Page 1
Tamil
TIME
Wol.IWNo.5 6
SRI LANKA
THE
TAMILTIMES
: SSNO256-44-88
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION
UK India/Sri Lanka............... 7.50 All other Countries.......E.2,50/$20
Published monthly by TAMIL TIMESLTD P.O.BOX 304 London W13 9GN United Kingdom
CONTENTS
Editorial...................................2 Buddhist scholar attacks racists............................ 2 Sri Lanka slammed for human rights violations................. 3 Sinhalese - the protected species?.....................
Minister protests against bandits & gangsters being settled in Tamil areas.................5 Tamilsfleeing Sri Lanka............ 6-8 Exodus........................... 10-13
State terrorism - Sukhran's Diary.................. 14-16 UrTwitting contribution by Canadians to persecution. In Sri Lanka : ......................17 CRM protests against gross violation of human rights....................... 18, 19 The Wandering Border.............20
Memorial Service for Sri Lankan priest .........................23
Wisws Expressed by contributors areno necessarily those of the editor or the publishers. The publishers assume no 五、 responsibility for return of unsolicited Thanuscripts, photographs and artwork.
Printed By Astmoor Litho (TULid, 21-22Arkwright Road, Runcorn, Cheshire,
 
 
 

p MARCH 1985
BOATPEOPLE

Page 2
2 TAM TIMES
THEY SHA
The “most grotesque crimes' committed by the Sri Lankan security forces 'away from international notice’ which David Graves of the London 'Daily Telegraph referred to have ineacorably resulted in the flight of several thousands of Tamils into neighbouring South India. Every day nearly a thousand terrified and trembling Tamils, оld атd yоитд, изотет ата тfants, are landing om the South Indiam coast. Forcibly uprooted from their homes, families and occupatioms, the dispossessed Tamils are fleeing in all manmer of boats from the mortherm coast of Sri Lanka to escape from the continuing atrocities committed by the Sri Lanka. Sinhala forces. An estimated 20,000 Tamils have fled during the last tuvo months.
Photographs and news reports in the international media testify to the terrifying eacperiences faced by the Tamil refugees who are now in Tamil Nadu. Dispossessed and disowned in the land of their birth, the Tamils have become Sri Lanka's boat people. In spite of the incontrovertible evidence, Mr H.W. Jayeuvardeme, the Sri Lankan President's brother who headed the delegation to
the 41st sessio Nations Hum mission recent va, “categorica eacistence of a and said: 'Att made by alan CᏈeᎺᎿe ᎺᏈᏤ ᎤᏓᏡ Situation.” Suc gard for truth Sri Lankam go matched by its һитат итсотс of the Tamil p
Terrorising priving them and driving t the areas in traditionally li folloиу-up to t policy of co areas. In short is seeking to areas of the N Sri Lanka intC ated provinces ciplined army being ruthless achieve this en gard to the tra for the Tamil fundamental only aim is to into a 100-p Buddhist cou?
The governm
BUDDHIST SCHOLA
A scathing attack on racism and racists was made by one of Sri Lanka's leading Buddhist scholars, Dr W.S. Karunaratne, Professor of Buddhist Philosophy at the University of Kelaniya and former Sri Lanka Ambassador to the USA, when he spoke at a meeting at Chakkindaramaya Temple, Ratmalama, in the constituency of National Security Minister Lalith Athulathmudali.
Professor Karunaratne said that the government's resort to militarism in order to solve the ethnic problem could be the starting point of continuous civil war in the country. In his view, those who were today holding meetings, lectures and seminars calling for the "unity of the Sinhalese' were in fact only interested in providing a cover for whipped-up terrorism against the Tamil people.
Referring to announced intenti in the north and Karunaratne, sai was not a step tha practice, empty only harden feelir ities against the
The governme. usual call for the flags on Februa more chauvimist t wanted was to Tamils the disi Sinhalese people wrongs, blunders rupt practices, a consolidate itself
Contribution
The Tamil peo sor, had made a
 

MARCH 1985
L. RETURN
's of the United n Rights Comy held in GeneEly rejected the refugee problem mpts are being mist reports to tificial refugee h cynical disrein the part of the ernment is only callous and inerm for the plight eople.
the Tamils, deof their homes, hет аирау froт which they have ved is the logical he goverптетt's oraising Tamil , the government turm the Tamil orth and East of Sinhala domin. The “most indisin the world is sly employed to ld with scant regic сотseqиетсes people and their kuman rights. Its turm Sri Lanka, 2r-cent Sinhalatry. ent of Sri Lanka
is sadly mistaken if it entertains the illusion that the three million Tamil people can be subjugated and decimated in this manner. With lethal weapons supplied by foreign regimes and aided by the Israeli Mossad and hired mercenaries, the Sri Lankan government may feel invincible today. Hitler too, seeking Aryan supremacy, was once thought to be invincible. Nemesis is bound to strike the pint-sized Sri Lankan Hitlers who seek "Aryan Sinhala doтітatiот.
All sections of the oppressed Tani nation are now more conscious of the need to unite today than at any time in the past. The ranks of those Tamils determined to liberate the people from Sinhala racist oppression and military terror are increasing daily. The battered Tamils of today will soon be ready for the eventual struggle, a struggle ennobled by the righteousness of its cause, the justice of its case and the freedom which is their birthright. Even those Tamils who are being driven out today shall return SOOmer tham later to retake their homes, repossess their land and regain their rights.
RATTACKSRACISTS
the government's on to settle Sinhalese the east, Professor l that, although this t could be realised in talk like this could gs among the minorSinhalese. t's Sudden and undisplay of national y 4 this year was lan patriotic. What it divert against the ontent among the at the government's misdeeds and corld thus protect and
le, Said the Professignificant contribu
tion to the development of Sri Lanka. This included the spread of Buddhism in our country.
The main texts for the study of Buddhist philosophy had been written by scholars like Buddhagosha, Buddhaditta, Dhammapala, Anurudda and others, who were both Buddhist priests and Tamils.
In fact, Tamils in India had embraced Buddhism even before the Sinhalese did.
The founders of Buddhism, like Lord Buddha and his disciples Ananda and Mahinda, were not Sinhalese but Indans. But today those who talk so much about Buddhism and the Sinhalese race, including Buddhist monks, do not mention these facts or the contribution that Tamil Buddhist monks made to the spread of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.
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Page 3
MARCH 1985
U.N. HUMAN RIGH
SRI LANKA SLAMMED FOR I
For the first time in two years, the spotlight turned on Sri Lanka, during the 41st sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC)
held recently in Geneva, for its appalling record of human rights violations.
To be in the company of the same
notorious league as Paraguay, Guatemala, Peru, El Salvador, South Africa, Indonesia etc, must have really , hurt the Sri Lankan delegation, , headed by no less a person than the Sri Lankan President's brother Mr H.W. Jayewardene QC. The presence of this heavyweight, with five others including Mr Jayantha Dhanapala, the Sri Lankan Ambassador in Geneva and the Deputy Solicitor-General, Mr Sunil de Silva, indicated the nervousness of the Sri Lankam government.
Fearing that an adverse resolution was a likely possibility, the Sri Lankan delegates spared no efforts to avoid, such an eventuality. Dinners, lunches, and tea parties for chosen government delegations and delegates from NonGovernmental Organisations (NGOs), behind-the-Scenes manipulations, etc., saw no limits as far as the Sri Lankan delegation was concerned.
Danger signals
1. It appeared that Argentina, which had acquired a remarkable reputation in international forums, specially after the overthrow of the military regime and the vigour with which it is pursuing action against the former dictators for crimes committed against the Argentina people, was prepared to sponsor a resolution against Sri Lanka with the full backing of the Indian delegation. In fact, many member. countries had conveyed their support for such a resolution.
As the lobbying was gathering
momentum, with several NGOs taking an active interest, the prospect of a resolution against Sri Lanka seemed very bright. This sent the Sri Lankan delegation into a renewed frenzy of activity. The danger signals would appear to have been relayed back to Colombo. The government there, which had up to then rejected any form of negotiations with a role for India in regard to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, despatched its Minister of National Security to New Delhi to meet Mr Rajiv Gandhi. What happened between the two at Delhi is anybody's guess, but one thing was certain, and that was Sri Lanka was resuming negotiations with the Indian government.
From our Sp Corresponde
indo-Sri Lanka ta
This apparent ch attitude towards De have had a consid what was going ( eventually the deac passed without the tion on Sri Lanka b without significanc the Indian delegati On March 13 duri before the UNHRC, say more because under way betwee ments for defusing a climate conduciv tlement is created
The fact that a tabled did not prev slamming Sri La) violations of hun Lanka. Nine NGOs lated a comprehel English, French a current situation ir ing such subjects a summary killings, minate arrests, inct tion, forcible eva from their homes Sinhalese in Tamil ses, attack On dem the new emergenc their adverse imp and the exodus of T India.
A number of gov from Several cour references to the c Lanka and round indisciplined condu Security forces.
Irish Concern
The leader of th Mr F.M. Hayes, sta duty of the Sri Lan ensure that huma damental freedoms were fully safegua the Irish governme the numerous repo] violations commi Tamil population forces. Rejecting t
exCeSSeS Wee CO plined members forces', Mr Hayess the government wil ploys these forces, ment which remai their actions.'

TAMILTIMES3
Ts COMMISSION HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS
ecial ent in Geneva
kS
hange in Colombo’s 2lhi would appear to erable influence on on at Geneva and line for resolutions anticipated resolueing tabled. It is not e that the head of On, Dr Dhillon, said ng his intervention , 'I would not like to consultations are n Our tWO governthe situation so that e to a political set
resolution was not ent delegates from nka for the gross nan rights in Sri had already circunsive statement in nd Spanish on the Sri Lanka, covers extrajudicial and torture, indiscriommunicado detencuation of Tamils and settlement of
areaS, army eXCeSDcratic institutions, y regulations and act on civilian life Tamil refugees into
'ernment delegates tries made direct urrent crisis in Sri ty condemned the ct of the Sri Lankan
e Irish delegation, ated that it was the kan government to n rights and fun; of all Sri Lankans rded. He said that nt was disturbed at rts of human rights itted against the
by the security he excuse that the mitted by “indisci
of the security iaid, "it is, however, nich trains and deand it is the governms responsible for
He added that the government's efforts to seek a military solution to the problem are contributing to a spirall of violence which, if allowed to continue unchecked, Will result in continued suffering of the innocent civilian population. To avoid this outcome and prevent increasing alienation of the Tamil population it is necessary that their legitimate aspirations and grie vances be met with in the framework of the Sri Lankan state."
Delegates from other countries including The Netherlands, Sweden, West Germany and Australia, also expressed similiar sentiments. The statement from India was much more comprehensive (see page 8).
Among the NGOs, the International Commission of Jurists, Amnesty International, Pax Christi, Pax Romana and Centre Europe-Tiers Monde dealt with the current situation providing graphic accounts of the violation of human rights in Sri Lanka. ,
Harrowing tale
The several hundred delegates and observers were given a harrowing account of the random murders, arson and rape and other forms of atrocities committed against the Tamil people by the security forces and heard an impassioned plea for concrete action by the UN Human Rights Commission from Mr P. Rajanayagam who spoke on behalf of Centre Europe-Tiers Monde. The interventions by Mr Rajamayagam, a Sri Lankan Tamil himSelf, who narrated the tragic tale of how his own family had been forced to flee by boat to India due to military terror, must have caused serious embarrassment to the Sri Lankan delegation, which has time and again endeavoured to keep Tamil human rights activists out of such forums by bringing pressure upon NGOs not to grant accreditation. The embarrassment was quite apparent from the behaviour of the members of the Sri Lankan delegation who tried to hide their faces away from the staring looks of the delegates present.
The response of the Sri Lankan delegations to the several charges levelled at them was pathetic and patchy, and was full of distortions and deliberate lies. An analysis of the Sri Lankan response would be a subject for a separate article.
Editor's Note: The full text of the intervention by the International Commission of Jurists and an analysis of the Sri Lankan delegation's response will appear in the next issue.

Page 4
SINHALESE - THE
In a comprehensive update on the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka ('South', March 1985) the late Mr Denzil Peiris raises several fundamental issues. Some of them merit comment if only for the reason that they have been raised by a person of Mr Peiris's journalistic stature and integrity.
Referring to Mr Jayewardene, he makes the bold assertion that "the President's commitment to a just solution is unquestionable'. Unfortunately for the Tamils, many of them thought so too in 1977, when Mr Jayewardene's party was returned to power in a landslide victory on a manifesto which included as a priority task the resolution of the problem of the Tamil minority. With a massive majority in Parliament behind him and his personal standing in the country at its peak, with no elections to worry about for five years, Mr Jayewardene was in an infinitely more advantageous position than any of his predecessors to bring about this 'just solution'. Instead of being remembered as the statesman who resolved the most serious problem which the country has ever faced, he chose like most Sinhalese politicians before him, to fall into the mental trap which dictates that any initiative to deal adequately with Tamil grievances undermines the privileged position of the Sinhalese in Sri Lanka.
Popular fallacy
There is a popular fallacy which supports Mr Peiris's view, by claiming that Mr Jayewardene is personally committed to a just solution to the Tamil problem, but extremists both within his party and outside it, notably the Buddhist clergy who are implacably opposed to any concession to Tamil demands, prevent him from actually delivering the goods. Had this explanation been offered for the late Mr Dudley Senanayake, or the Bandaranaikes, it might seem plausible. In a long career, Mr Jayewardene has demonstrated, if not anything else, a tremendous flair for political manoeuvre and dexterity. He is therefore capable of containing the power bases and the opinion forming centres around him. The recent dismisal of Mr Mathew, his Minister of Industries, might have raised a few eyebrows, but not much else.
Whether it is to one's liking or not, he stands out like a Colossus on the Sri Lankan political scene and only he, and no one else, is capable of carrying the Sinhalese electorate in negotiating
By a settlement of say that he is around him is relevance to t base. But then, Mr Jayewarde that he is cond dimension to th what his prede gone through t Party Conferer failure to the TULF, he believ a backdrop of which he is p( justify a militar lem. So much fo just solution.
Ensuring civic and human rig
The other imp formulation of approach to the Athulathmudali. as saying: "You devolutiom road. Mr Athulathmud emphasis should rights and the eliminate specific tion against the n realised is that it tion of dealing w discrimination. It ensuring that the civic and human ) entitled to, but c the framework o presently constit Mr Athulathmu US courts have advancing the Americans and 0 might well ask v tion of even the po had any signific basic status of th Quite apart fron Tamils were to tion, they will n convincing to p judiciary whose undermined and has been perman government's re efforts at tinkerin tion.
Mr Peiris sum the astute obser issue in the prob one will seriously particularly as M “the Tamils wil 1 goodwill for a res vances over emp

MARCH 1985
Protected species
VAYAL
le Tamil problem. To hedged in by forces ) under-estimate his Sinhalese political ven a skilful man like , has not recognised Onted by a different Tamil problem, than 2ssors faced. Having e motions of the All e, and ascribing its ntransigence of the is he has now erected legitimacy against sed to attempt and
solution to the probhis commitment to a
htS
rtant influence in the the government's problem is that of Mr Mr Peiris quotes him cannot go down the It is not easy to sell.' ali reckons that the be on fundamental se of the courts to cases of discriminainorities. What is not , is no longer a quesith specific cases of is now a question of Tamils enjoy all the ights which they are annot realise within f a unitary state as ited. dali argues that the layed a key role in ights of the black her minorities. One hether the jurisdicwerful US courts has ant impact on the e black Americans. that, even if the onsider the suggesed an awful lot of ace reliance om a authority has been those independence htly impaired by the eated and clumsy with the constitu
up his report with tion that “the gut m is distrust'. No disagree with this, Peiris points out t look to Sinhalese ution of their grieyment and settle
ment. Nor will they depend on a majority Sinhalese army and police force to ensure their personal safety.' But Mr Peiris reserves the thrust of his argument to rationalise Sinhalese distrust of the Tamils. He says: “More than five centuries of invasions by Tamil kings and marauders are deeply engraved in the psyche of the Sinhalese. Tamil invaders ravaged the Buddhist culture and irrigation systems om which that civilisation was based and forcing the Sinhalese to retreat to the less congemiał hills.”
This curious blend of history and myth, if it was in fact engraved in the Sinhalese psyche, remained dormant for several centuries and would have remained as such (in the same way that the French and English feel about each other) had not the Sinhalese politicians of the post-independence era seen in its revival a less onerous route to electoral power. Thus two generations of young Sinhalese have been nurtured in this defensive psychology, and this is what constitutes a barrier against any rational understanding of the Tamils' requirements. Given the readiness with which the Sinhalese politicians claim “protected species' status for their people, one can forgive the casual observer of the Sri Lankan scene for being confused as to the identity of the aggrieved party in this conflict.
Fanciful fear
The more plausible basis for Sinhalese fear and distrust is of recent origin and that stems from what the Sinhalese imagine is a potential threat posed by 42 million Tamils in South India. This fear is as fanciful as the fragile hope that the Tamils in Sri Lanka see in it. It is not unnatural for the people of Tamil Nadu to show their concern for the plight of fellow Tamils, particularly now that thousands of them have crossed over to South India to escape the oppression of the Sinhalese army. However, it would be an error of judgement for the Sinhalese politicians to project this concern as a prelude to physical intervention on behalf of the Tamils of Sri Lanka. By the same token, the latter have no grounds on which to expect this wave of sympathy to be translated into something more tangible.
The real impediment to reaching a negotiated settlement of this bruising dispute is the atmosphere of fear and
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Page 5
MARCH 1985
MINISTER PROTESTSA GANGSTERS BENG SE
“It has been brought to my notice that there is a major programme of the Ministry of Lands and Land Development under way in the Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts for the settlement of ex-convicts and other undesirable elements . . . A very disturbing feature of all these settlement programmes is that the vast majority, if not all, of the settlers are not genuine farmers, but RCs (Island Re-convicted Criminals) and gangsters in character. Not used to farming and perhaps leading a life of banditry in the South all their lives, these men have been rampaging the district lifting cattle, looting and, on occasions, indulging in arson . . . Several families of Tamil settlers in these areas, unable to bear the harassment any longer, have vacated their farms,' wrote Mr S. Thondaman, Minister of Rural industrial Development, in a recent letter addressed to the Sri Lankan President Mr Junius Jayewardene.
A copy of this nine-page letter typed on the Ministry headed notepaper reached the desk of Tamil Times, having been posted in Colombo by a mole in the Presidential Secretariat. How Mr S. Thondaman can still continue to remain in Mr Jayewardene's Cabinet while his colleagues, particularly Mr Gamini Dissanayake, the Minister of Lands and Land Development, are engaged in a diabolical scheme of dispossessing Tamils of their land is a mystery.
The following are excerpts from Mr Thondaman's letter to the President: “One of our biggest problems has been the "Policy' of land development and land settlement adopted by the Ministry of Lands and Land Development. While inviting Your Excellency's attention to the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers of 4th July 1979 set out at paragraph 16 of the Minutes of that Meeting, I annex hereto a copy of my Cabinet Memorandum of 19th July 1983 which sets out the background to the settlement, with government assistance, of persons of Indian origin in the Northern and Eastern provinces and copies of correspondence exchanged between the Hon’ble Minister of Lands and Land Development and myself, the contents of which are self-explanatory.
“One would have imagined that when some of the "unfortunate victims of the sad events of July 1983 are still languishing in refugee camps in Sri Lanka and South India, the harassment, intimidation and forced eviction of those who escaped the holocaust would end and in its place a humane
and orderly re-settl of those affected stead we are with spectacle of misg continuing to pursu ramme of colonisa tive nature which is munal tensions, un thority of the Cey gress among the pe an origin, bringing ment into disreput way for its eventua Vadamunai episod cellency finally ca heavy hand, is an e of adventure. Seve an even more expl been reported to m "From time to til one year, I have bro to your attention a that if prompt and been taken, the ré Vavuniya and Mull been averted and perhaps contained v la. I am compelled notice once again so ties of a provocati Your Excellency m put an end to this ev
Kent and Dollar F.
“Under the Special II of the 1963 UNP gov leased out to the Ke niya and the Dollar vu. Several families an Origin, who wel area after the co ances, provided la Owners. These wer from the plantations 1981 disturbances ar information there v families in these tw people were driver year by the security year, the farms wer Government and us tle ex-convicts and convicted criminals bilitate them.
"This forcible ejed families of Tamils from their settlemer colonisation of ex-c undesirable elemer confined to these tw has been extended to Vavuniya, Mannar Trincomalee distric the 55 families in th farms, 40 families h. from Vaypangula Pavatkulam.

TAMILTIMES5
GAINST BANDITS AND TTLED IN TAMIL AREAS
ement programme implemented. Inlessing the tragic uided individuals e a planned progtion of a provocaexacerbating comdermining the aulon Workers Conople of recent Indithe UNP governe and paving the l destruction. The 2, where Your Exme down with a (ample of this type ral such cases of Osive nature have
lᎾ , me during the last ught some of these ld I am convinced firm action had cent incidents of aitivu would have terrorist activity within the Peninsuto bring to your me of these activive nature so that ay take action to en at this late hour.
S
eases programme ernment, land was ent Farm in Vavu
Farm in Mullaitiof Tamils of Indie dumped in this immunal disturbbour to the farm e joined by others after the 1977 and ld according to my vere altogether 55 to farms. All these away early this forces. Later this e taken over by the ed by them to setother island rein order to reha
tment of peaceful
of Indian Origin nts and state-aided onvicts and other its has not been vo farms alone. It other areas in the , Mullaitivu and ts. In addition, to e Kent and Dollar ave been uprooted m and 54 from
"It has been brought to my notice that there is a major programme of the Ministry of Lands and Land Development under way in the Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts for the settlement of ex-convicts and other undesirable elements including the encroachers who were evicted from Vadamunai in Batticaloa. The area to be developed for this settlement presently falls within the AGA district of Nedunkarny. This has recently been included within another GS division which in turn has been incorporated into the Vavuniya South A.G.A. division. The 18-mile road from Padiviya to the Kent Farm is being widened and strengthened. A bridge is also under construction. A senior official of the Ministry is reported to have taken up residence at the site to supervise the operations. The Deputy Minister Mr Percy Samaraweera had also visited the site recently and inspected the progress of work.
Guns for Sinhalese
"I am informed that a programme for the Settlement of about 1,000 migrant fishermen and others in the Mullaitivu coastal belt is also being implemented at present. In Kokkilai, some of the guns surrendered by the Tamil farmers last year had apparently been handed over to the Sinhalese fishermen on the instructions of the officials of the Ministry of Fisheries and the security forces. Of late, tension has been building up amongst the fishing community in Mullaitivu due to the harassment of the Tamil fishermen by the armed forces on the one hand and favoured treatment of the migrant fishermen from the South. I also understand that the former Secretary to the Ministry of Fisheries had sought foreign aid to relocate the Devinuwara Fish Net Factory at Mułlaitivu with the ultimate objective of organising around the factory a colony of settlers from the South.
"At the same time, on the instructions of the Ministry of Fisheries statistics were being collected, early last month, to settle permanently in Mannar, fishermen from the South who migrate to that area during the season. It was reported that they were to be provided with permanent housing, boats and fishing gear.
“A very disturbing feature of all these settlement programmes is that the vast majority, if not all, of the settlers are not genuine farmers but IRCs and gangsters in character. Not used to farming and perhaps leading a
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Page 6
6 TAMILTIMES
'TAMILSARE F
The following is the teact of the speech made by Mr P. Rajamayagam om February 28 before the UN Human Rights Commission: Mr Chairman,
The Sub-Commission at its session in August last year expressed deep concern about the recurrence of Violence in Sri Lanka with severe loss of life and property. While recognising the ultimate responsibility of the government of Sri Lanka for the protection of all Sections of the community, it hoped that the government of Sri Lanka would submit information on the progress made in the investigation of incidents, and the recent efforts made to promote communal harmony to the Commission on Human Rights at its 41st sessions. The concerns expressed by the Sub-Commission seem to have been fully justified by the events that have taken place since August 1984.
The latest report of the Amnesty International released last month records a catalogue of incidents of killing of Tamil civilians, including old men, women and children.
innocent civilians killed
Following the death of some soldiers in a land mine explosion, the army went on a rampage on August 11 and 12 last year in the northern Tamil town of Mannar, setting fire to an estimated 123 homes and shops and killing several innocent Tamil civilians. The Civil Rights Movement of Sri Lanka, the leading members of which belong to the Sinhalese community, in a comprehensive statment issued last month stated that following the death of a soldier in another land mine explosion, the army engaged in "a mass attack on the civilians living within three to four miles of the incident, on the passengers of buses plying on this road and on the staff of the Murunkan post office. The final death toll has been estimated at about 107.' Almost all Who Were killed were over 50 years of age.
"The Amnesty International reports that, despite government denials, there is sufficient evidence to show that these are in fact indiscriminate extrajudicial killings by the security forces. Recently, according to reports of the Amnesty International and the Civil Rights Movement of Sri Lanka, thousands of Tamils falling within the age group of 15 and 30 have been indiscriminately rounded up and detained in army camps where they are subjected to the familiar methods of terror.
A new development in the apparently never-ending campaign of army
atrocities is that t would appear to ha target. Within the Methodist minister ish priest have bee the case of the Cat Rev. Fr. Mary Bas down in his own ( window on January eyewitness accoun authorities by the ( date no action wol been taken.
We regret to not ment has so far fai impartial investiga August 1983 violen hundred Tamils 200,000 were rende government of Sr failed to institute a investigation into t sacre of 53 Tamil p a Colombo maxim in July 1983. Simil incidents and ramp tions of the secur gaged in Summary Tamils and the di property have re gated and the culp pumished.
Army indiscipline government pol
The continued fa the government to sures to prevent committed by the lians leads one to a how much of these the indiscipline of and how much of from conscious go
Despite this Com See the restoration mony in Sri Luar would seem that th Lanka has decided tion to the ethnic c try. In Novemberl ment promulgatec Emergency Regu. made life in the country virtually
Under these Ré bited Zone has be entire northern c. forms of human h ity. The ban on f: several thousand their livelihood. Si districts have beer Zone where owner cles of all descript cles, without sp

MARCH 1985
U.N. HUMAN RIGHTS
LEEING SRI LANKA
e Christian clergy e become its latest ast two months, a and a Catholic par
shot and killed. In olic priest, named ian, he was gunned hurch through the 6. Despite detailed is provided to the atholic Bishops, to ld appear to have
e that the governed to undertake an tion into the July!e in which several erished and over red homeless. The i Lanka has also n impartial judicial he gruesome masolitical prisoners in um security prison arly, several other pages in which secity forces had en
killings of civilian estruction of their mained uninvestirits have gone un
. Ο icy?
ilure on the part of take effective mearepeated excesses army against civisk the question as to excesses are due to the armed forces them flow directly vernment policy. mission's desire to of communal harka, regrettably it government of Sri on a military soluonflict in that counst year the governa plethora of new ations which have amil areas of the mpossible. gulations a Prohin set up along the ast prohibiting all bitation and activhing has deprived of fishermen of me of the northern declared a Security hip and use of vehions, including bicyrial permits have
In the course of two interventions on behalf of Europe Third World Centre (CETIM) before the 41st sessions of the United Nations Human Rights Commission held in Geneva recently (Feb 27 to March 15), Mr P. Rajanayagam referred to the massive violations of human rights in Sri Lanka, including indiscriminate killings of civilian Tamils, arbitrary arrests, detentions and torture. Placing the case of the Tamil people before this United Nations forum attended by over 100 countries and several UN-recognised Non
been banned and only a few approved roads can be used. All people are compelled to carry identity cards and no one shall leave or enter the Security Zone without special permits. The Civil Rights Movement has summed up the disastrous impact of these regulations as "destruction of the entire civil life of the community'.
In the meantime, Mr Chairman, the President of Sri Lanka has announced his government's plans to colonise all Tamil areas with Sinhala settlers to reflect the nationwide population ratio of 75 per cent Sinhalese to 25 per cent other ethnic groups. The Minister of National Security has announced plans for the new settlers to be given military training and arms. In fact, in certain areas this has already been done. The Civil Rights Movement has in this connection stated: "Civilians in the Trincomalee district have been given arms by the police, ostensibly for their self-defence. Instances have been reported of such individuals and groups using arms to terrorise persons of the Tamil community.'
The Citizens Committees of the affected areas have complained of a grave situation and conditions of starvation. The request of internationall relief agencies to go into the affected areas would appear to have been turned down by the government.
Exodus of refugees
All these conditions have created a vast exodus of refugees from Tamil areas into other countries, particularly to South India. Abandoning their homes, boatloads of people are reported to be landing daily along the coast of South India. Those who are able, are reported to be fleeing to western countries.
"The extent of this exodus of refugees is demonstration of the grossness of the violence, violations and depredations to which the Tamil

Page 7
MARCH 1985
COMMISSION TOLD
TO ESOAPE MILITA
Governmental Organisations, Mr Rajanayagam, who is also the Secretary of the Human Rights Council (SCOT), stated that the vast exodus of Tamil refugees into neighbouring South India was demonstrative of the violence, violations and depredations to which the Tamil people are subjected in Sri Lanka today. He accused the government of Sri Lanka of dispossessing Tamils of their homes in areas where they had traditionally lived and inciting civil war by arming sections of the
Sinhalese against the Tamil people.
minority are subjected in Sri Lanka today.
During the last sessions of the Commission, the Sri Lankan delegation placed heavy emphasis on the then on-going All Party Conference. Regrettably, Mr Chairman, the government of Sri Lanka would appear to have failed to seize the opportunity given by this Commission. On December 16th, the All Party Conference was formally wound up and subsequently the government abandoned even the meagre proposals it had earlier placed before the Conference. The Tamil political party, TULF, although it did accept the government's proposals, had declared that it was prepared to continue to negotiate a settlement on the basis of a recognition of the legitimate aspirations of the Tamil people. In this context, Mr Chairman, taking into consideration the concerns expressed by the Sub-Commission, we urge that this Commission should consider taking Such Steps as are necessary for the protection of human rights and restoration of inter-communal justice and peace in Sri Lanka.
I thank you, Mr Chairman.
The following is the teact of the speech made by Mr P. Rajanayagam before the UN Human Rights. Commission onMarch 8, 1985:
Mr Chairman,
Our organisation intervened under Item 19 on the gross violation of human rights in Sri Lanka. Even as we meet in the safe and salubrious Surroundings of Geneva, the situation in Sri Lanka is rapidly deteriorating for the people, particularly the Tamil community.
Mr Chairman, without further ado, I seek to demonstrate the seriousness of the situation by quoting from three on-the-spot reports. The London Daily Telegraph of December 12, 1984, reported:
“Sri Lankan arm leashed a bloody
..' and ". . . a most grotesque international notis be only 300 miles but it is a world siege. The 800,000 peninsula live in der, arson, bombi As the first foreig Jaffna . . . I hav listening to a seri ies of rape, mass tion. I saw two fields at Wadduk west of Jaffna. D vam, a former claimed troops sh last week.”
Again the London "T ber, 1984, reported
“Sri Lankam force harsh and remor intimidation an Tamil minority. B murder, indiscr beatings, torture ciplined and trig keep the Tamils ir of constant fear.
Many thousand women and chil India and to Eul youths have been ) in army camps. T know where they come Sri Lanka's There is strong e torture and murd army custody. Me of displaced peopl homes in army "c tions, are in refu
Mr Chairman, th
magazine of Febr which was banned Sri Lanka, reporte
“In the north, evi by the military is ples and church crated. In the pa Catholic priest an
ter were gunnedd forces. Residents ery occurred in M following the an patrol by guerri began shooting at reports one eyewi like flies. The sold road, killing som and taking others the Post Office a up before they sh went looking for fields. No one wa scene out of hell. gan at 11 in the m 4.30 in the after over, more than killed.

TAMILTIMES 7
ARYTERROR'
Led forces had uncampaign of terror ire committing the crimes away from ce . . . Jaffna may north of Colombo,
apart. It is under ) inhabitants of the the shadow of murngs and looting . . . in reporter to reach 'e spent three days es of appalling storacre and intimidabodies lying in the oddai eight miles Dr Neelan TirucheMP for the area, ot dead 40 civilians
'imes” of 31 Decem
es are conducting a seless campaign of nong the island's iy means of random iminate shooting, and plunder, ill-disger-happy soldiers 1 the morth in a state
s of people, mostly iren, have fled to rope. Thousands of rounded up and held heir parents do not are: they have bedisappeared ones. vidence of beating, er of young men in anwhile, thousands e, driven from their ombing out” operagee camps.'
e Americam “Time” uary 11 this year, from circulation in d:
dence of destruction everywhere. Temes have been desest month, a Roman da Methodist minislown by government say the worst savagIannar in December mbush of an army las. “The soldiers , anyone they saw,' itness. “People died liers went out on the e people on the Spot away. They went to hd made people line lot them. Then they people in the paddy as spared. It was a ' The massacre beorning and ended at noon. When it was 150 people had been
The fleeing thousands
This is the tragedy that is being enacted in Sri Lanka today. The Amnesty International and the International Commission of Jurists in their reports and in their interventions y esterday ha ve given graphic accounts of the massive violations of human rights, including the most fundamental of all human rights, the right to life. Even as I speak, Mr Chairman, thousands of Tamil people, not militants or "terrorists', but ordinary civilians, old people, young people, Women and children are fleeing the country from the uncontrolled terror of the Sri Lankan security forces.
Thousands of people are being forcibly dispossessed of their homes and driven off areas in which they have lived for over 2,000 years. On a personall note, Mr Chairman, my own family, including my wife's 70-year-old mother have abandoned their home situated in the town of Mannar and disappeared. The army had threatened that if they did not leave, the house would be set on fire with all of them inside. Hopefully, they are on a boat for South India, where they have no relatives or friends. Possibly they may join the thousands in makeshift refugee camps there. I received this information from my wife who telephoned me from London the night before last. Last night when I conveyed this tragic news to the distinguished Sri Lankan delegate to this Commission, he expressed his sympathy. I suppose the battered and downtrodden Tamil people must be thankful for and content with these Small mercies of expressions of sympathy!
The Government of Sri Lanka, in its Note Verbale date 30th January 1984 (E/CN.4/1984/10, 1 February 1984) distributed to the delegates to the Human Rights Commission at its 40th sessions, inter alia, stated:
“The Government of Sri Lanka is fully committed to strengthening of nationall unity by promoting co-operation and mutual understanding among all people of Sri Lanka . . . as a part of this process, in January 1984, the President of Sri Lanka summoned a conference of all political parties representing various ideologies and ethnic groups, with a view to discussing the relevant issues and proposals concerning the rights of the minorities and finding solutions acceptable to all parties concerned within the democratic framework of the country . . . in this context, the construct approach of the internation - Coll
PLEASE 7-uRN OVER

Page 8
8 TAMILTIMES
TAMIL REFUGEES
The following is the teact of the speech made by Dr G.S. Dhillon, the leader of the Indian delegation to the 41st sessions of the UN Human Rights Commissiom, om March 8, 1985.
Mr Chairman,
When the Human Rights Commission discussed the situation in Sri Lanka last year, there was a certain measure of optimism that the ethnic problem would be resolved through suitable political means. This was reflected in the resolution adopted by the Commission which welcomed all measures for rehabilitation and reconciliation, including the All Parties Conference, and expressed the hope that they would succeed in achieving a lasting solution. Mr Chairman, these hopes have, unfortunately, been belied. Today, as we meet, we find that the prospect of a political solution has receded very far. The All Parties Conference convened by President Jayewardene has been adjourned sine die without achieving any substantive progress and no fresh initiative has
been undertaken. T reach a political rupture in the dialo ity Tamil commu) climate of confron conciliation, and há spiral of violence al which has claimed innocent people. In rocked Sri Lanka August, November several hundreds
Organised coloni
Over the past few day lives of ordinal larly in the North a adversely affected. position of a securit Peninsula, movem vehicles has been r reports of an acut and thousands of fi unable to ply their without any mean: cent reports of org of the Northern and have added to th
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll|
FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
munity is to desist from any action or
comment on the situation in Sri
Lanka.'
It is in the above context, and the
various assurances given by the Sri Lankan delegation, the Commission at its 40th Session desisted from examining the serious complaints of violation of human rights in Sri Lanka, and appealed for and welcomed all measures for national harmony and reconciliation.
Government inciting civil war
The various assurances given by the Government of Sri Lanka have not been kept, the All Party Conference (APC) has been terminated without a settlement having been reached to the ethnic conflict. Even before the APC was formally wound up on December 16, the Government announced its plans for settling Sinhala people in predominantly Tamil areas of the North and East to reflect the nationwide population ratio of 75 per cent Sinhalese to 25 per cent other ethnic groups. Mr Chairman, this can hardly be an act of a government which was serious about the resolution of the ethnic problem through decentralisation.
The government also announced plans for training and arming the Slika alese newly settled in Tamil areas. act, pictures appeared in the Sri Lankan press showing the Minister
of National Securit some new settlers This act of arming people as against section of the pop constitute an act reconciliation and the two communiti what the governm liberate inciteme ment to civil war. In his long inter uished delegate frO
even attempted to
charges by Amnes' the International ists of gross violati including the char ecutions of inno attempt was mad rant abuses of h Lanka under the pl terrorism. Labell organisations an cerned with the p rights as supportel “terrorists” is a fa dulged in by those want to cover up t rights.
The issue of hun in Sri Lanka will dered again at the Commission. M observer countrie pressed sympath sions to the plig people in Sri Lal

MARCH 1985
ARRIVING IN THEIR
he failure so far to ettlement and the gue with the minority has created a tation rather than s led to a growing d counter-violence the lives of many the violence that in March, April, and December 1984 ave died.
sation
months the everyy citizens, particund East, have been
Following the imy zone in the Jaffna ent of persons and estricted. There are e shortage of food sherfolk have been trade and are now of livelihood. Reanised colonisation Eastern Provinces e friction between
THOUSANDS
different communities. Such an atmosphere, Mr Chairman, breeds hate and fear - and these are emotions which are not conducive to creating the atmosphere necessary for finding a solution to the problem.
We in India are particularly saddened by these developments; for Sri Lanka is a close neighbour and one with whom we have had the friendliest of relations. Our interest is not just of a spectator. We cannot remain detached because the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka has repercussions on our country and imposes severe social, politica and economic burdens on us.
People of Sri Lanka and India havi contacts and ties which date bach millenia. There are over 200,000 Indial nationals in Sri Lanka who have been affected by the ethnic crisis, apart from the very large number of persons of Indian origin. We are naturally concerned about the well-being of our citizens.
CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
II lllIIIIIIIIIlllIlllIIIII llllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII I illi li IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII til
y giving lessons to in the use of guns. ; one section of the another minority ulation can hardly
in furtherance of
harmony between
es. On the contrary, ent has done is de
nt and encourage
lention, the distingm Sri Lanka, never rebut the Several y International and Commission of Jurons of human rights ge of summary excent civilians. An to cloak the flagman rights in Sri etext of combatting ng and maligning d individuals conrotection of human s or confederates of miliar exercise ingovernments which Leir abuse of human
an rights violations no doubt be consi42nd sessions of this iny member and have already ex
during these sesht of the affected
ka. Sympathy, Mr
Chairman, was in plentiful supply. But sympathy alone will not suffice.
Cries of agony & desperation
Mr Chairman, I have been listening to lengthy speeches studded with beautiful phrases from distinguished dele
gates from both member and observer
countries about how this commission should protect basic human rights of people throughout the world. May I respectfully submit that speeches and conceptual expositions and discourses on human rights mean nothing to a people whose cries of agony and desperation do not find a way to move this august forum to concrete action. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights in its 3rd Preamble stated that, "it is essential, if man is not to be
- ... compelled to have recourse, as a last
resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human right should be protected by the rule of law And that protection must be in actual practice and not in the glossy handouts of the United Nations or of its member countries. If it were not the case, and a people's inalienable human rights and fundamental freedoms are continued to be violated in the most flagrant manner, with the international community remaining on the sidelines as a silent spectator, then such people are bound to lose confidence in the rule of law and adopt whatever course they may deem appropriate to defend their rights and freedoms.'

Page 9
MARCH 1985
FROM PREVIOUS PAGE
The growing insecurity of the minority community in Sri Lanka has affected us in other ways. There has been a sudden spurt in the influx of refugees from Sri Lanka since early February 1985. These refugees are Sri Lankan Tamils, most of them fishermen who are fleeing their country and arriving on the coast of Tamil Nadu, in whatever type of boats are available to
the Commission, ernment also ap constructive politi vited all parties together at the discuss and evolv crucial issue.
This was in Ja proposals were pu course of the Con 1984 President duced draft legisi
“UPROOTED AS THEY ARE FROM THEIR HOM AND OCCUPATIONS, THESE REFUGEES FEEL SENSE OF FRUSTRATION AND THEIRAGONY I BY THE KNOWLEDGE THAT IN THE FORESEE THEY CANNOT GO BACK IN HONOUR AND SAF
them. The number of refugees who have arrived has already exceeded 6,000 and there is no sign of abatement. The conditions in northern part of Sri Lanka are believed to have deteriorated to such an extent that Tamils are finding it difficult to continue to stay there.
It may be recalled that we already have in India around 50,000 Sri Lankan refugees and further influx places severe strain on us. Although the government of India has provided shelter to these unfortunate refugees on humanitarian grounds they cannot be expected to live permanently in our country. Uprooted as they are from their homes, families and occupations these refugees feel an acute sense of frustration and their agony is compounded by the knowledge that in the foreseeable future they cannot go back in honour and safety.
Far-fetched allegations
Mr Chairman, in view of some farfetched allegations made in Sri Lanka about the policy and attitude of my Government, I would like to state that the Indian people and Government have no interest in exacerbating the ethnic problem in Sri Lanka. Ethnic tension in that country has adverse consequences for us. We have, rather, a vital stake in a resolution of Sri Lanka's ethnic problem as early as possible. Mr Chairman, no one would
be more pleased than us if the Sri Lankan government succeeded in
creating conditions which would ensure amity and harmonious relations
between different ethnic communities.
This would facilitate the return to Sri Lanka of those Sri Lankan nationals who have felt compelled to seek shelter in our country.
As you know, Mr Chairman, the problems which have led to the current ethnic crisis of Sri Lanka have been serious and have festered over the years. At the time of the 40th Session of
SOFIle 111628 SU11 ́e Tamils felt that t insufficient but w. tinue discussions 1 ences could be br wards the end of Government with and terminated t In the absence C has been a fresh violence. When gr to talk to each oth o f c o m m un i c a apprehensions, d trust tend to grow Chairman, is not silence but the wal hope that fresh eff the Sri Lankan go political solution. man, no other al
The following are Indian delegate's March 12 in reply
delegate's stateme
It is a matter of delegation that in on last Friday nig representative of appreciate the spi Our Statement. O express our ang situation in Sri L Vated by our dec amelioration of th framework of the ritorial integrity ( our intention to co-operation for Same Spirit I wo very briefly to : raised by the d Sentative of Sri L the record right.
50,000 refugees
The Sri Lankar questioned the au mentioned by us i

he Sri Lankan govbeared to favour a cal approach and in
and groups to sit 'onference table to e a solution to this
nuary 1984. Various forward during the ference and in late ayewardene introation providing for
ES, FAMILIES AN ACUTE S COMPOUNDED ABLE FUTURE ETY”
pf devolution. The
eSe le a SUIeS Wee ere prepared to conO see how the differidged. However, toDecember 1984, the drew the legislation he dialogue. if any dialogue there eruption of ethnic oups of people cease 2r, when no channels a ti 0 m ar e Open, listortions and dis... What is needed, Mr
the cold barrier of rmth of dialogue. We forts will be made by bvernment to seek a There is, Mr Chairternative.
eaccerpts from the statement made on to the Sri Lankan rt:
deep dismay for my his statement made ht, the distinguished
Sri Lanka did mot rit in which we made ur intention was to uish at the ethnic anka and was motiep desire to See an e situation within the sovereignty and terof Sri Lanka and by extend all possible his purpose. In the uld like to respond some of the points istinguished repreanka in order to set
representative has thenticity of the fact in our statement that
ALTNES
over 50,000 Tamils, who are Sri Lankan nations, have Sought refuge in India since the eruption of ethnic violence in Sri Lanka im July 1983. He remarked that these figures should be viewed with great caution. He also contended that an artificial refugee situation was being created for ulterior purposes. These are stock arguments which Governments have used in the past in the face of their inability to contain the exodus of refugees. It is difficult to believe that thousands of poor and ordinary people who are struggling for survival would leave their hearths and homes and stay uprooted in another country unless they feared for their life and property.
The fact remains that a large influxo of refugees has taken place and this influx is continuing unabated. According to the latest figures, since the first week of February this year nearly 15,000 Tamils from Sri Lanka have fled to India. My Government has had to scope with the problem of providing them food and shelter and the political, social and economic tensions that their presence has generated. The pathetic plight of these people who have been forced by circumstances to become refugees has been well-documented in the international media.
Qualitatively different
The distinguished representative of Sri Lanka has referred to the situation in the state of Punjab. I would not like to dwell on this point beyond stating that the situation in Sri Lanka is, in fact, qualitatively different from that prevailing in the Punjab, where all communities, including Sikhs, enjoy full political, economic and cultural rights.
Mr Chairman, I would like to end by reiterating once more what my Government has said on many occasions - namely that we in India are opposed to separatism, secession and all forms of violence. We have no truck with terrorism and can have no interest whatsoever, in exacerbating ethnic tension in Sri Lanka. We have on the other hand a deep and abiding interest in restoration of communal amity in Sri Lanka. Since the beginning, my Government has impressed on all concerned the necessity of finding a political solution within the framework of the unity and integrity of Sri Lanka. I am glad that the Sri Lankan representative has affirmed that his Government is committed to such a solution. I would not like to say more because consultations are under way between our two Governments for defusing the situation so that a climate conducive to a political settlement is created.

Page 10
OTAMILTIMES
EXODUS: Every day, thous
hey are not human beings," wailed an aging WOII all, "They are brutes.... Worse than | H nim als . . . . Il a neaters..." She was not airing a personal opinion. But voicing the sentinents of thousands of others, who, like her, have braved in nummerable hazards during a perilous crussuwer from the island republic of Sri Lanka to the Inore hospitable shores of India. They are Tamils. Sri Lankan citizens who have lived for ages on that Country's soil. People with no roots here, now looking up to India for asylum con * hur Inä mitarian grounds. Refugees from the violence and repression directed against them by the Sinhalese people and the Sri Lankan government through its security forces.
Rames Waram, a Small Coastal town in Tamil Nadu, is teening with thousands who cross over in large numbers each day. In little fibre glass boats. In precarious country vessels. In large motorised launches. Entire villages of Tamils-old men and women, youth, children-are all coming to India, bearing marks of Inonths of agony and Suffering. The trauma, both physical and Inental, is there for all to see in their drawn faces and hunted looks. For they are people who have witnessed their womenfolk being raped. People who have seen their kith and kin tortured and killed. People who have lost their all to the Inarauding Sinhalese mobs and military. Wictims of an ethnic conflict that has converted Sri Lanka from a soothing ShangriLa Coth the Indian OCEarn to a II naelstruII11 of WialeTCB.
Forty-fiwe-year-old Parvathy looks much older. She used to work as a Inaidi a rich Tail'shouse near Pesaalai ir north-westerrı Sri Lankä, She was deserted by her husband years ago, soon after their daughter Lakshmi was born. Lakshini is now 16 years old. Last Inorth as the two were working in the kitchen they were shocked to sce the house suddenly filled with army men, (The men were away at work.) The jawans pushed away the children, trampled On the III with heavy regulation boots and set about gang-raping the Women. Parvathy and Laksh IIni, unIloticed in the kitchen, jumped out of the Window and ran away, Parwathy, thereafter, became a nervous wreck. She was scared stiff to even venture close to her employer's house and does not know what happened to them. Lakshmi and she starved for days without work. And
Traumatise army, and í emerald is brink, these and homes Their dest India. W rebuild thei refugees ha Banglac
started talking of e managed to join the in a little plastic b persons into which got in. They had : longings and looke people and gover Ilir will never go back emphatically. Iʻ"I V, gựan if thing's bet:C would rather lead E life in India, Ian, you people try to SE Lanka, I will run
HOTTe dous de
Sarojini, clutches bag to her bosom possession she ha Until recently she cultural worker, it Maanthai barely 1 Mannar. Only four froIn Maanthai isai scene of several h Saroji ni Was TEtLIIT the fields DIE EWEI1 ! her 14-year-old Il stopped åt a way drink, they heart
|-
 

MARCH 1985
ands of terrified Tamils flee Sri Lanka. }d by the genocide unleashed by the a cruel civil war that has scarred the le and taken the republic to the very people have abandoned their homes teads, painfully built over the years. ination is across the Palk Straits. In "here they seek refuge and hope to r shattered lives. In the process, these lve created a situation not unlike the . lesh Crisis. KP Sunil reports from
meswaram on the boat people.
EFTIff
ting fishermen scaping to India, m and LrUss ower Ioat-eart for fi
| over twenty
absolutely no be."
d up to India-its ment—for help. "I .." she shouts out will not go back me quiet there. i po verly-stricken wilin:t work, If ind mH back to Sri away.'
lds
an empty plastic ... It is the only s in this world. had beеп an agгіin the village of ). kiloInetres froIII
kilometres away i army camp. The Drrendous deeds, ning home frum ing With her, Was Eph W. As they side shop for a the sound of
H
Sciurojira it (I of Irratu ocurke
still
Hil till: 112 TF THE THE HUHE + P
| | |
i Lo i
approaching army jeeps. (Orne of which stretched to a halt in front of the shop. An army man in uniform jumped out and came towards them. He shouted at the boy to hold out his hands, palms facing upwards. There were calluses on the pallins, the gain of toil on the "fields. The armyman felt these. "So you are a little Tiger cub, are you?" he thundered. The

Page 11
MAFHH 1985
boy. I stuttered är denial, Reach ing into the shop the nail took out a sodil water buttle. He broke it against a railing and using its sharp edges gouged out the screaming boy's eyes. He swooned in a pool of blood. None of the passers-by da red to help—the other army men stood waiting for exactly such a move, guns in their hands. Sarojini passed out. When she regained Consciousness she learnt that the boy had bled to death. The boy had been her only relative,
Raving lunatics
There were rumours that some persons in the fishing village of Pesaalai sole district away were likely to make a break for safety. To India. Sarojini walked all the way to Pasaalai. And from there Tnanaged tU get into a boat bound for India. She landed at Rames Waran, Clutching El little plastic bag to her bosom-her only worldly possession. She shlidders at the thought of going back. "Ney", "sha shrieked. The [la:Fe i5 a madhouse. The people are raving lumatics. If you people don't want Lus here in India, shoot us. Kill us, Rut please don't send us back." But Ii J! all refugees wish tij stick on herë. There are others who are willing to go back when norIIhalcy returns. When the at Inosphere of fear is removed. Peuple " like forty-year-old launch-owner Yograj Nanattam of Pesaalai for instance."
Yogirai is a reasonably well-to-dri fisherman. He had been 'scared by the atinosphere of doon that hung over the entire Tamil area. And so hë moved with his family to India. In his" own motor launch. Carrying with hill all his IIlovable posses. sions including a colour TV set. He had been unaffected by the riots until recently. But then the Sri Lank. an authorities issued an order. Na fishermen could go fishing Thore than 100 metres from the short: Those violating the order were shot
by the navy. This order virtually ់ fishing community who had to live without a catch for days. All their meagre savings had been used up and the only way out was tu flag 'thị: Country, "Yogarai started in his launch. In addition to his family Inembers, there were about thirty others, mainly fishermen. who worked under him. "I shall go back when peace returns," says Yograj. "I shall start my fishing operations once again, But all of us look up to India now. You have to ensure that peace returns to our land. Our boys, the Tigers, are valiantly fight: ing to make our land free, We want India to support them. That is all we ask from you." When asked about his opinion of India, Yograj was
그
Selvaraj, I shop.
philosophical, here are good...W. Ernment is als t though I lot 11 LIC giving LIS SOI'll some other basic аппа теаsoпably there and HII aC ппоге. 1 апnпоt i but your guvernT more fur us," He II1 dia’s own imp. He waves aside Indians who exis line; "“We Hıä We have lost everyt You shuu ulti hel
Fortunately. In are dissatisfied III:tti Out t[] t fugees," says Sel from Talairlina III virtually chased land and shrbtili anything herë, been very kind O WEITstay , Our WM Conne here only h ary excesses agai willing to go In orth E T In Sri peaceful."
Tale of We
Selvaraj tog h narrate. He had in Talai Inannar goods from prov He had under Tamil boys to recalls that las army personnel They asked hir show them th which, when sh. tore up. Then t the boys with claiming they w
 

TAMILTIMES 1.1
-ԱԱ liter"
"Well the people ery kind. The govloing its hit for us, :h. They are only ı termisils, a minat alını d articles. Yul SEE, I
Well-to-do Pers Custo Illed to much asking for luxuries ment could do a bit is indifferent about verished ecolony. the large body of It below the pu vėrty suffered a lot...We hing we possessed. IJ LI s.” ot all the refugees With the tTËHt TET htı. "We are TE| varaj al shop-owner ar. "We have been away Iron our ovII be prepared to face ThF III1 dia Ilıs have to us. We will Illot recome. We have jecause of the militinst us and are quite bäck as SC) On i HS La Inka bei COmes
ad a tale of WO E tO been a shop-owner
dealing in varied isions to cosmetics. him a nu Tıber i Of mind the shop. He December SOIT e. came to his shop, m and his boys to eir identity cards, own, they promptly hey started beating
belts and laathis ere Tigers. They hit
:* リ एवं
ية *-
■。
Selvaraj accusing him of harbouring dangerous terrorists in his shop. And finally departed taking one of the boys with thern. It was later learnt that this boy had been taken to the Talai Inannar military camp for terrorists, reputed to be one of the worst places of torture in the land, Selvaraj, making use of several political connections, ultimately obtained an order from President Jayewardene himself permitting hinI to visit the boy, Brandishing the order, Selvaraj went to the dreaded camp. The authorities, on seeing the letter, asked him to first sign a ducument stating that he had met the person concerned. Then they asked him to leave. "I have got an order from the president saying that I can meet this boy. So you Inustlet Ime See him,' he delanded. "Yes," laughed the officials. "And we hawe got it, irl your own handwriting that you have already seen him. Now you may go." Realising the futility of the situation Selvaraj went away. Two days later a military jeep stopped outside Selvaraj's shop. The body of the boy was thrown uut of it and the vehicle sped away. Selvaraj was struck dumb. He deserted his shop and with his family and employees went to Pesaalai. From there, he obtained seats in a launch at the rate of Rs.50 per head, and fled to India, "I liked Sri Lanka,' he says. "My business was good. And I shall be happy to go back as soon as peace returns to the place. Until then, we are at your mercy."
Eujen i u Kulas, a 27-year-old youth was one of the most vociferous of the refugeas at Mandapām, "Young Inen cannot walk the roads of Sri Lanka," he said, "They think that all young Tamils are Tigers and terrorists. The Tigers are gaining in strength and the Sinhalese are terri

Page 12
2 TAMILTIMES
Tamils.
Tigers of the future. In Mannar, sone months ago they rounded up about 10 boys, and herded thern in a truck to a nearby camp. They disappeared thereafter. According to information received from Tamils who have managed to escape from the camp the boys were bundled in gunny bags and set afire. Alive,
A. Roytor, a stude II
Using petrol and old car tyres. This is how Cruel they are. A pregnant Women was accusted on the streets by a police petrol. "You have a Tiger club inside you. We will finish him," they shouted. They slit the woman's stomach with knives. The woman screamed. She bled to death in front of several persons. But none dared to cone to her help. We could not stand it any longer. We did the only thing we could do-cross over to India. We will go back. We will work hard and make our land the best in the world. We are capable of that,
|
Elje7 i Klas, I 27-year-old yQ .fl.
fied of them. The army and police are unable to accomplish anything against the terrorists. That is why they are directing their wrath against us... We are innocent. But we are Even children ara not spared. Children, they say, are the
But first we sht which We Carl C. boys (the Tigers) : to Ilake this drea We also look up
help. Don't belie they say over the Except the time
beginning of a rest are blata Int l
Holy precincts
A Royton was a dent at the St. Xi Mannar. He is tod: Mandapam Camp, his studies to fle away fron Sinhale are not safe eve. chapel," he says." the chapel of a mei was killed by arm holy precincts its that thete Were se room. They were the airinyanen clair terrorists. These b tortured. And sho slit the veins on th blades. They star SCreaming in pai they were lined and shot. They lar army personnel. I hostel. I Walked through the jung main roads which arily vehicles, I w nar where Iny fat official in the gow me and Iny younge froll where boat. India. He stayed and sent us in one look up to you to safely across."
3ынттігіне таратта
This article is reprinted courtesy "The Illustrated Wee
 
 
 
 

Juld have a land all our own. Our are doing their best Im Come true. A Illud to you Indians for e a word of what Sri Lankan radio. In entioned at the programme all the ies.”
In 18-year-old stuavier's College in ay a refugee in the having given up e to India. To be se atrocities. "We n in the college "A Ta Imil father in ghbouring college y men within the alf. His crime was veral boys in his his students, But ned that they were oys were brutally t dead. They first heir forearms with ted bleeding and In and fear. Then up against a wall e inhuman, these гап away from my for three days les, avoiding the are used only by went to Talaimanher is a revenue EIIIIlent. He took ir sister to Pesaalai s were going to Jack With nother of the II. W now bгіпg ouг рагепts
kly of India'
MARCH 1985
harnakulasinghan is a journalist. The Mannar district correspondent for two Sri Lankan Tamil пеwspapers-the Colombo-based Dhinapathi and the Jaffna-based Ealanadu. He has crossed over to India by boat from Pesaalai with his wife, Jeevabhawa ni, and his two daughters. As a journalist he
Dharrakulasingham, a journalist
had been in close touch with the Sri Lankan situation and was able to provide a comprehensive picture. "It all started with the Tigers' attack on the Chavakachcheri police station near Jaffna in the third week of November, last year. It completely destroyed the In orale of the Sri Lankan armed forces. Ever since they have been trying to regain their confidence. By attacking innocent Tamils all over the place. They are too scared to take on the Tigers. All the so-called terrorists shot by the police and army are actually innoCent Tamil youths. When the parents of those killed came forward to receive the body of their dead son, the authorities made them sign a paper stating that they were receiving the body of their son who was a terrorist-a Tiger, Most people were uneducated and used to sign the paper without even knowing the ontents. Then flourishing this signed statement the officials periodically visit the houses of the victims saying that they suspect IIlore terrorists to be hidden there. They harass and rape the women and torture the children. And shoot апуопа who dares to protest.
Atrocities and tortures
"You people will shudder at some of the atrocities and tortures perpetrated by those lunatics. They used to line up small school boys on the ground and trample them. And rejoice as the poor chaps scream and Writhe in pain. Youths are herded into large gunny bags and sewn up. Then they pour petrol over the bundle and burn it along with its live

Page 13
MARCH 1985
contents, Wolen are beaten up Iner. cilessly and gang-raped. After their lust has been satisfied they were shot like dogs. Many people, unable to tolerate the atrocities any longer fled to the jungles. Then the artiny helicopters COIT into operation. They spray acid over the forests. This begins to burn the skin and unable to stand it any longer the people cone out of the forests only to be shot by waiting troops.
"Most of us who hawe COITme to India have experienced little diffi. Culty on the way. Nobody tried to intercept us. Maybe the navy wants us to leave Sri Lanka for ever. Then they can loot our belongings and do whatever they want without even a token protest. Also, the fishermen transporting us are experts. They kilow the lay of the waters extremely well. They brought us along a route which had shallow waters throughOut. No nawy Wessel would darę to Come to those areas as they would ru into navigational problens and also their vessels Inay get grounded."
Indian dilemma
The internal problem of Sri Lanka has suddenly become an Indian dilemma. Every refugee is being fed for a few days at state expense. They are being supplied with two sarees, two does, uniforms for children, basic utensils, a hurricane lantern, a In at and a blanket (totally valued at over Rs 650 per set.) Fort nightly doles of Rs 55 for the head of each farily - arıd R5 27,550 for eachı additional member (slightly less in the case of children), are also being made with which to subsist. Special ration Cards are issued and under it they are provided with rice at 57 paise a kilo (Inarket price around Rs 3.50 per kilo) and firewood at 4 () paise a kilo (market price Rs 3.00 a kilo). And all this is certainly going to be a major drain on India's tottering economy.
According to Naresh Gupta, the special officer in charge of the refшgeе сапps in Rашneswaгапп апd Mandapan, the govern TheInt is taking steps to avert sole of the Contingenciesby, issuing family identity cards (with photographs). "This would enable authorities to identify fallilies at the time of repatriation," he said. Another safeguard taken is to send batches of about 1000 refugees to every district in Tamil Nadu to reduce the concentration of refugees in any one area. But thıESE PIOCEdLLIEs a IE again fraught with difficulties. Several hundreds of families had already been despatched to the various districts
*、
Multic CF's t'
even before the Cards. How ara ated? What Carı Linscrupulous e on to the refug егnппепtal bепеfi of children who ing in India? (C) Croos, had alrea boy at the Mande on February 1E pregnant Womer large that an enti hospital has beer Also charges of арргоргiatiоп Q. relief work by thi reported to the p the Inselves. In trollable situatio. about such charg posers stare usi tions are not easi In the Ileantil
 

rtair fate
का की
li li li kif
issue of identity they to be enumerbe done to prevent aments from tagging ees to derive govits? What is the fate are born after landre WOrman, Monica dy delivered a baby apar can phospital 3. The number uf in the camp is so Ie block close to the set aside for them.) corruption and misf funds meant for B officials have been ress by the refugees the present unConII, what can be done es? These and other Il the eye and soluily fогthсопіпg.
ne, the Sri Lanka Ilı
ith her ret Liborra baby
|AVILIMES 13
government has accused India of harbouring terrorists (Liberation Tigers). Of providing then with Iefuge for conducting training camps. Of providing them with weapons and firearms to be directed against the government. All these charges have been repeatedly and emphatically refuted by the Indian government, Arld while all these accusations and Counter-accusations are going on, more and more i Ilmu Cent lives are being lost. More and more persons are being displaced. India is being swamped with refugees. Persons with Sri Lankan citizenship and identity cards issued by the Sri Lankan government. On the other hand lakhs of slateless plantation workers who should have been repatriated to India long ago (under the Srimavo-Shastri Pact) still remain in Sri Lanka. With no hope of salvation in the near future.

Page 14
14 TAMILTIMES
JANUARY 9, 1985
Achchuvely - civilians killed: At least three civilians have been killed in addition to the several injured in an attack launched by the armed forces allegedly on a hideout of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Three dead bodies have been handed over at the Jaffna hospital. These include that of Vallipuruam Arumugam (56 years), of Paththameni, an uncle of the ex-Chairman of the Jaffna District Development Council. Fortyseven-year-old K. Mayilu and 13-year-old S. Bala kumar have been treated at the Jaffna hospitall for gun-shot injuries.
639 youths still alive at Boosa: It is believed that 535 Tamil youths are still held alive at the Boosa army camp in the south of Sri Lanka. They are held without any inquiries being held about them. They are part of the several thousands who were shipped from the Tamil-speaking areas to Colombo. A further batch of 104 Tamil youths against whom inquiries were held in Jaffna were brought to Boosa.
JANUARY 10, 1985
Catholic cemetery desecrated: The Jaffna Bishops Palace has complained to the Government Agent and the Police Superintendent of Jaffna that in the early hours of the morning at least ten bodies were brought into the St Mary's cemetery, piled up in three lots and set on fire. The semi-charred remains of these unidentifiable bodies were seen in the morning, with bare feet coated with reddish brown soil. Only burials are done at this cemetery and it is believed that the illegal Cremations were carried out by the armed forces and that the dead were Tamil civilians.
Six more helicopters: Six more “Bell' type helicopters are to be put into use in the north of Sri Lanka from April this year. These new helicopters which are fitted with sophisticated communication systems are capable of carrying at least 12 soldiers.
Recover my son's body: The mother of Rev. Father Mary Bastian, who was brutally killed by the security forces at Vankalai, has appealed to the US government to recover his body and hand it over to her. The mother, Mrs N.V. Manuelpillai, who resides in the USA,
y as
2 is 2330
WCf
تمة
ስ Y
W
Saturday
CRIMESTIATAREANAFFRONT
Y ZaaS 3. dnes 4. rsday
6 6 32O2
STATE TE
had her applicatio ment forwarded til laiampalam, Pres Tamils Associati York.
Civilians killed natham by Kanapa and his som Krishna Maniankulam, Va dead by the armed home. Mr Kanapat mer village Counc area and had rend vice to his village. stepped out of thei gun shots and were by the forces. Mental patient kill tient by the name o haunts the Jaffna and killed by the ,
JANUAR
Civilians killed at patrol proceeding Poohagari road op two innocent pedes claimed by the go terrorists had been
Arms training for men: Sinhalese fi. Naayaru and Kokk Mullaitivu district training in the use C Negombo. The N Minister, Mr Lalit who visited the can great satisfaction progress.
JANUAR
Children, women an chilren and two wo months pregnant), V lians killed in a shot by the troops on a Vinayagar Koyil R. Seven miles off Mull on in the day po bullet-ridden bodie; Nine bodies have be p a n Sinn a m (4 Annaletchum y Su years), Pillaiyinar a Samy (35 years), Kumarasamy (30 y months), Kandappu
Monday 5
Y
E nesa rsday
3
Sa day
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

MARCH 1985
n to the US governhrough Mr Sri Thillident of the Eelam om based in New
at Wavumiya: Sinthipillai (56 years) akumar (23 years) of vuniya, were shot forces outside their hipillai was the foril Chairman of the ered immense serHe and his son had ir home on hearing promptly executed
led: A mental paf Somu who usually bus stand was shot armed forces.
Y 15, 1985
Mannar: An army along the Mannarened fire and killed trians. It was later vernment that two n shot dead.
* Sinhalese fishershermen from the kilai villages of the are being given )f guns at a camp in National Security h Athulathmudali, np today expressed at the training in
Y 16, 1985
mong 15 killed: Two men (one of them 8 were among 15 civiwer of artillery fire a house at Kaattu oad, Mulliyavalai, aitivu today. Later lice recovered 15 S from the house. 'en identified: Sup1 years), Mrs ppan Sinnan (35 Selladurai KumarMrs Vijayakumari ears - pregnant 8 1 Nagaratnam (42
doNscENc of MANdND
3 1Q 1 243? Monday
V CED
у 蠶 r Z ** 8°52229 Seturday s
years), Selladurai Navaratnam (37 years), Thayaparam (14 years), Thambiah Vivekanandan (15 years) and Thambiah Balasubramaniam (39 years).
During this incident, troops also set fire to eight houses in the area.
Fleeing refugees shot at: 23 refugees who were fleeing to India by boat from Myliddy in the Jaffna district were shot at by the Sri Lankan navy, resulting in the death of Miss Vijayalluximi Perumal (15 years). A 10-month-old infant T. Thasavarman, Swaminathar Thambirajah (65 years), and Thurairajah Selvaratnarajah (38 years) suf. fered gunshot injuries. Nineteen were arrested and taken in for questioning by the Navy. The refugees were Indian rubber plantation workers who were displaced by the July 1983 pogrom and settled down at Myliddy to do fishing. The coastal no-man's area regulations and other brutal emergency laws imposed by the government had rendered them redundant. After starving for 15 days, they had taken the decision to escape to India by boat.
ANUARY 18, 1985
250 youths arrested at Myliddy: Armed forces swooped down on Myliddy today and took away as captives 250 innocent Tamil youths. During the operation, 20-year-old Ratnasingam Anandarajah suffered gun-shot injuries. Chettikulam killing: The army opened fire at Chettikulam in the Vavuniya district and killed 45-year-old Johupillai Arulappu. There was no provocation whatsoever for the incident.
ANUARY 19, 1985
65-year-old lady shot dead - troops shoot at passenger coach: Troops went On the rampage at Kilinochchi shooting indiscriminately. They also opened fire at a jam-packed passenger coach plying from Thunukkai to Jaffna, killing 65-year-old Mrs Rajadurai Sellammah (65 years) on the spot and injuring
Kandiah Kumarasamy (65 years), Sivapathasunderam (40 years), Pon
nambalam Ponnudurai (40 years), Kathiramalai Selvamalar (32 years) and six others.
Several houses in Kilinochchi were also set on fire by the troops.
& A 42128 Monday 5 12 1926
esta
ere 1 1 iday 1 魏 2 1926 aturday 17 24 1 శీ

Page 15
MARCH1985
Babies killed by troops' gunfire: Troops on board an oil train passing through Kilinochchi, opened fire on settlements on either side, killing two babies of Mr Pararajasegeram who were playing outside their house. This incident took place near the 155th mile post at Kilinochchi.
JANUARY 21, 1985
Five killed at Kilinochchi: The armed forces went on the rampage at Kilinochchi today and in three separate incidents five civilians were shot dead. At Karadipoakku three were killed, one at the bus-stand and another on the main road. The dead were identified as P. Mahalingasivam (40 years), T. Sri Kantharoopan (27 years), Perinparajah (32 years), T. Navaratmarajah (24 years), and Ravi (17 years).
Five killed, four injured at Point Pedro: An army patrol driving through Point Pedro this afternoon opened fire indiscriminately as it went along killing five innocent pedestrians and injuring four others.
AN ARy 2, 1985
More shootings at Kilinochchi: An armoured car opened fire at civilians at Iyakachchi in the Kilinochchi area, killing one civilian and grievously injuring two others.
Highway robbery by troops: A passenger bus plying from Jaffna to Kilinochchi was stopped at Iyakachchi by troops and 'searched'. At the end of the search, the troops had in their possession all the wrist-watches, purses and gold chains belonging to the passengerS!
Enter: pistol-packing fishermen. The government announced today that it had despatched to the controversial fishing villages of Kokkilai and Nayaru in the Mullaitivu district, a division of the army to make arrangements for the arrival shortly of armed and military trained Sinhalese fishermen Settlers
JANUARY 25, 1985
Commandos kill four youths: Police commandos patrolling along the Batticolao-Kalmunai road shot and killed four innocent Tamil youths at Koaddai Kallaru in the Eastern Province today.
The dead have been identified as - K. Somas underam (18 years), V. Vijayakumar (17 years), I. Ravindran (18 years), and K. Kirubarajah (18 years).
Troops demolish hospital: Sri Lanka armed forces dynamited and completely destroyed five buildings belonging to the Vallai Co-operative Hospital in the Jaffna district in the early hours of the morning. The reason for
the dy na miting announced. A few had entered the hos the premises. Just were dynamited th buildings includi ordered out by the
Vallai culverts dy Two culverts on eit south) of the Vallai mited and destro today causing hal ters. They have n along the Thondan something which t molition Squad ar cars. It is notewort. ly one of these cu by the army and repaired by milita
Hospital demolitio demolition of the V Hospital was comp today when they d buildings remainin; five buildings yest
Corpses of Tamil lagoon: It is believ four innocent Tamil been massacred b mandos when they page at Koaddai K back. The bullet-rid more youth surfac lagoon today. The identified as those ( vakumar, Puvanap and Arasaratnam corpses were reco goon by the villag Soon after the rar rents reported thei and they are now se in the hope that tl children too would later.
200 youths captured nai: Police comma lage of Thuraineela ern Province and nearly 200 innocent tween the ages of 1: shot and killed T. years) and his son (12 years) who we lagoon.
3 murders at Trin nocent Tamil men firewood for home lands near Kumbur comalee District we armed forces. Thos birajah Ratnasir Krishnapillai Nalla and Selvanayagam years).
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

ha s not b e en days back troops pital and inspected efore the buildings e occupants of the ng patients were
troops.
أن هة مرة في . hamited by trόούς: her side (north and Bridge were dynayed by the troops 'dships to commuow to take a route
annar army camp, hey dread. The derived in armoured ny that even recentlverts was blasted was subsequently nt youth.
n completed: The Vallai Co-operative leted by the troops ynamited the five g after the blast of erday.
youths in Kalla? ed that more than youths might have y the police comwent on the ramallaru a few days den bodies of three ed at the Kallar bodies have been of Sellatham by Selbillai Ramamathan Manoharan. Their fered from the laers and cremated. npage Several par children missing arching the lagoon he bodies of these surface Sooner or
ጛፕቘ
at Thuraineelavandos raided the vilvanai in the Easttook into custody. Tamil youths be
3 and 35. They also
Thambipillai (60 P. Dharmalingam re fishing in the
omalee: Three inwho were chopping
use in the forest upitiya in the Trinre shot dead by the 2 killed are: Thamgam (35 years), lingam (36 years) Sabapathipillai (38
TAMILTIMES 15
Mini-bus shot at from helicopter: Soldiers opened fire at a mini-bus plying with passengers at Irupalai in the Jaffna district today. The passengers escaped unhurt from this unprovoked act perhaps due to the poor marksmanship of the gunmen coupled with
the dexterity of the bus driver who had
raced for shelter under an umbrella of trees.
“Weerasooriya” terrorises Mathagal beach: The sea of Mathagal is terrorised every night by a naval patrol boat named "Weerasooriya'. From dusk till dawn the canon on board "Weerasooriya' is directed at the beach and there is intermittent shelling of the land. *
JANUARY 28, 1985
Troops demolish more buildings: Troops continued their demolition of buildings in the Jaffna District when they dynamited two buildings belonging to the Achchuvely village development training centre and flattened them.
Cobalt Unit confiscated: The Cobalt Unit installed at the only cancer treatment centre for the North of Sri Lanka at Tellippalai in the Jaffna District was dismantled and removed to Colombo under very heavy armed guard. The unit had been donated by the Canadian government while the hospital itself was built on public donations by voluntary organisations as the government was not interested in putting up a cancer hospital for the North.
Though this hospital was completed nearly 1% years ago, it remained nonfunctional due to the government not appointing a Specialist Doctor to rum the hospital. Two engineers were flown down to Jaffna from the Canadian Embassy in Colombo to dismantle the Cobalt Unit which was then sent by ship to Colombo from Kankesanthurai
Private plane service banned: The government has banned all private chartered flights into Jaffna. Since the state-owned AVRO flights to Jaffna were suspended in 1978, private chartered flights had remained the only safe way of reaching Jaffna. With this ban on private flights the isolation of Jaffna from the rest of the country has been completed.
JANUARY 30, 1985 a.
War zone says Cabinet Minister: Mr Anandatissa de Alwis, Minister of State and spokesman for the Cabinet, said that the North of Sri Lanka was really a war zone today at a press briefing held soon after the weekly Cabinet meeting. As is the universal

Page 16
16 TAMILTIMES
practice of enforcing censorship of news from war zones, a total press censorship would be enforced soon, he added. He also said that it was no longer possible for the government to send oil and food provisions to the North.
FEBRUARY 1, 1985
Press censorship again: Stringent press censorship regulations were reintroduced today to cover all aspects concerning the ethnic conflict and troops-militants activities. These extend even to editorials, cartoons, photographs and readers' letters.
7,447 Tamil refugees in Mullaitivu: In a memorandum forwarded to President
Jayewardene today, it has been pointed out that a total of 7,447 Tamil refugees are languishing in sub-human conditions in the Mullaitivu District in the camps. The memorandum, signed by 25,000 people, points out that these are poor and innocent Tamil-Muslim farmers and fishermen, totally unconnected to the militants, who were uprooted from their villages and driven away by the armed forces in December 1984. The villages involved are Kokkilai, Karumaadukerny, Alambil, Kokkuthoduvai, Naayaru, Chemmalai, Kumilamunai, Aandankulam, Arumugathankulam, Murippu and Thennamavadi. They are now living as refugees in churches and schools at Mulliyavalai, Vattapallai, Thaneerootru, Dravipiddy, Mullaitivu, Vettuvaikal and Silavathurai, more than 40 miles away from their homes. The memorandum requests the President to take steps to return them to their homes.
Eviction without compensation: 63 poor Tamil families living for several
decades in th Thachanikulam A. Vavuniya district with eviction ord ment as the area
security zone. The that they were compensation.
Stop atrocities ag ter Thondaman: T Industrial Develoj of President Jay leader of the Tam sector, Mr S. appealed to Presi cry a halt to the a the innocent Tami appeal was made the end of an e. meeting of the C. gress, of which h held in Colombo to also said that inno the North and Ea being butchered Their houses are l Set om fire. Theil destroyed.
People there do happening around panic and fear. T Congress is rece from hapless Tam The government h. Party talks and dialogue with rep Tamil people. Th instilled the fear in Tamil people that military solution Solution. The plan C colonise the Nor trained Sinhalese point clear. Th
Please Send Tam Tres
as my gift to Fron:
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vicinity of the r Force base in the
have been issued ers by the governhas been declared a y have also been told lot entitled to any
RY 2, 1985 ä
inst Tamils - Minishe Minister of Rural ment in the Cabinet rewardene and the ils of the Plantation Thondaman, has lent Jayewardene to trocities inflicted on ls of Sri Lanka. This
by the Minister at kecutive committee eylon Workers Cone is the President, bday. The statement 2ent Tamils living in st of Sri Lanka are in their own soil. being plundered and property is being
not know what is them. People live in he Ceylon Workers iving letters daily ils asking for help. as jettisoned the All has called off the resentatives of the e government has to the minds of the
what it seeks is a and not a political f the government to th with militarily people makes this e Minister also
MARCH 1985
appealed for an immediate resumption of talks between the government and the Tamil leaders with the assistance of the government of India.
6 injured in gunfire: Sri Lankan troops opened fire on a minibus plying with passengers near the Kallady Bridge at Batticaloa in the Eastern Province injuring six civilians.
Another killing in Jaffna: An innocent civilian perished when an army patrol opened fire indiscriminately in front of the Jaffna Municipal council today.
Bonanza for prospective killer-colonisers: The Government has offered excellent incentives for Sinhalese people who are willing to colonise the Tamil areas after undergoing military training. In addition to being given arms and ammunition (and of course, the *007 licence to kill') they would be given a grant of Rupees 26,000 towards building a house and thereafter Rupees 500 every month to help them going until such time they settled down into some earning of their own.
FEBRUARY 3, 1985
Corpses of youth in cemetery: The bullet-ridden bodies of two unidentified Tamil youth were found lying at the Villaveli Hindu cemetery at Pandatherippu in the Jaffna District today. They are believed to have been killed by the armed forces.
5,000 students without schools: Out of 49 schools in the Mullaitivu District, 25 are not functioning because they are occupied by the Tamil refugees who have been driven out of their homes by the armed forces. As a result, nearly 5,000 Tamil students have been dep
CONTINUED ON PAGE 22
- - - -
Tel..................
US$2000/£1250
(up to May 31, 1985)
9QN
MINISTER PROTESTS
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5
life of banditry in the South all their lives, these men have been rampaging the district lifting cattle, looting and on occasions indulging in arson. They had also been harassing the farmers by demanding Kappan (protection money). I believe there is evidence of this with Your Excellency from official sources. I also understand that militants had repeatedly warned these men to refrain from their nefarious activities.
"Several families of Tamil settlers in these areas, unable to bear the harassment any longer, have vacated their farms.
Kappalthurai-Trincomalee
The continued harassment of 57 families of Indian origin Tamil settlers at
rates go up by 20% CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE

Page 17
MARCH 1985
UNWITTING CONTRIBU TO PERSECUTIO
The killing of a Sri Lankan Catholic priest, Father Mary Bastian, by government troops received a brief mention in "The Citizen' of January 7, in comparison to the extensive coverage of the trial of the killers of Father Jerzy Popieluszko in Poland.
However, this murder of a priest and two teenage boys inside St Anne's church and the fatal shooting of six civilians outside the church in Mannar, a Tamil town in northern Sri Lankan has close links With Canada because that government is a beneficiary of Canadian aid.
Sri Lanka receives more aid on a per capita basis from CIDA tham any other beneficiary - $100 million on the Mahaweli dam project alone. Still their civil rights record is atrocious. The Canadian Bulletin of Amnesty International of April, 1984, lists Father Aparaham Singarayar with the following notation: 'A Roman Catholic priest and a member of Sri Lanka's Tamil ethnic community, he is reported to have been tortured in an army camp in November, 1982, while in incomunicado detention. He is still in detention, awaiting trial.'
In an editorial, the “Globe and Mail of August 20, 1984, wrote: "The Sri Lankan government has tolerated indiscriminate violence by the armed forces against innocent Tamil civilians . . . (it) did at least own up to last week's military rampage in Mannar. It promised to compensate the innocent victims and discipline the troops.
By Rev. R.(
But since Colombo to punish the Sinha amok last July, how promises?' The re. Same town belie these atrocities.
The same “Globe makes an importan of all Canadians in of the Sri Lankan
"There are occasi al government shot lateral aid to a pal order to make a p rights. When, for i ment orders or pe massacre of many it clearly forfeits a Canada's help.'
Historic roots
The historic roo persecutions date the British made ( called Sri Lanka, a nistrative conveniel Tamil and Sinhales unit.
With the coming the Tamils, whoma the population, fou cluded from the go criminated against
FROM PREVIOUS PAGE Kappalthurai in Trincomalee has
rural settlements a these areas, is mot d
already brought the governmont irrto communal tensions
disrepute and ridicule. The facts of this case, as far as I could ascertain, are given below.
“There were 47 families of Tamil refugees of the 1977 disturbances from the plantations settled at Kappathurai. Thirty-four of these families had either valid permits or their passes included in the 1976 encroachment Survey and therefore entitled to crown land. In July 1983 their houses had been burnt and they were driven away. Thereafter with the assistance of a Jorwegian relief organisation and with the approval of the GA, 34 houses were constructed. When these houses were ready for occupation, the forces moved in and destroyed thens
Complicate the negotiations
"I would like to ask Your Exceremcy whether the persistence with hich provocative acts of this nature to iter the composition of the villages and
СОПlрiucate the nego for a settlement?
“Your Excellency the fact that these by the various Mini reference to the Ca are whittling away authority over the origin which I have last 45 years and whi cy and the United lied upon to an appr educated unemploye sector are being led the present trend is sequences in the pla well be disastrous. 'I now look to You last resort to check by adopting a com respect of settlemen that those who hav developed state lanc settlements regulari

TAMILTIMES 17
TIONBY CANADANs N N SRI LANKA
i. MacNeil
the capital) has yet ese mobs that ran credible are these ent killings in the any move to stop
and Mail' editorial demand on behalf view of the record government.
ons when the federld consider its biticular country in oint about human lstance, a governmits the repeated of its own citizens, ny moral claim to
ts to the present Oack to 1833 when eylon, later to be colony. For admince they umited the
se regions into one
of independence,
and keeping their culture as well as in finding employment and education.
The Catholic church is one of the few organised groups in the Tamil community, although Catholics are only about seven per cent of the total. The Sri Lankan government, which is nominally secular, is substantially Buddhist with an historical antipathy toward Christians and Hindus.
They are presently stepping up their opposition to the Catholic church within the Tamil community. This is evidenced by the killing of Father Bastian and the detention without trial of Fathers Singarayar and Sinnarasa.
The bishops of Sri Lanka fear for the safety of their priests and people. Unwilling, the Christian people of Canada, through foreign aid, are contributing to the persecution of other Christian people in Sri Lanka. There is a verified link between foreign aid and beefing up the Sri Lankan military who are the perpetrators of these atrocities. The “Globe and Mail' reports that'some development projects, particularly in the northern province (Tamil), would be postponed and the money voted for them diverted to defence'. They quote the Ministers for National Security and Finance as their sources for this information. On behalf of all Canadians, CIDA should take a critical look at the use of Canadian
ke up 25 per cent of T development fund in Sri Lanka. --~
nd themselves exvernment and disin holding property
By courtesy of "The Citizen', Ottawa, January 19 1985
lready existing in
esigned to provoke on all sides and
tiations under way -
would appreciate "policies' pursued stries without any binet of Ministers the influence and people of Indiam built up over the ich Your EXcellenNational Party reeciable extent. The ed in the plantation astray and unless checked the conntation sector may
ir Excellency as a the present trend mon yardstick in ts on state land So fe settled on and could have their sed without discri
mination on the basis of race or community, by creating job opportunities for educate youth on the plantations by implementing- Your Excellency',
assurance that the Citizenship Act would be amended by the deletion of the appointed date and by withholding state aid and sponsorship for the encroachment of colonies of Sinhalese in the midst of predominantly Tamil areas.
State of racial amity
"Your Excellency would undoubtedly appreciate the fact that an implementation of my proposals would go a long way towards a decrease of racial tensions, a return to a state of racial amity, and above all, a recognition that the fundamental rights as well as the guarantee of equality enshrined in the Constitution of our country is in fact a reality.
“I shall be obliged for an early date on which I could personally discuss these matters with Your Excellency.'

Page 18
18 TAMILTIMES
CRMPROTESTS VIOLATION OF
“Mass arrests of Tamil youth are being carried out. Detainees in custody of the state have been killed. Some members of the security forces have carried out massive reprisalis against the civilian population, and in the course of their operations, have killed many people, and have caused much damage to private property, burning and destroying homes and farms. Peasants in the language border areas have been pushed out of their villages. The killing of combatants and noncombatants on both sides has escalated; the civil administration of these areas and the normal economic and social life of the community have been disrupted, states the Civil Rights Movement (CRM) of Sri Lanka in a comprehensive statement issued on January 25, 1985, under the hand of its Secretary, Mr Desmond Fernando.
Charging the Sri Lankan government with gross violations of fundamental human rights, the statement, inter alia, deals with such subjects as mass arrests, ill-treatment of persons taken into custody, excesses by the security forces, adverse consequences of the latest emergency regulations and arming of Sinhalese civilians. The impact of the draconian emergency regulations has been deScribed by the CRM as "the disruption
cannot be aband should expedite lease promptly there is no evid
(ii) Treatment o into Custod
"Persons take northern areas to detention cam is aware that which detainees are generally ba ships with no bas used. Some deta have been kept change of clothi days. CRM urg treated humanel tions that accord
"Some detainee North have been circumstances. C the army camp was alleged tha had been killed escape. CRM ca strongly the resp to ensure the se persons in its cus led that the killi Welikade Jail in mned by CRIM impartial invest.
-of-the-entire civil life of -the-eom dents and the pur
munity.'
The following are excerpts from the CRM statement: x -
(i) Mass arrests
"State security forces are now adopting, in the Jaffna district, the method of cordoning-off-speeifie-areas - and then taking into custody all young Tamil males, falling usually between the ages of 15 and 30, caught within the cordoned areas. These persons are being taken into custody on the basis that they belong to a specific ethnic, age and sex group amongst whom there may be suspected offenders.
“While it is correct that a large number of those taken into custody are released after interrogation, this method is in violation of their fundamental rights and is contrary to human rights conventions adopted by Sri Lanka.
"The method has been explained by state authorities as an inevitable result of the lack of information. CRM cannot accept this as a justification for its general adoption; it is an extreme measure that should be kept to a minimum consistent with the exigencies of the situation. If this practice
are found guilty. taken no action inaction could e tion of similar i. with concern tha follow-up to anot that of K. Navara
-- the Gurunagar A
10, 1983, and who mortem examir tained 25 extern juries. CRM urg hold a judicial inc in custody and ta action.
(iii) Excesses by Forces
“(a) The securi ate against the c ter attacks by th incidents have attention of CRM incidents at Man 1984 can be taker An attack on a je the death of one several others, according to rel mass attack on C three to four mil

MARCH 1985
AGAINST GROSS HUMAN RIGHTS
oned, the government the inquiries and rethose against whom el Ce.
f Persons taken у
into custody in the ure being transferred ps in the South. CRM he conditions under are being transported d; at times container ic facilities have been inees are reported to
in camps with no ng for as long as 15 as that detainees be y and kept in condiwith basic standards. 's held in camps in the killed under doubtful bne such instance is in at Vavuniya where it t about 22 detainees while attempting to annot emphasise too onsibility of the state 'curity and safety of stody. It will be recalng of 53 prisoners at July 1983 was condewhich called for an igation into the incilishment of those who The government has in this regard. This ncourage the repetincidents. CRM notes ut there has been no her death in custody, tnarajah, who died in rny Camp On April was found at a post ation to have susl and 10 internal ines the government to uiry into every death ke effective deterrent
the Security
y forces still retalivilian population afe militants. Several een brought to the The instance of the iar on 4th December as one of the worst. ep which resulted in soldier and injury to had been followed, able reports, by a vilians living within is of the incident, on
the passengers of buses plying this road and on the staff of the Murunkan Post Office. The final death toll has been estimated at about 107.
Numerous other cases of arbitrary killing of civilians by the security forces have been also reported from Jaffna, Vavuniya and Mullaitivu districts. There have been other alleged incidents in Mannar as well, in which civilians including two members of Christian clergy have been killed. CRM cannot accept the argument that the State is unable to find reliable evidence to prosecute such offenders. The state must ensure that its security forces do not turn on civilians in the pursuit of its military operations and must be quick to punish infractions. I is not possible to condone the killing 0 civilian non-combatants by the secur ity forces. (b) CRM is aware of increasing com plaints that women have been sexually molested and raped by some member, of the security forces in their search and arrest operations. CRM calls upor, the government to devise measures which will prevent such incidents and, where they have occurred, to punish the offenders. (c) CRM has referred, in earlier statements, to complaints of theft by some members of the security forces in the course of their operations. Such thefts continue and the government does not appear to have taken effective deterrent action.
(iv) Effects of Security Operations
On Civilian Life
The goveriment has declared the Jaffna and part of the Kilinochchi District as a security zone, and the littoral from Mannar to Mullaitivu (subsequently extended from Kokkilai to Kudremalai Point) to a distance of 100 metres inland from the beach (and five miles seaward) as a prohibited zone; it has enacted a series of regulations controlling various forms of activity within the zones.
"No person can be within the prohibited zone without a permit. This means in effect the forced evacuation of other persons living within this area. The magnitude of this operation, if it is to be carried out, is enormous, as a significant part of the population of the Jaffna district lives on the northern coastline from Ponnalai to Point Pedro. Reliable reports indicate that about 80,000 people have been already relocated, very often in refugee camps. The fishing industry in Jaffna district which accounts for almost 25

Page 19
MARCH 1985
per cent of the island’s production of fish has virtually come to a standstill, throwing into enormous distress almost 22,000 families of fishermen and of others dependent on the fishing industry in the Jaffna district.
“Other forms of distress caused by the declaration of the prohibited zone become apparent if one examines its consequences on a single Urban Council area. Fifty per cent of the 14,000 inhabitants of Valvettiturai are estimated to live within the prohibited zone; five of the seven schools, the hospital, the post office, the Urban Council office, the burial ground and the crematorium all lie within the prohibited zone. What will result, if all the prohibited zone regulations are rigorously implemented, is the disruption of the entire civil life of the community.
Regulations covering the security zone are also stringent. No person can move out of or into the security zone without due authorisation. No one can operate any means of transport, including pedal bicycles, without a permit. Travel, when authorised, is restricted to certain hours and to certain routes. Private buses are off the roads. State-run buses operate only within the terms of the regulations. Fuel is rationed. Curfews have extended to as long as 61 hours at a stretch.
“These regulations have had several drastic effects. The lack of fuel and of transport have affected agricultural and industrial operations within the area. Farms lie unirrigated; factories lie idle in the absence of raw materials, fuel and workers. People dependent on these forms of economic activity are unable to earn their living.
“As a result of the curbs on transport, food supplies have run short. People and doctors cannot get to hos
pitals; doctors we mits to use their c after the regulation force. All schooling
“The net result establishing the p the security Zone disruption of econc in the region. CRIM methods chosen sh absolute necessity unnecessary hards community. CRM t the government to tions establishing prohibited and sec voke them as soor
(v) Arming of Civi
"CRM also wishe to another unusual the Trincomalee ( given arms by po their self-defence. I reported of such groups using their persons of the Tami is also alarmed by men and other resi to the Mullaitivu armed. CRM urges ity authorities in th this procedure im take such action a prevent abuses.
"Finally, as an or to the maintenance sion of civil rights v framework, CRM v the absolute nece negotiations in a fic sure a just politica ence of such a sol tinuance of the pri only result in the fu civil and democrat citizens of this cou
FROM PAGE 2
Judging by what is happening today, it is very doubtful whether Lord Buddha and his disciples would be given an entry visa if they wanted to come to Sri Lanka to preach the Dhamma. Many of those who talked loudly and glibly from platforms about Buddhist virtues like compassion, kindness, discipline, etc., were in the same breath justifying killing and terror when it came to the Tamils.
Professor Karunaratne criticised those who rejected further talks with the Tamil leaders. How can we understand the Tamils and their problems, if we reject even discussions with their representatives, he asked. Concluding, he said it was a sad commentary on the state of things that prevailed today that the only occasion om which a Sinhalese, Tamil or person of another
race was expected Sri Lankan is whe for a passport to
FROM PAGE 4
distrust which prev Sinhalese and Tam ing UNP is wary o age of proposals acceptable to the
the opportunity it Bandaranaike to
support for the SI Tamil leadership
themselves negotia ment, which will n Parliament, buttal only because they
Tamils to talk to. that they have t

e issued with per|rs only eight days s were brought into has been affected. of the regulations 'ohibited Zone and nas been the total mic and social life maintains that the ould never exceed and must not cause hip to the civilian herefore calls upon review the regulaand governing the urity zones and re
as possible.
lians
s to draw attention step. Civilians in listrict have been ice, ostensibly for nstances have been individuals and arms to terrorise Il community. CRIM reports that fisherdents moving back area are being the civil and securis region to review mediately and to as is necessary to
ganisation devoted
and indeed expanwithin a democratic would like to stress ssity of resuming )rm that would eml solution; the absution and the consent situation can rther erosion of the ic rights of all the Intry.'
to say that he is a n he fills up a form leave the country.
TAMILTIMES 19
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ails within both the lil camps. The rulproducing a pack
which would be Ifamils, because of
would offer Mrs mobilise electoral FP. The moderate of the TULF find ting with a governt recognise them in k to them outside it, an’t find any other The TULF realise he Tamil militant
groups on their backs, and cannot reach agreement with the government unless the terms of such an agreement were endorsed by these groups. The militant groups themselves cannot be seen negotiating with the government and have to rely on the TULF "front men' to put their demands across. Even if these demands are met, and an agreement was reached, Tamil misgivings based on the experience of previous agreements will persist, unless a third party outside the main conflict underwrites it. All in all, unless these complicated currents of fear and distrust can be short-circuited, the prospects for a negotiated settlement of the problem are bleak.

Page 20
20 TAMILTIMES
THE WANDE
The Sri Lankan government is at war with its own citizens. "Tamils are held in thrall by the army', declared "The Times' of London referring to the situation prevailing in northern Sri Lanka. In the name of combatting terrorism, Tamils are being harassed and killed in Lanka, observed many politicians both inside and outside Sri Lanka. The current situation in Jaffna peninsula was described as 'a penalty imposed on a subjugated territory' by the Co-ordinating Committee of the citizens' committees of Jaffna when they met the President of Sri Lanka. Said Mr Sivasithamparam, TULF President: "Jaffna is a veritable jail. To enter or leave Jaffna or any part of the security zone, you need a permit. No private vehicle can be used by any citizen.'
To the Tamils in Sri Lanka, the Government promises more of the same for perpetuity. It has devised a plan to alter the ethnic composition of ;the predominantly Tamil areas in the north. According to the "Deccan Herald': "This harebrained scheme Owes its inspirations to the Israeli policy of creating Jewish settlements On the West Bank. The plan will involve the resettlement of nearly three million Sinhalese in the North. Even if transmigration on such scale is feasible, it is bound to result in a massive exodus of Tamils and create a refugee problem for India.
All the oppressive schemes are being hatched and executed under cover of distracting screams of impending invasion by India. The secretary of the ruling National Party went one step further. According to Nihal Fernando, de facto invasion by India has already begun, "using separatist guerrillas as 'troops'. Continued Mr Fernando: "Sri Lanka's battle is not primarily with the terr0rists but with the Secret Indian attempts to invade Sri Lanka'.
Desperate at the failure of the Sri Lankan armed forces to suppress the activities of the Tamil militants, Prime Minister Premadasa and
National Security Minister Lalith Athulathmudali shouted in unusual unison, "What would be the position if the Sikhs came to Sri Lanka to train in terrorism and fight for secession? What indeed! However, an unidentified senior official in Colombo told William Claiborne of the “Washington Post': "We have underestimated the will of the Tamil people. Their determination for a state of Eelam is total.” The pivotal role of India was explained by political analysts: “If India dropped out of the equation, Sri Lanka
By K.R
could become a er struggle be harbour, the strategic India) USA and the So the rightful r threat of this cc ised. But if th by-pass India interferes, the explosive.' Sources in Colo that, given I perception of it power in the re Rajiv Gandhi w ment in the iss William Clai Post' was told b official in Colom they can rout th three months. I they can have a line.” Cutting tha to be the mair Some Sri Lank "even with onl stemming the S dia to the guer the army has fo) more hit-and-ru sustained offens should be asses lathmudali's S pendence for E. and when nothin that the army ha that only he hil
Additional st
The additiona the Sinhala po Tamils. "The cou youths only?) wil military training militants', the Minister told a g. cadets. He added militants train in we will train a hu Mathew, till rece ter, equated the “mad dogs' and should be destro In all this hyst is glaringly miss understand the c. of Tamil militan now defunct 'al painfully prolong miserable existel lem in depth, we in Sinhala rulin appear to be tha' arose just for thi
T.

MARCH 1985
RING BORDER
MANIKKAN
pawn in the superpowause of Trincomalee best placed in the Ocean. So long as both iets recognise India as ediator, there is no nflict becoming globalare is any attempt to and if a superpower ituation would become estern diplomatic mbo and New Delhi say ndia's long-standing elf as the pre-eminent iom, it is not likely that ill end Indian involve
Ue. 3. : borne of 'Washington y a senior government bo: "The terrorists say e army out of Jaffna in believe that, but only if in uninterrupted supply at 'supply line' appears strategy at present. an officials note that y partial success in upplies from South Inillas in North Lanka, ced the guerrillas into in tactics rather than ive'. Such statements ised along with Athuelf-proclaimed indeelam on January 14th g happened, his claim ld prevented whatever mself proclaimed.
"ategy
strategy is to arm pulation against the ntry's youths (Sinhala be given compulsory to fight the Tamil National Security oup of newly trained "For every man the any part of the world,
ldred persons. Cyril
tly a Cabinet MinisTamil militants to declared that they ed.
rical rhetoric, what
ng is any attempt to uses behind the rise y in Sri Lanka. The
party conference' d its life during its ce, to study the probwere told. The belief
circles now would the Tamil militancy |
fun of it. In spite of
declarations at various times to various people at various places that the government is actually looking for a political solution, the actions of the Sri Lankan state indicate an attempt to bring about a military solution.
So as not to be hampered in its attempt to achieve the military Solution, the Sri Lankan government keeps on harping about Indian intervention and "invasion'. G.K. Reddy of "The Hindu', points out: "It is time Mr Jayewardene realised that Rajiv Gandhi has no intention of saddling himself with one more intractable problem while he remains fully preoccupied with more important domestic issues like Punjab and Assam.” “The assurances that India is only interested in finding a reasonable solution to the Tamil issue within the framework of a united Sri Lankan state and that India has nothing to gain by dividing the island, have not convinced the Sinhala chauvinists.”
Minor and intermediate minions in the Sri Lankan hierachy have for a long time been making wild accusations about India's actions and inactions. Recently, the Sri Lankan President himself joined the chorus. Addressing the Parliament, Mr J.R. Jayewardene accused India of 'arming and training Tamil terrorists who are being encouraged to intensify their violent campaign'.
Observes G.K. Reddy: "President Jayewardene and his advisers have become almost paranoid in imagining that they would be able to establish a better rapport with Mr Rajiv Gandhi, if only he could be persuaded to entrust the task of talking to them to a non Tamilian who had no emotional involvement in this ethnic problem. Another big fallacy in the Sri Lankan thinking has been the irrational presumption that the north Indians at the Centre are less concerned about the fate of the Tamils and therefore more amenable to the argument that any talk of regional autonomy for the Tamils in the present context would amount to paving the way for the emergence of an independent Eelam state. A sly attempt has been made by the Sri Lankan Government to by-pass Mr Parthasarathi and talk to somebody else in Delhi, little realising that Rajiv Gandhi is unlikely to countenance such a suggestion. ر“The Sri Lankan Government has been making some grievous mistakes in assessing the Indian mood,' warns Mr Reddy. He continues: "It is not beyond the genius of Indian and Sri
CONTINUED ON PAGE 22

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Page 22
22 TAMILTIMES
TAMIL TRAVAILS FROM PAGE 16
rived of their basic education for the last two months.
FEBRUARY 4, 1985
Troops fire at car with mother in labour: While the Government was whipping up near frenzy in celebrating the 37th anniversary of Sri Lanka's "Independence Day', in Jaffna a Tamil mother in labour denied the independence of going to hospital to deliver a baby Troops opened fire at the car carrying the mother, Vijayalakshmy (21 years) to hospital and killed the driver of the vehicle, Narayanasamy Ramasamy (68 years) on the spot. Vijayalakshmy suffered gun-shot injuries along with her husband (Jegatheesan Maniam, 28 years) and brother-in-law (Suppiah Shanmugam, 34 years) who were also travelling in the car. As instructed by Brigadier Nalin Seneviratne controlling the troops in the North, the car carried a prominent white flag but the troops ignored it. The incident occurred barely 50 metres away from the Jaffna Hospital. Trolleys were rushed out from the hospital and the injured taken in. The injured mother gave birth to a baby boy, who no doubt will live with the trauma of being born on a day which gave Independence to some but denied him the right to be born.
Sentence of criminals commuted: To mark Independence Day the Government released 1,750 Sinhalese prisoners serving various terms for criminal offences, while 66 prisoners on death row had their sentences commuted to life terms. These vere done by President Jayewardene exercising special powers enjoyed by him under the Constitution.
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FROM PAGE 20
Lankan leadership concept of autonol at least the subst aspirations so that strong minority co. been discriminatec is not persecuted concludes: "India h a peaceful settier tangle. Any prolo this neighbourin trimental to India Lanka has been ig there is a limit to
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MARCH 1985
IEW YEAR LUNCH pm on Sunday, 14th Jones Hall, Greaves ane, London SW17. lable from Mr M. urer SCOT, 24 Brook Middix HA89XF. Tel:
ounce the death of
ngam, former MP, 2.85. Ат appreciain Tamil leader will
at issue.
to evolve a credible ny that could meet ance of the Tamil , this three millionmmunity, which has against in the past, in the future. He as a vital interest in ment of this ethnic nged civil strife in g country is de's own interest. Sri
noring the fact that
India's tolerance." to the Sri Lankan Jayewardene prodo not occupy the r will come to us.' estion is the coast ka. it is not unoccubit that area; they enturies. So, who is ring to by the word
to imply that the n that island at the e Indian sub-contiens of Sri Lanka. If on of the President, She contention of the
A logical question re is the border of anka?
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MATRI MONIAL: Jaffna Hindu parents now well settled in the United Kingdom seek partner with sober habits for daughter aged 25 with Mars in seventh position. Persons now studying or employed in UK or overseas preferred. Box M16, C/o Tamil Times.
Jaffna Tam Christian parents, US citizens,
seek doctor or qualifying doctor, under 27 for daughter, seventeen, brought up in US, furnished house in US, jewellery and new car, all worth $150,000, Box M21, C/o Tamil Times.
Mother seeks bride for mechanical engineer son, UK citizen, aged 36, Tamil outgoing, prefer bride UK educated. Box M22, C/o Tamil Times.
Brother-in-law seeks suitable bride, Jaffna
Hindu, professionally qualified, under 26
years, for engineer (B.Sc.), 31 years, well settled in UK. Box M23, C/o Tamil Times.
Brothers (professionals), seek a professional
or reasonably qualified student for their only sister, Jaffna Hindu Vellala family, 25 years, height 5' 4/2", passed Advanced Level, home-loving, pleasant with medium complexion. Charts please, Box M24 C/o Tamil Times.
Brother seeks Tamil Hindu partner for accomplished working sister, aged 28 years, Mars affected horoscope. Box M25, C/o Tamil Times.
Death: The death of Mr S.A. Kulasegarampillai, retired teacher, Union College, Tellipallai, Jaffna, father of Dr Ruthradewi Paramaguru, USA, Rajasegarampillai, Consultant Engineer, Canada; Arulanantham, Consultant Engineer, Nigeria; Mrs Rathivathani, wife of Dr Krishnarajah, surgeon, General Hospital Jaffna, took place on 20.3.85. Intimation by Nathan, Croydon, UK.
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Page 23
MARCH 1985
LETTERSENT TO PRESIDENT JAYEWARDENEBY MOTHERS FRONT
Your Excellency,
We strongly protest to you regarding the raping of young girls and a pregnant woman by the Security Forces on 14th December 1984 at Thirunalvely while on a combing-out operation. This is a very grievous act of the Security Forces on the helpless women.
The armed might of the Security Forces had been used to rape, molest and humiliate the women in this area under the pretext of a search for the "militant youths'.
We personally visited the affected parties who have confirmed to us the raping, molesting and humiliation perpetrated by the Security Forces. These affected women have been threatened with reprisals if they gave evidence against then to the authorities. The pregnant woman is in an advanced state of pregnaney and was admited to the Jaffna Hospital.
We do not understand why women should be raped, molested and
humiliated by the Security Fores
to solve the national question. We, therefore, request you to stop these inhuman acts of the security forces
on the helpless women.
Joint Secretaries
Mothers Front (Jaffna)
MEMORIA FOR SRI LA
A memorial serv Catholic priest R. who was killed rec troops, was held r Sed Sacrament c close to Boston, helping the Tamil : with supplies prov institutions like Ox lic Relief Society. St. Anne's church Mannar. He was sa sides in the con concentrated his e succOur to those re the riots.
Sympathiser
The memorial se by Rev. Rastina's Manuel Pillai, wh citizen and reside number of Sri Laak
Synapathisers werk
According to Mt January 6 his brotl in hand, opened t knocks of the Sri I
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TAMILTIMES 23
L SERVICE IN U.S. ANKAN PRIEST
ice for the Tamil ev. Mary Bastian, ently by Sri Lankan ecently at the Bleshurch at Walpole, Rev. Bastian was refugees in Mannar rided by charitable fam and the CathoHe was attached to
at Vankalai near aid to have taken no munal trouble and fforts on providing indered homeless in
rvice was arranged brother, the Antony o is an American ent of Walpole. A an Tamils in the US nada alal Anatorican
present.
" Pillai, at 1am on her with the rosary he door to violent Lankan troops. The
soldiers shot him, ignoring his plea of innocence. Two young orphans, living with the priest, who witnessed the cold-blooded murder came out of their hiding after the miscreants left the scene and ran to Mannar to inform the church authorities. The armed men again returned to the scene and took away the body of the priest after cleaning the blood stains off the floor. The Sri Lankan authorities have denied that the priest was murdered by the troops.
There was a demonstration on the Harvard University Campus to protest against the killing of the Tamil priest and against an artificial food shortage created by the Sri Lankan authorities in Jaffna. About 100 people took partin the demonstration organised by the
Eelama Tani Assoelotioa.
Memortal Service-Father Mary Bastian A memorial service to mark the 10th Arriversarottae Orthmadarao-Palas
Mary Bastian wit behed on Saturday 20th April 1985 at 1 pm at the Rosary Church 21t Old Marylebone Road,
off Edgware Road, London NW1
SECOND REVISED
EDITION - JUST OUT
SRI LANKA, ISLAND OF TERROR: AN INDICTMENT
E.M. Thornton & R. Withthyananthan
A story of unpunished murder, barbarous rapine, political disenfranchisement and wicked forms of discrimination of every kind' . . . "a challenge to the Conscience of the World'
David Selbourne, Ruskin College, Oxford
Please use the form below
Please send me......... copies of SRI LANKA,ISLAND OF TERROR: AN INDICTMENT at £2.95 (plus 50p postage in UK. Add £2 for airmail if specially requested) enclose sterling cheque for £.......... made payable to Eelam Research Organisation.
Name ..............................................................................
Address.......................................... .
a send to: Eelam Research oraanisation 179 Norval Rd, North Wembley, Middx HAO 3SX

Page 24
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