Page 1
Tamil
TIME
W| XI N.8 ISSN 256-4488 15 MAR
Tamil Refugees queuing to be returned from India be returned to an un certain future, (Photographs
 

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION
UKM,Indija/SriLanka ES5 Australia. ... AusS45 Catada Carlso USA,......... ...SS5 AIOther Countries 20/US$3.5
lant Peace” § tee for Refug
醇
pa
リ =
鬣三 " జ్ఞ
2 Sri Lanka (above) and packing up their belongings to y Walter Keller, South Asia Bureau, Germany).

Page 2
2 TAMIL TIMES
TAPROBAN
"The Reli
QUALITY IN AIR TRANSPORT
(Over 100,000 satisfie SEATSALs E
KLM-ROYAL D
FEB-MAY
(Prices subject to incr
KLIM
O Check in at Heathrow Terminal 4 at KLMs own ( O Join KLM's "Flying Dutchman" for future travel O Amsterdam-Colombo boarding passes given ir O Duty Free shopping at Amsterdam - the world' O Fly Amsterdam-Colombo in absolute comfort o O instant confirmation of seats from Our special a O Special Addonfares directly to Amsterdam fro Southamptr.,Stansted,Humberside, Leeds,Man Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh and Glasgow ONo Transit visas required for Amsterdam for Sr.
For reservations conta,
VISA F Kamini, Dap
With THE REL G) TAPROBA
QUALITY IN AIRTRANSPORT
THE RELIA Airlanka's top agent in t LONDON-COLOMBC
FAR
E DUBA from 360 TR COLOMBO ' 485 TR SPORE *420 BA MADRAS * 425 HC
* No Stopover permitted *** Walid 11th April to 26th Jun
PEAK SEASON FARES - "" 27/6 TO COLOMEO *** Retu
Colombo Airport Duty Free Sh
AN EMERGENCYPHONESE O86
Forreservations contact our Tra
4.Kingly Street, London Wilr 5L Colombo Office- 252,Ga
Prices subject to increase without notice.

15 MARCH 1994
NE TRAVEL
ඉද්දා)
ble A ge 711 77 OUALTY ENAR TRANSPORT d clients since 1977) TO COsOMBO
OOOO
"7 JTCH AIRLINES 410 Return KLV
ease without notice)
esk. Baggage checked in directly to Colombo benefits. Forms on request London with your allocated seat number s best one terminal airport
KLM's Boeing 747Jumbo Jet
|location in Birmingham,Bristol,Cardiff,Gatwick, chester,Newcastle,Norwich, Teeside,
Lankans permanently resident in the UK ct our Travel Consultants
hne, John ehr allpali
IABLE AIRLINE
LABLEAGENT
NE TRAVEL (i.
UALITY IN AIRTRANSPORT
BLE AGENT
he UK for 1992 and 1993
)-LONDON ** E450 Return
S VALD FEB-JUNE
ÍCH II from *425 VANDRUM '' *425 NGKOK " 520 NGKONG " S50
in Colombo . Return travel before 20th August or After 59.94
10/7 $485, 11/7 - 14/7 $530 15/7 - 15/8 $ 580
n travel before 20 August or after 5,994 pping Guide available to all our clients
vic only for NMEDIATE TRAVEL O 439 483
nes Consultants- Kamini, Daphne,John er lipali VSA
F Tel: O71-437 6272/3, O71-734 9078 le Road, Colombo 4.Te1: 587767

Page 3
15 MARCH 1994
I do not agree with a word of what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it.
– Voltaire.
ISSN 0266-4488
Vol.XIll No.3 15 March 1994
Published by
AMA TIMES (1)
P.O. BOX 121 SUTTON, SURREY SM13TD UNITED KINGOOM
Phone: 081-644 O972 Fax: 08-241. 4557
ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION UKMndia/Sri Lanka............... £15/USS25 Australia................. AusS45 Canada. CanS40 USA ......................................................... USS35 All other countries................ £20/USS35
Views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the editor or publishers
The publishers assume no
responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or artwork
CONTENTS
Testing the Government's Strength. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.
Scramble for Power in Batticaloa. . .4 Not a happy outcome for
the UNP. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 People Want Peace. . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 The Politics of Terror and Treachery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 N.G.O.s Call for Negotiated Political Solution. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 AClear Case of impunity. . . . . . . . 17 Sub Continental Scene. . . . . . . . . 23 Tribute to a Judge. . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Classified. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 Dr. Sri Pathmanathan - Ал Аppreciation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
RET
The resumption reported recent Lanka to return among many hun the island.
The root Cause is the violent eth government forc personal physica island must be th, they will no longe Conflict has not b and those of the horizon that ther parties for the r Wijetunga contint a 'terrorist proble year of the moth
The repatriatior However, there is their repatriation Coercion and inti Nations High Co. ensure that the f inefective particip otherwise objectic
The readiness refugees in the 19 the assassination imperatives that r and even that Ol produced a clima Lankan Tamil ref refugees are bein fighting is continu. guaranteed. The a continuing conflic question whether government con Sensible solution refugee camps fo
The reported a Lanka to return T west European cc around Colombo wake of an agre monitoring' of tho pretext "hunting til and are engaged arrest Of Tarnis in quoted in a recen, of February 1994) Since June 1993, report cites severa same persons, to detentions in und Case, the UNHC Seekers' is gravel
Rather than Coll camps in India to asylum seekers it Colombo's jails, tt, pressure they can to the armed conf peace and norma Seekers return in
 
 
 

TAMIL TIMES 3
JRN OF REFUGEES AND ASYLUM SEEKERS
by India of repatriation of Tamil refugees to Sri Lanka and the greement between the governments of Switzerland and Sri Tamil asylum seekers have raised justifiable acute concern man rights and humanitarian agencies both within and outside
of the exodus of Tamil refugees into India and other countries nic conflict in Sri Lanka and the continuing fighting between as and the Tamil Tigers, and the resulting danger for their security. Hence the basic precondition for their return to the at the root cause that led to their departure is removed and that r be exposed to physical danger. However, the fact is that the een resolved and the fighting between the forces of the state
LTTE continue unabated. There are no signs even on the e is any prospect of any negotiations between the warring esolution of the conflict. On the contrary, while President tes to assert that his government would deal with the conflict as n' by military means, the Tiger leader has declared 1994 as the ger Of battles'.
of Tamil refugees from South India is described as 'voluntary'. irrefutable evidence that the so-called voluntary consent for has been obtained by a combination of direct and indirect midation. The marginal involvement of officials of the United mmission for Refugees (UNHCR) has proved inadequate to efugees are being returned on a voluntary basis, and their lation has served only to offer some artificial respectability to an onable and offensive exercise.
and sympathy with which India accepted and housed these '80s would appear to have totally disappeared. The fallout from of Rajiv Gandhi in May 1991 and the political and security notivate the Conduct of the State Government of Tamil Nadu politicians belonging to the opposition parties there have e in which the carrying out of even enforced repatriation of Sri gees has become unobjectionable. But the fact is that these g returned to areas of the north and east of Sri Lanka where ing, and where the physical safety of the returnees cannot be additional complication for the repatriated Tamil refugees is the t between the LTTE and the government in relation to the those who arrive from India Should be allowed to return to rolled areas' or the "Tiger controlled areas. The lack of a to the latter issue means that those who return are kept in
prolonged periods. greement between the governments of Switzerland and Sri amil asylum seekers to Sri Lanka, and similar moves by other untries follow a view expressed by the UNHCR that the area would be safe for returning asylum seekers and come in the ement on the part of the UNHCR to undertake passive se who are returned to Sri Lanka. The fact is that, under the e Tigers, the government and its security forces have been in a continuing campaign of indiscriminate and widespread the Colombo area. According to the government's own figures ly released report of the Amnesty International (ASA37/10/94 a total of 15,711 Tamil persons have been taken into custody that is on an average of over 2,000 persons per month. The l instances of arrests of whole families, repeated arrests of the ture and illtreatment of persons in custody, unacknowledged sclosed locations and even 'disappearances'. This being the R's view that "Colombo is safe for returning Tamil asylum f fflaWed.
aborating in an effort to send back Tamil refugees from refugee be relocated in refugee camps within Sri Lanka, and to return
western Europe to become victims of being incarcerated in 9 UNHCR and concerned governments should bring whatever upon the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE to bring an end ct and to seek a negotiated solution which will lead to lasting icy. Only in such a context can the refugees and asylum signity and safety.

Page 4
4 TAMIL TIMES
Local Elections in Sri
Testing the Government's S
by Rita Sebastian in Colombo
Tamil political groups scored a decisive victory in the local poll held in the island's eastern province and northwest Vavuniya on March 1, capturing 3 of the 4 main councils - the Batticaloa Municipal Council, and the urban councils of Vavuniya and Trincomalee, conceding only eastern Ampara to the ruling United National Party (UNP).
What this election effectively did was to register the anger and disillusionment of the minorities against the UNP over President Dingiri Banda Wijetunge’s contention that the country's problem is "terrorist not ethnic'.
The poll was seen by most Tamil political commentators as a contest between the government and the Tamil parties.
The UNP which won 18 of the 40 councils did however have something to crow about in that the main opposition Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) fared miserably by winning just 3 of the councils.
The UNP's success in the predominantly Sinhalese areas was thus seen as an endorsement of the government's policies.
Ironically, the military wing of the three Tamil groups, the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organisation (TELO) and the Eelam People’s Democratic Front (EPDP), who got their candidates into the councils, are battling the Tigers alongside government forces in the northwest.
As Prof. Betram Bastiampillai of the Colombo University argues it is only a thin line that divides the political from the military and therefore these groups who have captured power must drop their guns and build themselves up politically.
As for the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF) and the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) their boycott of the poll, as Bastiampillai sees it would only help to erase their presence from the collective mind of the voters.
A rather curious element of the poll was an independent Tamil group in the fray, who captured six
of the councils. T rival Tamil poli “LTTE surrende Sri Lankan milit tions, a chargeth mently denied.
Although the Congress led by Asraff did win in Muslim areas o vince, Asraff ha party's victory w a background ( irregularities by connivance with police. Allegation its candidates, o tant thuggery ha by the Elections
These alleged led the opposition government has cy to visit the southern electora March 24.
The southern cide the parliame in early 1995. Th they win the S. Council election fidently go for a in June or July, t the disarray in t aftermath of def opposition Sri La (SLFP).
The governm attaches high election Both th cial Council ar suspended sitti political top-run tending parties sively in the pro
Sc
The results of elections in the
have given rise tions - each one
suit the politic interpreter. The has had a ren promotes the ar and Muslim vot
 
 

15 MARCH 1994
trength
ey were alleged by ical groups to be s' coerced by the ury to file nominat the military vehe
Sri Lanka Muslim its President M. the predominantly the eastern pro; alleged that the as secured against f several election the government in the Sri Lankan s of intimidation of rigging, and blas led to an inquiry commissioner. malpractices have to allege that the hatched a conspirasame sins on the te, due for polls on
polls could well dentary elections due e UNP feels that if puthern Provincial
they could conparliamentary poll aking advantage of he opposition in the !ctions in the main nka Freedom Party
nt understandably mportance to this e Western Provind Parliament has gs to enable the ers of the two cono campaign extenince.
Inka”S Eastern ProVince
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and SLFP's Chandrika Kumaranatunge have virtually moved to the south with President Wijetunge himself addressing several meetings.
The UNP believes that it has to consolidate its gains among the Sinhala voters in the eastern province election. While the opposition is focussing on issues of democracy, the high cost of living, the on-going northeast conflict and human rights, the government's main focus is on economic issues.
The President mindful however of the growing frustration over the military impasse in the north has made reference to it.
For him, a win in the south he said will strengthen his hand to go ahead with his plans to 'liberate the north'. According to the President: "The LTTE is half dead today. I will restrict the festering abscess to a small area in the north to perform an operation that will heal it for good'. It is a promise that has come from the President over several months and regarded by many as mere platform rhetoric.
Wijetunge unfortunately hasn't the eloquence of his predecessor President Premadasa who could mesmerise his audience.
The key player in the opposition side is Chandrika Kumeranatunge. This would be a significant test of her own credibility as an alternative to the government, for if she succeeds in the Southern province, it will consolidate her position as the Presidential candidate of the SLFP in the next Presidential election.
1994 is an election year, so the Southern provincial election will be a key indicator of the political trends in the country.
ramble for POWer
in Battical Oa
by our Special Correspondent
e local government ust and in Vavuniya o many interpretaamed in a manner to inclination of each UNP thinks that it rkable success and ment that the Tamil which went against
it does not affect its standing because those votes will any way not go to the SLFP. (This, it should be noted means that there will not be any significant change in the President's hardline Sinhala nationalist stand).
The UNP also feels as it was clearly expressed by the Party's General Secretary, Mr. Sirisena Cooray, that

Page 5
'15 MARCH 1994
the minority groups and parties which scored a large number of votes in this election are, indirectly and ultimately, its allies. Mr. Cooray must have had in his mind the times when all of them without exception were in many ways beholden to President Premadasa. The SLFP, on the other hand notes with apparent satisfaction that the strategic minority vote which is generally believed to have paved the way for Premadasa's victory at the Presidential polls in 1988, is no longer with the UNIP.
The results have convinced Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) chief, M.H.M. Ashraff that he can re-emerge as a powerful communal leader like Thondaman and, unfortunately, they have also convinced him that the Tamils are still an untrustworthy lot, (at least in his area).
The TELO and PLOTE which contested separately in Vavuniya but together formed independent groups in the east, claim that the results of the election have taught a lesson to the forces of Sinhala chauvinism.
The fact that each one of these interpretations, and predictions based thereon, can be advanced with an equal measure of plausibility shows that the future is uncertain, which means, given the state of Sri Lankan politics today, that, as the Presidential poll nears, political manoeuvring among the minorities would descend to unprecedented levels of unscrupulousness and venal opportunism.
The nature of things to come is nowhere more evident than in the tussle over running the largest local body to be contested in this election - the Batticaloa Municipal Council. The TELO-PLOTE combine which secured 9 seats out of 19 is expected to form the administration with the help of the SLMC which won one seat. The EROS which got 3 seats was not approached by TELO or PLOTE at all with a view to forming a strong administration in the interests of the local people who have for long been affected by the absence of an elected body to run the M.C. Instead a slander campaign was launched against the EROS which sought to imply that it was actually functioning under the directions of Basheer Segudawood M.P. who has fallen out with the EROS leadership in Colombo and has in recent times drifted towards the UNP. The implication is not just that Basheer is manipulating the local EROS in order to help the UNP form the administration, but that he is a Muslim trying to underDnine Tamil interests. This communal nuance is not lost on the average Batticaloa person.
The local EF ership of E. Pral rid itself of t Basheer's lacke during the camp join hands with election was ove the council. Hov that, inspite of protestations to t has somehow pe sit in the opposit
The PLOTE-T contested the ele ership of Mr. nayagam finds it cil vulnerable w vote which does them. (The LTT Koneswaran who backing is of co This has caused local leaders of th for their credibili perhaps have s now, particularly al election early r The Mayor Mr. his deputy Mr. singham, both o eye on a parlial forthcoming ger ample reason to
The official pre loa M.C. is still army which use headquarters. Th space that was ap of the divisional after the army m place for a counc mal business. Th in the district a the M.C. - four have a building t the structures th destroyed compl Two. (The Trinco tions out of the N cil building at contenders in Bal UNP had promis back. Although it
Not
The local govern east and in Vav most significant
UNP would fare Presidential and tions minus as the Tamil and
which had been a by President Pre

TAL TMIES 5
OS under the leadhahran attempted to he image of being and made a pledge aign that it would not the UNP once the r to capture power in wever it now appears Mr. Prabhaharan's he contrary, the UNP rsuaded his group to ion with them.
ELO combine which !ction under the leadCheliyan Perinbas position in the counith a majority of one not even belong to E surrendee Mr. E. ) won with the Army's urse with the UNP). much worry to the ne TELO and PLOTE, ty - a factor that may Ome value for them in view of the generext year- is at stake. Perinpanayagam and Benedict Thanabalaf whom have a keen mentary seat at the heral election, have be worried.
mises of the Batticain the hands of the 2s it as its brigade le extremely cramped »portioned toit in lieu
secretariat building loved into town, is no il to conduct its nore Pradeshiya Sabhas e no better off than of them do not even o call their own since at housed them were etely in Eelam War Urban Council funcN.E. Provincial Counpresent). All major ticaloa including the 2d to get the building may be true that the
candidates of the PLOTE and TELO lambasted the UNP to their heart's content during the campaign, they seem to approach the all important question of "retaking the building with meek caution and patent trepidation, basically because it involves the army. Apart from this calamity which has beset Cheliyan and his men (there wasn't a single female candidate on their list) even before they can get things going, they are faced with general scepticism about the new administration's ability to survive at all.
The Batticaloa M.C. was established 28 years ago in 1966 and no Mayor was able to survive his full term. Since the resignation of Mr. E. Amblavanar of the TULF as Mayor in 1983 after his refusal to take the oath of allegiance under the sixth amendment, the council has been run by a commissioner whose administration became a farce since the army moved in and consolidated its position in the town. Therefore despite the sentiments stirred often by the murky winds of national politics, a genuine desire to have a proper council elected by them persisted among the residents of Batticaloa. But the fate of the council is in the balance. Its fall would harbinger the UNP's first move in the northeast to prepare the ground for the Presidential election in December. Firstly it can strike a deal with the SLMC once Ashraf has satisfied himself after the SLMC convention is held in Kalmunai on March 19 that he has sufficiently demonstrated his power the way Thondaman has done in the hill country. Secondly it can win over some gullible members of the Tamil groups and make them vote with the UNP on a no-confidence motion. The predicament of the Batticaloa Municipal (Council has made at least one thing clear: that the local government elections has made the east once more fair game for the government and the UNP leadership.
a Happy Outcome
for the UNP
by Taraki
ment elections in the uniya is the first and indication of how the at the forthcoming
Parliamentary elecubstantial portion of
Muslim vote bank issiduously cultivated madasa. In the east
ern province independent groups backed by the TELO, PLOTE and the EROS have secured approximately hundred and fifty thousand votes. All these groups called on the Tamil people to show their strong opposition to President D.B. Wijetunga's stand that there is no ethnic problem but only a
Continued on page 6

Page 6
6 TAMIL TIMES
Continued from page 5
terrorist problem in Sri Lanka, by voting against the UNP. The Muslim Congress secured eighty seven thousand votes. Ashraff's bitter and determined opposition to the UNP awed even those hardened Tamil nationalists who had cast aspersions on his political integrity. This means the UNP has to do without two hundred and thirty seven thousand minority votes in the eastern province which, had President Premadasa been alive, would have most probably been his. Even the SLFP which has shown a dogged propensity for demonstrating a singular ability for utterly bungling the rudiments of political strategy, has managed to get sixty three thousand votes in the province.
While the UNP may congratulate itself that all's well on the eastern front, any fool can observe the fact that in a closely contested Presidential poll, three hundred thousand antiUNP votes in the east can tilt the balance. The strategic value of these votes will be apparent if one were to examine the manner in which the minority vote in the eastern province influenced the outcome of the 1988 Presidential election in Premadasa's favour.
The UNP's current standing among the Tamils of the east must have been pretty obvious to the Prime Minister when he arrived in Batticaloa town on February 20 to address a public rally to muster support for his party. There were about hundred and fifty people gathered at the venue, among whom were a number of (most probably pro-UNP) Policemen in civils. Mr. Joseph Michael Perera who was expected to address a meeting at Palameenmadu on the outskirts of the Batticaloa town a couple of days later was more prudent - he did not turn up although a police officer of the area had managed to "persuade' about sixty people to attend the meeting. It must be said that certain sections of the Police in the Batticaloa district were brazenly engaged in activities which were aimed at making the UNP win come what may. If one were to consider it a patriotic act to gloss over their disgraceful and rascally conduct on the ground that they are working in the war zone, then one will have no one but himself to blame when law enforcement in the South becomes an extension of the ruling party's political machinery at the next election. The manner in which some police appointments have been made in the east seems to indicate that the UNP is unable to resist the temptation to look upon the police force as a potential and strategic ally for the successful con
duct of its political
One instance sh point. Senior Super Mr. M.A. Majeed (f in Madras) who iss of the Batticaloa an was a UNP cand general elections. ( tuvil and appears t lar support there. H. Pottuvil PS for the Pers in Kalmunai key organiser of t region. The people also known another er who took a keen the UNP reorganis
Another interesti this election is the recruit into its ran been working for th the military intellig of the prison buil Most of them bel feared Mohan's gro gan”, “Selva”, “Gur Ramesh'. All five v of the PLOTE and ( trained in Tamil Pradesh. The PLOT years ago for rea stated in a press r However the UNPl have found them fi interests and enhar the Batticaloa dis were confident that how” win the electio -“Selva'- who cont chikudy Pradeshiya the highest num votes among the the area. Govindan of the TELO (who same place fielded leader of the indep ed by him) has com tices and has saic action in court cha of the election to th PS. But “Selva” is t will not be surpri become a member ( next general electi
The most senior in the Batticaloa di election, Mr. M. P is also the treasu district committe from the beginni reluctant participa ercise. His insisten the local branch pleaded with the hold this election : Joseph Pararajasil led on the governn the Virakesari at made many wonc eager to loudly

15 MARCH 1994
anoeuvres. uld illustrate my intendent of Police rmerly of the NIB lid to be in charge Ampara districts date in the last He hails from Pothave some popuis brother won the UNP). Some UNescribed him as a heir party in the of Batticaloa have senior police officinterest in getting d in the district.
ng development in UNP's decision to
ks boys who have
2 Batticaloa unit of ence operating out ling in the town. bng to the much up, such as "Ranu', ‘Kesavan' and Tere once members except Guru) were Nadu and Uttar Esacked them two sons which were elease at the time. eadership seems to t for promoting its icing its prestige in trict. All of them , they would 'somen. And one of them ested the Kalawana Sabha has scored ber of preference JNP candidates in Karunakaran MP also hails from the his father as the endent group backplained of malpracthat he will file lenging the results e Kaluwanchikudy here to stay. And I sed if he were to fparliament at the
Π. member of the UNP trict to contest this thmanathan, who rer of the party's made it appear g that he was a ht in the whole exe on the point that of the UNP had overnment not to nd that it was Mr. gham who had cal2nt to do so (he had hand to prove it) r why he was so roclaim his “inno
cence'. It appears that the memory of what the LTTE did to him last year is still quite fresh in him. The Tigers abducted him from his home to their base across the lagoon and released him after negotiations with his relatives. It is not clear what the terms and conditions of the release were, (but I understand that he now prefers to claim that he made good his escape). But the Tamil nationalist sentiment seems to have left an indelible impression on him. So much so that the main campaign song of the UNP in Batticaloa was “Achcham empathu’, the theme in MGR's Mannathimannan which incidentally is a song well loved by Prabhakaran and which used to be played at the beginning of the Voice of Tiger broadcast. (The song says "the Dravidians are a fearless race. Death comes at six or sixty. It is our duty to protect our homeland').
However it must be said in fairness to him that Mr. Pathmanathan saved the UNP from defeat in the Batticaloa municipal council and other local bodies albeit with assistance of Mohan's group and its "friends'.
Things did not go smoothly for the UNP in the Tamil areas of the Ampara district either, although three cabinet ministers are from this region all of whom could count on Tamil votes in the past. The party could not find a single person to contest this election in the Tamil dominated Alayadivembu and Thirukovil Pradeshiya Sabhas. Even Mr. Dharmalingam "chairman' who was UNP's main man in this part of the district had not obliged his party.
Two independent Tamil groups sponsored by the government forces have won both Pradeshiya Sabhas (the outcome of course was obvious from the beginning).
The EPDP which submitted a list at the last moment has got a drubbing. Mr Douglas Devananda as we know is not in a position to cry foul at the government. The chief candidate of the "independent group which won the Thirukovil PS is a teenager who used to be an EPRLF helper', and had returned recently from the Pulal refugee camp in Tamil Nadu. The other main Tamil village in the district Karaithivu was almost on the verge of boycotting the election to register their protest over the fact that they have not been granted a separate Pradeshiya Sabha. But later an independent group was hastily put together at a village meeting. The UNP organiser of the area joined this independent group as a candidate.
The question then is: will the unpreContinued on page 24

Page 7
15 MARCH 1994
U.S. COmmittee for Refu “People Want Pea
The controversial repatriation of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees from India resumed in August 1993, with the return of some 69,900 Tamils. Thousands of other internally displaced Sri Lankans mostly Tamils, also recently returned home under a "resettlement' plan promoted by the Sri Lankan government.
To the outside observer these developments, which followed a limited improvement in human rights and a lull in fighting in Sri Lanka in early 1993 might have suggested that peace was close at hand.
But that was not the case. In late September the conflict, which has left tens of thousands dead or missing in the past decade exploded again with deadly ferocity when the Sri Lankan military launched a major attack on areas under the control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebel group. In mid-November the LTTE retaliated with a virulent counter-attack. The two attacks left more than 1200 dead.
These are among the disturbing findings in a new Issue Paper by the U.S.Committee for Refugees (USCR) "People Want Peace: Repatriation and Reintegration in War Torn Sri Lanka.' This Issue Paper was written by USCR policy analyst Hiram A. Ruiz, and is based, in part, on Ruiz's site visits to Sri Lanka and southern India. The report focuses on the situation of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in India, the 1993 repatriation and conditions for returnees, internally displaced Sri Lankans, and recent developments in various regions of Sri Lanka. It concludes with recommendations aimed at improving the situation for all uprooted Sri Lankans.
Among the report's recommendations is a call for the increasingly hawkish Sri Lankan government which seems bent on pursuing a military solution to the conflict, and the LTTE, whose record of negotiating in good faith is poor, to pursue a political solution to the conflict. According to Ruiz, "Unless the root causes of the conflict are seriously addressed, ethnic strife is likely to continue and the hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans who have been uprooted from their homes will be unable to start rebuilding their lives.'
Yet according to the report there appears to be little if any willingness on the part of the Sri Lankan govern
ment, the Sri Lank ern opposition parti public in general t peaceful resolution
report says, “USCR calls for peace in t internally displaced northern and easte residents mostly Ta lim and Sinhalese brunt of the fighti abuse, and sufferi the conflict. "People a Tamil woman fron tired of living in f They want a solut not violence.”
The report adds majority of the refl. ated from India in tarily, the Indian creasingly pressuri 76,000 Sri Lankan TI remain in refugee return home. New the UN High Com fugees (UNHCR) to riation but on such that the agency can its mandate. He ad has ably assisted the Sri Lanka, but recen some of its activit returnees and inter Lankans in LTTE-c. cause of threats to i
More than 600,00 displaced within Sr them living in pc crowded, governm centers'. Providing f needs severely str ment’s resources.
Although the pri the displaced is sup voluntary, and thou persons have gone various governmen reportedly pressur some displaced pers in order to promote the country is retur present, due to wo funding, many of th do not receive the their communities ised.
For the more tha million Sri Lankan West, including ten the United States a developments are a Many of them have

TAMIL TIMES 7
Ice'
an military, southes, or the Sinhalese o work towards a to the conflict. The only heard urgent he grim camps for persons and in the rn districts whose Lmil but also Mus
have borne the ng, human rights ng engendered by
want peace,” said h Jaffna. "They are ear and suffering. ion through talks
that although a igees who repatri1993 did so volungovernment is inng the more than amil refugees who
camps there to Delhi is allowing missioner for Remonitor the repath a limited basis, not fully carry out ded that UNHCR 1993 returnees in |tly had to suspend ies on behalf of nally displaced Sri ontrolled areas bets staff.
0 persons remain | Lanka, many of or conditions in ent-run "welfare or their day-to-day ains the govern
gram to resettle posed to be fully sands of displaced
home willingly, t branches have ed, even forced, ns to return home a false sense that ning to normal. At fully inadequate ose who resettled issistance they or have been prom
in a quarter of a xiles living in the s of thousands in ld Canada, recent cause for concern. been denied asy
lum and are concerned that the governments of the countries in which they are living may deport them. USCR's report discusses a recent proposal to involve UNHCR in monitoring, on a limited basis, the security situation for denied asylum seekers deported to Sri Lanka by Western countries. USCR recommends against such deportations while the current situation in Sri Lanka persists.
Following are the excerpts from the conclusions and recommendations:
The voluntary repatriation of refugees and the return home of internally displaced people is a development that all those concerned with uprooted people welcome. Yet, in today's world, such returns usually occur under less-than ideal conditions and present difficult choices for all concerned.
The repatriation of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees and resettlement of internally displaced Sri Lankans fall into that category. Clearly, repatriation to Sri Lanka at this time is risky: the potential remains for renewed inter-ethnic communal violence; and the root causes of the problems in Sri Lanka - the grievances of the Tamil minority - have yet to be redressed. For the same reasons, the advisability of a return home is also questionable for many internally displaced Sri Lankans.
Yet refugee repatriation and resettlement of internally displaced Sri Lankans is taking place. The U.S. Committee for Refugees is satisfied that a large majority of the refugees who repatriated in 1993 did so voluntarily, mostly for personal reasons. We are concerned however, that many of those who may register to repatriate in the future may do so primarily as a result of Indian government pressure to repatriate.
USCR believes that it is appropriate for UNHCR to continue to facilitate repatriation for those who choose it voluntarily. But we also firmly believe that everything should be done to ensure that it is truly voluntary. However much one may sympathize with the burden that a large refugee population represents for India (sympathy that is at least partly tempered by the knowledge that India has chosen to refuse international assistance), the principle of voluntary repatriation must be upheld.
In Sri Lanka UNHCR is ably assisting recent returnees. It has negotiated an agreement with the Sri Lankan government that ensures that returning refugees are allowed to go back to
Continued on page 8

Page 8
8 TAMIL TIMES
Continued from page 7
their original homes, even when those are in areas under LTTE control, though following the problems UNHCR faced at Madhu centre, the agency has suspended its activities in most LTTE-controlled areas, including transporting returnees there. Responding to requests from various sources, UNHCR has also undertaken out-of-the-ordinary initiatives such as the safe passage and passive monitoring proposals, to try to respond to diverse humanitarian problems.
UNHCR's role in India is more problematic. While the fact that it has been permitted some involvements in the repatriation is something of a breakthrough, the limited scope of that involvement raises concerns about the agency's role. UNHCR should continue to seek a very necessary expansion of its role.
UNHCR should also keep clearly in mind its own assessment that conditions are not yet suitable for repatriation, and avoid any actions that would appear to encourage return. The agency must also remain sensitive to expressions of concern by many observers that India is pressuring refugees to repatriate. Some interested parties have argued that UNHCR may be holding back criticism of India's actions in order to pursue broader objectives such as gaining greater access to all refugees in India, but that in doing so it is putting one refugee group at risk in order to protect others. UNHCR counters that it does informally bring concerns to the attention of India officials, and that its representations have contributed to a de facto easing of some of the restrictions imposed by the government on the refugees and NGO’s.
Fundamentally, however, the most important issue affecting uprooted Sri Lankans is the conflict in that country. Like so many other seemingly intractable inter-ethnic conflicts in the world today the conflict in Sri Lanka wanes and escalates in fits and starts leaving death, destruction, and despair in its path. Until it ends hundreds of thousands of Sri Lankans will remain tragically uprooted.
It is a conflict that cannot be 'won'. It is highly doubtful that the LTTE can wrest independence by force, or that any Sri Lankan government will ever accept an independent Tamil Eelam. Sri Lankan Tamils cannot - and should not - accept second class citizenship in a unified Sri Lanka. Somewhere there is a middle ground. But it can only be reached through negotiation and compromise.
At present, there is little political
will in Colombo,
southern Sri La compromise. The it is willing to so : do not inspire col ity. Perhaps the than 1,200 peop unsuccessful mili sides will encoura either side to con
For the sake USCR encourage ernment and th wards peace, an cerned, including and abroad, an strong ties to C U.S. government encourage that p
In Sri Lanka (October 1991), for Refugee's mendations rega fugees and inte the country's con ress has been mi but on most til largely unaddres commendations a USCR's assessm on them to date continued or f USCR recommer current situation recommendation
1. The United St tional communit to both UNHCR
their Sri Lankan
Since 1991, do cluding the Unit supporting the UNHCR and IC support is nee given, until Sri safely return h that disrupts so Repatriations fr continue, and U efforts on behalf The work of I facilitation of sa Jaffna and its hospital throug main essential : situation in Jaf New Recommer
2.The United ernments shoul to Sri Lanka i basic relief for
Despite pres other areas of tinuing needs thousands of Sr by the conflict dependent on tional aid sho Donor governr

15 MARCH 1994
indeed in much of ka to negotiate or TTE has said that
but its past actions idence in its sincercent deaths of more 2 in the course of try ventures by both {e those in power on
to their senses.
of all Sri Lankans the Sri Lankan gov; LTTE to work toi calls upon all conSri Lankans at home governments with lombo, including the
to do all they can to OceSS,
Island of Refugees the U.S. Committee made eight recomrding Sri Lanka’s renally displaced and munal conflict. Progide on some of those, le problems remain ised. Those eight reure listed below, with 2nt of progress made , and of the need for urther action. New dations based on the follow the eight 1991 S.
ates and the internay should contribute and ICRC appeals fo programs.
nor governments, ined States, have been valuable work of RC. Their continued led, and should be Lankan refugees can me and the conflict many lives has ended. m India are likely to HCR’s commendable of returnees are vital. SRC particularly its e passage of food to protection of Jaffna its presence will res long as the current na prevails. (See also lations, No. 7)
tates and other govprovide bilateral aid order to maintain isplaced persons.
Ing emergencies in the world, the conof the hundreds of Lankans still affected any of whom remain ational and internad not be forgotten. nts should continue
bilateral financial support for Colombo's relief efforts on behalf of all displaced and war-affected Sri Lankans.
3. The United States and the international community should promote international aid and protection for Sri Lankan refugees in India, preferably through a full-time UNHCR preSee.
For many years, while India extended hospitality to refugees fleeing persecution in neighbouring states and either assisted them or allowed them to work and support themselves, some in the international community did not appear to consider India's refusal to permit UNHCR access a pressing problem. Now, however, some refugee groups in India clearly need protection (both Sri Lankan Tamils and Bangladeshi Chakmas have faced the threat of involuntary or less-thanvoluntary repatriation). UNHCR is the appropriate body to provide that protection. The international community should continue to press the Indian government to permit UNHCR to exercise its full mandate.
4. Any further discussions between the Indian and Sri Lankan governments regarding the voluntary repatriation of the refugees in Tamil Nadu should involve the UNHCR representatives for the respective countries.
UNHCR is fully involved in the repatriation process on the Sri Lanka side, and now has limited involvement on the India side. It remains imperative that UNHCR be as involved as possible in all aspects of discussions regarding repatriation.
5. The LTTE shold halt any further expulsions of Muslims - or any other ethnic communities - from the Northeast and, at the same, time should permit the free exit of Tamils seeking to leave Jaffna.
LTTE actions towards Muslims have changed. The LTTE is no longer driving Muslims from the North and East, though that is partly because it previously drove out so many of the Muslims who lived there. Much fear and distrust exists between Tamils and Muslim communities, and overcoming that will be a challenge for both communities and their leadership.
Civilian movement in and out of Jaffna is even more dangerous now than in 1991. The Sri Lankan military attacks Tamils attempting to leave or return to Jaffna. Such attacks have left scores of civilians dead. UNHCR's efforts to negotiate safe passage for relief were thwarted. USCR urges both parties to the conflict to respect

Page 9
15 MARCH 1994
civilians' right to free movement.
6. Sri Lankan asylum seekers in the West should be accorded at least temporary safe haven until the conflict is resolved. Although the number of Sri Lankan asylum seekers in the United States is quite small, it would appear that they qualify for Temporary Protected Status (TPS). USCR continues to urge Western governments not to deport Tamil asylum seekers while the conflict remains unresolved. UNHCR has agreed to participate in a program in which the agency would provide some monitoring of rejected asylum seekers who are deported to Sri Lanka. USCR recognises that this plan could provide deportees some measure of protection, but we are also concerned that this policy will lead to more deportations, which might place some individuals at risk.
7. The new Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia should make it an early priority to visit India and Sri Lanka.
In early 1993, the then-senior State Department official for South Asia, Interim Director of the Bureau for South Asian Affairs John Malott, visited Sri Lanka. The current assistant secretary of state for South Asian Affairs, Robin Raphael, attended the funeral of President Premadasa in May 1993, when she was assistant secretary of State-designate. While in Sri Lanka Ms. Raphael held consultations with government officials.
8. The Sri Lankan government and the LTTE must be encouraged to agree first to a ceasefire and then to negotiated settlement.
The Sri Lankan government repeated in mid-1993 that it is not possible to negotiate with the LTTE and that Sri Lanka does not have an ethnic problem, but rather a terrorist problem. Regardless of repeated public denials, Colombo is pursuing a military solution to the conflict. The level of human rights abuses attributable to the armed forces has diminished, but abuses continue. Sinhalese public opinion is becoming increasingly chauvinistic, and the political opposition labels as a demonstration of national weakness any conciliatory effort the government may make towards a resolution.
Colombos pursuit of a military solution puts the lives of countless civilians at risk. Even if achieved, it is ultimately an unsatisfactory and flawed answer. The problems between Sinhalese and Tamils (and, more recently, between Tamils and Muslims) are about communities failing to live together at close quarters in an equitable manner.
The LTTE has dc the Tamil people more than wage g has alienated many nating Tamil lead LTTE and it has t (most significantly sination of former I ter Gandhi) that negative impact on (in the case of the tion, on those livi India).
If the various c build a foundatio) then they must stc talking to each oth may be painstakin cult, but it is the rig way forward.
New Recommen
There have been velopments since til of Sri Lanka: Islam call for action to protection and assi Sri Lankans. To th on its findings duri site visits, to Sri La U.S. Committee fc the following new
To the Governmen
1. The governme political, not milita ethnic-based confl
The problems th cannot be solved that is what the S ment is trying to government were cant military gain control over area LTTE control, the continue to wage and the Tamil mir to demand that t redressed. Therefo causes of the con addressed, ethnic continue, neither t ity nor Sri Lanka achieve the peace desire, and those been devastated b cluding the hund who have been ul homes will be unal lives.
For the sake of USCR urges the S ment the LTTE an parties to work ta resolution to the should welcome, no of those in the inte ity who take enoug Sri Lanka to offer the United Nation

one little to convince of its ability to do uerrilla warfare. It y Tamils by assassiers opposed to the aken other actions the alleged assasindian Prime Minishave had direct, Sri Lankan Tamils Gandhi assassinaing as refugees in
ommunities are to n for co-existence, bp killing and start er now. The process gly slow and diffight, indeed the only
dations
n a number of dehe 1991 publication ld of Refugees that ensure adequate stance for uprooted hat end, and based ng September 1993 anka and India, the or Refugees makes recommendations:
It of Sri Lanka:
nt should pursue a Iry, solution to the ict in Sri Lanka.
at Sri Lanka faces
militarily, though Sri Lankan govern) do. Even if the to achieve signifis and re-establish s presently under Tigers are likely to guerrilla warfare, ority will continue heir grievances be re, unless the root flict are seriously strife is likely to he Tamil communas a whole will and normalcy both whose lives have y this conflict, inreds of thousands prooted from their ble to rebuild their
all Sri Lankans, ri Lankan governd all the concerned owards a peaceful
conflict. Colombo t reject, the efforts national communh of an interest in heir help. Perhaps s, Norwegian gov
TAMIL TIMES 9
ernment, the Conflict Resolution Program of the Carter Center, or other similar outside bodies can help build the bridges that the Sri Lankan government and LTTE alone have failed to build.
Colombo should also take care not to undo the welcome progress it has made in human rights. Sri Lankan human rights groups have expressed concern that the government's hawkishness, continued arrest of large numbers of Tamils in the capital, and imposition of restrictions on the media suggest that human rights are at risk.
2. The Sri Lankan government should provide refugees in India current, accurate information on Security and other conditions in their areas of origin in Sri Lanka. The refugees need this information in order to make an informed decision regarding repatriation.
The current situation in Sri Lanka, particularly in the areas most affected by communal conflict, is not conducive to repatriation. Nevertheless, a number of refugees are, for a variety of reasons, choosing or considering that option. Conditions in their home areas - including security, who controls the area militarily, economic opportunities, level of infrastructure and social services, and availability of government or other assistance - vary. It is necessary for refugees to have accurate information on conditions in their home areas in order to make an informed decision.
Since much of that information is politically sensitive, some UNHCR officials do not believe that UNHCR is the appropriate body to disseminate it. An alternative source for that information is the government of Sri Lanka. Colombo has not made such information available to refugees in India since January 1992. UNHCR and others should monitor the information to ensure that refugees are not misled. Refugees should continue to seek information from whatever other sources are available to them in order to develop as full an understanding as possible of conditions in their home areas, and be able to make an informed realistic decision regarding repatriation.
3. The Sri Lankan government must ensure that there is close linkage between resettlement and availability of funding.
A major flaw in the funding of the Sri Lankan government resettlement program threatens the success of many resettlement projects. Although the Ministry of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Social Welfare
Continued on page 26

Page 10
10 TAMIL TIMES
The POitiCS Of Te and Treachery
by Rajan Hoole
The bomb explosion in the bus from Padaviya which killed 13, following on months of impersonal terror unleashed on the civilians in Jaffna marks a deterioration that makes life markedly more unsafe for the ordinary people of this country. Meanwhile drastic measures are being taken by leaders on both sides in an attempt to secure their personal safety which include torture, fomenting hysteria and secret executions. In the Jaffna peninsula itself at least 93 civilians have died from 1st October 1993 to 5th January 1994 as a result of aerial bombing and strafing, naval attacks and the land-based shelling. This almost fatal desire for destructive options continues despite both sides admitting privately their anxiety over enormous pressure concerning their human rights record.
It is revealing that the politics in both the North and the South are obsessed with questions of treachery: Was the killing of General Kobbekaduwa an inside job? A key question troubling LTTE supporters around the world is, was Mahattaya a traitor and a RAW agent? These questions are more significant than the answers. In the context of politics marker by cynicism and disinformation, it 3 unlikely that they would ever be answered adequately. When the politics of those in power loses respect for the people and their well-being as its reference, a drift into terror and treachery is very likely to be its eventual outcome. It comes to see its most potent enemies as dwelling within. An external enemy is more often an alibi for internal repression. There is an implicit suggestion in Lucien Rajakarunanayake's article in the last issue of Counterpoint that the Wijetunga government is more in earnest about its war against democracy in the South, than over that in the North-East. The LTTE for its part has burnt all options through its brutality except that of being the sole overlord of the Tamils. This has been seen to be the determining consideration in its military and political strategy, imposing needless suffering on the people. Events culminating in sensational allegations against its former deputy leader Mahattaya, also raise aloud the question of how much key decisions affecting the future of Tamils hinged on the leader's need to maintain an absolutely servile organisation.
The UNP,
Under J.R. Jaye for absolute contri the disenfranchise dara naike, repr oppression of lab and violence ag. securing letters of party MPs and ext parliament with majority throught dum of 1982, mad monarch. In attair through the methc the character of fixed. This showed for democratic prot legality and also in 1983. The mobaccompanied by b. truth caused the damage to the Sir The JVP and two blamed for the Jul the JVP was dr through being ban found it most conv the UNP using si chauvinistic sloga the UNP. The vir TULF and the ev LTTE took place culture. The result carnage. The UNI held together by pe and a good dose o the spine of its me
Once dissent be and terrifying p methods available which would be t depending on one' the impeachment President Premad whose welfare wa him, the decision ( do with either loya Counterpoint Sep plotters themselv in the UNP to fin selves. Where t were needed, thes by Mrs. Bandara)
Lalith Athulath for his dissent. which some of h are now eager responsibility fo police protection Who pulled the tant than the int
President Wije

15 MARCH 1994
'rOr
»ost 1977
rardene, his desire revealed itself in hent of Mrs. Banssive legislation, ur and peasantry inst Tamils. His signation from his 2nding the life of a un absolute UNP he dubious referenhim technically a ing to this position ds of a mob leader, he party was also itself in a contempt est which destroyed the violence of July leader mentality razen contempt for most far-reaching halese themselves. left parties were y 1983 violence and iven underground ned. The JVP later enient to challenge milar methods and ns popularised by ual banning of the entual rise of the within this political was unprecedented remained a party rks from corruption latex injected into mbers. came a very costly rospect, the only were extreme ones eacherous or noble perspective. When crisis came under sa, except for those too closely tied to others had little to ty or principle. (See ember 1993). The had been too long trust among themust and character had to be supplied like. nudali paid heavily he UNP Cabinet, DUNF colleagues ) join, must take withdrawing the hat was his due. gger is less importion signalled. nga's war on demo
cracy, his North-East policy and the fate of the Southern Provincial Council are of all one piece. They are part of the refusal to accept any kind of dissent or diversity. A politics which is anti-people has too much to fear and too much that needs to be hidden. It cannot devolve real power as a means of coming to terms with the historical experience of different sections of the people.
North-East Policy
It is here that the UNP's political compulsions resulted in the biggest shambles by the kind of opposition it legitimised. The UNP leadership, nervous about power sharing in principle, has lacked the imagination to challenge the LTTE politically by instituting political processes to win over the minorities. The President proclaimed that there was no ethnic problem, but only a terrorist problem in the NorthEast, and having thus signalled a military intent, there was little that he could do effectively. Having sent raw Sinhalese recruits to the frontlines, while he found even the Batticaloa kachcheri inhospitable, what happened is well known. What is going on in Jaffna today and the attempt to hold sham elections in Vavuniya and the East, of no political purpose, are the results of the Government having cornered itself into a position of belligerence. All that the Government could do to show that it is carrying out a policy is to hammer civilians in the North using transient technological advantage. Places apparently targetted in bombing include five hospitals and several churches. At least 45 civilians were killed in aerial attacks in and around churches. St James Church in Jaffna town and the American Mission Church in Chavakachcheri were hit. Call it what you will, but this is best explained by the mobleader mentality in politics. Its consequences we shall examine in the sequel.
The LTTE
The LTTE has similarly from the start been characterised by an intolerance of dissent. After July 1983, even on Indian soil, potential dissent was weeded out through secret executions. Like in the UNP, dissent or ambition beyond what suited the leader became a costly affair. The leadership of the Tamil military struggle had been contracting ever since Prabakaran had himself photographed with the leaders of the TELO, EPRLFand EROSatthe formation of the ENLF in early 1985. By the end of 1986, having put the others out of action, the LTTE was the sole group. Those in public view as

Page 11
15 MARCH 1994
leaders were Prabakaran, Mahattaya, and Kittu. The LTTE leader coming from India in early January 1987 was regarded as a signal that the last was getting too big for his boots. Kittu lost a leg in a late night assassination attempt at the end of March 1987. Not knowing this, some went to meet him at his office the following morning. They were met by some new faces. On asking for Kittu, the new men laughed. Others said later that the new men were Mahattaya's. Year's later in London, Kittu admitted to former associates that his physical disability was an inside job. Outwardly he played the very faithful servant of the organisation. An ironic charge now levelled against Mahattaya is that he betrayed Kittu to the RAW on 16th January 1993.
The IPKF presence and the N-E Provincial Council resulted in a crisis for the LTTE. It had cornered itself into having to be the sole group. There was evidently much unease with the organisation in making a deal with the Sri Lanka state in 1989. Much less in others had earlier been deemed treachery. The subsequent nonappearance of the leader for several months very likely represented internal horse-dealing. As the IPKF left, Mahattaya emerged as the high profile leader of the group's political party. He widely travelled the North-East meeting people and establishing a base in his own way. As the war which commenced in June 1990 progressed, Mahattaya and Yogi declined in the LTTE in a series of coups by the leader. The charges currently levelled against Mahattaya tell us less about Mahattaya as a person or his alleged guilt than about the LTTE-UNP type of politics. A politics that loses the people as its reference must ultimately direct its predatory instincts within. If the Government needs to bomb or massacre Tamil civilians as an outlet for its bile, the LTTE's politics needs, and indeed invites this, as an organism needs oxygen.
Effect on individuals
Living in a political dispensation where the people are disregarded, forces us into compromises and safe positions, coming to terms with the evil that is around. We then become traitors in a real rather than in a rhetorical or partisan sense.
Recent press reports from Jaffna contain much that has been said by church officials in the wake of the bombing blitz by the SLAF. A leading official of the Catholic Church reportedly said recently: "The Sri Lanka government sought to suppress our non-violent struggles for our rights by
resorting to viol reluctantly comp armed struggle'. had in earlier ye about this armed s 1986, he said tha must get together internal violence. viously felt uneas struggle into wil young were bein almost entirely s. Caught between in the Government from his surroundi convenient to avoi issue of the LTTE this position. The Catholic Church is direction it had hitl legitimisation of t. blamed less on the ses in a few indivi brutality of a politi ernment which eve temples, schools an
The fate of Maha in motion the famil among the leading Tamils. Mahattay known personally Having dealings w came a crime only a smashed in May 19 tant leaders of cons ings with the RAW favours. A few m event, when the Sabaratnam arrive of consequence wen court to him as Inc Many of those who atnam expressed moved on to court too, some like Na succesfully swung (
Death
Agains
Batticaloa Gover Maunakurusamy
death threats after into allegations of
ities in the Eravur Pradeshiya Sabhas ly held local election
"I was threatened the telephone,” he si that the callers ha abandon inquiries il incidents in Eravur
Elections Comm manda de Silva lat deputy commission an assistant commi to Batticaloa to as GA in holding a fu

nce. We are thus illed to wage an e was a man who rs many questions .ruggle. I believe in , the Tamil people nd end the spate of I am sure he preabout a bankrupt ich the innocent drawn, but was unned by adults. sensate bombing by and the pressure ngs he has found it the deeper moral s regime and take influential Roman being pushed in a erto avoided. Such he LTTE must be haracter weaknesduals, than on the cally purblind govn bombs churches, d hospitals.
attaya has also set iar trapeze artistry
LTTE supporting a was far better than Prabakaran. rith the RAW befter the TELO was 86. Indeed all milisequence had dealV and vied for its onths before the TELO leader Sri l in Jaffna, people t in droves to pay ia’s favourite son. courted Sri Sabar
their grief and he LTTE. Abroad teson Satyendra, ver to the LTTE.
TAM TIMES 11
Many others became silent and inactive. Today, no doubt, many abroad are preparing to express their regrets over Mahattaya's fate, and agree to keep the show going. There is much at stake, materially and otherwise.
D.B.S. Jeyaraj's writings about the trial of Mahattaya in the Toronto "Manchari' is a sophisticated example of escape artistry. He gives many facts favourable to Mahattaya, his contribution to the LTTE and what the trial may cost the organisation. He records Mahattaya's anguish at what he saw as undeserved punitive measures levelled at him. He recognises the trial as legitimate. But he does not fail to tell us that a key witness, Engineer Mahendrarajah was executed even before the conclusion of the trial was announced. The reader's ire is directed away from the bankruptcy of the politics by informing him: "Rather than seeing this problem as a Prabakaran-Mahattaya split, it is more profitably seen as an Indian conspiracy'. The reader is told that the writer refrains from expressing his opinion because the matter is 'sub-judice'. The final thrust - a farewell with regrets to an old friend - comes in the conclusion: "The saying "Individuals can perish, but an idea (struggle) cannot perish" rings true as a proverb. But those who think that an idea of Tamil Eelam will wax strong and eternal after the individual Prabakaran is gone are fooling themselves. Even Mahattaya is no exception to this'. Such are the character transformations, as of the kiss of the vampire, resulting in those who are caught up in the embrace of this politics. It casts its long shadow even upon Toronto.
(Courtesy of Counterpoint, January 1994.
"hreats t G.A.
ment Agent R. received several he began inquiries :lection irregularand Kattankudy luring the recentS. several times over id while revealing d wanted him to to election related and Kattankudy.
ssioner Chandralast week sent a r of elections and sioner of elections ist the Batticaloa scale inquiry into
several charges of serious poll malpractices.
Mr. Maunakurusamy said the inquiry would continue despite the threats. "I am only doing my duty, he said.
Officials said that any one found guilty of allowing poll malpractices would be punished. The Elections Commissioner has already urged the police chief IGP Frank de Silva to take disciplinary action against policemen found guilty of Eravur and Kattankudy incidents.
SLMC officials have told the election authorities that uniformed officers entered polling stations in Eravur and Kattankudy had ordered staff to lie on the ground and then stuffed the ballot boxes.
In some places the election staff had been ordered to look at the walls.

Page 12
12 TAMIL TIMES
Reproduced from Report 11 of the University Teachers for Human Rights (Jafna). The story of Anbu Illam (Dwelling Place of Love) situated in Trincomalee in eastern Sri Lanka is among the most remarkable tales of humanity amidst the gloom of war. Suntharalingam was a middle-ranking official in Nilaveli in 1985, by which time the tumult had resulted in much loss of life in the district. It fell to him to determine the future disposition of 27 young orphans. After being processed by the normal state machinery he was asked to send them to the NuwarafEliya Children's Farm. The village children feeling apprehensive about leaving known people and known places asked if they could not stay thereabouts. Suntharalingam who had hitherto treated the matter as one of his routine duties was taken aback by what struck him as a slap on the face. He, in his fifties had been through much that was good and evil in this world and was approaching old age - a time everyone hopes would be one of ease and reflection. He saw this younger generation coming into a more uncertain world, knocking on his door and entreating him. There was little he could do for them and felt condemned if he did not do what he could. He and his wife Rasalatchumi, a teacher (now retired) took what may appear a rash decision. They decided to take them all into their home to be raised with their own two sons. The number quickly increased to 45. Suntharalingam said, 'As a young man I had come from the backwoods of Mutur uwith Rs 17/- in my pocket and had over the years acquired rice fields and had done pretty well for myself. We had some means'. To increase his income with a view to providing for the orphans, he spent rupees four and a half lakhs and started 3 shops in Trincomalee.
When the IPKF came in 1987, Colonel Raman was at first well-disposed to Anbu Illam. He sometimes came with provisions and Suntharalingam used to tell him, 'Give it to the children, and not to me'. As the war between the IPKF and the LTTE wore on, the fact that the LTTE had once been influential in Vilaveli made him an object of suspicion. He was once detained, presumably at Colonel Raman's bidding and was tied naked for 7 days before being released on the intervention of friends.
Suntharalingam was deeply upset by the killings of Vijayanathan and
* “ANBU |LAM' Of TrinCC
later of Gnanas 1989. Sunthara poem for Gnana the children san every militant c The poem descr qualities the voi called upon Lord why. Suntharali threats from the the "Mandayan
ated with the l Nilaveli he was v that he was bein said that he was shop, proceeded
escaped to Trinc
He then decide japerumal, Chie have it out with explained his po japerumal who li Chief Minister man of ability ar. lacking in huma by his story. He am rupees one wards his child thanked him for replied, “In this til men uvielding po accept this moj would be my po репsation ofрои, asked Varathar question. “Why Gin a n as ek era r Varatharajaperu rassment, 'Why was the time th ment was dis onslaught of th Lankan forces ac rise in revenge japerumal told h of concern, "Thi are turning into for you to be her place'.
It is also notab the last session Provincial Cour 1989, one mem pressed concer revenge killing People like us c time things ar But who is go ordinary people protect those i directly associa have a social c guide the peopl vicissitudes.
The Sunthar, dren then move
 

15 MARCH 1994
karan in September ingam composed a ekeran and he and the poem in front of Imp in Trincomalee. bed Gnanasekeran's left by his loss and Konesar to tell them gam started getting killer unit known as Group' widely associPRLF. One day, in arned by a mechanic g followed. He loudly going to Seven Star as if to go there, and malee.
d to go to VaratharaMinister NEP, and him face to face. He sition to Varatharastened patiently. The Impressed him as a d understanding, not nity, who was moved offered Suntharalingand a half lakhs toren. Suntharalingam his kind thought and ansitory world where иver соте апd go, if I ney from you uvhat sition when the diser changes. He then ajaperumal a direct did your party kill ?'. Taken aback mal replied in embare uvas one of us. This le provincial governsolving under the LTTE and the Sri companied by a sharp
killing. Varatharam finally with a note
is a time uvihen men beasts. It is not good Get yourself to a safe
e that during some of of the North-East il about the end of per Ratnam had ex
about the spate of . He said in effect. me and go and every
turned topsy-turvy. ng to look after the . He made a plea to
the community not d with any side and ncern, who alone can
through the coming
ingams and the chilto Kattaiparichchan
in the Mutur area, where his friend Thangathurai, former MP gave him 5 acres of land. As the war progressed Suntharalingham lost most of his wealth, and the three shops had crashed.
Shortly before the June 1990 war, the LTTE set up a platform near his place and had a meeting in the morning which was addressed by Mahattaya, then Deputy Leader, LTTE. Following the meeting Mahattaya walked into Anbu Illam and made inquiries. On learning their story he was visibly moved. He hugged some of the children and asked to have breakfast with them - an event which was photographed.
A tractor which had been taken by another group fell into the hands of the LTTE. On discovering that it belonged to Suntharalingam they offered to return it to him about 3 days before the war of June 1990. He reflected, “True. I uvas once a uvealthy man. But, by this time my desire for wealth had worn off. I lost several lakhs when my house and vehicle in Mutur uvere destroyed. I felt somewhat deterred from applying for compensation. I told the LTTE men you keep it for the time being and return it to me at some convenient time. I think it was God (Konesar) who guided me to take that position. If after the war had broken out word had got around that I had retrieved my tractor through the LTTE, it would have meant a lot of trouble'.
About July 1990 as the Sri Lankan army moved into the Mutur area Suntharalingams and the children betook themselves to the jungles with the village folk. For 47 days they led a tenuous existence sleeping among snakes and wild animals. In late August 1990 one girl was bitten by a snake and there was no way of reaching medical assistance. Suntharalingam took a gamble. He went in the morning with all the children and surrendered themselves at the Pachchanoor army camp. Confronted with the unusual event the sentries were hostile and suspicious. When the officer in charge was called, following a few questions he grasped the reality of the situation. He promptly ordered hot tea and biscuits for the children. Meanwhile, he contacted other camps stopped the bus to Mutur, and arranged for all to be sent to Trincomalee on Mutur-Trinco ferry. Suntharalingam said, "That officer was a good human being. But I forgot his name. All I know now is that he was in charge of the Pachchanoor camp in August 1990.
In Trincomalee the large family

Page 13
15 MARCH 1994
moved into the house of the late Appathurai Chettiar at 167 Central Road, which had upon his last will passed onto the Ramakrishna Mission. It had been a grand house in its time about the turn of the century, with pillars of solid Burma teak, which was now in some state of disrepair. An old slightly damaged picture of the late Chettiar himself, sparsely attired as an ascetic distancing himself from ties of the flesh and mourning over the mortal remains of an elder daughter, now hangs near the entrance. Suntharalingam rescued it from the rubbish and had it framed as a mark of respect.
But that was not the end of the troubles of Anbu Illam. Through some quirk of fate, a photograph taken by the LTTE in Kattaiparichchan during Mahattaya’s visit to the Illam had fallen into the hands of the Sri Lankan forces. The Illam was surrounded twice in 1990 and investigation units tried to take Suntharalingam for questioning. Both times the forces were turned back through demonstrations of protest from the children. The third time Suntharalingam decided to have it out direct. He talked to the officer in charge, believed to hold the rank of a major. The officer said in effect that Suntharalingam was breeding recruits for the Tigers. Suntharalingam explained the alienation of the young and said with some indignation pointing to the children. On the contrary, these children have been given a home uith love and affection taught the tenets of religion and are steeped in abiding human values. These hundred children have been saved from a life of destruction and a life with the gun. He was troubled no more.
To make his point Suntharalingam pointed to two 18 year old boys who were at his home, and said, "These two boys came from Mutur for a technical college interview. They came with all their documents including identification and interview letters. The army took them and kept them for a week at Plantation Point during which time they were beaten. What message is the goverптепt giving oиr yoипg.”
For seven months after the war of June 1990, no one went to Koneswaram Temple at Fort Frederick to worship. On the first day of the month of Thai (14th January 1991), the Suntharalingams and children went to the entrance of the fort and sang Thevarams (devotional hymns). The sentries were stupefied. After some questions the officers were informed. Colonel Saliya Kulatunge, Deputy Commandant, Trincomalee, came and spoke to them. He was so moved by
Continued on page 15
The C
B. Vijayathan was most sons of Trinc out by unshakeabl forthrightness. The appearance of rigic where flexibility ha being economical He was among the when confronted v unfair and was in
the pursuit of justi people admired him bemused by his ene
Vijayanathan's sc to his involvement i tary organisations, Young Men's Hin (YMHA). The phas following the arriv, placed the Tamils il ticularly in Trincol vere dilemma. Vija most community li that the IPKF pre used to stabilise Tamils who had pre massive displaceme
But Vijayanatha compromised with haviour by membe) An officer by the n thrust a boy name from Kumburupidd taining a python (b He was pulled out a sent home, where after arrival. Vijaya rious and told Andr tain terms that would punish him That was Vijayana
About mid-Aug IPKF began assist placed from Pankul an forces to resettl On 17th August, soldiers went into t les with men from I branches so as to I would make up te for returning refug sneaked in and sho unarmed soldiers. several refugees w rehabilitation cease
Pankulam folk v malee and informe as the president committee. Vijayar tical of the LTTE a the refugees that t blame, as the LTTE stalked the area knowledge. A senic

TAM L TIMES 13
Case of Vijayanathan
among the foreomalee marked le honesty and se gave him an lity in a world d come to mean with principles.
first to protest with something turn tireless in ce. As much as , they were also :rgy. ocial concern led n several volunincluding the du Association e of the conflict all of the IPKF n the East, parmalee, in a seyanathan, like eaders believed esence must be the position of viously suffered nt.
in in no sense inhuman bers of the IPKF. ame of Andrew 2d Manivannan y into a pit conboa constricter). fter a week and he died shortly anathan was fu'ew in no uncerLord Konesar for his action. than.
ust 1988, the ing Tamils disam by Sri Lanke in their lands. unarmed IPKF he nearby jungPankulam to cut nake poles that mporary shelter gees. The LTTE t dead about six Subsequently ere beaten and d. went to Trincod Vijayanathan of the citizen's hathan was criund indicated to hey too were to 2 could not have without their or official of the
citizen's committee who was present asked Vijayanathan whether he should not have been more cautious. Vijayanathan responded dismissively that what needed to be said ought to be said.
There was another event which also took place during these dangerous days. From mid-1986 the LTTE was regularly visiting NGOs, monitoring their receipt and disbursement of funds. Following the war with the IPKF in October 1987 the LTTE's ability to operate in urban areas became seriously limited. It was here that the EROS came into the act.
Since the LTTE attacked the TELO in mid-1986, there were considerable sections in the EROS that opposed the leadership's inclination to dance to the LTTE's tune. The leadership ignored these sections and became sniffer dogs for the Tigers. It was in these circumstances that Kanthasamy of the TRRO was abducted by the EROS, who then disappeared. Kanthasamy, on a visit to Trinco a short time earlier, had given Vijayanathan Rs 1 lakh and had asked him to use it whenever an emergency arose. Vijayanathan took it on condition that it would be kept in a savings deposit and used only on express instructions from Kanthasamy. When the EROS came sniffing for the money, Vijayanathan put them off by saying it was not his to touch.
On 18th August 1988, the day following the Pankulam incident, Vijayanathan was sent a message saying that a militant group wanted to talk to him in Kanniya, a couple of miles west of Trinco. He was taken to Kanniya on the pillion of a motorcycle by a lad well known to him. A number of persons in Trinco have said that the group concerned was the LTTE. Wijayanathan, though outspoken was cautious. Had the EROS or a proIndian group wanted to talk to him, he would not have easily budged from Trincomalee town where they openly operated. Vijayanathan too disappeared.
(Source: 'Sovereign Will to SelfDestruct, Report 11 by the University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna), November 1993).

Page 14
14 TAM TIMES
Nathan & CheIVa
Solicitors YOUR SATISFACTION ISOUR HAPPINESS
We offer you Prompt and Proper Service in all Legal Matters. Legal Aid Work also undertaken.
Partners: K. Chelva-Nayagan LLB, T. Sri Pathna Nathan,
(Former Advocate of Sri Lanka), S. Veeravagu B.
169 Tooting High Street, London SW17 0SY Tel: O81-672 1800 Fax: 081-6720105
T.S.T. SKY TRAVE
* We offer you flights on scheduled airlines at a
fair price
* We specialise in flights to Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia,
Singapore, USA, Canada & Australia
* We will gladly refund the price difference if you can
convince us that you could have got the same ticket cheaper elsewhere on the same date of purchase.
Please contact Mr. S. Thiruchelvam
Office Residence 255 Haydons Road, 69 Toynbee Road Wimbledon Wimbledon London SW19 8TY London SW20 8SH Tel: 081-5433318 Tel: O81-5425140
AIRLANK
LONDON-COLOMBO-LONDON (FROM 15 JAN TO 30 APR)
(LONDON-MADRAS-LONDON (FROM 15 JAN TO 30 APR) LONDON-TRIVANDRUM-LONDON (FROM 15 JAN TO 30 APR)
BARGAN FARENOWAVALABILEON:
BALKAN AIRWAYS (LONDON-COLOMBO-LONDON)
PAKSTAN INTERNATIONAL ARL Pater B MotoNo hemm (LONDON-COLOMBO-LONDON) .K.L.M منابع
(MANCHESTER-COLOMBO-MANCHES SPECIAL FAMLY FAREAVAILABLE TO COLOMBO ON
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

15 MARCH 1994
(ner) P.SRINIVASAN O
1524 London Road Tel: 081-679 1952 London SW164EU Fa: 08-679 4960
Independent advice could save you thousands of pounds on your life assurance plan
Make sure you've got the right plan لـ
Make sure you take independent advice.
HOME INSURANCE
BEFORE YOURENEW ORTAKE OUT NEWINSURANCE
PLEASE CALL US FOR A COMPETITIVE QUOTATION
CONTENTS & BUILDING INSURANCE
BUILDING INSURANCE It is no longer compulsory to do this with your Building Society / Lender, PLEASE CONTACT
ARMASSOCIATES 081-679 1952
A ضة يص E485 ' ' - '
E425 ീർ %2 2 ീഗ
A. Y.
380 || SKYLTIN " TRAVE
ON O7.1-396 E3 OR O7-396 g2.
O16 RATHBONE STREET |LONIDOINLW 10:AH
Middlesex Office: RILANKA 60 South Road, Southall, Middx UB11RG
Tel: Օ81-843 9995

Page 15
5 MARCH 1994
Continued from page 13
their story that he could not suppress his tears. Thereafter Koneswaram was open to worshippers.
Several people in Trincomalee ascribe to Suntharalingam an image tending towards sainthood in the easternsense. Talkingto Suntharalingam, one gets the impression that he is a shrewd man of the world. He learnt about good and evil not through meditation or books, but from the rough and tumble of day to day living. Having been pretty successful, when a crucial challenge was posed, he had responded with his heart. He was sustained by his experience and knowledge of the affairs of men.
Although his particular situation obliged him to care for Tamil children from the area who were victims of the war, his personal development has made his humanity very broad and humbling to the listener. His sentiments about the Sinhalese, which would surprise outsiders, are being increasingly echoed by Trincomalee Tamils. Asked what he would regard as a solution to the current crisis he said. "I have seen good and evil in all places, in all peoples and in all forces. Whether IPKF, the Tamil groups or the Sinhalese forces. Anyone with a gun has potential for evil. I would like to see an end to guns. If uve could all talk uvithout guns we could do pretty well. The ordinary Sinhalese are not aggressors. Both communities in touvin have suffered in recent times. A few days ago I was in the market, a place of bitter acrimony in the past. Some Sinhalese market vendors waved at me with a smile and said "Now that the politicians and big mudalalis (traders) have gone, we can live together as friends.” You go up along the coast. At Kallara you will find migrant Sinhalese fisherfolk. They are poor innocent people. The mudalalis for whom they earn money do not sight the place. It is these innocent people who get hurt in the war.
“We Tamils who have lost much should not blame the Sinhalese for everything. It is often more true that we lost something rather than the Sinhalese took. Did the Sinhalese take one inch of temple land by force? It is rather our lawyers who wrote away temple lands for the money. True the festive ground at Konesuvaram uvas turned into a parade ground for the army. But sometimes our people going there have behaved shamefully. If it is for their palate, people would go into the market which was unsafe in previous times. But if you ask them to come to Koneswaram they would say it is unsafe. Sometimes the behaviour of our young folk in the precincts of
Konesuvaram uvas. soldiers uvere emb other hand, soldie respectful towards much cash into th Sinhalese employee want to use Theert, occasion the Sinhal porary huts there everything and give and span'.
As to how he m costs Rs 2250/- a children. This come ment in the form fugees. Other expen on an ad hoc basi Some of the olden етtering штiversity. will enter this yea) pledged by a well-u this home as an orp ment uwould give ea month. But there t terference. I am goin these are my childr have so far not t request to bring up child has lost both p similar alternative u
The Illam has just at present. The la bereaved by the M disaster of Januar majority of the child eldest Shanbakadev start a degree cours the Eastern Univers is a boy, Dinesh (3), killed in 1990 and w in Mulleriya. Suntl two sons are compl education. Four of studying A Level Ar
About the future, said, 'I could ask ot help. But too often such things to feathen am training some of manage the admini finances. Hopefully over. But they woula uvorking institution gone through the str it up and so its chara will keep going in th as long as it is possil
The Inmates of
The stories of the Illam give in a nutsl the war in the Trince
Shanbakadevi (22 chan, Mutur: Joined Father Velukutti sh army in 1985 while fields in Eravur (neal migrant labourer. M ness in 1987. Sister w

uch that even the arrassed. On the is are often very he temple and put 2 till. So are the ì of Prima. If uve akari on a festive 2se uvho have temwould dismantle us the place spick
anages he said "It day to feed the s from the governof rations for reses have been met by well wishers. girls would be For the one who money has been lisher. If I register anage the governch child Rs 150/- a would also be ing on the basis that en in my home. I urned down any a child where a parents or uphere a was not feasible.'
, over 120 children st 7 taken were Mutur ferry boat y this year. The ren are girls. The i (22) is about to e in commerce at ity. The youngest whose father was those mother lives neralingam's own eting their school the children are ts | Suntharalingam hers to come and people come into their own nests. I the older girls to stration and the they would take l then take over a without having uggle of building cter may change. I e present manner
ble.”
* Anbu lam
children at Anbu nell the course of
malee District. 2), Kattaiparichthe Illam in 1985. not dead by the working in the r Batticaloa) as a other died of illvent to India as a
TAMIL TIMES 15
refugee with relatives and lives there. Grandmother in Kattaiparichchan.
Jeevamalar (19) Puthukudiyiruppu, Thampalakamam: Joined Illam in 1985. Studying A Levels. The army woke up the family one night in 1985, took the father Vijayasingam out and hacked him to death. She with mother Thevarani and others fled and took refuge in neighbouring Muslim village and her mother was killed by shrapnel.
Vijayakumar (14), Thampalakamam: Father hacked to death by the army in 1985.
Nathikumar (14), Kilivetti, Kottiyarpurpaatu: Father Sivasubramaniam among 3 shot dead by the army on 26/9/86. Mother killed later in shelling.
Mohanadevi (16), Thampalakamam: Father Maheswaran killed by Sinhalese homeguards on 17/12/85. Mother died of illness earlier.
Kumudhini (about 16), Thiriyai: Father Thuraisany dragged away by Tamil militants in 1985 while having a meal with his family and shot dead. He was alleged to be responsible for a gallon of diesel that was missing.
Thanalakshmi (17), 3rd Ward, Muthur. Father Letchumikantham farmer, shot dead by the army on 26/9/86 over an incident connected with Sinhalese in the nearby village.
Her mother lives in a refugee camp in Muthur.
TAMILTIMEs
Annual Sibscription Rates UjKfdafSri įtaka 6.00ft SS3253ð Astfalia: . . Atas.648 Canada: Can.S40
tSA: tSS35 Aií other countriess: £20.0G/US$35.00 Pleas complete this form ard post to TAMIL TIMES Ltd, PO Box 121 Sutton, Surrey SM1 3TD deleting whichever is inapplicable, wish to payrerew my subscription for & øene year#two yearstthree years
łafn sefndirg you a gátt stbscription ofta
èhaf yť:
Please send an introductory copy to.
enclose a dioration of . . . . .
ffy cheietiefdraftf.K. ir veur of farmii
LtLLLLLLL LLLzzzzL eeLLLLL LL S
(BOCK CAPAS PEASE)

Page 16
16 TAMIL TIMES
U.N. Commission on
NGOs Call for Neg Political Solution to
Several Non-Governmental Organisations attending the Fiftieth Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights called for a negotiated political solution to the ongoing ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
In an intervention by the representative of the Regional Council for Human Rights in Asia, which was also supported by over a dozen other NGOs, including Human Rights Advocates, Pax Christi International, World Student Christian Federation, International Movement for Fraternal Union Among Races and Peoples, Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Third World Movement Against Exploitation of Women, World Alliance of Reformed Churches, World Christian Life Community, and International Movement Against All Forms of Discrimination and Racism, the NGOs stated that the experience of recent years had shown that there was no military solution to the conflict.
The following is the text of the intervention:
"The continuing violation of human rights of the people of Sri Lanka is a matter of concern that should be placed on the list of priorities of this Commission. Although the present Government of Sri Lanka seeks to deny the fact of discrimination against the minority communities in the island that has given rise to the present situation, the realities are well known to the international community and need not be described in detail on this occasion.
“We would like to make use of this opportunity to draw the attention of this Commission to a few of the most significant factors relating to the present situation in Sri Lanka:
(1) The military conflict in the north-east of the country, causing tremendous losses to life and property; over a million persons have been internally displaced as a result of the conflict, and thousands of others have fled to other countries.
(2) The civilian population of the north-east of the island have lived without basic amenities, shortages of essential items including food, fuel and drugs and minimal access to medical attention. They live under a constant threat to their safety and security and are subjected to continual, widespread
and indiscrimin the Sri Lankan (3) The Gove uses the ongoin, east of the islan of Emergency v May 1983 unde fundamental fre the Constitution Lanka continue impunity.
(4) The exper have proved be can be no mil conflict and th course thus far incalculable loss
"In this cont Commission on the two main pae Sri Lanka, the Lanka and the
AP Of Ce
The following intervention by “Article 19” at session of the Human Rights.
In July, 1993, national Centr sent a four-p legation to Sri freedom of opir “ARTICLE 1 acknowledges incidents and ( Lanka in the remain, howev sions, laws an tinue to infri damental righ ion, and develo the seven mol disquieting. In failure of the to investigate in respect of n recent past ri the Sri Lanka know the ti damental asp dom of expres “Among ou] ulgation of Er sedition, whic

15 MARCH 1994
an Rights tiated Conflict
te aerial bombing by ecurity forces. niment of Sri Lanka conflict in the northl to prolong the State hich was declared in which many of the edoms guaranteed by to all the people of Sri to be infringed with
ence of the past years 'ond doubt that there tary solution to the e pursuit of such a has only resulted in of life and property.
ext, we request the Human Rights to urge rties to the conflict in | Government of Sri
Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to seek a cessation of hostilities with a view to achieving a political solution to the conflict through negotiations among al concerned parties and groups and obtain the assistance of the Secretary General of the United Nations in any mediation that may become necessary with the objective of bringing about an end to the war and the restoration of normalcy and peace with respect for human rights for all the people of Sri Lanka.
"We also request the Chairman, af. ter consultation with the Bureau, to appoint an independent expert of international standing in the field of human rights as Special Rapporteur of the Commission whose mandate will be to make a thorough study of the violations of human rights in Sri Lanka based on all information the Special Rapporteur may deem relevant, including information provided by inter-governmental and nongovernmental organisations, and any comments and material provided by the Government of Sri Lanka and submit a report to the Commission at its Fifty-First Session.'
'ervasive Atmosphere
nsorship” in Sri Lanka
are excerpts from an the representative of the recently held 50th UN Commission on
ARTICLE 19 the Intere Against Censorship rson fact-finding deLanka on the issue of ion and expression.
9 both welcomes and the reduction in the agree of violence in Sri last two years. There r constitutional provipractices which conge severely the funto freedom of expressoments in Sri Lanka in ths since our visit are addition the continuing ri Lankan government und bring prosecutions assive violations in the presents the denial to people of their right to th which is a funt of the right to freeon and information.
concerns is the promrgency Regulations on had been withdrawn in
June 1993 only to be reintroduced this past December. There are two troubling aspects to these regulations ARTICLE 19 wishes to emphasize.
"First, the promulgation of these laws as Emergency Regulations has meant that they were not subject to public or parliamentary debate before coming into force. ARTICLE 19 considers this side-stepping of the democratic process a serious violation of freedom of expression. It also contradicts the statement of the representative of Sri Lanka at the 49th session of the Commission, to the effect that there is a "democratic form of governance which Sri Lanka has uninterruptedly practised for over half a century”. .
"Second, the Emergency Regulations restoring laws on sedition violate international and comparative standards, not least because their wording is broad and vague. It must also be noted here as has been pointed out by ARTICLE 19 to President Wijetunge that courts throughout the Commonwealth have condemned sedition laws that purport to punish speech short of incitement to violence. The Sri Lankan Emergency Regulations do not require incitement to violence. The law also

Page 17
15 MARCH 1994
makes it a crime to display posters or distribute leaflets "the contents of which are prejudicial to public security". In addition, the regulations make civil disobedience a crime of sedition with a penalty of up to 20 years' imprisonment.
“ARTICLE 19 acknowledges that a change to the regulations, introduced on 5 January 1994, removed an earlier provision making it an offence to “bring or attempt to bring the President or the government into hatred or contempt". This change will have little impact, however, on the manner in which the law is interpreted and charges preferred against journalists and others seeking to exercise their right to freedom of opinion and expression.
"A number of the recommendations in our report, which will be published shortly, call for changes in laws which continue to restrict freedom of expression and which contradict article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. These changes alone, however, will not resolve the very real problem of informal censorship in Sri Lanka.
The ARTICLE 19 mission to Sri Lanka found ample evidence to support the claim that the hand of government operates in virtually every sphere of society and outside the context of law to abridge the right to freedom of expression. This may be accomplished through exerting economic and financial control, threatening ostracism or actually perpetrating violence against an individual, a publication, a group of publications or a non-government organization working in the area of freedom of expression. As a result, it can be said that a systemic and entrenched culture of censorship permeates all the institutions of society.
This pervasive atmosphere of informal censorship raises the question of what kind of challenge can be mounted by Sri Lankan or external human rights groups to combat it. For, by definition, this kind of censorship exists as a grey area of threats and pressures. Informal censorship and the self-censorship it encourages are difficult to document but are relatively easy to dismiss and certainly are not often held against a government by an international community eager to see improvements. Our conclusions following our mission therefore reflect grave concern that in Sri Lanka, as in other countries, criticism from the international community and an insistence that there be a return to the rule of law and good governance as preenditions for further aid agreements
has pushed abuse ir area.
"It is therefore ol reintroduction of El tions on sedition, cc policies and inform ports our hypotheses ments in human cited by the Sri Lank this forum - and too the Commission on face value - wel tenuous. They are r based and thus do protection for freedol general and the med
"Based on the finding July of last year and sequently received,
not confident the hu tion in Sri Lanka improve without gre by the Commission o We therefore call on at this 50th sessio Special Rapporteur year to investigate a Commission, to pro commendations and
government of Sri I the concerns we hav as well as others. S CLE 19 calls on th cooperate with the S to, among other issu
1) ensure a) that the sure to the people through uncensored media, of the discove: at Suriyakanda, anc quiry into the ciri rounding the deaths bodies were found in carried out, in acco recommendations ( Group on Disappea those considered charged in a court of human rights monito be kept fully infor inquiry and its findin; public scrutiny. 2) ensure access for a to the governmentcast and print med election period, and,
The following are intervention by the ( of the Women's Inte for Peace and Freed held 50th Session of sion on Human Righ
 

TAMIL TIMES 17
to this "informal”
ur view that the mergency Regulabupled with other all practices, supthat the improverights frequently an government in often accepted by Human Rights at e and remain, hot institutionally not provide real m of expression in lia in particular. s of our mission in | information subARTICLE 19 is man rights situawill substantially !ater involvement in Human Rights. the Commission, in, to appoint a for a term of one and report to the vide concrete reto work with the Lanka to address fe outlined above pecifically, ARTIe government to pecial Rapporteur ES
re is a full discloof Sri Lanka,
reports in the ry ofmass graves d; b) that an incumstances surs of those whose the mass grave be rdance with the of the Working arances; c) that responsible be law, and; d) that rs and journalists ned so that the gs may be open to
ll political parties controlled broadlia in this pre—
3) ensure full cooperation with Mr. Abid Hussain, the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, in the investigation of both legal and informal limitations to the right to freedom of expression and the adoption of policies and practices to eliminate obstacles to the enjoyment of this right for all people.
In January 1993 the Sri Lankan government announced (not for the first time) its intention to establish a national human rights commission. We note that no date for the creation of this body nor its terms of reference or constitution have been made public. ARTICLE 19 wishes to place on record our serious reservations about the establishement of yet another national institution in Sri Lanka which, if it follows the pattern of its predecessors - namely the Human Rights Task Force and the Inquiry into Disappearances - will serve the government's international public relations purposes far more than it will address the grave problem of public accountability for human rights abuses and the need for prosecutions to be brought against those who perpetrate these abuses.
"ARTICLE 19 notes that in the undertaking given by the Sri Lankan government at the 49th UNCHR sessions, the following statement was included: “The government will continue to pursue its policy of openness and cooperation with regard to further measures for the promotion and protection of human rights. Collaboration with the United Nations, national institutions and interested governments will continue to be an integral part of this policy.”
"ARTICLE 19 calls on the government of Sri Lanka to practise this same policy of openness and cooperation in its dealings with nongovernmental organizations both within Sri Lanka and externally based. ARTICLE 19 also calls on the government of Sri Lanka vigorously to pursue a policy of openness with the people of Sri Lanka themselves by ensuring the effective and full enjoy. ment of the right to freedom of opinion and expression.”
UDUGAMPOLA CASE
r Case of Impunity
2xcerpts from the General Secretary 'rnational League om at the recently the UN Commisats:
"The situation of conflict in Sri Lanka and the many violations of the democratic rights of the people of Sri Lanka are matters that have been placed before this Commission for suc
Continued on page 18

Page 18
18 TAM TIMES
Continued from page 17
cessive years. It is with dismay therefore that we record that there has been no substantive change in the Sri Lankan situation in the past year, despite the repeated assurances of the Sri Lankan government to the contrary.
“. . . .we wish to welcome the accession by the Sri Lankan government to the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and urge the Sri Lankan government to take steps to ensure the implementation of the Convention. In particular, we urge that steps be taken to ensure that members of the security forces do not engage in torture of alleged suspects or detainees with impunity. A compilation of recent judgements by the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka presented in Parliament in November 1993 show that in the period from January 1991 to December 1992, 90 Police officers were found guilty of fundamental rights violations of detainees including torture.
'We would like to underscore the persistence of impunity in Sri Lanka and its impact on the human rights situation. The fact that the state has systematically paid the fines imposed on Police officers found guilty of fundamental rights violations by the Supreme Court and granted promotion to such Police officers totally disregarding their human rights records is one which contributes to a sense among members of the security forces that they may engage in detaining and torturing persons with impunity, while among members of the general public it creates a climate of fear and intimidation in which no civilian will dare to defend his or her rights.
"Of particular concern is the recent promotion of former Deputy Inspector General of Police, Premadasa Udugampola, who has been implicated in several cases of gross abuse of human rights; for example, the death of lawyer Liyanarachchi while in Police custody. The High Court judgement in this case, delivered on March 18 1991 found that it could not hold Mr. Udugampola's testimony in the case to be truthful and said that the state "had not with fairness presented the full picture of complicity before this Court". The present President of Sri Lanka has also gone on record on April 8 1992 as stating that the Criminal Investigations Department was proceeding with inquiries against Mr. Udugampola in connection with the Liyanarchchi case. However, instead of Udugampola being investigated he has been rewarded with the appointment to the prestigious position of
Acting Chairman Ports Authority.
"In this connect refer back to th made by the UN Enforced and Inv ances after their v 1991 and 1992. In 1992/18/Add. 1 r. called for the Sri L engage in "more r and "severe discip of those responsib violations while specifically asked rights records o armed forces and taken into accoul tion of promotions
“The recent di grave in Suriyak also has major i human rights rec given the histol appearances whic up to the presen rights groups both the country have regarding the ex subsequent inves lar raising the ia forensic expertise government has interventions and with a judicial in fined deadline. 1 witnesses involvec have been sujbje timidation and t. vital evidence in been destroyed. the Sri Lanka gov international fore event of such e. linked to past disa one of the recomm Working Group o
Thus, it beco) government of Sri to disregard the the UN Working ances as velas o human rights Amnesty Interna the question o punishment of t human rights viol while also displa the unravelling ( gard to the past ances and massiv tions in the count
“We would also to raise our conc the north of Sri raised in this Co year as well. We detention of fem Thiagarajah. Sh

15 MARCH 1994
of the Sri Lankan
on we would like to
recommendations, Working Group on luntary Disappearisits to Sri Lanka in their report E/CN.4/ commendation (g) anka government to gorous prosecution" linary punishment” le for human rights recommendation (i)
that the "human f members of the the Police should be ut in the considera
scovery of a mass anda in Sri Lanka mplications for the ord of the country, y of massive dish remain unsolved t. Although human within and outside : expressed concern humation and the tigation, in particuissue of the lack of in the field, the lisregarded all such continues to proceed guiry with an undeLawyers and other l in the investigation st to threat and inhere is a fear that he case has already The suggestion that ernment would seek nsic expertise in the (humations directly ppearances was also endations of the UN
Disappearances
mes clear that the Lanka is continuing recommendations of Group on Disappearother international agencies such as ional with regard to prosecution and ose responsible for ations in the country ring no concern for the truth with rehistory of disapperhuman rights violaгу.
ake this opportunity erns about a case in anka which we have nmission in the past efer to the prolonged nist poet Selvanithy was arrested by the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Jaffna in August 1991, and since then her whereabouts have remained unknown. We appeal to those who have her in their custody to release her forthwith.
"Given the fact that many pieces of anti-democratic legislation such as the Emergency Regulations and the Prevention of Terrorism Act which permit the indiscriminate arrest and detention of persons for undetermined periods and in undefined places of detention remain in place, the framework within which many violations of the rights of detainees can take place continues to exist. The last Annual Report of the Human Rights Task Force, one of the national mechanisms set up by the government of Sri Lanka in response to growing international criticism of its human rights record, says it received 2351 complaints of missing persons in the 12-month period from September 1, 1992 to August 31, 1993. Although the recorded number of disappearances in the country seems to be less in 1993, this is because many of the arrests of Tamil and Muslim persons in the conflict areas in the Eastern and North-Central Provinces go unrecorded. And recent mass round-ups of Tamils in the south of the country, especially in Colombo, have indicated beyond doubt that the mechanisms which allow for arbitrary arrest and detention and disappearances are still very much in existence. The case of Sinnathambi Meganathan, a bodyguard of a Tamil member of Parliament, who was abducted in November 1993 while on a bus in Colombo and who was traced a week later in Batticaloa in the Eastern province, in custody and with marks of assault all over his body, is but one of the better known.
"In conclusion we would wish to underscore the continuation of the ethnic conflict in the country and the absence of any process of negotiation towards a resolution of the conflict and the restoration of peace to the island of Sri Lanka. Both parties to the conflict - that is, the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE are responsible for this state of affairs and we urge them to consider the initiation of a peace process without further delay, if the rights of all Sri Lankan people to live in harmony and with dignity are to be assured.
"As the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, we appeal to the government of Sri Lanka to take note of the concerns of the international community with regard
Continued on page 19

Page 19
15 MARCH 1994
Sri Lanka Hits Out at to Deflect Attentior
Human Rights
The following is the text of the statement made on 7th March by Mr. Tilaik Marapana on behalf of the government of Sri Lanka at the Fiftieth Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights.
This 50th session marks several decades of work, in which the Commission has contributed significantly to the promotion and protection of human rights since the adoption of the Universal Declaration. Sri Lanka is privileged to have participated in this process, having been a member of this Commission at regular intervals since 1957.
Over the years, the Commission's work, both in structure and content, has demonstrated its success in adapting to the changing international context in which it functions. This flexibility has enabled it to overcome its own limitations. In the same spirit of cooperation that has enabled the Commission to overcome difficult issues in the past, we remain optimistic that the current concerns relating to the agenda of the Commission, and the rationalization of its work, could be resolved through dialogue, mutual trust and accommodation.
Let me now turn to the situation in Sri Lanka, since I addressed the 49th Session of this Commission in March last year.
On 1st May, a tragic blow against our democratic institutions was struck by the terrorists when President Ranasinghe Premadasa, the elected President of Sri Lanka was brutally assassinated in Colombo. The ongoing inquiry indicates that this diabolical and senseless act was the work of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The manner in which the government, the opposition, and the people of Sri Lanka reacted in the aftermath of the assassination was exemplary. Foreign observers were impressed with the resilience displayed by the
Continued from page 18
to the urgent need for peace in Sri Lanka and request the Commission to urge the government of Sri Lanka to take immediate steps to bring an end to the on-going ethnic conflict through a process of negotiations and to restore peace with respect for human rights in Sri Lanka.
people and the pe transition, by whic Wijetunga was una and installed in offic traumatic period c order was maintain harmony prevailed reprisals of any ki who may have beel volvement in the a intention of the tern violence on racial political turmoil was
In his inaugural nation, President W his commitment to human rights as f stress again the com and my governmen tion of democracy an tic freedoms enshr stitution. . . . The m cipline, law and ord human rights will dered attention an government'.
The resilience of stitutions is further peaceful conduct ( Council elections or barely two weeks af madasa's assassinat parties and ten in participated in th seventeen districts ( international observ representatives of s bers of this Commiss peaceful, free and fa elections.
Members of this recall that on 11th M a statement indica sures the governm ment to further im rights situation in S
These measures recognition of the man rights violation occurred in Sri I assumed full respon gate these reporte take remedial actio
sary.
I wish to highlig progress we have m Sri Lanka has acc Convention Against A mechanism has ascertain the fate a

TAM TIMES 19
LTTE
Y Oη
:aceful process of h President D.B. animously elected e. Throughout this omplete law and ed and communal . There were no hd against groups n suspected of inissassination. The rorists to instigate
lines and cause thereby defeated.
address to the jetunga expressed ) democracy and ollows: "I wish to mitment of myself t to the preservald all the democrained in our Conaintenance of diser and respect for receive the consid support of my
our democratic inevidenced in the of the Provincial 17th May 1993, ter President Preion. Nine political dependent groups ese elections in of the country. An er team, including iome of the memion, witnessed the ir conduct of these
Commission will arch 1993, I made ting certain meaent would impleprove the human Sri Lanka. were identified in allegations of huis reported to have anka. We have sibility to investi!d violations and n wherever neces
ht the significant ade in this regard: ceded to the UN
Torture.
been set up to hd whereabouts of
persons reported missing prior to 1991, as recommended by the UN Working Group. The Emergency Regulations pertaining to arrest and detention procedures have been reviewed and revised. Steps are underway to identify Emergency Regulations, which could be revoked or replaced by legislation. The recommendations of the UN Working Group on Disappearances subsequent to their two visits to Sri Lanka, are under implementation. Several prosecutions against human rights violators have been launched. The invitation extended a few years ago to the UN Special Rapporteur on Extrajudicial, Summary or Arbitrary Executions has been accepted. He will visit Sri Lanka at a mutually convenient date in the course of this year.
Clearly the most significant of the measures that were proposed by the government to this Commission last year was the achievement of a negotiated political settlement to the problems involving the North and the East of the country. Over the last ten years, constitutional changes have been effected in order to meet the legitimate demands of the Tamil people on critical issues like devolution, and language rights. These have been arrived at after thorough and painstaking dialogue and negotiation. These measures have resulted in persuading even extremist Tamil groups to join the democratic mainstream. The LTTE alone has refused to enter the democratic process, attempting to achieve its aim of creating a separate mono-ethnic one-party state in the North and the East of Sri Lanka by violent means.
The government has expressed its resolve that the LTTE should not be permitted to bypass the democratic process. Several opportunities were given in the past to the LTTE to engage in discussions with the government, the latest being the fourteen month period between April 1989 and June 1990 when former President Premadasa had talks with the LTTE. Despite the unreliability that the LTTE has manifested in the past, on 15th January 1994, Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremasinghe extended an invitation to the LTTE to talks and to participate in the ongoing discussions on constitutional reforms by submitting its proposals to the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Reforms. As the Commission would recall, the LTTE had earlier been given an opportunity of participating in the Parliamentary Select Committee which had been established in
Continued on page 21

Page 20
20 TAMIL TIMES
Standing Committee of Tamil Speaking People (S.C.O.T.) Reg. Charity 274499
Tamil New Year Lunch & Raffle
on Sunday, 10th April 1994, at 1.00pm,
at The Wandsworth Town Hall, Civic Suite, Wandsworth High Street, London SW182PU
With Special Guest Speaker For tickets and information, phone:
O895 257788, 0734 429467, O81-904 6472/6534146/9049227, 081-868 2517/468 7181.
Buses: 28, 37, 39, 44, 156, 170, 220, 270, 337 Tube: Tooting Broadway, East Putney & then by Bus
British Rail: Putney, Clapham Junction, Earlsfield, Wandsworth Town and then by Bus
BAA & AR
Solicitors and Administrators of Oaths We offer friendly legal service on O Conveyancing (Sale and O Immigration
Purchase-houses, Flats O Divorce and Matrimonial Commercial property) O Civil and Criminal Litigation O Partnership agreement, O Landlord and Tenant
Power of attorney, O Employment last wills etc.
Legal Aid also available Please Ring
B. Balaraman or S. Aravindan Address: 416 Barking Road, East Ham, London E62SA
Telephone: 081-503 5034
PHOTOGRAPHS
For Weddings and Other OCCasions
GARLANDS For Weddings, Receptions
BRIDAL. JEWELLERY and FLORAL DECORATIONS Telephone SIVA on: 081-470-5776
 

15 MARCH 1994
Eastern Fine Arts Promotions ශ්‍රී
proudly presents
Carnatic Veena Recital
፵öM
SMT. Renuka shrananda
A distinguished exponent of Carnatic Vocal and Veena music in the UK. She holds the Masters Degree in Carnatic Music from the University of Madras and has been a lecturer in music in the University of Jaffna and research assistant in the University of Madras. She has captured the hearts of many camatic music lovers with her excellent, innovative and inspiring performances both in vocal and veena music in Madras, Sri Lanka and the UK.
accompanied by
Mas. Jason & Jonathan Pararajasingham - Miruthangam
Sri. Bangalore Prakash -Gadam
at the Wembley High School Hall, East Lane, Wembley, Middx
on Saturday 30th April 1994 at 6.30pm Tickets: adults £300, family £700 Phone: 081-2058214 081-864. 3227 081-8614485
f
s
KOKUWILHINDU COLLEGE OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (UK)
presents
CULTURAL SHOW
IN AID OF K.H.C.
On Saturday 23 April, 1994 at 6.30pm
at Mill Hill County High School Worcester Crescent, Mill Hill, London NWT7
Programme 1. Violin recital: Mr S. Sivasankar 2. Vocal recital: Mrs Sarawathy Packiarajh
and her students 3. Bharatha Natyam: Mrs Dilaney Murugaiah 4. Drama: Tamil Performing Arts Society 5. Light music: Sathana Music group
Tickets: Family £10, single: £5
For tickets & further information please contact: Ranjit: 0895-251507 Velthasan: 081-241 0054 Rajan: 081-952 7293

Page 21
15 MARCH 1994
Continued from page 19
August 1991 to arrive at a political solution to the question involving the devolution of power to the Northern and the Eastern Provinces. The LTTE however failed to accept this invitation.
There is one basic fact that must be borne in mind in the consideration of the endeavours by the government to achieve a negotiated political settlement. The LTTE, whilst consistently denying cherished democratic freedoms to the people whom they claim to represent, is espousing a claim for self determination ostensibly on their behalf. The Tamil people comprise only 12.5 per cent of the population. They too are not confined to the North and the East of the country. The LTTE has no proven mandate to represent them. The LTTE is demanding a separate state, constituting as much as one third of the territory of Sri Lanka and two thirds of the island's coastline. They have based this demand on a spurious interpretation of historical facts. The illogicality and complete unreasonableness of this demand which is sought to be extracted by violence and terrorism is abundantly clear. Yet, in spite of the irrational nature of the claim, the government is prepared in the interest of peace and welfare of ordinary people who are helpless victims of this conflict, to search for a peaceful solution, without total disregard of the concerns of the LTTE.
The government has reiterated that any talks with the LTTE would only be held on the basis of four fundamental conditions:
- first, the renouncing of violence by the LTTE;
- second, discus, the highest level of not through intern
- third, that all parties, especially munity, must also the discussions;
- fourth, the sali a negotiated sett known before talks
The governmen response of the L. tion.
We are gratified tional community l resolution of the N through a negotia ment. This is our international con doubtedly assist in this objective. The munity should exe LTTE to renounc democracy, jettisor mands and come table. It is well kn draws most of its fi through illegal acti and intimidation Tamil community Western Europe, Australia etc. In fa countries, the LT offices for the pur these coverit operat grateful to the G United Kingdom fo leader who had illegal activities. Tl a direct threat to Lanka and were pri and integrity. It is that can best serv terest in eliminat restoring peace an
Chairman's
The following is the text of the statement made on 7 March by the Chairman of the UN Commission on Human Rights.
"The Commission acknowledges the statement of the representative of Sri Lanka concerning the situation of human rights in Sri Lanka, and welcomes the government's continuing cooperation with the Commission.
"The Government of Sri Lanka has outlined a programme of work which is to be implemented in the course of the coming year which inter alia, includes commitments to: the further revision of the Emergency Regulations; the promotion of accountability through the vigorous undertaking of investiga
Statenme
tions and instituti tions against huma tors; taking all po prevent injury to course of military
plementation of th tions made by the on Disappearances.
The efforts of the arrive at a negotia tlement to the p. North and the Eas should be encourag
"As requested by of Sri Lanka, thi ment will be inclu report of the Coml statement of the d Lanka in its entire mary records of thi

TAM TIMES 21
sions being held at the leadership and nediaries;
recognized political of the Tamil combe represented at
ent features of such lement are made
S COLIl'Islence,
t is awaiting the TTE to this invita
l that the internaooks forward to the North-East problem ted political settleobjective too. The mmunity can unthe achievement of international comrt influence on the e violence, accept unreasonable deto the negotiating own that the LTTE nancial sustenance vities, and coercion of the expatriate now resident in the USA, Canada, ct, in some of these TE has established pose of conducting ions. We are indeed overnment of the r expelling a LTTE been indulging in nese activities were the security of Sri ejudicial to its unity this type of action re our common ining terrorism and Id normalcy in Sri
ent
on of prosecuan rights violaissible steps to civilians in the operations; ime recommendaWorking Group
Government to ted political setroblems in the t of the country ed.
the delegation s acknowledgeded in the final mission and the elegation of Sri 2ty in the sums session.'
Lanka. In our view, such action would
be an important measure that our well-wishers could take to improve the human rights situation in our country. The international community should also be mindful of its obligation to help eradicate terrorism.
In the meantime, the government has taken steps to restore normalcy in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces. In fact, elections to local government bodies in all three districts of the Eastern Province and in the Vavuniya district of the Northern Province were held on 1st March. Over 2000 candidates from seven registered political parties and 50 independent groups contested these elections for a total of 431 seats. An electorate of 762,930 persons who had been denied political representation for so long owing to the disruption caused by terrorism exercised their cherished political rights. Election results indicate that polling had been high, at an average of 70 per cent of the registered voters and that the elections were keenly contested. With these elections, the process of building up the civil administrative infrastructure and the democratic institutions will be accelerated.
The return of normalcy to these areas is reflected in the continuing repatriation from India, of displaced persons. Approximately 40,000 persons have now returned and are being assisted to resettle in areas cleared of terrorist violence. An Agreement has been entered into with the Government of Switzerland to enable the return to Sri Lanka of asylum seekers whose claims have been rejected. Other Western countries saddled with such asylum seekers who had left Sri Lanka claiming to have done so due to the unsettled conditions, now have the opportunity to repatriate them.
The events of last year have amply demonstrated the fact that, despite grave and provocative terrorist threats, our democratic institutions have been resilient, electoral processes have continued, the human rights of our people have been promoted and protected and the rule of law maintained.
In spite of the conflict in the North, the government has continued to discharge its humanitarian responsibilities to the people in the affected areas. A fleet of vessels has been chartered by the government to supply essential items of food, fuel, text books and medical supplies to the North under the flag of the ICRC. The thousand bed Hospital in Jaffna, is being kept fully staffed and maintained by the government so that the medical needs of the Continued on page 22

Page 22
22 TAM TIMES
Continued from page 21
largely civilian population can be adequately met.. It is monitored and assisted by the ICRC.
In October 1993, Dr. Francis Deng, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations visited Sri Lanka at the invitation of the government. Dr Deng was witness to the massive efforts deployed by the government, at the cost of US$ 55 million in 1993, and in collaboration with local and international NGOs, in providing relief for those affected by the conflict. Dr. Deng has observed that "Sri Lanka presents the unusual situation of a central government providing relief aid to persons under the control of the main opposition group. In a world replete with examples of governments and rebel groups using food as a weapon against civilian populations, the situation in Sri Lanka is one that deserves closer attention, if not more publicity as an important precedent'. With regard to the issues of the internally displaced, my delegation has made a separate statement under the item dealing with Dr. Deng's Report.
Regrettably, some confidence building measures initiated by the government with the support of the UNHCR and the ICRC such as the establishment of a “humanitarian corrider’ in the North to provide 'safe passage' for civilians between the Jaffna peninsula and the mainland, and an attempt to seek the release of those illegally detained by the LTTE for almost four years, failed on account of the intransigence of the LTTE. The government will nevertheless continue with such initiatives in the interest of innocent civilians.
I would now like to share with the
members of the Co. elements of the pi which the govern carry out during thi twelve months. Thi tinuation of the pr some details in ot ments at this Comr
Bearing in mind tion in the country, to further revise th ulations. Thee revis - restricting the detention by impo maximum time lim tion without judicia — removal of pro mit suspects to be h in police or militar access to judicial all - ensuring stric the provisions rei only at authorized by increasing the ously prosecuting til - imposition of he the failure to issue arrests;
— removal of pro pense with post mol when deaths have c or as a result of of security forces.
Vigorous action ensure that proc contained in the E tions are strictly c implemented in pra Provisions in the ulations promulga 1993, which confer dealing with the of feelings of hatred inhabitants of Sri moved at the earlie
SLMC Condemns Police involvement
The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) yesterday condemned what it called 'direct police involvement' in the March 1, local government election in the Eastern Province and the Vavuniya District. The Congress has called on President D. B. Wijetunge to appoint a commission to conduct an impartial inquiry.
The congress has also requested all Tamil political parties which contested the local government election to join hands with the SLMC to press for a commission of inquiry. This request has also been extended to the SLFP, SLMC General Secretary Rauf Hakeem said.
“We have informed IGP Frank Silva
and the Election C dramanda de Silva police engagemen While the Election already sent his ofi look into this matta taining a low prof Mr. Hakeem said.
In a memorandu jetunga, the SLMC the police in part the fundamental II through sheer intir supporting only th and supporters.
Mr. Hakeem al Eravur and in the the police had fo polling stations ar ballot boxes, while area the police ha and other services

15 MARCH 1994
nmission the main Ogramme of work ment proposes to ' course of the next s signifies the conocess described in Łr previous statehission.
he improved situasteps will be taken e Emergency Regions will include:
use of preventive sing a reasonable it for such detenl intervention; visions which pereld for long periods y custody without thorities; , compliance with quiring detention places of detention penalty and vigorhe offenders; avier penalties for receipts at time of
visions which distems and inquests ccurred in custody ficial action of the
will be taken to 2dural safeguards mergency Regula:omplied with and ctice.
Emergency Regted in December
special powers in fence of promoting or hostility among Lanka will be rest opportunity.
ommissioner Chanabout the indecent , in the election. Commissioner has icials to the East to r, the IGP is mainle on this matter,
m to President Wihas indicted that cular had violated ights of the voters hidation and also by e UNP candidates
eged that in the Kattankudy areas, rcibly opened the di taken away the
in the Kalmunai provided security
only to the UNP
The exercise underway to identify and consolidate all existing Emergency Regulations will be completed.
The Unit established to monitor pre-1991 disappearances will be strengthened with adequate staffing and funding and where appropriate its findings will be forwarded to the authorities with a view to prosecuting any offender.
Legislation for the issuance of death certificates in respect of missing persons will be enacted and provincial mechanisms for the implementation thereof will be established.
As a commitment to the promotion of accountability through pursuit of legal mechanisms, effective steps will be taken to prosecute human rights violators by undertaking vigorous investigations and the institution of prosecutions in court.
Legislation to fulfil Sri Lanka's obligations under the Convention on Torture will be enacted. Enhanced punishment for torture will also be provided for in this legislation.
Instructions will be given to the relevant authorities to take all possible steps to prevent injury to innocent civilians and damage to civilian property, such as places of religious worship and schools, in the course of military operations conducted against terrorists.
Emergency Regulations concerning NGOs will be replaced by legislation and any representations made by the NGOs will be given due consideration in the preparation of such legislation.
Sri Lanka will continue its cooperation with humanitarian and human rights organizations in their endeavours to improve the situation in Sri Lanka.
Action will be taken to continue implementation of the recommendations made by the UNWG on Disappearances following its two visits to Sri Lanka in 1992 and 1993.
Sri Lanka will continue its dialogue and cooperation with the Commission on Human Rights.
Efforts will be continued to seek a negotiated political solution to the problems affecting the North and the East.
At every international forum dealing with human rights issues, including this Commission, Sri Lanka has reiterated its policy of cooperation with the United Nations. On behalf of the President D.B. Wijetunga, my delegation reaffirms this policy of openness and cooperation, and the continuation of the commitment to fulfil the proposed programme of work.

Page 23
15 MARCH 1994
| SUE CONTINE
Pakistan's attempt to internationalise the Kashmir issue by seeking to get the UN Commission on Human Rights to adopt a resolution calling for a fact-finding mission to Kashmir collapsed when it was forced to withdraw its own resolution which did not attract even a single co-sponsor country. From the time the resolution was mooted, it was evident that it had little support. Even the Organisation of Islamic Countries, of which Pakistan is its current Chairman, refused to endorse the resolution. Forty three of the fifty three members represented in the Commission openly stated that they would abstain on it.
Few doubted the fact that gross violations of human rights were being committed by Indian security forces engaged in the containment of the armed insurgency in Kashmir. Many would agree that the human rights situation there justified independent investigation and monitoring. But the cause for human rights in Kashmir suffered because it was taken up by Pakistan. Almost every country represented in the Commission realised that Pakistan in raising the Kashmir issue was motivated not by considerations for the protection
Benazir's Diplomatic Fi
and promotion of hu the Kashmiris or the determination, but b promote its own te over Kashmir which puted by India since Pakistan in 1948.
The decisive date when the vote was When the time ca asked for a postpol vote for the aftern India objected. Ind been confident that position to defeat move. If it came to a the know say that ol tries - Pakistan, Lib tania - would have resolution and, seve Russia, Cuba, Cyp Mauritius, India a would have voted a the rest would have
In the afternoon, s Iran and China ove ber countries rangin lia to Mexico, called to withdraw the r underlined that the mir was essentiall affair which India should resolve betwe Lacking support anc
Kashmir: Pakistan h India Under Press
by Thomas Abraham, Geneva
Public memory is notoriously short so it is useful to recall that a year ago the Indian delegation to the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva was in much the same predicament as it is today. The then Pakistani Prime Minister, Mr. Nawaz Sharif, like Ms. Bhutto this year, visited Geneva and delivered a scathing attack on Indian policy in Kashmir. Pakistan circulated a draft resolution calling for the UN Secretary General to send a fact finding mission to Kashmir to enquire into human rights violations. India came under tremendous pressure, and had to intensively lobby key countries to make sure they did not encourage Pakistan. Eventually, Pakistan decided not to table its resolution after it became clear that no one was really interested in it.
The Indian foreign
ment sighed in re already clear that th to be the first rounc battle. Even thoug delegation withdrew they had learnt cer most important was India could easily be sive. At every poss the Pakistani delega to its feet and talk al committed by the s the people of Kash that the Kashmiris to self determination to respond by denyin any rights violatio) that Jammu and integral part of Indi exchanges benefitt

TAMIL TIMES 23
TAL SCENE
SCO
man rights of ir right to self y its desire to ritorial claim had been dishe creation of
was 11 March to be taken. me, Pakistan lement of the oon to which a must have , it was in a the Pakistani vote, those in nly three counya and Maurisupported the in countries - rus, Bulgaria, nd Angola - gainst it, and abstained. pearheaded by r fifteen memg from Austraupon Pakistan esolution and issue of Kashy a bilateral and Pakistan enthemselves.
in the face of
the pressure coming from many countries which Pakistan regarded as its allies, the resolution was withdrawn.
To Benazir Bhutto, the diplomatic fiasco at Geneva must be regarded as a personal setback. After being accused of being soft on the Kashmir issue by her powerful domestic rival, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Shariff, Benazir Bhutto embarked on a vigorous world-wide campaign to internationalise the problem in Kashmir. She raised the diplomatic stakes by her personal high profile intervention in promoting the campaign, and personally appearing at the Commission's sessions - an unusual thing for a head of state to do - and mounting an anti-Indian tirade against what she described as "the Indian suppression of the Kashmiri people's struggle for selfdetermination'.
Having personally involved herself in the anti-Indian move on Kashmir due to domestic compulsions and the need to boost her weak parliamentary position at home, Benazir has got herself into more trouble. The diplomatic debacle in Geneva has resulted in a mounting campaign by her opponents demanding her resignation and that of her Foreign Minister, Assef Ahmed Ali.
PutS
Ue
policy establishlief but it was s was only going
of a continuing the Pakistani
the resolution, ain lessons. The he discovery that put on the defenble opportunity, tion used to leap out the atrocities 'curity forces on mir and demand e given the right India was forced g that there were s, and reiterate Cashmir was an ... These constant ed Pakistan. It
helped to focus international attention on Kashmir and was an important step in the overall Pakistani strategy of making Kashmir an international issue. As the leader of the Pakistan delegation, Mr. Mushahid Hussain, remarked to this correspondent, he had raised the issue 27 times during the Commission's six week session, and was satisfied that attention was being focussed on Kashmir. More than the public statements, India was also forced to discuss Kashmir with governments all over the world to explain its position and win support. In the months that followed, Pakistani diplomats built on this strategy. Every possible international forum was used to raise Kashmir including the world conference of human rights in Vienna and the UN General Assembly. So what is happening in Geneva is the culmination of a year of effort.
Both India and Pakistan have learned lessons in the process. For Pakistan, the strategy has produced immediate gains. India has been put on the defensive, and issues which had
Continued on page 24

Page 24
24 TAM TIMES
Continued from page 23
been taken off the international agenda such as the validity of Jammu and Kashmir's accession to the Indian Union, and the UN's role in solving the dispute are once again being raised. India is under international pressure, and this pressure has had results. New Delhi has had to abandon its traditional policy and open up Jammu and Kashmir to western ambassadors, and international organisations such as the International Commission of Jurists, the International Red Cross, and perhaps eventually Amnesty International as well. All this will help to focus international attention on Kashmir and keep up the pressure on New Delhi.
But Pakistan's gains have been mixed. It is striking that Pakistan has been able to gather very little international support so far even from the constituency that would normally support it to the maximum, the Islamic countries. Pakistan has tried very hard to equate Kashmir with Bosnia in order to transfer at least part of the international indignation that has been raised over Bosnia to Kashmir. This has not suceeded. The fact that Pakistan has had to table a resolution without any co-sponsors indicates its isolation.
THere are a variety of reasons for the meagre support that Pakistan has received so far. Pakistan's natural allies, the Islamic countries have been reluctant to push Kashmir for a variety of reasons. First the majority of them have no quarrel with India, and see no reason to unecessarily pick one. Secondly, the concept of self determination and the questioning of existing borders is something that many of them feel uncomfortable about. Indonesia for example, faces similar claims in East Timor, and is also under
Continued from page 6 cedented travails experienced by the UNP among the minority communities in the east the support of which Premadasa could count on once upon a time, make that party revise its stand on the problem in the northeast, particularly when the Southern province polls show that the Sinhala vote is still divided?
The President being a principled and forthright Sinhala leader will not, I hope, indulge in such opportunism. He should stand by what he has enunciated thus far. It is easier for the minorities to live with a forthright leader than an arch equivocator, for they can know full well where they stand under his leadership and hence think clearly about their future in the Sri Lankan polity.
constant pressure in t To champion the cau would be politically fo Indonesians. There a tries, like Iran for exa the need to build a b front, and are reluctal quarrels within the de
Pakistan has not re from the west for a reasons. There is wide concern over the situa and Kashmir, and both and the United State opportunity to tell Indi disturbed by what is these countries also r tan's role in fuelling " valley. Therefore, any sored resolution is seen The head of the US de Commission, Ms. Ger made this quite clear that her country was li from voting on the res. it was an "interested tion'.
Pakistan's lack of not blind India to th asking some hard ques government's Kashm most obvious question been so easy for Pakista on the defensive and b tional attention an issu struggled so long to c lateral level. Unless t asked and satisfacto Pakistan can and wi resolutions in the Ge. and the Commission, u firmly under the inte light.
The first thing to not in a tactically weak always easier to make answer them. All Paki to keep talking about force India to defend it a tactic which costs P but costs India a lot i and resources. The se that India’s own hanc Everyone knows th violations of human security forces. Thes well publicised, and world. The Indian mec reports of such incid role in fomenting mi less apparent. Pakist any link with violenc and invites the intern ity to send a fact findi there are Pakistani t Since India is locked where it cannot accept team, it cannot call P
India's position is al

15 MARCH 1994
Commission. e of Kashmir hardy for the other counple which see pad anti-west , to encourage eloping world. :eived support ifferent set of pread western ion in Jammu the Europeans have lost no that they are appening. But cognise Pakisiolence in the Pakistan sponas self serving. Legation to the ldine Ferraro when she said kely to abstain lution because 'ountry resolu
support should he necessity of tions about the ir policy. The , is why has it an to push India ring to internae that India has ‘onfine at a bihis question is rily answered, ll keep tabling heral Assembly ntil Kashmir is rnational spot
e is that India is position. It is charges than to stan has to do is Kashmir, and s record. This is kistan nothing terms of time ond problem is s are not clean. re have been rights by the violations are pparent to the a itself is full of nts. Pakistanʼs tancy is much n denies it has in the valley, tional commung team to see if rrorists camps. into a position any fact finding kistan's bluff.
o weak because
it is based on a flawed premise. The basic plank of India's policy is that Kashmir must not be internationalised. But in fact, Kashmir has become an international issue. Pakistan raises it at every international forum, and India is forced to respond. Ninety percent of the Indian delegation's efforts at the current session of the Commission on Human Rights is spent answering charges on Kashmir. Kashmir is an international issue, whether one likes it or not. But while Pakistan has the full use of international fora to talk about Indian policy and initiate action against India, India has a self imposed restraint about using the UN to talk about Pakistan.
Indian policy has been reduced to a mantra "the Simla agreement is the only forum to solve the problem of Kashmir and Kashmir must not be internationalised.' This fear of internationalisation at one time had a sound basis. The UN Security Council resolutions asking for a plebiscite still hang like a sword of Damocles, and Kashmir is still a disputed territory as far as the UNis concerned. India fears that bringing the issue back to the UN would reopen the question of Kashmir's accession. Therefore, any internationalisation has been taboo. But it is time this taboo was questioned. The arming and sponsoring of separatism is an issue which must be brought to the attention of the United Nations and international pressure must be brought to bear on Pakistan.
There are ways that India could put Pakistan on the defensive. For example the world conference of human rights in Vienna last year, adopted a document which for the first time contained a paragraph linking sponsorship of terrorism to the violation of human rights. This was put in at Indian insistence, and was directed at Pakistan. It took several years of hard lobbying in the preparatory meetings leading up to the Vienna conference to get this paragraph in. It is an ideal weapon to use, and if Indian policy were more aggressive, it would form the basis for a resolution condemning states sponsoring terrorism. Such counter pressure would make Pakistan think before raising Kashmir again.
This strategy can be made to work, though there is an important precondition, The government must also be demonstrably seen to check human rights violations by the security forces, and act to reduce the alienation of the people of the valley. Once this is done, the way will be cleared to use international fora to efectively fight the external sponsorship of separatism.

Page 25
15 MARCH 1994
India and Pakistan Collision Course
by T.N. Gopalan
The much vaunted giant leap does not seem to have taken India anywhere. Not only that the Foreign Secretarylevel talks have failed to break the ice in the relationship between India and Pakistan, the latter has chosen to embarrass the former by seeking to get a resolution passed in the current session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights (UNHCR) in Geneva condemning the massive violation of human rights in Jammu and Kashmir.
A shot in the Pak arm has been US President Bill Clinton’s categorical assertion that he shares Pakistan's concerns about the human rights abuses in Kashmir. While accepting the diplomatic credentials of the new Pak Ambassador to the US, Ms. Maleeha Lodhi, he declared that promoting respect for human rights around the world remained a "pillar' of his foreign policy.
Ms. Lodhi's rhetoric on the occasion was on predictable lines - ". . . .half a million brutal occupation troops were making life miserable for the Kashmiris. . . .they are denied the basic tenet of Jeffersonian democracy, the pursuit of happiness. . . . Can we preach human rights but only selectively apply it when convenient?....(such a course) is not worthy of the new global agenda to which both our nations strive. . . .'
India is red in its face. Only a month earlier it had got out of the Hazratball mess without losing face - that all the militants holed up in the shrine at the time and taken into custody have subsequently been released is a different matter. There was a constant chatter of reactivating the political process in Kashmir, right from the Home Minister, S.B. Chavan to nondescript political commentators harping on the need to defeat the devious designs of Pakistan with the help of the saner among the Kashmiris.
But then Pakistanis are no easy neighbours to live with. Nor for that matter is it easy to live down the blunders committed by the successive Indian policy-makers.
Says Mr. Manzoor Alam, a former vice chancellor of the Kashmir University, "The alienation of the Kashmiris from India was sharply brought into focus by the siege. The entire population in the Valley rose in defence of the militants....The militan
cy is at its peak, reprisals by the se( evident from the h Chowk, Sopore, Kh Behara. . . .The loss particularly of they militancy has reach tions. ...'
No wonder then,
ferred olive branch, ter Benazir Bhuttol in the most virulent the UNHCR, comp rent operations in events of the dark holocaust.
The South Block to work overtime iss Ms. Bhutto's allegat ing its diplomats all get into the act a situation'. Prime Mi Rao himself did, fir ing French Senate French Senate Com Affairs, Defence and and then Mr. Dani han, Chairman of th on South Asia ar Ambassador here, o
Mr. Xavier de Vill French delegation,
Mr. Xavier de Vil French delegation, convinced that Indi told the Press subse respect for India's mir. . . We have no the position. ...In F concerned with hum are against terroris suffered on accou . . . . we appreciate t gers involved shoulc cess suffer. . . .'
Expressing his “di dulge in rhetoric, Moynihan that it v India should be bl rights violation whe pendent judiciary, democratic system rights commission excesses. Of courseh rate whether all th case of Kashmir. Moynihan would on my sympathies and thing more.
The very day afte) Minister asked Mr. in Pak,’ Mr. Clinton

TAML TIMES 25
Οη
A py
and so are the 'urity forces as is appenings of Lal Lan Yar and Brij of life in Kashmir, buth, on account of ed colossal propor
spurning the proPak Prime Minisashed out at India , terms possible at aring India’s cur
Kashmir to the days of the Nazi
in New Delhi had uing refutations of ions and instructover the world to nd 'set right the nister Narasimha st briefing a visite delegation, the mittee on Foreign the Armed Forces el Patrick Moynie US Senate panel nd a former US n India's position. epin, leader of the was apparently epin, leader of the was apparently a had a case. He quently, 'We have policy on Kashreason to criticise rance we are very lan rights, but we n....We too have nt of terrorismhe risks and danthe dialogue pro
sinclination' to inMr. Rao told Mr. as 'strange' that amed for human n it had an indefree press and nd now a human (o probe cases of e would not elabois applied in the Naturally Mr. ly say, 'You have respect,' and no
the Indian Prime Moynihan to "rein came up with his
stinging comments on Kashmir. That he did not balance' his remarks by referring either to terrorism or "territorial integrity' of the states in the region was even more galling to the Indian side. All that he had to say on the subject was "we also oppose infringements of individual human rights as a result of extremism and fanaticism, whether of religious or secular nature, wherever it occurs.'
That Mr. Clinton should say all this when India is planning to allow the Red Cross and Amnesty International team to visit Kashmir, was one strain of lament. Another was, like the recently retired Foreign Secretary, J.N. Dixit’s, the suspicion that the US was only in the process of setting the stage for interfering in the affairs of this region. There was also a concern that such statements would give a fillip to the militancy in the valley.
As part of the damage limiting exercise, the Indian government sought to rally round itself the opinion of the member nations of the UNHRC, telling them that Pak's efforts to have an international fact-finding team despatched to Sri Nagar or tabling an anti-Indian resolution were motivated and that the Indian position was "transparent and so on.
In addition anti-Pak propaganda was geared up at the Geneva session of the UNHRC. The Kashmiri Pandits, at the receiving end of the terror tactics of the Kashmir militants and most of whom find themselves out of the valley at the moment, distributed pamphlets illustrating what has been done to their community. Also excerpts from an Asia Watch report detailing militant atrocities against the civilians and a pamphlet highlighting the condition of the northern areas of Pak-occupied Kashmir were also circulated. One has to wait and see what impact all this has on the international community.
Meantime Pakistan has rejected most of the "non-papers' from India on improving the relationship between the two countries, whether it is Siachen or Wullar barrage, India's proposals, submitted after the visit of Mr. J.N. Dixit to Pakistan, have all been shot down as of no consequence. On the other hand it has called for an end to the repression of the Kashmiris and deinduction of Indian troops by way of preparation for holding a plebiscite.
For all this politicking, it is clear that neither country is seriously exercised by the problems of the Kashmiris. As the Zurich-based Kashmir Democratic Forum, said in a presenta
Continued on page 26

Page 26
26 TAM TIMES
Continued from page 25
tion before the UNHCR, 'Even in the area under its occupation which Pakistan calls "Azad" Kashmir, Kashmiris are treated by Pakistan worse than Gulams (slaves). There is no economic development, people have to pledge their support for Kashmir's accession to Pakistan before they are allowed to contest elections or take up government jobs, and the Pok Government is dismissed at the whims and fancies of the Islamabad government. If that is the plight of the Kashmiris, who are fellow Muslims in Azad Kashmir, one can well imagine the plight of all Kashmiris if Pakistan succeeds in its design to annex Kashmir. . . ."
m
Many sober eleme calling upon both t. create conditions con logue among pi independent and proon the one hand a militants and the Kas. the other. But who ca
The successful thi the Agni, the interme listic missile, on Fe added another twist ti
The Agni missile ca lear payload of one ti tance of 1,500 km or head of 500 kg over a 2,500 km. The India search and Developme
Continued from page 9
(MRRSW) plans new resettlement locations and obtains central government approval for the budget to cover resettlement in those locations, it has little control over whether or not budgeted funds are disbursed to the local government authorities responsible for carrying out the resettlement plan. Consequently, internally displaced persons resettle, but often do not receive the aid - grants, infrastructure, and essential social services - they have been promised.
This must be corrected. A system must be found to ensure that available funds go to priority areas and projects The MRRSW has proposed a plan by which the Treasury would transfer resettlement project funds to the MRRSW, which would then disburse them to District Government Agents, who would be responsible, with MRRSW participation, for project implementation. This idea appears feasible and should be tested.
4. The government, in consultation With UNHCR and others in the international community, should plan for a possible large-scale refugee repatriation and reintegration of internally displaced persons.
At some point, most uprooted Sri Lankans will return home, ideally as a result of a political resolution acceptable to all. The Sri Lankan government is unable to respond adequately to the needs of even the limited number of refugees repatriating and internally displaced persons resettling now.
Colombo, in conjunction with UNHCRotherUNagencies, and international and local NGOs, should be preparing contingency plans for the eventuality of a large-scale return. In that, they may benefit from the experience that the international community
has been gaining in t Cambodian, Afghan, refugees. The Sri Lan might do well to foll repatriation movemer ly the difficulties th home governments ha
5. Sri Lanka shoul 1951 UN Convention tocol Relating to thi fugees.
The government of a signatory to the co. tocol. Neither does it tic legislation on refu While Sri Lanka do significant refugee pc sent by acceding to documents, Colombo the way for others to woefully bereft of sig
To the LTTE:
6. The LTTE gho logue with the gc should desist from a attack in Point Pedro ransacking of the IC threaten the welfare areas under its conti
The LTTE shares the sharp escalatior September and Nove significant respons breakdown of talks ment and is responsil down of UNHCR effo passage to the Jaffna also taken actions st Pedro attacks that harmed Tamil civilia ances at. Madhu O UNHCR pulling out ably could not have h tacit LTTE approva incitement.
The LTTE should and take positive st dialogue with the go'

15 MARCH 1994
nts have been e countries to ucive for a diaD - Pak, proindian Muslims d between the miri Pandits on 'es? d test-firing of diate range baloruary 19 has
the picture.
n deliver a nucnne over a disa smaller warlonger range of 1n Defence Rent Organisation
le repatriation of and Mozambican kan government ow closely those ıts, and expecialat the refugees' ve experienced.
d'accede to the and 1967 Proe Status of Re
Sri Lanka is not nvention or Prohave any domesgees or asylum. es not host any pulation at prethese important could help pave do so in a region natories.
ild resume dillaVernment and ctions - like its harbour and its RC office - that of civilians in ol. esponsibility for in fighting in nber 1993, bears ibility for the with the governle for the breakts to open a safe peninsula. It has ch as the Point have directly ns. The disturbRC that led to f the camp probappened without — if not LTTE
nd such actions, ps to open new ernment.
is now presumed to have successfully demonstrated the key aspects of long range missile technology, effective integration of different stages of the medium range missile and re-entry of the warhead and its terminal guidance.
But whereto from here? Launch vehicle technology is difficult to acquire what with the sanctions on India, ISRO, The Missile Technology Control Regime, as developed by a small club of countries which already possess the intermediate range and intercontinental missiles, will work against India, and it cannot gain entry into the club unless it surrenders the nuclear option. That way perhaps India can gain access to civilian space technology. But can any government at New Delhi afford to be seen weak and going on bended knees? Anyway in its current state of predicament, India might go some length to placate the West.
It is possible that Mr. Clinton is stepping on the gas vis-a-vis Kashmir only to extract major concessions from India and Pakistan on the nuclear issue. In fact he did dwell at some length on the attempts of India and Pakistan to 'acquire weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile delivery system' and his concern over the "potential nuclear exchange with devastating consequences for the region and the world at large. ...', while accepting Ms. Lodhi's credentials.
US Assistant Secretary of State, Ms. Robin Raphael, who had first set the ball in motion by openly calling in question Kashmir's accession to India, has of late been asserting that India has agreed, if in principle at the moment, to participate in a multilateral process on arms control, nonproliferation and regional security. The Clinton administration which has purportedly been striving for a global ban on the production of fissionable material for nuclear weapons would like to impose a regional regime on India and Pakistan.
The latter is apparently game for such an approach in that if only because any such multilateral conference on 'regional security' would also focus on danger areas - which in turn could be said to cause nuclear proliferation - and inevitably Kashmir would be on the agenda. And thus the Kashmir issue would be internationalised, an extremely pleasing prospect for that country. If India is giving in on such a tricky business it would only be because it realises there is not much leverage left for it in this unipolar world of ours.

Page 27
15 MARCH 1994
ami Nadu NevVSleter
Distancing From the La
Tamil issue
by T.N. Gopalan, Madras
Both DMK president M. Karunanidhi and the splinter group leader V. Gopalasamy (Vai.Go.) seem to have learnt to tone down their enthusiasm for the Lankan Tamils - whether it is the LTTE or even the ethnic problem as such, they prefer to avoid any sabrerattling and fall in line readily with the views of the powers-that-be in New Delhi.
Take for instance the amazing somersault executed by Mr. Karunanidhi on the reasons behind his decision to boycott a reception to a batch of deinducted IPKF personnel in March 1989.
It may be recalled here that when the last batch of the IPKF personnel returned to the Indian shores, a reception was organised to greet them at Madras. The then Chief Minister Karunanidhi kept away, but Governor P.C. Alexander made it to the occasion. The former abstained saying that he could not bring himself into greeting those responsible for decimating hundreds and thousands of "those belonging to my Tamil community'. His statement drew a lot of criticism from various quarters, but he stood his ground defiantly. "For me my community comes first, was his attitude.
With the exit of Mr. V.P. Singh as Prime Minister, and his successor Chandrashekhar threatening to dismiss his regime on a charge of colluding with the Tigers, his ardour for the Tamil cause cooled. His government rounded up a number of Lankan Tamils, both militants and ordinary refugees, as part of a crack-down on law-breakers. Most of those arrested then, many of them mere victims of Karunanidhi's unabashed greed for power, are still behind the bars, under humiliating conditions.
Be that as it may, in his affidavit put before the Jain Commission probing into the conspiracy angle behind the Rajiv assassination, Mr. Karunanidhi has cited a very patriotic reason for his boycotting the reception to the IPKF personnel:
The IPKF was committed to fighting the Tigers without sufficient preparation. And hence the enormous loss of life on the part of the Indian army. And hence indeed he had to boycott the IPKF reception - a gesture of protest against the mess-up for which the rulers in New Delhi were squarely
responsible. Oh, what cern for the lives of the Promptly Vai.Go. pou statement and pointed contradiction betwen Mr. Karunanidhi wh power and now when an alliance between th Cong-I and is also sca any kind of implicatic assassination or even ful 'escape' of the LT which mowed down E. year earlier.
The DMK president sed no end and had explaining, not very co way, on the matter. E was gloating over the Tamil cause by Mr. came his own nemes again, in the form of h to the Jain Commissio
Wai.Go. has steered word Jaffna in his referring to his contr the peninsula in 1989, only the "northern par Surely it does not lie i mine the political er Lanka simply becaus trouble going on there
And why did he got place? Not to expres with the fighting Tig leader Prabhakaran, i against the Sinhalese ing IPKF as he was w days. No, nothing of til only concerned with tween the LTTE and and was exploring th bringing the parties t war to an end
There is more to co also denied that any done on his Jaffna vi ware that the video was shown by the LT world to gatherings Tamils?
The video film featu an and Vai. Go. togeth the press by the CBI attempt to malign the to further sharpent tween Mr. Karunanid
And who was able on Vai.Go.'s affidavit

TAMIL TIMES 27
inkan
a touching conIndian soldiers! nced upon the out the glaring the attitude of en he was in he is angling for e DMK and the red to death of on in the Rajiv in the disgraceTE killer squad PRLF leaders a
was embarras
to do a lot of nvincingly anyven as Vai.Go.
betrayal of the , Karunanidhi, is - ironically, is own affidavit n
:lear of the very affidavit while oversial visit to He had visited ts of Sri Lanka”. n him to underntity called Sri there is some
here in the first s his solidarity ers, with their n their struggle and the maraudont to say those hat sort. He was the conflict behe Indian army e possibilities of ogether and the
me. Vai.Go. has video film was it; was he unaFilm of his visit TE all over the
of expatriate
ring Prabhakarær was leaked to obviously in an DMK last year he cleavage behi and Vai.Go. (o lay his hands o the Jain Com
mission? Who else but Mr. Karunanidhi whose turn it was now to lampoon his rival’s commitment to Tamil Eelam. Put on a spot Vai. Go. asserted that he stood by his support for Eelam and that he had submitted a second affidavit to the Jain Commission. But, sorry, he was not in a position to disclose its contents
Now the two are locking horns in platform after platform, rally after rally, on who is a greater champion of the Tamil cause, but their credibility has certainly diminished in the light of the recent revelations.
Unfazed, Mr. Karunanidhi has announced a "rail roko' (stop the train) agitation to protest the "Hindi imposition' and Vai.Go. is going in for a massive rally in Madras to highlight a series of grievances of the people of Tamil Nadu, Incidentally, a picketing programme of Vai. Go. in Madras in the second week of February proved a smashing success and the turn-out of volunteers has taken many observers by surprise.
Surely the two by-elections to the Assembly in which both DMK and Vai.Go.'s group are sure to contest could provide a pointer to the future.
Rally Suppressed
Such is the present climate in the state, the government could easily squelch any aggressive attempt to focus on the problems of the Sri Lankan Tamils. Like when the Indo-Sri Lanka Friendship Society sought to take out a rally (on Jan.30) to protest the forced repatriation of the refugees, restrictions on their movements and the ban on the non-governmental organisations from entering the camps. Thirteen persons were taken into custody in the process.
The stopping of such an purely humanitarian effort - the rallyists had planned to distribute relief materials to the inmates of the refugee camp - got some cursory notice in the local press. Even the Madras editions of those newspapers did not have a word to say on the episode. None of the opposition leaders - all of whom were kept informed on the developments - bothered to issue any statement.
Much after the repatriation of over 2,000 refugees, most of them hailing from Mannar, in four sailings this month in January - February Vai.Go., DK general secretary K. Veeramani, that old war-horse P. Nedumaran and Mr. Maniarasan, leader of an odd Marxist-Tamil nationalist grouping, jointly issued a statement denouncing forced repatriation. Interestingly the statement sought to arraign the CenContinued on page 28

Page 28
28 TAMIL TIMES
Continued from page 27 tre alone over the matter but maintaining a discreet silence on the state government's own role - if anything it is the Jayalalitha regime which has been incessantly pressing the Centre to 'deport' all the Lankan refugees at the earliest and the latter is generally seen to be giving in to the wishes of the state government.
Denigrating Judiciary, Jayalalitha Style
Meantime, the AIADMK has thought nothing of denigrating and harassing the judiciary in its attempts to protect its interests', it looks like. The son-in-law of a High Court judge was arrested early this month for alleged possession of ganja, stirring up a hornet's nest. For the judge concerned Mr. A.R. Lakshmanan, reputed for many a judgement adversely affecting the interests of the government, soon thereafter excused himself from a case filed by TNNC-I president Vazhapadi K. Ramamurthy alleging corruption in a multi-crore coal import deal by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.
While the opposition cried foul, the government defended itself saying the son-in-law in question has had a case history of violating prohibition laws. Unfortunately for it, many of those found unpalatable by the AIADMK government have, in the past, been charged with exactly the same offence — possession of ganja!
Naturally then advocates raised a storm. When they convened a meeting to denounce the government for its attempts to "intimidate' the judiciary, AIADMK thugs gate-crashed and sent the advocates diving for cover. There were wall-posters all over the High Court complex calling the judges smugglers, and worse.
When the High Court took serious note of the unseemly developments, Nagai Mugan, a self-professed Tamil Nationalist, but who always takes care to be on the right side of Ms. Jayalalitha, came forward to own the crime of producing the posters denigrating the judges.
But there was yet another intriguing turn when the owners of the printing press, where the police said the posters were printed, denied that they had anything to do with the matter. Power supply had been disconnected since a month ago because of non-payment of tariff and hence the press had not been functioning at all, they told the court. The judges told the police in no uncertain terms, 'catch the real culprits or face action for contempt of court'.
30 Civili After BO
The BBC repo February: 'At le lians are missin lowing an attac force planes on a area dominated
The incident is r red on Saturda hundred people lagoon which se Jaffna peninsula is the first air a waterway since
Tamil rebels ove base on the shor
"Fear danger turned to a lago civilians and Ta north. For the under cover of c people have bec waterway safely destroyed a near away patrol boa forces have str. civilians). Report have come from have survived th that a convoy of sing the lagoon when airforce pl One eye witnes began to scream board while oth
T
Tellipillai Wana born in Decembe Proctor T.C. R respected memb sion. Wanam as known was a st lege where he a the study of t awarded both t Prize, and the Ph classics at the C was awarded a later became an reme Court and English Bar as tised law for tw. which period he as a highly com maverick trial li tial criminal an He also appeare election petition most demandin
 

15 MARCH 1994
ns Missing mbing Raid
ted on Sunday 27 st thirty (Tamil) civi; presumed dead, follby (Sri Lanka) airconvoy of boats in an by Tamil separatists. ported to have occurnight as some six crossed a prohibited arates the rebel held from the mainland. It tack on the strategic last November, when rran a large military es of the lagoon.
and death have reon which is used by mil separatists in the
last three months, larkness, these same !n able to cross the because the rebels by naval base, taking ts. Now the security uck back (at Tamil s of the latest attack boat passengers who he incident. They say sixty boats was cros
on Saturday night anes attacked them. is said that "people , some jumped over2rs prayed.” At least
thirty civilians, all of them Tamils, are now missing, presumed dead.
"The new head of Sri Lanka's airforce, Oliver Ranasinghe, said this month that his planes would only attack "correct” rebel targets in the north. Despite his statement, this incident is unlikely to embarrass the (Sri Lanka) security forces.
"Over the past two years, they have yet to acknowledge or accept any responsibility for the numerous attacks on the lagoon, which have claimed the lives of some two hundred (Tamil) civilians.
"Efforts aimed at finding a solution to the dangers of the waterway have so far failed. This means that innocent people will continue to risk their lives crossing the prohibited lagoon, which is the only way that Tamils on the peninsula can reach the mainland and the capital, Colombo.'
Meanwhile a Reuter news report from Colombo, Sri Lanka datelined 27 February confirmed that a convoy of boats bringing (Tamil) civilians from the Jaffna Peninsula, was bombed and strafed by a (Sri Lanka) ground attack aircraft and two helicopters halfway across the (Killali) lagoon and said that in addition to the (at least) 30 Tamil civilians missing ten more passengers were injured when the same (Sri Lanka) aircraft attacked the landing point on the mainland.' The Reuter report added: "The (Sri Lanka) military said that it had no information on the attack.'
Wanam Rajaratnam
ribute to a Judge
by Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam
rajah Rajaratnam was ir 21st 1921, the son of ajaratnam, a highly er of the legal profeshe was affectionately udent at Trinity Colchieved distinction in he classics and was he Senior Ryde Latin 'ize for Greek. He read sniversity College and Honours degree. He Advocate of the Supwas also called to the a barrister. He prac2nty two years during acquired a reputation petent but somewhat awyer with a substand labour law practice. d in several important
cases which are the g of all litigation as
Justice Tel ippalai Wanam ajaratnam they call for the discipline and tenacity
of the civil lawyer and the ingenuity and intuition of the criminal bar. He

Page 29
15 MARCH 1994
accepted an appointment as Commissioner of Assizes in 1970, an inevitable stepping stone to an appointment to the Supreme Court in 1972.
His six years in the Supreme Court were perhaps the most important years of his life, as he believed that every judge must fashion a judicial philosophy which enables himself to consistently resolve the difficult moral and social choices which arise in the process of adjudication. Not everyone agreed with his judicial philosophy which often required an explicit consideration of the issues of social and distributive justice in reconciling the interests of the individual with that of the state as a custodian of wider societal interests. He was unsympathetic to any attempt by what he perceived to be vested property interests to whittle down the impact of land reforms, agrarian reforms, urban land ceiling legislation, or progressive labour legislation. He believed that judicial activism on behalf of disadvantaged or vulnerable groups was entirely consistent with the obligation to dispense justice without fear or favour. His judgments were often elegantly crafted reflecting his broader training in the classics, and his uncanny ability to focus on the hard issues of law and
ROMANCE
WITH FOOTNOTES
O71 928 88OO
Tickets £12 - £8 (concs £2 of
equity which were a case. He could not b course of action whic be just and correct.
At the age of 58, h unforeseen crisis wh Court was reconstit Second Republican faced premature ter judicial career and by tion could not revertt remained defiant and crusader for justice, a "unpopular causes'. H. quently to the Satur the Tribune, and was Manual on Industrial tion Workers Manual ing Lecturer at the U ombo, and was acti Rights Movement, a Association. He belo band of progressive l knowledgeable on ide tical developments Union.
The trial of Zulfiqa a watershed in his quested a copy of the judgement and subje lous analysis. His boc Bhutto, called 'A Ju was subsequently tra
A Double Bill with choreography by Shobana Jeyasingh & Richard Alston featuring The Orchestra of The Age of Enlightenment Thursday 24 & Friday 25 March 1994 o 7.45pm Queen Elizabeth Hall O London SEl 8XX
Port of Spring looded in association with The The South Bank Centr
s Prudential Award f
 
 

TAMIL TIMES 29
the centre of a ! swayed from a h he believed to
e had to face an 2n the Supreme uted under the Sonstitution. He mination of his law and convenhis practice. He became a lonely ld an advocate of contributed freday Review and
the author of a Law and PlantaHe was a Visitniversity of Colve in the Civil nd the Classical nged to a small awyers and was ological and poli
in the Soviet
r Ali Bhutto was
career. He reSupreme Court :ted it to meticuk on the Trial of diciary in Crisis' nslated into Uru
Place Theatre
xesented by The South Bank Centre ( and OAE are registered charities
r the Arts 1993 Winner
du and widely read within Pakistan. Lawyers and judges in Pakistan were amazed that a former member of the Sri Lankan judiciary should take the trouble to read 709 pages of the judgement of the Pakistan Supreme Court, and publish a critical analysis at his own cost. But to Wanam, "an injustice anywhere was a call to the just everyvhere”. On August 14 1989, the President of Pakistan conferred on him the highest civilian award for meritorious and invaluable contribution (Hilal-IIQuaid-E-Azam).
He was appointed a Member of Parliament in 1989, and thereby became one of the very few to be both a Member of the apex court and the supreme legislature. He did rot reach his full potential as a member of the legislature, as he was often incapacitated by ill health. When he spoke in Parliament, his interventions were thoughtful and reflective. He once wrote that, "when life's landmarks vanish, judges like ordinary mortals will be helpless as moths having to account for their deeds on earth'. Wanam will be remembered for his simplicity, his legal learning, his passionate engagement with legal and political causes, and his abiding faith in the Majesty of the Law.
THE 全
2 ŞQİTÇH ( BANK
// O ČENTRE

Page 30
30 TAMIL TIMES
CASSFED ADS
First 20 words 210. Each additional word 60p. Charge for
BOX No. 23. (Wat 17/2% extra) Prepayment essential The Advertisement Manager, Tamil Times Ltd., PO Box 121, Sutton, Surrey SM13TD Phone: 031-644 0972 Fax: 08-24. 4557
MATRIMONAL
Jaffna Hindu Tamil sister residing South Africa, seeks professional bridegroom for younger sister, fair, 5, 29, slim, employed as computer programmer, Mars in eighth house. Send horoscope with details.'M 720 C/O armis Iirmes.
Jaffna Hindu parents seek brides for their two sons, post graduate teacher and supervisor oil factory, Nigeria. Send photo, details. M 721 c/o Tamil Times.
Jaffna Hindu seeks groom for her graduate sister, 40, employed in Bombay. Send horoScope details. M 722 C/o Tamil Times.
Jaffna Hindu parents seek suitable bride for son, 32, professionally qualified in California, good secure position, migrating to Australia near future. Send horoscope details, M 723 C/o Tamil Times.
Jaffna Hindu parents seek professionally qualified partner for 32 year old attractive accountant daughter in USA. Horoscope immaterial. P.O. Box 8714, Northridge, CA 91327, USA.
Jaffna Hindu parents resident in Canada seek partners for pretty accountant daughter, 35, Mars afflicted and engineer son, 30, good natured, both Working in Canada. Send horoscope, details M 725 C/o Tamil Times.
Jaffna Hindu Uncle seeks professionally qualified groom for attractive science and music graduate niece in late twenties, presently in high employment in Colombo. Proposals treated confidentially and replied/ returned. M 726 C/O Tamil Times.
OBITUARES
Mr. Velupillai Ponnudural, formerly of the Ceylon Cement Corporation, KKS, youngest son of the late Mr. Velupillai and Mrs. Parwathipillai of Kumara Kovil, KKS brother Of the late Theivanaipillai (Trinco) and late Mr. Murugupillai (Kokuvil); beloved husband of Rajaluxmy; everloving father of Dr. Vetha (Oman), Krishnan
than (Oman), Useelananthan (Brunei), Sasi (Irrigation Department, Vavuniya), Kumarananthan, Rusitha, Shanmugananthan, Sarvananthan and Ratha (All of Jaffna); father-inlaw of Rajeswaran (UK), Dr. Ranjini (Oman), Dr. Geetha (Brunei) and Ganeshalingam (Malaysia), grandfather of Harendra, Sivendra, Nishantha, Than uja, Prasan th, Nisanth, Milu and Mithu passed away in Jaffna on 16.2.94 and was Cremated On 222.94 from Luxmy Vasa, Suthumalai Centre, Manipay. — 312 Torbay Road, Harrow, Middlesex, U.K. and P.O. BOX 3, Code 1 19, Al Arnerat, Sultanate of Oman.
Dr. Velupillai Krishnarajah, formerly Consultant Surgeon, Jaffna General Hospital, Sri Lanka; dearly beloved husband of Rathivathani; loving father of Kumidini and Nirantharakumar, Son of the late Mr. & Mrs. Velupillai (Puloly); son-in-law of the late Mr. & Mrs. Kulasegarampillai (Thelipalai), brother of the late Vannadeva, Balendra, Rajendra, Pathmini (Canada), and Pushpadevi (Australia); brother-in-law of R.S. Pillai (Canada), Parameswaran (Australia), Arulanantham (Canada), Dr. (Mrs.) Rudradevi Paramaguru (USA), Iris (UK), Ratnamany and the late Sivamani passed away on the 28th of January 1994. Funeral took place at Kanate (Colombo) on 30th January.
His family wishes to thank everyone for their help during his prolonged illness, messages of condolence and acts of kindness — 40 Rajasinghe Road, Colombo.
 
 

15 MARCH 1994
Mr. Sinnappu Valli puram Ponnampalam (63), popularly referred to as V.P., former teacher, Shanda Varoedaya College; Principal, Mulliyavallai Vidyananda College, Lecturer, Pala ly Training College, Teacher, Zambia, Chairman, Alaveddy-Mallakam Village Council; President, AlaveddyMalakam M. P.C.S. Communist Party Candidate for Uduvil and KKS Parliamentary Seats; beloved husband of the late Pooranam and Puvaneswary; loving father of Mahavelirajan, Namunukulan and SenSudar (All of Canada), son of the late Mr. & Mrs. S. Vallipuram of Alaveddy, brother of Masilamany (Canada); father-in-law of Sarvalogini and Kala; Grandfather of Poorani and Senchenay passed away in Toronto after addresssing a memorial meeting of his former teacher and principal Mr. Subramaniam (Orator) on 5.3.94 and was Cremated on 123.94 - 28 Medley Crescent, Scarborough, Ontario M1J 1.Y3, Canada. Tel: (416) 269 9373.
üre, Rajaratnam Sabatay
beloved wife of late Mr. Sam
Sabapathy, former Mayor of Jaffna, loving mother of Dr. Na layini Sriskandarajah (U.S.A.), Vinothini Amarasekara (Sri Lanka); Malini Karunananthan, Dr. Premala lsweran, Kanageswary Chandrakumarand Raji Kanagadevan (al of U.K.), mother-in-law of Dr. Fajan Sriskandarajah, Dr. Sarath Amarasckara, Dr. M.S. lsweran Dr. M. Chandrakumar and M. Kanagadevan; grandmother of Saianthan, Shamila,
Shanika, Yalini, Roshini, Tharaka, Arani and Amuthan, passed away peacefully on 20th March 1994. Crennation 26.3.94, at Golders Green Crematorium, London, following ceremonies according to Hindu rites at 49, Orchard Drive, Watford, Hertfordshire (Tel: 0923 229421).
IN MEMORAM
ln loving memory of Dr. Sinnathamby Selvarajah, Retired Registered Medical Practitioner, Kantharmadam, Jaffna On the second anniversary of his passing away on 25th March
1992.
He was the loving husband of Thanaluxmy, father of Dr. Yoganathan, Dr. Yogaranjitham (both of U.K.), Mrs. Jeyaranjitham, Mr. Eswaranathan (U.K.), father-in-law of Manjula, Dr. Navaratnam (both of U.K.) and the late Mr. Sivalingam and grand father of Mahesh, Nilusha, Govardhan, Janardhan (U.K.), Bhiranavan and Sivanjali (Sri Lanka). — 6 Birchwood Close, Highfields, Blackwood, Gwent, NP2 1 WW.
In Loving Memory of Our Beloved Daddy Mummy
Ponnampalam Wemalaranee Kanagaratnam Kanagaratnam
f0.7.1923
Bom: 11.10.1908
Rest 23, 1982 diago
Gently with love your memory is kept Your affection and kindness We will never forget You both are always in our thoughts And for ever in Our hearts.
Remembered with love and affection by sons Sara, Brem and Dubsy, daughters-in-law
Lalitha and Shyamala, and

Page 31
15 MARCH 1994
grandchildren Janarthan, Mehala, Uthistran, Arani and Anuja. - 19 Huxley Place, Palmers Green, London N135SU.
e O81 886 5966.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS April 1 Good Friday. Apr. 6 Ekathasi Apr. 8 Pirathosam. Apr. 96.30pm. Cultural Evening including Dance Drama “Kundrakudi Kuravanji" organised by London Tamil Centre at Brent Town Hall, Forty lane, Wembley. Tel: 081 9043937.
Apr. 10 Amavasai. Apr. 15 Sathurthi.
Apr. 29 Feast of St. Catherine of Siene.
Apr. 30 7.00pm Natha Vidyalaya Violin Concert at Baden Powell House, Oueens Gate, London SW7. Tel: 081 964 5868.
At Bhawan Centre, 4A Castle town Road, London W14 9Q. Tel: O71-381 30864608. Apr. 97.00pm Hindustani Vocall by Ustad Dillshad Khan. Apr. 17 6.30pm Devotional Music by Vani Jairam. Apr. 24 6.30pm Karnatic Vocal by Sivasakti Sivanesan. Apr. 30 5.30pm Talk by Dr. V. Vasantasree on 'Education of Women in India'. Apr. 30 7.00pm Dance Drana 'Chandalika".
Gita Lectures by Sri Mathoor Krishnamurthi at 5.30pm on Apr. 9, 16, 23.
A Bell For ThirukOneSWafa"Tì Temple
11.1293, and regular poojas are being conducted. The ancient temple on the Holy Swamy Rock had an excellent bell which is not in uSe nOW.
A new bell tower 54 feet high is being constructed alongside the Thirukoneswaram Temple dome and arrangements are being made to obtain a suitable bell. The cost of a new bell including transport to Trincomalee is estimated to be £5000. The donations received to date amount to £2350.
A dinner is being organised at Lola Jones Hall, Tooting Leisure Centre, Greaves Place, of Garratt Lane, London SW17 on Saturday, 2nd April 1994 from 7.00pm and the support of all devotees is requested.
Donations are urgently required and cheques in favour of Thirukoneswaram Restoration Fund could be sent to. U.K. Fund Manager, 10 Townley Road, Dulwich, London SE22 8SW. All donations will be acknowledged.
Flute Recital in Holland
兰兹
Thirukoneswaram Temple in Trincomalee has been restored to its pristine glory at a cost of 1.3 million rupees from funds from the President's Fund and from several donors. The Maha Kumbabishekam was held on
A flute recital was performed by Mr. K. Jananayagam on 3rd March 1994 in Enschede Music Centre in Holland. This Centre is one of the good halls in Holland with excellent acoustics. One of the interesting features of the recital was that the only accoтрапітent was a Tabla instead of the usual violin and the mirudangam in other ConCertS.
The audience WaS COSnOOOlitan and the Ragas selected were common to both North and South Indian styles of music. Mr. Sandip Bhattachchariya, well known artiste accompanied on the Tabla. Explanations were given of the different Ragas and the hall was packed to capacity in spite of the inclement weather and a national soccer fixture in the locality.
 
 

TAMIL TIMES 31
Ramanathan Feted and Honoured in Colombo
شی
fr. V. R. Ramanathan, General Secretary of the Saiva Muneeta angam, U.K. Branch was draped with a golden shawl" and onferred the title of 'Saiva Thurantharar" by the State Minister for indu Religious and Cultural Affairs, Mr. P. P. Devaraj, at a unction held in Colombo on 12.12.93. Mrs. Vijayalakshmy Ramanathan was associated with her husband on this occasion. Mr. Ramanathan had joined the parent body in Colombo in '964 and had worked tirelessly as teacher of Religious Knowedge, treasurer, editor of the magazine, secretary and leader of he volunteer group and Assistant Treasurer of the Building Fund 2ommittee, before going over to the U.K. in 1977.
in U.K. he established a branch of the Sangam and had been active in the holding of regular poojas and the teaching of Hindu eligion and Tamil language to the younger folk. He has been sworking hard to acquire a building in U.K. for the Sangam and akes a very active part in the production of the Hindu religious
magazine "Kalasam.
Kalabhavanam Promotes Young Musicians
Kalabhavanam Fine Arts Centre, in its programme of promoting young musicians opened its Willis Road auditorium to a variety of student musicians on Sunday, 30th January last. The programme was organised and presented by the Mridangam artiste Muthu Sivarajah assembling students from different schools and different gurus.
Vocal music was contributed by Jagadeeswarampillai Sisters Thenuka and Birami, students of Tiruvarur Kothandapani, the violin artiste. The young girls' Dresentation Of Various keerthanams was well appreciated. Bravely they attempted to recite Swara prasthara and suceeded in it flawlessly. There swere two violin solo recitals one by Aparna Sarma, disciple of Dr. Lakshmi Jayan and the other by Bhairavi Ganeswaran, disciple of Kalaivani Indrakumar, The handling of the instrument and tackling of intricate wara patterns by these two oung girls was highly apprecirted.
In all the programmes minidangam accompaniment was provided by Nishanthan Nagarajan, Ranjith Kanagasundaram and Marino Kumaradasan who had their Arangetam not long ago. They displayed their grasp of rhythmic patterns and it was felt that these youngsters should be encouraged by senior concert performers to accompany them. Angelo Kumaradasan, brother of Marino, was also on the stage playing the Ghatam. He is another youпg percussionist recognised by senior performers as a full-fledged accompanist.
Senior artistes Muthu Sivarajah (mridangam) Jananayagam (flute), Chidambaranathan (Ganjira) and Balendra (veena) assisted in the programme to give colour.
Matrimonial Confidential introduction undertaken for Tarn if Christians only. Correspondence once a suitable partner is found. Nominal fee becomes payable. No liability admitted. Dr. Royce Arasaratnam, Doctors Mess, Ipswich Hospital, Heath Road, lpswich. IP4 5PD. United Kingdom.

Page 32
32 TAMIL TIMES
A Life of Dedicated S
(Excerpts from a speech by Mr. P. Rajanayagam (Editor of Tamil Times and former President of SCOT) at a memorial meeting held on 5 December 1993).
We are gathered here today to remember our friend and colleague, the late Dr. Sri Pathmanathan, affectionately known to his friends and colleagues as Sri Paths. In the course of one's life and work, there are those who leave a deep impact in one's thinking and an indelible imprint in one's memory even after they have departed from this world. During their lifetime, you take them for granted and you never realise what an impact and influence they have had in your own life and work. One can say without any fear of being accused of exaggeration, Sri Paths was one of those persons who certainly left such a deep impact and imprint in our thinking and memory.
Sri Paths' life was one of service to his fellow beings. Running like a golden thread through all his work was his deep commitment to alleviate human suffering. I have not known him as a deeply religious person, but I am sure he would have agreed with Swami Vivekananda who said: "So long as even a dog of my country remains ulithout food, to feed and to take care of him is my religion, anything else is either non-religion or false religion.'
Sri Paths' natural concern for the plight of the ordinary people was brought into sharp relief when he was stationed in Vavuniya when the 1958 violence broke out. Politicians with their shortsighted and opportunistic policies had lit the fuse of communal violence which engulfed the whole island and the situation in Vavuniya and adjoining areas was particularly dangerous. Vavuniya had a mixed population and armed gangs from Padaviya were menacingly marching towards Vavuniya bent on murder and mayhem. Rather than seeking safety and security for himself, Sri Paths threw in his lot with others to take steps to safeguard the ordinary people from violent attacks. He had never before driven a vehicle bigger than a motor car. On this occasion, he took upon himself the responsibility of being the driver of a bus which was used to transfer the Tamil people from the Sinhala section of Vavuniya to the Tamil section and the Sinhala people from the Tamil section of Vavuniya to the Sinhala section.
It was his experi during the 1958 pe him the realisation poison of the politic had infected the bod
In 1959 Sri Paths for his postgraduate came Sheila, his companion. They ha two sons and tw. eldest Rohendra is cher at the Edin Gehan is a Civil Er qualified Architect gaged in Art and fili Doctor.
Although Sri Pat great deal in his pri there was a lot m achieved in the UK had an irrepressible his country — an ur undiminished til h make his own contr patriots. It was this him return to Sri I his return, he becar and Head of Depar Maxillo-Facial Sur versity of Sri Lan. consultant at the U Hospital Kandy. Se placed by those w themselves in key university. They fel innovative and methods of work.
It was during th Paths became mo radicalised. He bec socialist. However, rooted in the theori of marxist ideology his abiding commit ples of equality an him oppression in v to be resisted and ploitation of man ended. But unlike rades who were pr the eventual libera the revolutionary existing system bri ised utopian land C Sri Paths was pragr say humane enoug need in the mea initiate and particip to bring about relie the suffering people
Sri Paths was cerned about the a to which the planta

15 MARCH 1994
ervice
ence in Vavuniya riod that brought that the vicious s of communalism ly of the island.
arrived in the UK ! studies and along wife and lifelong ave four children - daughters. The a Medical Researburgh University; gineer, Chantal, a and presently enming; and Asitha a
hs had achieved a ofessional field and ore he could have or elsewhere, he I urge to go back to ge which remained is dying days - to ibution to his comurge which made anka in 1971. On me Senior Lecturer tment of Oral and gery at the Unika, and Honorary niversity Teaching vere obstacles were tho had anchored
positions in the t threatened by his patient-oriented
is period that Sri re politicised and ame a committed his beliefs were not stical formulations , but sprang from ment to the princil social justice. To hatever form had removed, and exby man had to be some of his comepared to wait for tion by means of overthrow of the nging in the promf milk and honey, natic and one could n to recognise the time to promote, ate in programmes and alleviation to
particularly conpalling conditions tion workers were
Dr. R. Sri Pathmanathan
subjected in the early 1970s more specifically following the state takeover of the tea plantations by the SLFP-lead coalition government. Tens of thousands of workers and their families were evicted from the estates and they were literally dying of starvation and malnutrition. It was during this period that Sri Paths linked up with the late Dr. S. Rajasundaram who later became Secretary of Gandhiyam to rehabilitate the displaced and suffering plantation workers in Vavuniya and the adjoining districts.
Having been deprived of their fundamental rights of citizenship and franchise after 1948, the lot of the plantation Tamil workers and their families had remained grim and appalling without basic medical, sanitary, housing and educational facilities. Six to seven thousand of them were dying annually due to diseases resulting from malnutrition and starvation. The state take-over and the consequent eviction from the estates made them literally destitute.
The War-on-Want Report of 1974 and the two World-in-Action programmes by Granada Television in late 1973 and early 1975 brought into the living rooms of western audiences the tragic plight of these people and were to shake their conscience. People were horror-struck by what they saw. The sheer weight of pressure following these programmes compelled the British government to send a parliamentary delegation to investigate the conditions in the estates owned by British companies - and we must not forget that at this time some upper class Sri Lankans, both Sinhalese and Tamils held directorships in these companies. The Sri Lankan government was compelled to introduce minimum wage structure. Subsequent improvement in the conditions of these people was in no small measure attributable to the impact these programmes had.
The role played by Sri Paths in initiating and participating in these programmes stand testimony to his

Page 33
15 ARCH 1994
unrelenting commitment to the oppressed and the repressed, the young and the old, the weak and the poor, a commitment which remained undiminished till his dying days either by passage of time or by affliction of an ailment which was to eventually remove him from our midst.
In 1974 Sri Paths returned to the UK and recommenced work in his chosen professional field in Scotland which can he described as his adopted homeland. But Sri Paths was a larger man with a wider vision than many with whom he worked either in the medical field or social sphere. He was deeply concerned and disturbed by the gathering dark clouds of violent ethnic conflagration in the late 1970's in Sri Lanka. In the wake of the islandwide outbreak of communal violence in August 1977, he together with a few likeminded friends formed the Standing Committee ofTamil Speaking People — UK (SCOT), a non-political registered charitable organisation committed to assisting in the relief and rehabilitation of people adversely affected or displaced due to ethnic violence in Sri Lanka. Till his death,
he remained a livewire for this orga
misation.
Helping to upgrade universities and hospitals by enabling the provision of enhanced facilities in terms of equipment, books and research, by arranging exchange programmes of qualified medical personnel and enabling provision for postgraduate training for medical personnel are some of the areas in which Sri Paths spent a considerable amount of time and effort. These efforts were extensive and not necessarily confined to Sri Lanka. His contribution in this field went as far as Bangalore, Kerala and Tamil Nadu in India and even to Thailand and other third world countries, and reflected the total absence of sectarianism, narrow nationalism and parochialism in his personality. In one letter received after Sri Paths' death, Dr. Thavanchaya from Bangkok gratefully refers to the help recently given by Sri Paths in organising a new dental school in Thailand.
The hundreds of letters of sympathy, many of which extol Sri Paths' virtues both as a professional and a humane being, that his wife Sheila and his children have received and continue to receive from many parts of the world constitute a commendable commentary of the life and work of this great and remarkable, and at the same time unassuming and selfeffacing individual we have gathered to remember today.
In a letter to Sheila, Prof. Peter
Ward Booth of Bristol 'I was sad to hear Paths' death. As I always held him in only because he help Lanka, but also beca contribution to our sp to Sri Lanka uvas the training. Not only dic that 6 months than a ing, but it uvas such a As you can imagine European experience, huge cultural experien his fertile mind an links, have given trem nities to other trainee speciality will beforet of us can hope to make tion. I certainly nev, speciality to go so fa result of people like enthusiasm'.
In a letter to Sri Rohendra, Prof. M. . of the University of land, says: "When u telephone he seemea spirits and uvas accep tion. It uwas charac father never to allow to overwhelm him a that he could be with the end... You will started working with he uvas a consultant evitably, one became and I ended up vis tuvice and India once. uve drove up to Ja hostilities and I reca occupant in the hotel non-local in touvn. Si seem to be every da father and my memo his untiring energy at һитоиr.”
In another mess Bradley, Head of Del & Maxillo-Facial Su don Hospital Medical am writing to say ho hear the neuvs abou from Mr. Ian Laws. him during my time
House fo 3 bedrooned terrace lounge, 5 minutes w Lane Tube station, v. Tel 081 97
Holiday in B & B in Srilankan hor distance of Skandaval ensuites, Ctv, tea-r £15 pppn, 4-12 yrs ha Sharing parent's bed, ern. 023977225.
L

TAMIL TIMES 33
University says: he news about оре һe kпеиv, I. igh esteem. Not 2d me visit Sri use of his great 'ciality. My visit highpoint of my I learn more in my S.R. train'life' experience. rom my narrouw it represented a ce. As you knouv d international endous opportu, for which our er grateful Feuv such a contribur expected our r forward as a Paths' help and
'aths eldest son, Martin Fergusan Otago, New Zeae last spoke by l to be in good ting of the situateristic of your a bleak situation nod I am pleased the family until be aujare that I your father while in Glasgow. In - organised by him iting Sri Lanka On one occasion, ffna despite the ll being the only , if not the only tuations like that y event for your ry of him uvill be ld perpetual good
age, Prof. B.F. partment of Oral gery of the Lon
College, says: "I w sorry I uvas to t your husband I came to know as consultant in
North Wales, where he had carried out a locum during Philip Worthington's sabbatical in the USA. His personality and great background of knowledge impressed itself upon me, as on many people. It was alluvays a great pleasure to meet him at meetings in various parts around the world, for he always seemed to have the ability to turn up in unexpected places. He is somebody who will be much missed in the speciality.'
These are quotations from just three letters randomly picked up from the hundreds that have been received since Sri Paths' departure. I have also had the opportunity of perusing a document numbering several pages listing the impressive array of numerous post-graduate qualifications that Sri Paths had achieved, the countless number of papers and publications that SP had authored and presented at international medical conferences, and the wideranging experience he had acquired in many aspects of his chosen speciality. I am no medical person, but one thing I am sure of- to achieve all these while at the same time being engaged in other social and political concerns, Sri Paths must have possessed enormous energy, sustained commitment and a sense of discipline very few would have been capable of
At a time when Sri Lankans of all nationalities, whether within or outside the island, have become almost desensitised and brutalised by the enormity of the death, destruction, displacement, killing and counterkilling that continue to characterise an almost neverending war, Sri Paths lived his life contributing, among other things, to save lives, bring relief and rehabilitation. That is a type of life which may not fit into the present-day description of a hero, but is worth emulating for it encapsulates all that is good in humankind.
His colleagues and friends will always remember him and his life-long work and service which was devoted to the enhancement of the quality of life of his fellow beings.
r Sale d house, through alk from Rayners cant possession. 76277.
Wales
he within motoring Temple. Double aking facilities. fprice, u4s free if ptional Srilankan
Rathbone Travel Ltd Prize Winners - February 1994.
1st Prize: Air Ticket to Colombo or South India.
Mr. Baker - Receipt No. 1005 2nd Prize - Lunch or dinner for two Mr. S. De Alwis - Receipt No.A 144 3rd Prize - £50 voucher to purchase cricket equipment Mrs. R. Goldsmith. Receipt No. 1008. Winners contact Rathbone Travel Ltd On O71 734 4002.

Page 34
34 TAMIL TIMES
JAFFNASCHOOLS SPORTS ASSOCIATION (UK)
J.S.S.A. 7 A SIDE SOCCER TOURNAMENT 1994
4th April 1994 EASTERMONDAY BANK HOLDAY TIME: 9.30 am to 5pm
Wenue: John Billam Sports Ground
Woodcock Hill Harrow, Middlesex
Nearest tube: Preston Road (Metropolitan Line) British Rail: Kenton
Bus: 204
Admission: £200
Chithambra College Stanley College Hartley College St. Henry's College Jaffna Central College St. Johns College Jaffna College St. Patricks College Jaffna Hindu College Trincomalee Hindu College Kokuvil Hindu College Union College Mahajana College Vavuneya Maha Vidiyalayam Skandavarodaya College
Sponnorship opento any comparcial organdatio. LLLLLL LLLLL LLLLLLLLS LLLGLLLLL LLLkLL 0LLS peaae esentact Mr. S. Mytvungamaan ora 081 9495973
For other aquirias LLLLSLLLLLSGLLSLMLLLLLL 00LL000LS LL LLLLLLLLS 0S LLLLLL0L00
*AA000L Y CANDRAS wTour Ara
YOGA. & CO
For all your legal work and Conveyancing Solicitors & Administrators of Oaths
47 Booth Road, Collindale, London NMV95JS
Telephone: 081-2050899
MMGRATION SOLICTOR
Applications for: st Early Visas for those in the Home Office asylum backlog fir Extended Stay/Permanent Residence A Visas for Elderly Parents, Wives, Visitors, Students År Citizenship de Also Appeals Nearly 500 Tamil clients acted for up to now A.J. Phone/Fax: Tony Paterson 2TERSON On 081-748 8532
 

15 MARCH 1994
VEMBADI OLD GIRLS ASSOCIATION OF U.K.
Will be holding their
A.G.M.
Dinner & Entertainment
on the 9th of April 1994 at 7pm
at “LOLA JONES HALL”
Greaves Lane, (off Garrett Lane), Tooting, London SW17
Tickets: Adults £6.00, Children £3.00
For tickets and further information please phone:
President Hon. Secretary
Mrs Sarada Sandrapragas Mrs Vimala Thiyagaraja Tel: O81-349 1172 Te: O816479069 Hon Treasurer Mrs. Geetha Vijayadeva Tel: 0817952230
ALL CLASSES OF INSURANCE ARRANGED
dr Private and Commercial Motor Vehicles
Shops
Home Contents
*dr Buildings
Ar General
Mortgages arranged First time buyers welcome
ContaCf J. KULENDRAN.
Beddington Insurance Services (Wimbledon) Ltd.
157A Hatfield Road, 96 Sudbury Avenue, Wimbledon, North Wembley, London SW19 3TU Middlesex HAO 3BG
Te: O81-543 5181 Te: O81-9049686

Page 35
15 MARCH 1994
GLEN EXPRESS
155 Notting
London W
TEL: O71 221 3498
LONDON TO:
COLOMBO Until 30 Apr
COLOMBO VIA DUBA 08 Jan-16 Mar 8 (
17 Mar-01 Apr 15 Jun-14 Jul 15 Jul-14 Sep 15 Sep-30 Sep
COLOMBO VIA KUWAIT Until 30 Jun
MADRAS/TRICY/TRIVENDRUM/- Until 30 Apr
DIRECT WITH STOPIN COLOMBO Until 30 Apr
SINGAPORE WITH STOP N 08 Jan-16 Mar &
COLOMBO 17 Mar-01 Apr
15 Jun-14 Jul 15 Jul-14 Sep
SYDNEY OR MELBOURNE VA COLOMBO 08 Jan-30 Jun & SINGAPORE AND KUALA LUMPUR 01 Jul-14 Sep
SYDNEY VIA COLOMBO & 08 Jan-30 Jun & SINGAPORE 01 Jul-14 Sep
ALL MAJOR CREDIT
COMPETITIVE FARES TO OTHE
 
 

TAMIL TIMES 35
TRAVEL LTD
Hill Gate,
1 3LF
AX: 071 243 8277
ONE WAY RETURN ADULT. CHILD ADULT CHLD
£272 167 485 295
2 Apr. 14 Jun 340 221 485 328 360 234 525 255 E350 .228 580 392 £360 £234 £645 £435 E340 515 £221 E348
245 169 385 263
280 172 425 260 E350 220 E500 E304
)2 Apr-14 Jun · · 525 360 565 387
590 402
655 445
5 Sep-30 Sep £460 £318 £910 ge616 500 E345 E930 E630
5 Sep-30 Sep 47O 318 915 631 500 345 935 645
CARDS ACCEPTED
DESTINATIONS AVAILABLE

Page 36
. SHIPPING AIRFR TO COLOMBO AND OTH
PERSONAL EFFECTS, HOUSEHOLD GOC Appointed MAIN AGEN
Passenger Tickets & Una
Special Flow faros to: L MADRASTRIWEND RUUMITRICHY lL:
(No Stop in Colornbo) E. 425.OO SE
COLOMEBO:
IR LIKA, E 485,յD Ai GULF F O5 OO KUWAT 또 395, )
EMIRATE E 495. OO M Please contact for other destinations T
YOUR GOODS GO TO OUR BONDED
14 Allied Way of Warple Telephone: 081-740-837: Faxe E-774-422s elex
A Trust Worthy Contact YOL Carnof Afford To Do WİİTOLIt!
TRIco
Trico ProWide You The Complete Service
(A) Shipping Tea Ces B.95
CU.ft. E1.98
(B) Airfreight-competitive Rate (C) Air Ticket - Competitive Fares
To Sri Lanka
Try us and see the difference
Trico International (Fwd) Ltd. Stuart House, 1 River Park Road, LOrdo N22 4TB
Te: OB1-888 8787 F: O81-BB9545
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

REIGHT TRAVEL
ER WORLWIDE DESTINATIONS
DDS, WEHICLES AND MACHINERIES NT. fOT AIR LANKA
CCO Tnpa nied Baggage
yw UrnacConTipanied Baggage rates COLOMBO: by
a Freight - E 9.00 per Tea Chest
- Е 200 рег с.ш., П.
r Freight - E30.00 per 10 Kg.
£ 1.50 far additional Kg.)
ADRAS --E150 par Kg. RIWENDRUM - e 130 per Kg.
WAREHOUSE IN COLOMBO
SM ED Way, Acton, London W3(ORC
E 495 229.357 GLENCA G
UNIWEST
INTERNATIONAL
30 Friern Barnet Road, Londo N1 || LINA
Te: O81-351587 493 O81-36S 9544 Fax: (E1-3618498
Allgc.cxd5 ara lodgExd in micxdefin, fully ComputerisExd, Borded wärghicxuSE outside the Port) providing speedy orig-stop clearance and delivery acilities (no. Wharf clerks involved), Ceylon Shipping Lines, 2941 (D.R. WijBWarderia Mawatha, Colombo, 10. Tel: 4329345.
WEARE THE BEST AND THE CHEAPEST
NWO THIDDENW' CHANGES
Special rates for shipping entire House furniture and goods Goods Collected within the UK at a nominal charge
ianos (New & Used) and all Duty Free goods supplied.
Travel Agents for Air Lanka, Kuwait, Emirates, Gulf Air, Air France, KLM, Royal Jordanian, PIA and Balkan Airlines.
Katunayake International Airport Duty Free Shopping Guide available to our Customers and permissible duty Free allowance on goods shipped.