 1 September 2007

 

Post independence governance

The working of this constitution had a balance of representation of the ethnic communities in Parliament. In 1948 at Independence the Tamils had 33% of the voting power in the legislature. Upon the disenfranchisement of the estate Tamils in 1950, this proportion dropped to 20%. The Sinhalese obtained more than 2/3 majority in Parliament making it not possible for Tamils to exercise an effective impact on Sinhalese policies affecting them.

 

The result was that the two main Sinhala-led political parties had to compete for a majority in Parliament by obtaining the support of the floating vote in the Sinhala electorate. The deciding issues at elections became the ones which appealed to the Sinhala voters. This became clear in later times when the winning UNP, a Sinhala party, could obtain over 2/3 majority in Parliament, as in 1977.

 

Emergence of violence and breakdown of trust

On 6 June 1956 when he proposed the ‘Sinhala Only’ bill in Parliament, the Tamils MPs belonging to the Federal Party staged a Gandhian fashion seated non violent protest against it in the Galle Face Green. While the Prime Minister was addressing Parliament, armed Sinhala gangs broke up the protest, even throwing some protestors into the nearby Beira Lake. State policemen stood by watching without any action. Riots then broke out throughout Sri Lanka where Tamils were assaulted, homes, shops and property burned. In 1956, 150 Tamils were murdered in this violence.

 

Due to public pressure by some Sinhala groups, the Prime Minister tore up the B-C Pact (Banda-Chelva pact) he had made with the Federal Party leader Mr. S.V. Chelvanayakam in 1957. This led to much frustration among the Tamil people. The situation was worsened when there was more widespread violence throughout the country in 1958, when another 150 – 200 Tamils were murdered and 25,000 Tamil refugees were relocated in the North.

 

The UNP opposed the B-C pact aimed at setting up Regional Councils in Sri Lanka (a concept that the young Mr. Bandaranaike had written about in 1920s and proposed in the State council in 1940s). It is important to recall that this was the beginning of ethnic violence in modern times.

 

The story of violence against the Tamils, with the connivance of the Sri Lankan state, continued into the 1970s with the killing of eleven Tamils at the 4th International Tamil Conference in Jaffna in January 1974. The state tolerated, if not sponsored violence of 1977, 1979 and 1981, including the destruction of the prestigious Jaffna public library with its 95,000 volumes, said to be by a group of 200 policemen from 31st May to 2nd June 1981.

 

During this period there were other policies such as the standardization of marks for admission to university education. The qualifying mark for admission to the medical faculties was 250 (out of 400) for Tamil students, whereas it was only 229 for the Sinhalese, even if they sat for the examination in English.

 

The worst violence was in Black July 1983, when 3,000 Tamils were killed. It is estimated that since then about 300,000 Tamil have migrated abroad to receiving countries such as Canada and Australia.

110

The Tamil political parties opted for Tamil Eelam after the 1972 Constitution was passed by the Sri Lanka Parliament, against their wishes. This Constitution dropped the safeguards (Section 29) against discrimination of minorities and in the appointments to the public service.

 

The LTTE emerged as a fighting force mainly after these experiences of state related violence and discrimination.

 

What needs to be noted is some of the historical facts which can so easily be forgotten. The speaker went onto prescribe possible options which should be exercised to bring about a stable SL. He quoted Jaydeva Uyangoda from a one text initiative contribution where it had been said,’ A politically stable Sri Lanka requires I think at least four pre-conditions.

 

One, a negotiated political settlement of the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict leading to, a radically restructured Sri Lanka. I think the reconstitution of the Sri Lankan State, in order to make a transition from a ‘post colonial conflict defiant State’ to a ‘post conflict State’.

 

The second prerequisite is de-militarizing the ethnic conflict and de-linking the ethnic conflict from War and Violence, and that is fundamental.

 

Thirdly, it is important to think about a process of economic and social reconstruction, and there, we have to learn a lot of lessons from the 2002/3 Peace Process; how to link a Peace Process with an economic and social reconstruction initiative.

 

Fourthly, intercommunity reconciliation; the ethnic war in the past 25 years has redefined ethnic relations, community relations, in an adversarial manner.’

 

He went onto quote, Bishop Duleep Chickera in a recent call where he had spoken of, “War can never be right… If we can initiate negotiations on our own, then we must do so immediately. To claim to know the path ahead and watch the country plunge into a precipice without turning for help is perhaps the most serious breach of democratic trust.” This being the central call in the title of the column today.

 

During question time the work of the third sector came under scrutiny. The leading lights being Sarvodaya, Center for Society, MARGA and ICES, SSA in the 70’s, 80’s. Followed by NPC, CHA, SEWALANKA, CPA and the new entrant from Europe FCE. The leadership of these organizations were the elite from Colombo. Scores more were working largely unknown nationally in many parts of our country. They have been joined by the Second sector, being the community in business.

 

Did the third sector represent mass movements? No. If so when the first sector meets with the third sector what happens? Mostly, ideas, proposals, brokering meetings/dinners with a few Ambassadors, discussions in global capitals. Results in changes in electoral fortunes for first sector politicians? Not at all. In such a situation a lot of cake, pastries, fine food, coffee, wine is consumed, dates for next meetings discussed and the caravan rolls on. The fundamental deficits in governance, the obligations the Bishop reminded us of, the State Jayadeva recommends awaits more successful attendance. The cynical use of power continues unabated.

 

With these thoughts this columnist eased himself out of the residency picked up a few goodies at a bookstore, chocolates, biscuits, magazines and waited for the 3a.m. to 8a.m. to finally 9.45 am to take off to Colombo. Enroute The Daily Mirror had got all bright and breezy with its lead story of how Mahinda with his dainty frame had set foot on the moon and taken a gigantic step for dignity of all minorities with other governmental colleagues by saying pedigree etc was not necessary we only want to know what kind of Sri Lankan you were when registering with the police. Reading it one wanted Mahinda to set foot on many more planets. Except by afternoon one heard of the ruddy smart alecs in Jaffna who have started issuing Amy id’s to everyone above 10 years! Pray one needs a very strong drink because as that busy body said, have we not created enough mutinies so far for God sake. (Excerpt)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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