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AUGUST 2006
"I do not agree with a word of what you say, but I'll defend to the death your right to say it”
- Voltaire
TIL . . .
TIMES
ISSN 0266 - 44 88 Vol. 25, No: 8 AUGUST 2006
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CONTENTS
Eelam War IV O3 NewS Review 04 Bombing Raid 11 Pak HC - Bomb attack 12 MaViAru & Muttur 14 Civilian Protection 15 Al Calls
for urgent action 16 Kethesh Loganathan 19 Kethesh Vindicated 22 Tribute to Kethesh 24 Water turns into fire 26 Muttur betrayal 28 UN interVention 30 SLMM pulling out 32 Classified 36
and th
The Governm Committed to the Contradiction bet The Countless e been taking plac Ceasefire has inc Eelam War IV Wii MaVil Aru in the sorted to by the
SOOn the thea ing the Wanni re and the Jaffna pe Although ther both sides as to indisputably true Tigers killed or ir By any recko the latest round c sent gross violat laws. The follow incidents to whic International haV
. The killing, exe Action Against ered lying face-d Wounds indicatin Hundreds of N verted by the LT of Muslim men away with their * A claymore lan a medical doctor The incident OC Nedunkerny, in \ aCCused each ot Renewed aeri; Controlled areas
of civilian casual killed and more k Rockets and a and Surrounding civilians and WOL, the shells were f k AS many as 5 than 100 Wound raid on a Compo trolled territory. ( first aid Course, Tiger military tra A car bomb at
TAM TIMES 3.
Eelam War IV Ie Humanitarian Crisis
ent and the LTTE are at war. Yet they say that they are Ceasefire Agreement signed in February 2002. The ween their words and actions cannot be any sharper. ver increasing number of violent incidents that have e since December last year in gross violation of the ow inexorably led to the outbreak of the undeclared ith the dispute over the shutting of the sluice gates of Trincomalee district by the LTTE and the action reGovernment to resolve it militarily. tre of war was widened and spread to the north covergion, Muhamalai, Kilaly, Nagarkoil, Mandatitivu, Kayts eninsula. e have been conflicting claims and counter-claims from the number of casualties from both sides, What is is that there have been hundreds of soldiers and Tamil jured in the northern and eastern fronts. ning, some of the incidents that have occurred since of fighting began are truly appalling, many which repretions of international human rights and humanitarian ing are some the more glaring examples of serious sh human rights organisations including the Amnesty e drawn attention:
cution style, of 17 aid workers of the French aid agency lunger (Action Contre la Faim, or ACF) were discovown on the front lawn of ACF's Muttur office, with bullet g that they had been shot at close range. (6 August) Muslim civilians fleeing the fighting in Muttur were diTE into an area under its control. An unknown number were allegedly separated from the group and taken hands tied and later killed, execution style. (4 August) dmine reportedly hit an ambulance killing five people - his wife, two nurses and the driver of the ambulance. curred in LTTE-controlled territory near the village of savuniya district. The government and the LTTE have ther for the attack.(8 August) al bombardment by the Sri Lankan air force of LTTEin Trincomalee district reportedly resulting in a number ties. The LTTE claimed that at least 50 civilians were than 200 Wounded. (10 August) rtillery shells reportedly hit the St. Philip Neryy Church homes in Allaipiddy in Kayts islet, killing at least 15 Inding 54.There were conflicting reports as to whether ired by government forces or by the LTTE. (13 August) 1 teenage girls (aged 17 to 20) were killed and more ed when Sri Lankan Air Force carried out a bombing und in the northern district of Mullaitivu, in LTTE-COn14 August) The LTTE said that victims were following a but the government claimed that they targeted a Tamil ining camp) tack on S. Sivathasan, a senior member of the Eelam
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4 TAMIL TIMES
People's Democratic Party and former Member of Parliament, killed the politician's bodyguard and a threeyear-old child who happened to be standing near the roadside. S. Sivathasan and five other civilians were injured in the blast. (12 August)
ir Suspected LTTE gunmen assassinated Ketheshwaran Loganathan, the Deputy Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat and former director of the Colombo-based Centre for Policy Alternatives, a research centre that specializes in conflict resolution and good governance. (12 August)
k Abomb hit a convoy carrying the Pakistan's High Commissioner Bashir Wali Mohamed; the ambassador escaped without injury, but at least seven people were killed in the blast including four military bodyguards and three civilian bystanders. (14 August)
Government forces have been carrying out bombing raids and both sides have been subjecting each other's military positions to long range artillery and rocket fire in the course which many civilians have been injured or killed. Neither party appears to be taking adequate precautions to protect civilian lives.
In a matter of two weeks, the fighting between the Tamil Tigers and government forces has resulted in the displacement of over a hundred thousand civilians and scores of civilians killed or injured. Movement of
UNHCR seeks humanitarian access to reach affected people
Aug 18 - We and our partners are now seriously concerned about the welfare of civilians in areas inaccessible to humanitarian agencies because of strictly enforced travel restrictions, as fighting continues in the north and east of Sri Lanka, UNHCR said.
UNHCR calls on the Sri Lankan government and the rebel Tamil Tigers, or Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), urgently to allow access for humanitar
ings, in Point Pedrc are staying in vacant families. UNHCR a they may not have water and sanitation
Eastern districts Thousands of dis Muttur, Eachchilan Trincomalee Distric sion in Batticaloa D ate need of sustained
Some 15,000 to now said to be disp
ian aid workers so vital supplies can reach those in need, and to permit freedom of movement to all affected populations.
With the closure of the A9 access road to the Jaffna peninsula through LTTE-controlled Kilinochchi District, supplies of food and water have fallen to alarmingly low levels in many locations. As a result, people are hoarding food, and merchants are sharply hiking prices in local markets.
The situation in Point Pedro, in the north of the Jaffna peninsula, is even more fluid and unpredictable than in Jaffna town. Whereas people in the town have sought refuge in large communal build
trolled Kilinochchi repeated artillery sh Humanitarian agenc help to those displ 9,500 individualscommunal building ing our response
UNHCR has distri lief items – kitche pans, towels, bed sh paulins, mats, laund soap – to about 1,
AUGUST 2006
people from the areas of fighting have been blocked and the ability of humanitarian organisations to provide much needed relief to the affected people has been severely restricted. Sri Lanka today is facing an emerging humanitarian crisis of alarming proportions.
As the International Commission of Jurists has pointed out, both parties to the conflict are bound by Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions and by those rules of international humanitarian law that have become part of customary international law. Common Article 3 provides that civilians and other non-combatants are protected against violence to life and person, in particular murder, mutilation, cruel treatment and torture; hostage taking; humiliating and degrading treatment; and the passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly Constituted Court. It is a Crime under international law to Commit a serious violation of Common Article 3, as well as to Commit other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in internal conflicts, including intentionally directing attacks against civilians or against religious or educational buildings. Individuals can be prosecuted for such crimes in Sri Lanka and in other Countries. The Government is also bound by international human rights law.
) displaced civilians homes and with host und its partners fear adequate electricity,
i.
face a similar crisis. placed families in npattu Divisions of t, and Vaharai Diviistrict, are in desper| humanitarian relief. 20,000 people are laced in LTTE-con
priority to the most vulnerable people. Unfortunately, we have limited stock and are not sure when new stock will arrive because of restrictions on road transport.
Around 500 families have reportedly moved to the grounds of Madhu Church in Mannar District, a previous displacement site during the 1983-2002 civil war. All permanent houses around the church are now fully occupied by displaced people, and nearly 75 families have erected tents in the surrounding area. We expect even more families to arrive in the com
REVIEW
ing days and will be working with our partners to address their immediate needs.
On a more positive
District as a result of elling and air strikes. ies are targeting their aced people - some living outdoors or in S. Closely coordinatwith other groups, buted emergency ren utensils, pots and heets, jerry cans, tarrysoap and personal 500 families, giving
note, we are pleased to report that we have gained limited access to Vaharai- an area of Batticaloa receiving many thousands of displaced people from neighbouring Trincomalee District. UNHCR and other agencies visited Vaharai on Thursday, 17 Aug., to assess needs so that we can ensure the effective distribution of relief to affected communities. We also assessed the distribution of relief items already delivered by convoy to the area last weekend.
Since fighting began to flare up in Sri
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AUGUST 2006
Lanka in April, we have recorded more than 162,200 people who have fled their homes but remain within the country, as well as 6,672 who have crossed the Palk Strait to become refugees in India's Tamil Nadu state.
EU and Co-Chairs urge immediate cessation of hostilities
August 17 - The European Union, expressing grave concern about the ongoing violence in Sri Lanka which seriously puts the Ceasefire Agreement and the peace process at risk, has repeated their earlier call for a cessation of hostilities in the ongoing fighting between government forces and the Tamil Tigers.
In a press release on 17 August, the EU said, “The Presidency of the European Union is gravely concerned about the ongoing violence in Sri Lanka which seriously puts the Ceasefire Agreement and the peace process at risk.
The Presidency urges the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers ofTamil Eelam (LTTE) to cease hostilities at once and to resume peace talks. The senseless violence will not resolve the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka.
The Presidency reiterates the full support of the European Union to the peace process and to the important work of the Norwegian facilitator. The personnel of the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission must be supported and their secu
r
rity guaranteed at dency is deeply c. growing humanitari and the suffering There are 130 000 ri in the conflict rid number is growing dency calls on both free access for ther affected people.
In the light ofth workers in Muthur, presses its concern conditions of the N and calls on the go' their valuable work. Earlier, on Augu of the Tokyo Dono Lanka Peace Proces the European Union called on the Govel (GoSL) and the Libe Eelam (LTTE) to ce diately and return to ble. The statement ca international investig man rights abuses, i cre of 17 Sri Lanka the French NGO A alleged killing of "Both parties shoulc tion to allow reliefa tims from all three e grant access to displ The following is press release issued
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ll times. The Presiincerned about the in crisis in Sri Lanka If innocent people. fugees since April 7 den areas, and the by day, The Presiparties to guarantee alief agencies to the
killing of the 17 aid the presidency exabout the working GOs in Sri Lanka, vernment to support
st 12, the Co-Chairs Conference for Sri s, the United States, Japan, and Norway, niment of Sri Lanka ation Tigers of Tamil se hostilities immeo the negotiation talled for independant, ations of serious huncluding the massaun NGO workers of ction Faim and the Over 100 Muslims. Il take immediate acgencies to assist vic:thnic groups and to uted areas.”
the full text of the on 12 August by the
US Embassy in Colombo:
The Co-Chairs - the United States, the European Union, Japan, and Norway - are deeply concerned by the continued violence which is seriously unravelling the ceasefire agreement and peace process in Sri Lanka.
The Co-Chairs call on the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to cease hostilities immediately and return to the negotiation table. Both parties should make the utmost effort to prevent a further escalation of violence and loss of life. Violence is not the way to resolve the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. The suffering inflicted on innocent civilians is intolerable. The Co-Chairs remain fully committed to supporting the peace process and the valuable work of the Norwegian facilitator. The personnel of the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission in particular must be supported and their security guaranteed.
The Co-Chairs are seriously concerned about the growing humanitarian crisis. Several tens of thousands of people have already been forced to leave their homes in the Trincomalee district, adding to the already high number of internally displaced people in Sri Lanka. Both parties should take immediate action to allow relief agencies to assist victims from all three ethnic groups and to grant access to disputed areas. This is a matter of priority to avoid a humanitarian dis
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aster.
We call for independent, international investigations ofallegations ofserious human rights abuses, including the murder of 17 Sri Lankans working for a French NGO and the alleged killing of 100 Muslims.
The Co-Chairs plan to meet soon to fully assess the situation and discuss appropriate actions.
More UN officials deplore violence in Sri Lanka
United Nations News Service, 15 Aug 2006 - Reacting to a bombing in Sri Lanka on Monday that reportedly killed dozens of children and wounded many more, two senior United Nations officials added their voices to growing international calls for the Government and separatist rebels to lay down their arms and resume talks. Statements deploring the violence by the head of the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the senior UN official dealing with children and armed conflict came one day after Secretary-General Kofi Annan raised the alarm about intensifying violence in Sri Lanka, including the weekend assassination of Ketheshwaran Loganathan, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Government Peace Secretariat and veteran Tamil human rights advocate.
UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman today called on both the Government and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to “respect international humanitarian law and ensure children and the places where they live, study and play are protected from harm." According to press reports, as many as 40 adolescent girls were killed and some 100 children were wounded, many critically, when a compound in Vallipunam in the northern part of the country was bombed. Girls from various schools were staying overnight at the compound, attending a two-day course in first-aid.
UNICEF staff from a nearby office immediately visited the area to assess the situation and provide counselling services to those in need.
“The latest shocking developments in Sri Lanka show once again that children continue to bear the brunt of this conflict," said the Secretary-General's Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Radhika Coomaraswamy, calling on the parties to cease hostilities and return to the negotiating table.
The LTTE continues to recruit chil
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dren and use them ir on the battlefield, sh released in New Yo Echoing Mr. A terday, Ms. Coomar port for the Co-Ch process”- the Eurc States, Norway and ing the parties that solution to this con "They should w ing the peace proc people, especially c hardship," she said. Meanwhile, the sioner for Refugees today that continue the north and east c several thousand m their homes in sear UNHCR is havi refugees in the area, movement is heavil areas, complicating to deliver much-nee Since April, mo ple have been newly Lanka, including m fled since the flar Muttur and its su Trincomalee Distric further 6,600 Sri Lar the border to Tamil the beginning of the UN agencies are ment mission to Jaf of trapped families freely. "Our offices ute emergency pac jerry cans, water bl required," UNH Jennifer Pagonis to Geneva.
Many of the ps out of Jaffna Distric their way south to an area controlled b Tigers of Tamil Eela displaced are bein and other commun
UNHCR and worked closely wit cal authorities to s the LTTE-controll vision, allowing tru cine and other supp affected by the figh
But access to lampattu in Trinco blocked, Ms. Pago partners are deeply well-being of thos
م - 3 - تفت شکستخوانستان شننست نقش سننش
AUGUST 2008
their fighting forces e said in a statement k. nan's remarks yesswamy voiced supairs of the "Tokyo pean Union, United sapan — and remindthere is no military lict. ork toward reinstatess to protect their hildren, from further
UN High Commis(UNHCR) reported d heavy fighting in fSri Lanka has sent ore civilians fleeing h of safety, ng difficulty helping because freedom of y restricted in many the agency's efforts ded aid to civilians. rethan 128,800 peodisplaced within Sri ore than 50,000 who e-up of violence in rrounding areas in :t in early August. A kans have fled across Nadu in India since
year. preparing an assessfina, where thousands are unable to move are ready to distribks, additional water idders and lanterns if CR spokesperson ld a press briefing in
ople who could get thave begun making Killinochchi District, y the rebel Liberation m (LTTE), where the assisted in schools l centres, she said. other partners have In the military and locure safe passage to d area of Vaharai Dikloads of food, medilies to reach civilians ting. Wuttur and Eachchimalee District is still mis said... “We and our concerned about the still trapped in these
areas, estimated to number around 15,000."
Probe into killing of 17 aid workers
August 12 - As the fighting between government forces and Tamil Tigers subsided in the eastern town of Muttur, the bodies of 17 aid workers working for a foreign NGO who were brutally murdered on 5 August were discovered on the following day. The aid workers were attached to the French-based Action Contre la Faim (Action Against Hunger) or AAH, which has worked in Sri Lanka since 1996. In the Muttur area in eastern Sri Lanka, AAH was involved in supplying clean water and promoting economic activity to assist victims of the 2004 tsunami.
A fact-finding mission by the Consortium of Humanitarian Agency that reached Muttur on 6 August found 15 of the bodies outside the AAH office. "The bodies were all face downwards on the front lawn, seemingly lined up and shot at very close range. The sight was too much to handle', a representative stated. The bodies of the other two were recovered from a car, suggesting they were killed while trying to flee.
Action Against Hunger Mission Chief Erik Forte told the press the bodies of 15 of his employees were found shot dead in Mutur on Sunday. "We lost contact with them on Friday morning. On Saturday there were reports that 15 bodies were found in a government area of Mutur where there was fierce fighting between the LTTE and the security forces. On Sunday the Centre for Humanitarian Agencies saw the bodies and confirmed that they were our staff members,' Mr. Forte said.
AAH officials arrived in Muttur on 7 August and identified the dead as their staff. A press statement the following day declared: "Now that it is clear this was a mass murder targeting clearly identified humanitarian workers, AAH is determined not to settle for vague answers from the parties to the conflict...and will demand exemplary punishment". The workers had all been wearing AAH tshirts and the Muttur office was identified with signs and flags. The aid workers, one Muslim and the rest all Tamils and included 11 males and 4 females, were in Mutur to provide humanitarian assistance to the families displaced by the intense fighting between the government forces and the LTTE in the area.
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AUGUST 2006
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As usual the LTTE and the army into the recent killin traded charges as to who is responsible The deliberate targeti for the killing but there was no way to working for the Fr. verify who the real perpetrators were as Against Hunger (Ac it happened at the time the LTTE and ACF) in the northea
army were fighting in the area. However the relatives of victims have blamed the security forces.
The international community has been outraged by the massacre and many including the United States and the United Nations, have demanded a transparent and independent investigation into one of the worst massacres of aid work
eTS.
The UN has demanded a full and independent inquiry into the murders of the 17 international aid agency workers It says the inquiry into their murder should find out how unarmed, humanitarian workers could be executed. The UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Jan Egeland, said that the Paris-based AAH aid agency "did fantastic work to help tsunami victims in Sri Lanka”. .
Three UN human rights expertsurged the Sri Lankan government to publish the findings ofan independentinvestigation
a "serious violation' humanitarian law, t ment released by th The charity worl with gunshot injuri their office in Mutul ing had pitted Sri La Tamil Tigers.
The statement w cial Representative fenders, Hina Jilani, teur on extrajudicia Alston, and the Sp the right to food, Jei Saying that, “W alarmed by the rece lence in Sri Lanka,”t ernment pledge to investigation, sayir only to bring the pe but to restore confi ian workers and th serve". "We alsourg render the findings
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g of 17 aid workers. ng ofthe Sri Lankans ench charity Action ion Contre la Faim - st of the country was of human rights and hey added in state
United Nations.
ers were found dead is on Sunday (6) in , where heavy fightnkan troops against
is signed by the Speon human rights dethe Special Rapporexecutions, Philip cial Rapporteur on n Ziegler. e are shocked and t escalation ofvioey welcomed a govold an independent g it was "vital not petrators to justice, ence to humanitar: populations they : the government to of its investigation
public as soon as it is completed," the UN experts said adding, “An investigation, however independent, impartial and professional, whose results remain covered by secrecy is of little use."
Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka has assigned two investigators to probe the death of 17 aid workers in Muttur in the Trincomalee District.
The Commission's Media Officer Mahinda Hattaka told journalsits that the two investigators from the Head Office were being assisted by two co-ordinating officers from Anuradhapura and Trincomalee. They were in the process on interviewing relatives and friends of the 17 killed, he said.
"On their return to Colombo on Friday (August 1 l) they will submit a report to the Human Rights Chairman and former Supreme Court Chairman P. Ramanathan,' said Hattaka.
However, he added that they had not received any information after the team had visited Muttur. “Both Army and the LTTE should allow NGOs to work without hindrance. We are taking this very seriously,' he said.
Meanwhile, on Monday Benita
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8 TAMIL TIMES
Ferrero-Waldner, Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy and Co-Chair of the Tokyo Donor Conference for Sri Lanka, and Louis Michel, Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid, in a joint statement on behalf of the European Commission said:
“We are deeply shocked by the spate of violent attacks on civilians and humanitarian aid personnel in Sri Lanka culminating in the execution-style killing of 15 aid workers from the NGO Action Contre La Faim in Mutthur."
The Commission urged the authorities in Sri Lanka to investigate those killings immediately and thoroughly and to give assurances that they would do everything possible to ensure a safe humanitarian environment in the country.
"Violence is not the way to resolve the problems in Sri Lanka. The Commission reiterates once more the call to the parties to put an end to violence and to return to the negotiation table so as to relieve the Sri Lankan people from the ordeal oftwenty years of persistent conflict,' he said.
It is learnt that Australia is providing forensic expertise to help in the special investigation called by President Mahinda Rajapaksa into the killing of the aid workers.
Five forensic experts from Australia are already in Sri Lanka to assist the investigation into the massacre of the 17 aid workers and they together with the Australian High Commissioner participated at a meeting on Friday (1 l) at the Ministry of Disaster Management and Human Rights chaired by Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe..
The IGP, DIG (CID), Director CID, Deputy Solicitor General, the Foreign Ministry, the Colombo JMO and the Anuradhapura JMO who conducted the post-mortem examination, Additional Secretary to the Health Ministry, Prof. Ravindra Fernando and Professor of Forensic Medicine at the Colombo Medical College, also attended this meeting during the latter part of which the head of the ACF mission in the country also sat
1.
ACF was requested to facilitate agreement from the families of the victims to permit exhumation of the bodies for further forensic tests. ACID team is already in Trincomalee for the purpose of recording statements of consent, the minister said. A court order is needed to exhume any dead body.
Asked if the gov able to a suggestio) Fernando, PC. Chair National Commissic sistance from Brita Samarasinghe saidtl the Acting British F and discussed possib put. “The British, he on training local inve participating in any he said. "It is now the investigation,” Sa must, of course, bec framework of the co
At a Colombo I the same day, ACF’s Benoit Miribel, aske who was responsible clared "I don't know We will take all step the bottom of this Miribel admitted th will take time and s mentis in charge oft was taking it very s
“ACF was in c and ICRC about thi be closely followed the UN. They wo statements as the inv he said.
Peace March a Anti-War Rall
August 18 - The Front (NAWF) orgau cessfulandwell atte rally on Thursc Viharamahadevi Par an ineffective and u by group of persons dhist monks belongi rupt it. Reports say to fisticuffs and excl tually resulting in chased away. They out of the park und The clash bega monks who repre: tempted to get on NAWF meeting anc A large numbe the PA, UNP, SLM political parties, m ety, NGO represen activists and artiste the time the incide
Interrupting Mervyn Silva who time, JSS Secretary the group of monk
AUGUST 2006
ernment was agreeby Mr. Desmond man of the Sri Lanka n of Jurists, that asin also be sought, at he had contacted Iigh Commissioner le Scotland Yard inwever, were keener stigators rather than investigation here,' p to the CID to do marasinghe said. "It onducted within the untry's laws” Lews conference on Executive Director :d for an opinion on for the atrocity dewho is responsible. s necessary to get to tragedy,” he said. at the investigation aid that the governhe investigation and eriously ontact with the UN s matter which will by both the EU and uld make monthly stigation proceeds,”
Ind yin Colombo
National Anti-War nized and held a sucnded anti-war peace lay (17) at the kin Colombo despite nsuccessful attempt including a few Budng to the JHU to disthat the attempt led lange of blows evenhe disrupters being were later escorted er police protection. n when a group of ented the JHU atto the stage of the disrupted it. of politicians from C, CWC and other mbers of civil socitatives, trade union were on the stage at t started. Deputy Minister was speaking at that Ven Thera, leading s exhibited banners
asking the organizers of the rally to proceed to Killinochchi to preach peace. At this stage Mr. Silva pulled the banners and threw them away. Fisticuffs then broke out and the JHU members were pushed out of the stage. Later the banners brought by them were burnt and the rally continued.
The rally which was attended by more than 1500 participants was preceded by a demonstration march from Colombo’s Hyde Park. The participants carried banners and placards depicting anti-war and pro-peace slogans. Several speakers addressed the rally. Ven. Prof. Kumburugamuwe Vajira Thera, Ven. Maduluwawe Sobitha Nayake Thera, Ven. Kali Kanagaratnam Kurukkal, Maulavi H. Abdul Nazar and Rit. Rev. Bishop Kumar Illangasinghe presided over the meeting.
Addressing the meeting, UNP parliamentarian Rajitha Senaratne said two main parties UNP and PA had to unite to bring peace to the country. He stated extremists groups from both Sinhala and Tamil communities were leading the country to war and these movements had to be brought into the peace process.
Western People's Front leader Parliamentarian Mano Ganesan said Tamil people living in the South are caught between the Northern extremism and the Southern Sinhala Buddhist fundamentalists. He said they had sent a message today to the Government and the LTTE that war is not the solution to the ethnic issue.
Democratic Left Front leader Vasudeva Nanayakkara said similar groups who attempted to disrupt the peace rally were there throughout history. He said the agents of war and the arms dealers who promote war had encouraged these monks to protest against peace.
Deputy Minister Dilan Perera said anti-war front comprises groups of dif ferent ideologies. Yet they have cometogether because they are against the war and believed the ethnic problem can be solved only by a federal arrangement.
Earlier in the week, a mass movement to express the sentiments of a majority of Sri Lankans that they are against war and for a peaceful solution based on power sharing was launched by the National Anti-War Front (NAWF).
The basic document of the NAWF called for an end to the hostilities and the commencement of talks between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE. “We
Page 9
AUGUST 2006
demand that all parties honour the Ceasefire Agreement. We demand that the LTTE refrain from all acts of violence.' "We urge the Government of Sri Lanka to refrain from violence and not to encourage a culture of impunity,' it said.
The NAWF recalled that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had promised in his election campaign that he wanted to take the road to peace and was ready to meet the LTTE chief, Prabhakaran, face to face, to resolve all the issues. “We urge the President and the Leader of the LTTE to talk to each other in resolving issues. We urge this to take place soon, when everything else seems to have failed," the NAWF document said. “We also urge the LTTE to transform itself into a political party and get involved in the political process," it said.
The NAWF wanted the LTTE to commit itself to a solution within a united Sri Lanka where both sides could achieve a “win-win” situation. "We urge the LTTE to make a statement assuring the minorities and other political entities full representation and democracy in the North and East,' it said.
Chairman NAWF, Dr. Kumar Rupasinghe said that while those who were for peace restricted their activities to seminars and workshops held indoors while a few war mongers screamed themselves hoarse at meetings held in different parts of the country. "As a result, only the voices of the war mongers were heard.'
However, the National Anti War Front has built a platform and all political parties, trade unions, professionals, NGO's and various civil society movements have committed themselves to lead the people's protest against war and violence, he told a news conference.
The United National Party representative, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne said that people representing every political party are together to lead protest against war and violence. "Even though we have widely divergent views, all of us agree that the war must stop immediately and a negotiated solution must be arrived at on the basis of sharing of power, whatever that model is.'
SLFP parliamentarian Dilan Perera said that whatever differences exist, "we are agreeable on the need to stop the war and look towards a negotiated settlement on the basis of shared power.” “We will motivate the people to express their sentiments of protest against war and violence,” he said.
Democratic I Vasudeva Nanaya whole country was to the war mongerin JHU. “It is time th against such movem
TNA parliamen sured that they will ernment and the L. and stop the destru try is heading to.
The represental People’s Front Man eral other speakers sentiments that they for a negotiated so sharing of power.
It was announce inaugural NAWF ra Colombo, twelve fur held at different part ing to the final mass on September 21. It i President Mahinda R of the opposition Rai would address the fi
Speaking to the Dr. Kumara Kumara regretted the violent event. The crowd, he angry and roughed truders. He said he di happened because o and failed to identif blamed the JHU for h unfortunate incident been a peace march and the same group said about ten monk selves on to the sta banner which ran col the rally.
Child killed in bid On EPDPdt
August 9-Three and eight others incl Parliamentarian S. when a powerful be the vehicle transpo Bamblapitiya in Col
The bomb, susp attached to the und went off near St. P Milagiriya around 1 ing driven along Dic
Among the dea old child who was or at the time of the inc from the Ministerial sources at the scenes two bodies trapped in
eft Front leader kara said that the cing a problem due by the JVP and the at we offer to lead nts who are for war.” arian N. Raviraj asall on both the govTE to halt the War :tion that the coun
ive of the Western o Ganesan and sevexpressed the same are against war and ution based on the
d that following the lly on 17 August in ther rallies would be of the country leadmeeting in Colombo s expected that both ajapaksha and leader nil Wickremesinghe nal rally. media after the rally, singhe said that he incidents at a peace admitted, had turned up some of the inidn't see what really f the pandemonium y the attackers. He aving triggered "that '. He said there had in Kandy recently had disrupted it. He s had forced themge and displayed a Inter to the theme of
assassination puty persons were killed lding former EPDP Sivadasan injured mb ripped through ting the ex-MP at ombo on 8 August. 2cted to have been erside the vehicle, ul’s Girls School, 00 pm as it was bemans Road.
was a three-yearthe side of the road dent and an official Security Division, lid. There were also side the vehicle that
TAMIL TIMES 9
was enveloped in flames.
Among the injured are W.A. Fernando, Sasida Rasiah, K.J. Chandrasiri, Ranjani Kalahari, Shamika Kavindi, Wijesena, K. Sureshan.
National Hospital sources said four women and four men were admitted to the Hospital and except for one woman, later identified as the mother of the little girl who was killed in the incident, all others were out of danger.
Sankarapillai Sivadasan, who is virtual deputy to the EPDP leader Douglas Devananda and is also the Chairman of the Palmyra Development Board, was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit together with the woman in critical condition. Sivathasan was a member of Communist party before he joint the EPDP.
Sivadasan, 67, had left his office at Dickman's Road and was on his way to his home in Madiwela when the explosion occurred.
The police believe that the bomb which was fixed to the underside of the vehicle with a magnetic device was triggered offby suspected assailants belonging to the LTTE which has been regularly targeting EPDP members including its leader who has escaped several bids on his life.
Sivathasan was a longstanding member of the EPDP and had received several threats from the LTTE, according to an EPDP spokesman. Drawing attention to the latest killing of another senior member of the EPDP Maha Kanpathipillai on July 25, he said that the Tamil Tigers were carrying on relentless campaign of targeting and killing EPDP members. More than 56 EPDP members have been assassinated by the LTTE since the CFA was signed and many of our members have been abducted, he added. Mr. Sivadasan, who returned to Colombo on the previous day after visiting Pesalai, was on his way to meet Minister Douglas Devananda, who resides in a by-lane close to the scene of the blast.
The three-year-old child killed on the spot was walking past the van at the time of the blast accompanied by her mother who was returning home after working as a domestic at a house nearby. The woman, John Rasiah Sasida, works as a domestic at the Bambalapitiya flats and was going to the bus stand with her daughter Ashwini Jegatheeswaran to return to her home in Kirulapona when the blast occurred
According to the police, the vehicle in which Sivathasan traveled on the day
Page 10
10 TAMIL TIMES
had been subjected to a thorough check between l l am and 12 noon at the premises of the Social Service Ministry, but no suspicious objects were found. However, a couple of hours later it was blasted by a bomb placed on its underside. Investigators believe that when the van was parked in the premises of the Palmyrah Development Board, after leaving the premises of the Social Services Ministry, someone could have fixed the bomb sith a magnetic device. Police firmly believe that it was at this place that the bomb has been placed because it did not stop anywhere else on its journey down Dickmans Road P
Police seize weapons haul
Aug 19 - On information provided by civilians, Wattala police on Sunday (13) afternoon recovered eight claymore mines and other items hidden in a secret compartment of a lorry parked near the Mosque at Mabola, Wattala, 10 miles from Colombo.
According to a woman of the area she had noticed an unattended lorry parked near her house for three days and complained to Wattala police. Police had visited the scene but found nothing sus
picious. When the wi police for the second to arrest the two claimed they were cleaner of the vehicle Reportedly, the I Police Chandra F. present when the lor saidall the credit oft be given to those vi timely informed the pects.
Senior police of recovery pre-empted file attacks on key p targets in the city an One suspect too before police rushed pital. The other admit with the LTTE.
Police found eigh GPS machine (Globa 15 hand grenades, th fles, three T-56 maga tol, 10 detonators, th ers, eight tripods fol sniper gun, a 9mm al 9mm magazines, 240 munition, 175 rounc tion, one remote cont
on the following requirements:
in Tamil Language and in English.
Address: The Hon. Secreta 72, Warlingham
CR77DE UK
Dance Teacher Reduired
TECA (Tamil Educational and Cultural AssociationLondon) runs Fine arts classes for Asian Children in Croydon and other surrounding areas. TECA is looking for an experienced Bharatha Natyam dance teacher. The position will be on contract basis initially for 2 years. Working hours 35 hrs per week (Weekends and 4 other days) Selection will be based
Have offered Bharathanatyam as a main subject in a recognised university or equivalent, Master's degree preferred but not essential. Have at least 3 years teaching experience. Able to prepare students up to Diploma Grade and should be able to prepare students for theirArangatem. Able to conduct workshops for experienced students and Junior teachers. Good knowledge in Folk Dance and Kavadiyattam. Dance Style should be compatible with KalaiKaviri / Kalachethra Style. Able to speak and communicate
Salary between (£10,000-£15000) depending on qualification and experience. Closing Date: 08/09/ 2006. Please apply to the following email address enclosing your CV by email or by post.
email: infoG)tamiled.co.uk
TECA oad Thornton Heath, Surrey
man complained to time they were able suspects who had the driver and the
inspector General of ernando was also ry was checked. He he discovery should gilant civilians who police on the sus
ficials said that the
a series of high proolitical and military d its suburbs.
k cyanide and died him to Ragama hostted his involvement
it claymore mines, a al Position System), ree T-56 assault rizines, one micropisree claymore boostclaymore mines, a utomatic pistol, two rounds ofpistolamis of T-56 ammunirol device, one communication set with intenna, 15 metres of ode wire, two cyaide capsules, and line batteries. After earching the lorry with the assistance of he Bomb Disposal Jnit, Police found a ache of explosives aden in a false botom of the lorry.
The seizure of he lethal weapons ollowed the arrest of wo suspicious perons who were loiterng in the vicinity of he Wattala Police tation, the police aid. While being inerrogated by the Poice, one suspectidenified as Rajasinghe Kuhan, a 23 year old youth from Jaffna killed himself after wallowing a cyanide capsule, Police said.
The other suspect Thevarasa Siva2alan a resident from
AUGUST 2006
Kokuvil, Jaffna revealed under police interrogation that the duo had come with 10 others in the explosive packed lorry from LTTE controlled northern Sri Lanka and that it was parked near an Ice factory in Mabole, in Wattla. He was also admitted to the Ragama teaching hospital after Police found that he too had taken a cyanide capsule while accompanying the Police officers to the place where they had parked the lorry.
A suspect believed to be a senior LTTE cadre who was to receive the large quantity of weapons and explosives recovered at Wattala was arrested on 18 August, according to police sources. A special police team from Peliyagoda arrested the suspect while he was reportedly hiding in a house at Templars Road in Mt.Lavinia. The suspect had come to the city sometime ago and was maintaining a low profile while gathering information and planning attacks on VIPs. According police sources one of the two suspects arrested in Wattala identified as Kugan, who committed suicide by consuming a cyanide capsule, was to deliver the lorry load of claymore mines and other weapons to the arrested cadre.
It was earlier reported that the Karaindeniya police in the south of the island on August 4, seized a lorry carrying a large haul of weapons and explosives that included 26 Claymore mines each weighing five kgs, two side chargers, two detonator wire codes, three T56, 13 magazines, one pistol, 240 nine ml ammunition and high explosive C430 packets each weighing 500g, 200 detonators and 1,000 ammunition, the sources added.
Investigations were conducted following the Karandeniya police intelligence officer being tipped-off about LTTE terrorists preparing to transport weapons to the South. “We were informed two days ago that the LTTE was planning to transport weapons from Dambulla to Elpitiya. Karandeniya policemen blocked the lorry passing the Bentota Bridge and arrested the suspects and the lorry with the haul,” the police said. The two suspects had come from Kilinochchi to Dambulla and were transporting the weapons in the canter lorry which was on its way to the Divithura Plantation in Elpitiya.
A storage house had been set-up to keep the weapons, police said. The lorry with registration number 42 Sri 1281 had a secret compartment built into its floor where the weapons and explosives were (continued on next page)
Page 11
AUGUST 2006
Bombing raid ki and injures ove
August 14 - At least 51 adolescent schoolgirls aged between 17 to 20 were killed and 129 were wounded when Sri Lankan Kfir jets bombed a building in a compound in Mullaithivu district on Monday (14) morning where the girls were attending a residential course on first aid, TamilNet reported. Ambulances rushed the wounded, many of whom were bleeding badly, to local hospitals, the report said. Officials of the LTTE's Peace Secretariat, briefing reporters in Kilinochchi, described the attack as "a horrible act of terror' by the Sri Lankan armed forces.
Four Kfir jet bombers of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) dropped 16 bombs on the premises of the "Sencholai in Vallipunam on ParanthanMullaithivu road, according to LTTE
SOCCS,
“Girls from various schools in the Mullaitivu district were staying overnight at the compound, attending a course in first-aid, LTTE officials in Kilinochchi said. The officials at the
LTTE Peace Secil the Sri Lankan air act of terror.” Th "deliberate, coldmane' targeting compound by the TamilNet reported Tamil Net also 'Sencholai” com lished eight years known to internat that many UN se those conducted been held there. Sencholai buildin past 8 years used had lost one or mc other institutions tarian services ar Sencholai.”
There have 1 sion when some gested that the vic ing raid by the SL small children res. at Sencholai.
However, the
(continued from page 10)
hidden, OIC Karandeniya Police IP Padma Jayadeva said.
The suspects were from Jaffna and Kilinochchi and had heavy duty licence. Police believe that the arms were to be used in the south. The lorry stolen from a businessman in Karandeniya had been sold to the suspects. On questioning, the suspects had told the police that the explosives and the weapons were to be hidden in a house at the Divithura Plantation, on orders given by the LTTE and later transported to places that would be indicated to them in the next few days, police said. Information elicited from the suspects had also revealed that the explosive were to be used in an assassination attempt on President Mahinda Rajapakse, who was due to participate at a function in the Galle district within the next few days.
Police said they were surprised how the lorry carrying such a large stock of explosives and weapons was able to come as far as Galle District, all the way from
Kilinochchi, passir barriers.
In another incic in the north, on ll ported that the arm attempt to smuggle arms and explosive Muhamalai checkp concealed in the ro that travelled betw Jaffna. The army s sault rifles with 425 tion and 15 magazi 24 rounds of ammun zines, 4 anti person grenades, 30 detona trol devices used to mines with a 30-) pouches used in suic munication equipm batteries.
The driver and arrested together w army said. They ha to the Muhamalaip
TAMIL TIMES 11
IS 55 r 120
'etariat denounced strike as "a horrible ey condemned the blooded and inhuof the schoolgirls
daylight air raid,'
reported that the pound was estab
ago and was well ional agencies and 'minars, including
by UNICEF had It said that, “The g has been for the to house girls who ore parents. Several providing humanie located close to
been some confuinitial reports sugctims of the bombAF were orphaned ident and cared for
Director of Tamil
ng through so many
lent of weapons find August, it was rey thwarted an LTTE a large quantity of is into Jaffna, at the oint. They had been pof of a private bus een Muhamalai and eized four T-56 as5 rounds of ammunines, one pistol with ition and three maganel mines, 10 hand tors, two remote cono detonate claymore
metre-long wire, 8.
:ide jackets, one coment and 12 pen torch
the conductor were with the vehicle, the d been handed over olice post. O
eelam Educational Board, V. Ilankumaran, in an interview to Tamil Net Monday (14) said that the girls killed and injured in Monday's Kfir attack were participants in a 10-day residential on "Leadership, Self-Awareness and First Aid workshop." More than 400 G.C.E. A/L Students from l8 different schools in Kilinochchi, Mullaithivu, and Oddusuddan Educational Zones, and selected girls from other educational organisations took part in the annual programme, Mr. Ilankumaran said. According to the timetable of the course, 7:00 a.m. on Monday, the time the air-strike took place, was the time of morningassembly, he said.
The parliamentary group of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) condemned Sri Lankan government's attack as "not merely atrocious and inhuman - it clearly has a genocidal intent...The heavy aerial bombardment on the premises clearly indicates that the attack was premeditated, deliberate and vicious,” and appealed to the International Community “to take the earliest possible action to stop the Sri Lankan State from proceeding with its genocidal program,” in an urgent press release issued in Colombo on Monday (14).
The incident prompted calls from the United Nations for both sides to protect children from harm and to end their hostilities immediately. UN’s child agency, UNICEF, and international truce monitors have visited the scene of the carnage.
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), whose team visited the affected compound in Vallipunam on the Paranthan-Mullaithivu road in Mullaittivu, confirmed that several students had died in an attack. They said they saw the bodies of 19 young men and women aged around 17 to 20 who had been killed in two locations following the aerial bombardments. The monitors said that the site was clearly a civilian location but at the same time the geography of the area was such that it was ideal to conduct arms training so the monitors
were unable to clearly state if the lo
cation was purely a school or rebel training facility.
In a statement issued on 15 Au
Page 12
2 TAMIL TIMES
gust, UNICEF said the "bombing on Monday of a Vallepuram compound in Mullaitivu district that reportedly killed dozens of girls and wounded many more is a shocking result of the rising violence in Sri Lanka.
"These children are innocent victims of violence,' said Ann M. Veneman, UNICEF Executive Director. "We call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law and ensure children and the places where they live, study and play are protected from harm.'
UNICEF staff from a nearby of fice immediately visited the compound to assess the situation and to provide fuel and supplies for the hospital as well as counselling support for the injured students and the bereaved families.
This latest incident came amidst escalating hostilities in Sri Lanka in recent weeks, where tens of thousands of children were displaced from their homes. Hundreds of children have been injured, lost family mem
bers, and live in constant fear of the
violence and continuous shelling of their communities, UNICEF said.
The government on Monday (14) rejected Tamil Tiger claims that schoolgirls were the victims of an air force strike earlier in the day, saying the strike targeted a training camp for child soldiers "that had been identified by air force surveillance.”. The Defense Ministry said in a statement that a training base of the LTTE in Mullaitivu district had been bombed and "50 to 60 young LTTE terrorist cadres' were killed and many were injured. It said the victims were clearly not attending a first aid class as claimed by the Tigers noting that it would be "highly unusual' for schoolgirls to attend a first-aid class at 7 a.m. as claimed by LTTE media. The government published pictures of girls in school uniforms receiving arms training and teenage women LTTE soldiers in camouflage uniforms on its website.
But Air Force spokesman Group Capt. Ajantha Silva said, "we have proof that this place is an LTTE base.” Areas targeted by the air force are “pre-identified" and confirmed by the intelligence services, the Defense
August 15 - T Commissioner, Bas narrowly survivec bid in a bomb at Tamil Tigers on Monday (14) in th ka’s capital, Colom
Two claymore placed by suspect sailants in a trisha the side of Green hundred metres fro) roundabout in Col multaneously as til sioner's motorcad initial news reports cide operation ha firmed.
Though the Pa mat's vehicle was
Ministry said in it
According to c tly released via the the dead in the bo girls between the preparing for the GC several schools in and 4 who membe Udaiyaarkattu Maha Vidyalayam Viswamadhu MV Mullaitheevu MV Kumulamunai MV Semmalai MV Vithiyananda Coll Puthukkudiyirupp Maha Vidyalayam Tharmapuram MV Muruganantha M Oddusuddan MV Pirammathanaaru l
One commenta shocking is that, ment and the Tig charges between th ings or voices of til unfortunate girls w lives in this tragic been heard at all. been deliberately k. light.”
AUGUST 2006
an Envoy narrowly
bes in bomb attack
ne Pakistani High |r Wali Mohamand. an assassination ack by suspected is motorcade on heart of Sri Lanbo. mines reportedly id Tamil Tiger asw, parked by side Path, about one m the Liberty Plaza betty, exploded sine High Commise passed by. The that it was a suive not been con
kistani top diplodamaged, he was
S Statement. letails subsequen: TamilNet, among mbing raid are 51 ages of 17 and 20 E(AL) hailing from the Wanni region, is of the staff.
MV - 01. tor said, "What is while the Governers were trading emselves, the feelle parents of these no lost their young incident have not they seem to have pt out of the limeO
unhurt although his car took shrapnel from the exploding mine mounted on a parked three-wheeler taxi, police said.
The High Commissioner was on his way to a function after the Pakistan Independence Day celebrations when the attack occurred.
The explosive laden trishaw (three-wheeler) had been parked with its rear facing the main road to direct the full blast towards the motorcade. The shrapnel had travelled a long distance and the blasts had set seven vehicles ablaze, the police said. The Ceylon Pentecostal Mission building, opposite which the incident occurred, was also damaged.
"One security vehicle took the full impact of the blast,” said the Special Task Force Commandant DIG Nimal Lewke.
Four army commandos, who travelled in the ill-fated Defender vehicle, were killed together with three civilians who were near the scene. A total of 16 were rushed to the National Hospital accident service after the explosion. Accident Service Director Dr. Anil Jayasinghe said an employee of the Ceylon Gem Corporation, Sarath Dayananda who was rushed with critical injuries to his bowels under went surgery and another army soldier Nirosh Bandara was in the Neurosurgical ICU. "Among the critically injured are a nine year old boy from Panchikawatte, Colombo. He was brought with severe head injuries and is now under close medical observation,” Dr. Jayasinghe said.
The government in Colombo and its police accused the Tamil Tigers for the attack on the Pakistani Ambassador and his convoy and ordered a high level probe into the incident in the immediate aftermath of the incident and condemned "the attempted assassination of the High Commissioner.'
However, why the LTTE could have targeted the High Commissioner's motorcade was not clear. Pakistan
Page 13
AUGUST 2006
is a key supplier of weapons to the Sri Lankan armed forces and has also shared intelligence with the authorities in their battle against the Tigers.
In reporting the incident, LTTE's website, TamilNet specifically noted that the Pakistani High Commissioner, Col (retd) Bashir Wali Mohammed, was a former director of the Pakistani Intelligence Bureau, and that he had earlier served as head of Intelligence operations in the Pakistani High Commission in Colombo during the 1990s.
The unprecedented Claymore mine attack on a diplomat in Colombo came as government forces and Tamil Tigers were locked in fierce military confrontations in the island's northern peninsula of Jaffna and in the east. It was the first time in 21 years that a civilian foreigner had been targeted in Sri Lanka's three-decades-old separatist campaign since the kidnapping ofanAmericancouplein1985byTamilmilitants.
Recalling the incident, the High Commissioner said he was travelling to keep an appointment after taking part in the flag hoisting ceremony of
the Independent Day celebrations at
the High Commission when the explosion took place. "When we were passing Kollupitiya at around 1.05 pm we heard an explosion with a flash of light. My security back up which must have seen it coming and covered my vehicle. Butfourofthemdiedduetotheblasto
The Sri Lanka Government unequivocally condemned the attempted assassination of the Pakistani High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Bashir Wali Mohmand. President Mahinda Rajapaksa personally telephoned Pakistan High Commissioner Bashir Wali Mohmand to express the deep shock over the assassination attempt by the LTTE, a govemment press release said.
Strongly condemning the attempt to assassinate Pakistan's High Com
missioner the Government expressed
grave concerned over the LTTE's decision to widen its terror acts to include threats to regional allies. In a statement the Government said the High Commissioner narrowly escaped when the explosives-laden threewheeler was prevented from reaching its target by the military escort vehile. It said the military vehicle took the full brunt of the explosion and the Government deeply appreciated the , alour demonstrated by the soldiers in making the supreme sacrifice while
N
carrying out the d the life of a respe tary.
"The Governn condemns this att of a friendly coun said. “The Tigers target the Pakistan is a clear indicati following the Paki offer of military ai ance to counter Tig as to divert attentic als suffered by North,” the Media Security said.
India condemni in Colombo target envoy. "The gover all along strongly c dents of terrorist v. cident is no excep eign ministry spoke told reporters here targeting of a dipl terrorist elements ... attacks will not added
In Islamabad, t Pakistan has strony attempt on its High the 60th Independ stan: "We strongl tack and regret the lives," Foreign M Tasnim Aslam sai tack was on our H who is safe but his Despite the atte kistan High Commi Bashir Wali Mohn Pakistan would co the sovereignty an rity of Sri Lanka.
"Our policies a principles. We wil terrorism. We bel eignty and territor Lanka and will co the High Commiss escaped a bomb e him in Kollupitiya Daily News. The er’s vehicle and se also damaged in th took place when he his wife.
He said that Pa ing the same proble his country always ka's territorial inte Asked whethe
TAM TIMES 13
uties of protecting cted foreign digni
ment unequivocally ack on the envoy try," the statement desperate bid to High Commissioner on that it is upset stan Government's d and other assister terrorism as well }n from the reversthe Tigers in the Centre for National
ed the bomb attack ing Pakistan’s top nment of India has ondemned all inciiolence and this intion,' Indian forsman Navtej Sarna . “We deplore the tomatic convoy by and we hope such be repeated,” Sarna
he Government of gly condemned the 1 Commissioner on ence Day of Pakiy condemn the atloss of the seven inistry spokesman d adding, "The atligh Commissioner s car is damaged.”
mpton his life, Passioner in Sri Lanka and reiterated that ntinue to stand for |d territorial integ
re always based on l not condone any ieve in the soverial integrity of Sri ontinue to do so,' ioner who narrowly 'Xplosion targeting
yesterday told the High Commission2curity escort were he explosion which was travelling with
kistan was also facem of terrorism and stood for Sri Langrity. r Pakistan's strong
stand for an undivided Sri Lanka was the reason for the failed attempt on his life, Mohmand said it could be. "It is too early to jump to any conclusions. The phenomenon of suicide bombings is part of the whole game. Let us know who the culprit is after the Government investigates the incident. But I would like to reiterate that Pakistan will continue to stand for Sri Lanka's territorial integrity,” he said.
Fifteen years after the Rajiv Gandhi assassination, the LTTE way of avenging the Indian military support to Sri Lanka, the Tigers appear to be back on the old track of intimidating Sri Lanka's neighbours who support the war against terrorism here. The attempt on the life of Pakistan High Commissioner on Pakistan's Independence Day and at a time when two weapon shipments were at the Colombo Port, conveys a strong message.
Anybody who helps Sri Lanka militarily during this crucial phase of the conflict, is a likely target, notwithstanding the ripples that such attacks would create internationally
The Indian Express newspaper broke the story in early May that Sri Lanka has placed an order with Pakistan for comprehensive list of weapons and hardware. The list, according to the Indian Express among others included UAVs, cluster bombs, PGMs (Precision Guided Munitions), deep penetration bombs and rockets. Sri Lanka had turned to Pakistan following an unsuccessful attempt by Colombo to get India to make the supplies along with some other weapons and hardware including multi-barrel rocket launcher systems, mortars, sea mines, small fast attack crafts and ground radars.
The attempt on the life of Pakistan High Commissioner reflects the LTTE's anger about the flow of military supplies to Sri Lanka. Surely the Tigers were fully aware of the international ramifications of such an attack.
Pakistan along with China had been the two major suppliers of weapons to Colombo in its two decade old war against the LTTE. Besides, Pakistan has also been offering regular training facilities to Sri Lankan Security forces since the days of General Zia Ul Haque. Even by now, 200 Sri Lankan soldiers are being trained in Pakistan at different military institutions. O
Page 14
14 TAMIL TIMES
Maavi Aru, Muthurand Ma Bishop's Message to the
The following is the text of a Message to the Nation fro Duleep de Chickera, Bishop of Colombo issued on 14
The recent Maavi Aru/Muthur confrontations have caused death and dislocation amongst all communities. It is deeply regrettable that, as always, innocent civilians have, in addition to the combatants, been killed in the reportedly fierce and desperate close proximity fighting between the Armed Forces and the LTTE.
The Muslims undoubtedly suffered the most. Over 30,000 have been displaced from Muttur and are huddled together in hopelessly inadequate makeshift shelters in and around Kantale. The killing of several Muslim young men near the 64th mile post on the Muthur -Kantale road has added to the misery of this community.
The Tamils have fled to either Trincomalee or behind LTTE lines where they feel relatively safer amongst their own. The reported manner in which the seventeen Tamil men and women aid workers were killed suggests calculated murder. One of these young men was the brother of one of the five students murdered in Trincomalee in June this year.
The Sinhalese in Serunuwara and the surrounding settlements live in fear of the unpredictable, and congregate in schools for the night. An elderly and dignified woman whose son had been killed, preferred a similar death to a slow death without water.
The LTTE is undoubtedly responsible for the utterly senseless killing of Ketheesh Loganathan, a relentless advocate of a peaceful solution to the ethnic question. This has shocked the Nation and must be condemned unreservedly. He gave his life for the values of peace and justice and will be remembered for this.
The attempt on the life of Sivathasan of the EPDP at Dickman's Road that killed, among others, a three year old girl and critically wounded
her mother pierced
Condemnation and Collective Moral c
All these killi demned by all civ cratic people. Ther to such brutal viol the mental agony t lies and communiti And yet the c such atrocities and and professional fast becoming futile of committees to atrocities seem a w affront to those mu ety has signaled tc arms that they can unarmed civilians a it. The GoSL is ho ability to protect its sure justice when a mitted. If this trena lose its moral credit country.
As a Sri Lanka ability to signal ser sacred lives of ou annihilated is an i collective integrity This desperatel suggests that the try will soon have I protection and ju atrocity more fear people become mo days ahead are bl mostly the collecti moral resources of save us from cha this in mind I call u Civil and Religiou political and cultur build an alternate c sistance and justic perceive is perhap of a leadership an Continuing Crisi Since the Ma
SSC'ES Nation
m the Rt Revd August 2006:
he hearts of many.
onscience gs must be conic minded demoe must be an end ations of life and hat parents, famies suffer. ondemnation of calling for speedy investigations is :. The appointment investigate these aste of time and an urdered. Our socithose who carry use them against and get away with pelessly losing its citizens or to enatrocities are comcontinues it will bility to govern this
in society, our iniousness when the own citizens are indictment on our
tOO.
y worsening trend people this counlowhere to turn for stice. With every is spread and the e vulnerable. The eak and it is now ve conscience and the people that can ps and ruin. With pon all responsible S Leaders to cross al barriers and help ulture of moral ree. To see and not Is the greatest sin
a people.
avil Aru-Muthur
AUGUST 2006
confrontations the security situation has worsened and is getting hopelessly out of control. More deprivation, suffering and insecurity spreads With every passing day.
There is little communication with the North where a curfew has been imposed. The Eastern Province is tense. Trapped civilian communities are either in need of food or somehow manage to cross over as displaced persons. The state sector, local authorities and other agencies grapple admirably with these growing humanitarian crises with little help from those responsible for the recurring violence and instability.
It also seems equally futile calling for an end to war. Other more powerful pro-war agendas seem to prevail on both sides. False perceptions of nationalism and military prestige; and short term military agendas that provoke revenge are getting out of hand. They seem to matter more than the welfare and right to life of the people.
Mature Leadership
And yet there is no alternative to repeatedly challenging the LTTE and GoSL to take control of the situation. We have learnt over a period of thirty years that war solves nothing. It only destroys the best things in life. Strong and purposeful initiatives for a ceasefire, even during fighting must take note of these lessons. It is a sign of mature leadership. As long as the GoSL and LTTE fail to talk to each other and take steps towards peace, whatever the provocation to war, they fail as leaders of the people they claim to represent. It is the sacred duty of the GoSL in particular to lead the country back to stability, development and peace for all.
Dr. Palitha Kohonna's call for peace talks is timely and must be seriously and visibly supported by the GoSL. The LTTE must respond. Will one of the parties have the magnanimity and courage to declare an unilateral ceasefire and will the other have the foresight and graciousness to respond? The unseen God, our children and future generations will yet forgive us for all the terrible things we have done to each other if this can yet happen. O
Page 15
AUGUST 2008
Civilians urgen need protection -
ICJ calls on Government and LTTE to publicly st to international humanitarian law
August 17 - The International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) today called on the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to abide by international human rights and humanitarian law, cease any indiscriminate or targeted attacks against civilians and immediately guarantee access for independent human rights investigatOrS.
"Civilians have borne the brunt of the recent escalation of fighting. Yet international human rights law guarantees the right to life and the fundamental rule of international humanitarian law is that those fighting must distinguish between civilian and military targets, between civilians and combatants', said Nicholas Howen, ICJ Secretary-General.
While urging both the Government and the LTTE to return to negotiations, the ICJ acknowledged that Sri Lanka appears to be plunging towards a renewed civil war.
"Even in war, there are legal limits. In the past, both sides in Sri Lanka have violated the laws of war, resulting in gross abuses that disproportionately affected the civilian population,' said Nicholas Howen. "We call on the Government and the LTTE to publicly and immediately reaffirm that they will abide by international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including, Article 3, common to the four Geneva Conventions, and customary international humanitarian law'.
Clashes between the Sri Lankan security forces and the LTTE have
been reported in the North, North- .
East and the East of the country. UNHCR has reported that over 50,000 people have been displaced since the flare-up of violence in Muttur and its surrounding areas in Trincomalee at the end of July. UNHCR estimates that in Muttur and Eachchilampattu alone around 15,000
people are curre the violence.
The Governi that on 14 Augu carried out an aer. camp in Mullait the Sri Lankan l (SLMM) has repc girls aged betwe The SLMM and visited the site reportedly said th that the LTTE w military purposes In the last tw been a series of tions, including t workers from Ac Contre la Faim (A their office in M and the killing Loganathan, the General of the G tariat for Coordina ess (SCOPP) and of the Peace and Unit at the Centre tives (CPA), in C gust. On 8 Augu senior member of Democratic PaI wounded in a ca lombo that result three civilians in guard.
In areas in wh ing place the me deaths of civilian tillery attacks, inc 17 Muslim shelte school attached Muttur on 3 Aug
The ICJ welc of l l August by (the European Un and the United St dependent, inter tions of allegation rights abuses.
"Both sides in free and unhinder
ly ICJ
'e commitment
tly trapped due to
ent has confirmed t its security forces l attack on an LTTE vu District, which Ionitoring Mission rtedly said killed 19 n 16 and 19 years. JNICEF, who both if the attack, have ut there was no sign s using the site for
) weeks there have xtrajudicial execuhe killing of 17 aid tion Internationale CF) in and around uttur on 5 August; of Katheshwaran Deputy Secretary overnment’s Secreting the Peace Procformerly the head Conflict Analysis for Policy Alternaolombo on 12 Aust S Sivardasan, a the Eelam People’s ty (EPDP), was bombing in Cod in the deaths of :luding his body
ch fighting is takdia have reported resulting from aruding the death of ing in a religious to a mosque in St. ned the statement e four Co-Chairs in, Japan, Norway es) calling for intional investigaof serious human
st now guarantee access for inde
TAMIL TIMES 15
pendent investigations", said Nicholas Howen. "This is the only way to cut through the claims and counter-claims, clarify the facts and identify who may be responsible so that action can be taken", he added. The ICJ said that beyond individual investigations and action to ensure those responsible are held accountable, Sri Lanka needs a proper international human rights field operation to help in the protection of civilians.
The ICJ also called on United Nations member states to recognise the seriousness of the deteriorating human rights and humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka,
"The deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka should no longer rest solely on the shoulders of Norway and the other Co-Chairs', said Nicholas Howen. “UN members states have the responsibility to ensure that the Human Rights Council considers and acts on Sri Lanka during its second session in September and at future sessions', he said.
Background
Both parties to the conflict are bound by Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions and by those rules of international humanitarian law that have become part of customary international law. Common Article 3 provides that civilians and other non-combatants are protected against violence to life and person,
in particular murder, mutilation, cruel
treatment and torture; hostage taking; humiliating and degrading treatment; and the passing of sentences and the carrying out of executions without previous judgment pronounced by a regularly constituted court. It is a crime under international law to commit a serious violation of Common Article 3, as well as to commit other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in internal conflicts, including intentionally directing attacks against civilians or against religious or educational buildings. Individuals can be prosecuted for such crimes in Sri Lanka and in other countries. The Government is also bound by international human rights law. O
Page 16
16 TAMIL TIMES
Amnesty calls for ur action to protect civ
August 18 - Amnesty International is alarmed that escalating fighting in Sri Lanka has resulted in the death and injury of scores of civilians, the displacement of more than 160,000 people, and the destruction of homes, schools, and places of worship. The organisation is dismayed that neither the government security forces nor the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) appear to be taking adequate precautions to protect civilian lives. Even when serious violations of international humanitarian law are reported, both sides trade accusations and counteraccusations rather than take steps to address or put a halt to violations.
Amnesty International is concerned by the extent and seriousness of the violations reported, the lack of adequate protection for civilians, and restrictions on access to the worst affected areas. Persistent uncertainty about what has actually occurred and who is responsible for alleged war crimes and other violations of international law is fueling fear and panic among the civilian population.
Amnesty International believes that the establishment of a strong and effective international human rights monitoring operation is urgently needed to respond to the dramatic deterioriation of the human rights and humanitarian situation. Such a monitoring mission must have the full cooperation of both the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, and the support of the United Nations and its member states.
Recent incidents recorded by Amnesty International that demand further investigation by independent human rights experts include:
O On 3 August, at least 17 civilians, including children, were killed and 80 injured when four schools in Muttur were hit by shelling, according to reports.
O On or around 4 August, hundreds of Muslim civilians fleeing the fight
ing in Muttur wer LTTE into an area The LTTE has saic safe passage for th away from the bal known number of allegedly separate and taken away wit Some reports indic were executed. O group of displacec ported to have be crossfire between t ernment forces, and reportedly died or
O On 6 August, thi workers with the Action Against Contre la Faim, or 1 ered lying face-d lawn of ACF's M bullet wounds inc had been shot at bodies of two mo were found on 8 nearby, indicating t been killed while tr. government has ir ian forensic expert investigation, but ternational truce m ing the site.
O Late on the nig roadside bomb rep bulance killing fiv cal doctor, his wil the driver of the a cident occurred ir territory near the
kerny, in Vavuniya ernment has accus sponsibility for th LTTE has blamed my's “Deep Penet it says operates wi led territory.
O On 10 August, r. bardment by the S of LTTE-controllec
AUGUST 2006
gent illiamS
a diverted by the under its control. it was providing le group to move tle areas. An unMuslim men were 1 from the group h their hands tied. ated that the men thers among the people were reen caught in the he LTTE and gova number of them were injured.
e bodies of 15 aid *rench aid agency Hunger (Action ACF) were discovown on the front uttur office, with licating that they close range. The re staff members
August in a car hat they may have ying to escape. The nvited an Austral
to assist with the has prevented inonitors from visit
ht of 8 August, a ortedly hit an ame people - a medie, two nurses and mbulance. The inLTTE-controlled village of Nedun
district. The goved the LTTE of reattack, while the the Sri Lanka Aration Unit', which hin LTTE-control
newedaerial bomri Lankan air force areas in Trincoma
lee district reportedly resulted in a number of civilian casualties. The LTTE claimed that at least 50 civilians were killed and more than 200 wounded in aerial attacks on populated areas. A military spokesman told the Associated Press news agency that the army does not target civilians but added that the LTTE were "known for using human shields and they placed their gun positions around civilian villages.” Casualty figures and competing accounts of the bombardment could not be independently verified.
O On 13 August, rockets and artillery shells reportedly hit the St. Philip Mary Church and surrounding homes in Allaipiddy on Kayts islet, just off the northwestern coast of the Jaffna Peninsula, killing at least 15 civilians and wounding 54.There were conflicting reports as to whether the shells were fired by government forces or by the LTTE.
O On 14 August, as many as 51 teenage girls were reportedly killed and more than 100 wounded when Sri Lankan air forces dropped between 12 to 16 bombs on a compound in the northern district of Mullaitivu, in LTTE-controlled territory. UNICEF reported that the victims had come from various schools in Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts to attend course in first aid. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, an international team of experts charged with monitoring the compliance of both parties with the 2002 ceasefire agreement, said the target of the air strikes was a former orphanage with no evidence of military installations or weapons nearby. A national security spokesperson said the air force had conducted air strikes on an LTTE training base at Puthukudiyurippu in Mullaitivu, and that “between 50 and 60 young LTTE terrorist cadres were kil
led and many were injured.”
There also have been a series of attacks in the capital, Colombo, the nature and targets of which strongly suggest the involvement of the LTTE:
(continued on next page)
Page 17
AUGUST 2006
Civilians caug in the cross fi
Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipill
The internally displaced people of Muthur want to stay in Negombo until the violence and killings are stopped in Muthur
The total population of Muthur before displacement was 63,690 persons (47,272 families). Out of these Muslims were 52.5% (35,319 families) , Tamil were 47.3% (28, 199), and Sinhalese were 1.7% (172 families). Men were 31,383, and women were 32,307 according the Muthur divisional secretariat based on the survey carried out in December 2005.There are 96 villages in Muthur divisional secretariat area.
So far 50,259 Muthur civilians have been registered as displaced. The total Internally Displaced People as at 9 am on August 8th 2006 in camps were 41,270 persons (Trincomalee Town 6 camps- 2828 persons, Kantale 8 camps- 19,880 persons, Seruwila 16 camps- 10,292 persons, Kinniya 6 camps- 1678 persons, Thampalagamam 9 camps- 6592 people and one camp in Negombo-153
(continued from page 16)
O On 8 August, a car bomb attack on S. Sivathasan, a senior member of the Eelam People’s Democratic Party and former Member of Parliament, killed the politician's bodyguard and a three-year-old child who happened to be standing near the roadside. S. Sivathasan and five other civilians were injured in the blast.
O On 12 August, unidentified gunmen assassinated Ketheshwaran Loganathan, the deputy secretary general of the government's Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) and former director of the Colombo-based Centre for Policy Alternatives, a research centre that specializes in conflict resolution and good governance.
persons.) The peop tricts such as Kuru pura, Polonnaruw lombo as well.
There are 33 sons) arrived in N tale on August 8th are staying at Allege in Periaymulla are 73 men, and 8 here. The people v Kamachoda Jumm und tomorrow, in the Al-Hilal Centra back to start class They were not Muthur during the 1990s. This is the are displaced to a
The following ii ered from various the Internally Disp Muthur.
“They were tol immediately by the of Tamil Eelam. Thi sought refuge in s ues, which came u
OOn 14 August voy carrying the Commissioner Bas the ambassador es jury, but at least S killed in the blasti tary bodyguards a bystanders.
Amnesty Interr both the governm to comply with inti tarian law, which p other violence to t tive part in hostilit urgency, both part must ensure that t with the principle tween civilian and do not target civi indiscriminate atta
TAMIL TIMES 17
ht re
o
le left to other disnegala, Anuradhal, Kandy and Co
amilies (153 pergombo from Kan2006 at 2am. They Hilal Central Coli, Negombo. There 0 women staying vill be relocated in a Mosque compoorder to hand over College buildings
ՇS,
displaced outside : height of war in irst time that, they longer distance. Information is gathwitnesses among laced People from
d to leave Muthur : Liberation Tigers people of Muthur chools and mosqnder attack of the
, a bomb hit a conPakistan's High hir Wali Mohamed; caped without ineven people were ncluding four miliind three civilian
ational appeals to ent and the LTTE crnational humanirohibits murder or hose taking no aces. As a matter of es to the conflict eir forces comply of distinction benilitary targets and ians or carry out ks. O
Sri Lankan forces. People started to move again from place to place. The LTTE diverted the fleeing Muslims from the main road (A15) to their controlled area which had a check point established with many cardres on the spot.
The men were separated by the LTTE from women, and told the women and children to move on. But many women refused to leave, until the men are freed. Some men were released, the rest is still missing. They were taken 200 hundred yards away from the rest of the crowd. Their hands were tied at back. The loved ones of those who are still missing do not know what has happened to them so far.
At the same time the Sri Lankan forces continued to fire multi-barrel launchers, which led the fleeing families to run in different directions. No one knows exactly whether they would have been killed by LTTE or Sri Lanka military attack.
Most people of Muthur have left their homes without another set of clothes for change. They starved for 48 hours. They walked a long way on barefoot in hot sun. They drank muddy water. Most could not cope with the heat and fainted. The feeble could not be accompanied longer. The sick died on the way. They could not carry the dead bodies along with them to carry out the religious rites. The dead bodies of loved ones left alone on the roads. The living family members feel that, they are deprived of their duties.
They could not take the injured for treatment. Some lost their valuables such as cash and jewelleries. They said prayers while walking, and pleaded for help. People cried out of fear. The people including the children witnessed the horrors of war. The children are traumatized. Parents say that, they are not eating properly, and not having a deep sleep. The children panic for any noise, thinking shells and bombs. Their education is discontinued due to displacement.”
The people want peace, and live
(continued on next page)
Page 18
18 TAM TIMES
in harmony. They recollect the peaceful days in 2002,2003 soon after the Ceasefire was implemented. Now they want an assurance from both parties for them to go back to their own place, and start their lives again. The most of the people shed tears, while exchanging their experiences, It is a new different environment for them to adopt and adjust. But they have no better choice.
"I was living with my daughter, son in law and grand daughter, who is just fifteen day old. We were asked to leave Muthur by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. We had no choice, except to safeguard our lives. Sri Lankan forces have started to shell before we went to a safer place. I crawled under a bed with my just born grand daughter. She got injured on her spine. There was no treatment. We starved for three days without a dip of water. There was not even dirty water available to drink. Later we managed to move to 65th milepost. We walked with barefoot for fifteen kilometers. We got some food from the residents. We shared the food with others after three days. Then we walked to Thoppur. We walked the whole Friday. We pleaded for help, and got into tractors to get to Kantale. My daughter and grand daughter were killed in 2004 Tsunami. I am afraid to return to Muthur' says Ibrahim Faleela Umma (55) from Thakkuanagar in Muthur
"I am married and having one year old daughter. We have witnessed a lot of unwanted things, while displacing from Muthur, I am living in a room, while my wife and daughter are living in another room in the welfare camp. There is no family life. I do not know how long we are going to live like this' says a small scale businessman Seeni Mohamed Yusuf (25) of Akkaraichchenai in Muthur
"My son is three month old. I lost my house and properties in the recent violence in Muthur, I have nothing left. There are more people like me from Muthur. I walked a longunforgettable journey in my life with my child without food and water for more
than forty eight ho the same situation says Anwar Muz Habeebnagar in M
"We were told mosques to seek sh Lankan forces start places, where wes place was safe. We between fighting by are Innocent civilial a normal life. I w kilometers in hots food nor water for about to faint. The vided little water, face. I have already six year old daught Tsunami. I lost my have restarted my l I have to live to ta' children, who are ni living with me. Alm. find a way for me agony" says a sma man, Kathar M Mohamed (62) (tear talking) of Thakku Internally Disp that, they are afrai they have to stay camps, as length 1 tinues
"We want an a Government and the of Tamil Eelam for erties. We are not ing. Also we not in But why are we tal acceptable at all” sa (35) of Thakkuana "We have suffe left our homes in have no eduction ment. The year five has been postpon district due to cur are not against ar want to live in ha communities in school master Ab Subuhan (49) of N The space ha more internally dis to come to Negor safety reasons
AUGUST 2006
urs. I can't face gain in my life' Immila (30) of
thur to go to schools elter. But the Sri ed shelling those ought refuge. No were trapped in both parties. We is, who want lead alked for twenty un. I had neither two days. I was n somebody proand washed my lost my wife and er in Boxing day house as well. I ife after Tsunami. ke care of my six ot yet married and ighty Allah has to to get rid of this ll scale businessohideen Naina 's in his eyes while anagar in Muthur laced People say d as to how long in the welfare ess violence con
ssurance from the Liberation Tigers our lives and propengaged in fightvolved in politics. geted? This is not lys Sultan Naazeer gar in Muthur red a lot, since we Muthur. Students due to displacescholarship exam d in Trincomalee rent situation. We y community, we rmony with other he area” says a dul Salam Abdul suthur town
to be shared, as placed people like bo for health and
"I had a small boutique shop. I earned Rupees 300/= as an average daily income. I have neither money nor space to start a small shop now. There are five members in my family, I have a son and a daughter, Apart from my own children, I am looking after my niece, whose mother was killed in Tsunami. She is just two year old. My mother was killed in 2004 Tsunami. I have not got a house yet, I was living thirty meters away from the sea, before leaving my village on Friday, We were relocated in between the sea and river after Tsunami" says A.L. Gafoor Rajisa (30) of Thakku anagar in Muthur
"I do not know who is alive and who is not alive in my family. Because all are scatted everywhere. There is no way to make contacts with our loved ones. I left Muthur with my wife and four young children with the dress which we wore" says a labourer A.L.Jasheen (39) of Periya Palam in Muthur
"I heard shooting sound July
31st 2006 night, and woke my husband. He said it must be between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan forces.There was electricity since 9.45pm on the same day. We heard firing being exchanged between both parties. Bullets fallen on our roof. We thought that, it was not safe to stay there, and left in night dresses and gone and stayed with our relatives. We had neither food nor water. Later we all moved to Akkaraichchenai for safety. We cooked rice. But we did not have vegetables or fish. The shops were looted. We ate rice with coconut.Our children did not have proper meal since then. My niece got injured in front of my eyes, while we were staying in a Matharasa” says Mohamed Subair Mehroon Nisha (30) of Thakkuanagar in Muthur
The internally displaced people of Muthur want to stay in Negombo until the violence and killings are stopped in Muthur
(Source: humanityashore, 8 August 2006)
Page 19
AUGUST 2006
. Kethesh Logana Assassinated
Ketheshwaran Loganathan, 53, until recently Head of the Conflict Analysis Unit at the Centre for Policy Alternatives (CPA), and lately Deputy Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat in Colombo, was shot dead allegedly by two suspected Tamil Tiger gunmen at his residence in Dehiwala.
According to police, his assassins had arrived in a van at around 9.15pm on Saturday (12) and had rung the home bell. Conversing both in Sinhala and Tamil, the gunmen introduced themselves as CID officers and asked Mr. Loganathan to open the gate. Before he was shot, the assailants had repeatedly asked him to confirm his name. As Mr Loganathan came out to open the entrance gate and asked the men show their identity, he was shot many times. The post mortem examination revealed that Mr. Loganathan had been shot at point blank range and had suffered injuries in the head, chest and one hand. Kethesh and his wife Bhavani lived in an old-style house along Vandervert Place in Dehiwela, some eight miles from the capital Colombo. The Police said that Mr. Loganathan's residence was in an isolated area where there was hardly any security, "There was an army patrol moving regularly in that area but there was no permanent police post or any special security provided to Mr. Loganathan.*
Holding a senior position as Deputy Secretary General of Peace Secretariat, he would have been entitled to be provided with adequate round-the-clock security and be housed in secure premises. In fact, it is learnt that he was offered such facilities, but Mr Loganathan had refused the offer as he wanted to remain as detached and independent as possible from the Government.
The remains of Kethesh Loganathan lay at the Art Gallery, Colombo for the public to pay their last respects before his cremation which
took place on 15 the General Ce Borella in Color large and disting academics, foreig cians, human righ ists and journalis After the Hir concluded, with conch shell, the 1 Loganathan left to the cemetery at
Bawani, the Logananthan wa her brother who l A close relati was at the crema Loganathan, th Kethesh, who was General Manager was an ardent Ketheshwaram, i one of the foremo God Siva in Sri Loganathan's de ple that made himr Ketheshwaran, w known as just K kith and kin and colleagues and c Kethesh had a in Business Ad Georgetown Uni DC and a MA in ies from the Insti ies in the Hag MARGA and the ther's institute in Loganathan W Tamil politics frol of the Eelam Peop and was a memb egation at the Th 1985. He withdrew politics and the continued to be ity talks leading Accord of Aug made representa gala Moonesingh lect Committee p; mulating a const the national quest
TAMIL TIMES 19
than
August at 4 pm at metery, Kanatte, mbo attended by a uished gathering of n diplomats, politiits and peace activtS. du last rites were the blowing of the remains of Kethesh the funeral parlour t 4 pm. widow of Kethesh s accompanied by it the remains. ve of Kethesh who torium said that C. e late father of ; the first Sri Lankan of Bank of Ceylon, devotee of Thiru n Mannar which is st temples of Hindu Lanka. It was late votion to the tem1 to name his son as ho later came to be ethesh among his the large circle of omrades.
Bachelor's Degree ministration from versity, Washington Development Studtute of Social Studue. He worked at in took over his fa
Jaffna. as also engaged in m 1983 as a member le's Liberation Front er of the Tamil delimpu peace talks in v from Tamil militant EPRLF in 1994. He engaged in proximto the Indo-Lanka ust 1987 and also tions to the Manae Parliamentary Serocess tasked to foritutional solution to ion. In 1996 Logan
athan wrote a book "Sri Lanka: Lost Opportunities” published by the Centre for Policy Research and Analysis (CEPRA), University of Colombo. He was a founder board member of the Centre for Policy Alternatives before joining the Peace Secretariat recently. Acadamic and political commentator, Dayan Jayatillake, said, "Kethesh Loganathan was one of those 'best minds'. He was above all else a committed, engaged intellectual. He was indubitably one of the sharpest analytical intellects, one of the finest Sri Lankan minds of his day..... Kethesh Loganathan, Neelan Tiruchelvam, Rajini Thiranagama, Lakhman Kadirgamar. Brilliant minds, interesting, attractive and even compelling personalities, with diverse choices and trajectories, and yet, a common fate: murdered by the Tigers. These names and many more, are a roll-call of the Tamil tragedy and larger Sri Lankan lament....... Neelan, Lakshman Kadirgamar, Kethesh: Harvard, Oxford, Georgetown. What gems of the small Sri Lankan Tamil community! What priceless resources for their society and South Asia! They went their different ways and died violently, assassinated in the same town, by the same organisation, the Tigers, led by the same man, Velupillai Prabhakaran.”
Condemnation
A statement issued on behalf of the U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan on Monday (14) said that he "deplores the assassination over the weekend of Ketheshwaran Loganathan, deputy secretary general of the Government Peace Secretariat and veteran Tamil human rights advocate,.'
The United States Embassy in Colombo in a statement on Tuesday (15) said: "The United States condemns the August 12 murder of Deputy Secretary General of the Government Peace Secretariat, Ketheshwaran Loganathan, and mourns the loss of an individual dedicated to bridging communities and building peace in Sri Lanka.'
The Nordic Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) condemned the assassination. In a letter to Peace Sec
Page 20
2O TAMIL TIMES
retariat Chief Dr. Palitha Kohona, SLMM head Maj. Gen. Ulf Henricsson said, "After having worked with Kethishwaran Loganathan, and last time met him on Friday l l August 2006, the message of his death came as a shock, not only for SLMM, but also for all people longing for peace. Taking part in his experiences, his well founded arguments and his professionalism has been a pleasure for all people who got to work with him.There are no words strong enough to condemn this vicious and cold blooded murder of yet another statesman living for peace.”
In condemning the assassination, President Mahinda Rajapakse said, “This contemptible act by the LTTE, coming, exactly one year after the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, shows the LTTE's determination to eliminate those of the Tamil community who dare to oppose its terrorism and are dedicated to the cause of peace and democratic rights for all people in Sri Lanka.'
"The killing of Loganathan who
had the courage t tion of Deputy Se the Peace Secreta the contempt that intellectuals amon munity who differ once again raises the LTTE's accep tions towards peac tantly its commit peace in Sri Lanka Director of th Council Jehan “Kethesh Loganati lessly to usher in based on power d sassination would pects for a speedy current conflict'.
Perera vehem the assassination which has allegec killing, lacks the mocracy and gov the Government a community to ad stick method in pe it is appropriate within a democrati
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o accept the posicretary General of riat demonstrates the LTTE has for ng the Tamil comwith its views, and serious doubts of tance of negotiae and more imporment to a lasting
e National Peace Perera said that han worked relenta political solution evolution. His asweaken any pros7 settlement of the
ently condemning said, the LTTE lly carried out the basic ethics in deernance. He urged ld the international opt the carrot and ace building where to keep the LTTE lc frame. “I believe
all the parties concerned with the peace process should exert pressure om the LTTE to reform itself and to change their ways," he said adding that the pressure should be accompanied with correct incentives.
Rt. Revd. Dr. Duleep de Chickera, Bishop of Colombo, said in a statement, "The utterly senseless killing of Kethesh Loganathan, a relentless advocate of a peaceful solution to the ethnic question, has shocked the Nation and must be condemned unreservedly. He gave his life for the cause of peace and justice and will be remembered for this.'
Constitutional Affairs and National Integration Minister and General Secretary of the Communist Party, DEW Gunasekera, in a statement said, “We condemn the brutal assassination of our dear friend Kathiswaran Loganathan, Deputy Head of the Government Peace Secretariat and Secretary of the Political Committee of the All Party Conference.
"His contribution to the social thinking in relation to national unity, communal harmony, and good gov
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AUGUST 2006
ernance was strikingly significant. I value his intellectual inputs immensely. He was an invaluable asset to the Peace Secretariat.
"His analytical mind, cheerful disposition, sharp insight, spirit of col
lectivism, indomitable courage - all
were sterling qualities required for the assignment he was entrusted with. His loss is deeply felt by us. He joins the galaxy of those Tamil leaders who were brutally murdered for having stood fearlessly for the cause of reason, and human dignity. He will live forever in our hearts.'
The Muslim Council of Sri Lanka in a statement said that the "Muslim Council of Sri Lanka joins the rest of the peace loving citizens of the country in unreservedly condemning the murder of Kethesh Loganathan, who fearlessly voiced and worked towards achieving the aspirations of the Tamil and Muslim people in establishing peace with human rights, democracy and dignity in the country where all communities could live as equal citi
ZeS.
"The Muslim community will remember Kethesh Loganathan as a courageous and outspoken Tamil intellectual who understood the aspirations of the Muslim community and voiced against the marginalization and alienation of Muslims from the peace process as Deputy Secretary General of the Government Peace Secretariat.”
Describing the assassination as a great shock to him personally, Tamil United Liberation Front Leader V. Anandasangaree said: "Prabhakaran must now come out of his den and tell us what he wants and how much more blood he requires to quench his thirst. No man with any sense will kill a person like Kethesh, a perfect gentleman and a great intellectual.”
"His demise is a great loss to the Tamil community in particular and the country as a whole. A soft spoken man, he was acknowledged by many as the best choice for the very important post he held,” he said adding, This type of killings will not help Prabhakaran and his gang. Ultimately he will find only Thamilselvam as the sole representatives of the Tamils.”
CPA salutes Kethe independence and
Whilst the ide Loganathan's killer tablished and no si or actor has the m cal killing in the cu vision and violenc the LTTE's record of political oppone public profile as ( trenchant critics, them out as prime: tre for Policy Alter reacting to the Mr. Loganathan on The CPAS EXec Paikiasothy in a st "We call on the L. by unequivocally murder. We call or of Sri Lanka to con impartial inve Kethesh's murder the perpetrators : and brought to jus The statement i on 13 August said: “Kethesh Loga ued colleague, a fi the Centre for Po (CPA) and the first and Conflict Analy passionate advocat an unflinching char of the Tamil people the ethnic conflict democracy, justice
CPA condemn extends our since his widow Bhawan his family for their Whilst Kethesh w proud nationalist same fervour, pas ment to the cause sity, multi-cultural ment of the ethnic meaningful power compromisingly be eration of a peop founded on fear, t death, the negatio sion of basic demo made him a stringen
of the LTTE for til
being the sole rep Tamil people and f terror, repression a
Kethesh never
AMIL TIMES 21
esh’s courage, integrity ntity of Kethesh s has not been esingle organisation onopoly of politi(rent climate of di:e in the country, of assassinations nts and Ketheshʼs one of their most invariably marks suspects, the Cennatives (CPA) said assassination of
12 August. utive Director Dr. atement has said, TTE to refute this condemning his the Government duct a speedy and stigation into and to ensure that are apprehended tice.' ssued by the CPA
nathan was a valormer Director of licy Alternatives head of its Peace sis Unit. He was a 2 of human rights, npion of the rights 2 and of an end to in Sri Lanka with and dignity for all. s his murder and e condolences to i and members of and our tragic loss. as an ardent and , he brought the sion and commitof unity in diverlism and a settleconflict based on o sharing. He unlieved that the libble could not be he celebration of
or even suspencratic values. This it and fearless critic heir insistence on resentatives of the or their reliance on nd violence. failed to criticise
successive governments of Sri Lanka for their espousal of majoritarian democracy and insensitivity to the rights and aspirations of all the people who inhabit our island. He believed in the liberation of the Tamil people through the espousal of democratic values and in the reform of the state through a social contract based on human dignity and mutual self respect.
Whilst the identity of his killers has not been established and no single organisation or actor has the monopoly of political killing in the current climate of division and violence in our country, the LTTE's record of assassinations of political opponents and Kethesh's public profile as one of their most trenchant critics, invariably marks them out as prime suspects. We call on the LTTE to refute this by unequivocally condemning his murder. We call on the Government of Sri Lanka to conduct a speedy and impartial investigation into Kethesh's murder and to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice.
His killers have senselessly taken a life. They have not destroyed the values that life championed and upheld. These values live on and will have to be enshrined in a peace settlement, if it is to be one with justice and democracy for all.
Kethesh, we salute you for your courage, independence and integrity, passion and commitment in the advancement of this cause.
“A voice for democracy has been silenced'
August 14 - "Shocked and griefstricken, SLDF (Sri Lanka Democracy Forum) unreservedly condemns the murder of Kethesh Loganathan, a rare man for his times who continued to fearlessly voice the aspirations of the Tamil people - of peace with human rights, democracy and dignity,' the Sri Lanka Democracy Forum said in a press release issued on 14 August
The press release further said, "Kethesh stood for truth and justice, yearned and worked tirelessly for peace with human rights for his people. He has been silenced by the guns of the LTTE, who at this moment are
Page 22
22 TAMIL TIMES
taking the Tamil people on a journey of destruction. Like many other courageous and outspoken Tamil intellectuals who have fallen victim to LTTE's terror, Kethesh stands out as one whose life spanned a varied and rich political trajectory,
"A former militant, then academic, journalist, and tireless advocate of human rights and a return to democratic values in Tamil politics, Kethesh was one of the leading activists of the dissenting Tamil community who firmly believed in a negotiated democratic political solution to the ethnic conflict as opposed to the bleakness of a maudlin Tamil nationalism.
Kethesh himself in rethinking the narrow nationalism of his early militancy, challenged among other things its marginalization and alienation of Muslims. Kethesh's contributions to peace efforts began in 1985 when he represented the EPRLF at the Thimpu conference.
He was involved in the discussion that framed the Indo-Lanka peace accord and later the Mangala Moonesinghe Parliamentary Select Committee discussions for devolving power to the North and East.
After his resignation from the EPRLF in 1995, he continued with his attempts on working for peace and a democratic solution as the Director of the Conflict and Peace Analysis Unit of the think-tank, Center for Policy Alternatives (CPA).
His consistent campaign to make human rights central to the peace process, his critique in arguing for a redesign of the Ceasefire Agreement, showed his independence of mind and spirit, intellectual honesty and political integrity.
Many progressive Sri Lankans involved in the campaign for peace with democracy and human rights were inspired by Kethesh's determined campaign for human rights and against political killings.
It is precisely his sense of urgency and concerns over human rights and political killings and the slow progress on the part of the Southern political formations in arriving at a formula for a peace settlement to devolve power to the minorities that motivated Kethesh to join the Peace Secretariat.
The totalitarian hold of the LTTE on the Tamil polity and the resultant
"Like a prophet i. dition, Kethesh s, face of power, and his prophecy has
It was a week tragedies were mi their impacts, pers But they were trag. Their was the deatl old girl due to a b tion attempt on an cian opposite a g barely a hundred m live in a residential The sight of her worked in the hom nearby, weeping b little bundle on th thetic television ima the children of top LTTE leaders liver those on whose be
barrenness of the T rain, the deafenir Tamil media on th paign of political ki and other armed g little space for peop make a meaningful
It was his uns ment to the cause o winning their legiti the framework of ism that made him Lanka. At a time v chose to leave th greener pastures a decision to conti home, in spite of he faced, demonst dedication and sa been the hallmark
By the politica Kethesh, an intrep cal voice for Tam human rights has lenced by the LTTE progressive Sri La munities to look to and rededicate thei to redouble their e. gle for human 1 ocracy.”
AUGUST 2006
esh Vindicated amid
g humanitarian tragedy
Jehan Perera
n the ancient traDoke truth in the it is a tragedy that come true.”
of tragedies. The cro and macro in onal and less so. 2dies all the same. n of the three year botched assassinaanti-LTTE politigirl's school and eters from where I part of Colombo. grandfather, who e of a rich family y the side of the e road was a paage. It is ironic that ) government and ichly abroad while half they claim to
amil political terng silence of the le relentless camllings by the LTTE roups, leave very ble like Kethesh to
contribution.
werving commitf the Tamil people mate rights within lemocratic pluralto remain in Sri when many Tamils e island seeking broad, Kethesh's nue to remain at he security threat rated his sense of rifice which had
of his entire life. 1 assassination of id and unequivotil democracy and been cruelly si. SLDF calls upon nkans of all comKethesh's memory commitment and forts in the strugights and dem
fight for, and also child soldiers, die in pathetic circumstances.
There was the assassination of Kethesh Loganathan, deputy head of the government's peace secretariat in his home in a manner unbefitting of a national liberation struggle. Kethesh was a friend, a peace activist, a newspaper columnist and a teacher.
There was also the uprooting of 40,000 people, most of them Muslims, due to the LTTE attack on the town of Mutur. Overnight, these Muslim people became the chief victims of a fight that was not their own. There was also the killing of over a hundred of them, allegedly by the LTTE, after being separated from the rest. There was the execution style killing of 17 Tamil aid workers in Mutur by suspected security forces personnel. There was the air force bombing in Vakarai that has reportedly killed refugees that fled to LTTE controlled areas from Muttur. The list can go on and on.
Today Sri Lanka faces a humanitarian disaster of major proportions. According to humanitarian workers, the situation is as bad as it has ever been in the 20 years of war, or even worse. Over a hundred thousand people have become refugees in a matter of a fortnight.
These are people who did not expect the war to come back after the Ceasefire Agreement. What is most tragic about this phase of war is that it is undeclared, although it is raging in full force in parts of the north east. Both sides continue to say that they are prepared to uphold the Ceasefire Agreement even as their military forces engage in pitched battles. Perhaps due to the disjuncture between words and deeds, there is a climate of impunity.
Humanitarian organizations have been complaining that they cannot take relief supplies to where they are most needed. Roads may have been closed due to security considerations by the security forces.
These have implications that go
Page 23
AUGUST 2006
beyond providing relief to refugees. These road closures have implications for the economic life of the people, in the same manner as the closing of the water sluice gate by the LTTE at MavilAru had economic implications on thericefarmersofthe area.
When roads are closed, people on one side of the road cannot access their rice fields on the other side of the road. People cannot transport their perishable crops to the market or sell their milk. They suffer and no one outside knows of their suffering.
Peace now
From the people's point of view the killings must stop and they must be allowed to live in their familiar habitats. Therefore the news that the LTTE had sent a message through the head of the international monitoring mission that it wished to negotiate with the government came as the best news in a desperate situation. Whatever the temporary vicissitudes of the military battlefield, one factor remains uppermost, and this is that ethnic conflicts do not end through war. They only end through political re
forms that win the masses of people. If there is no pc comes through ne guaranteed is a fes will be full scale sapping guerilla w LTTE spokesp reported as denyi made any such of tiations with the have pointed out t their dealings wit in respect of n through the facili wegian governmei
But on this oc negotiate has been Ulf Henriccson, th, the SLMM. Perh LTTE strategy to if their offer to neg by the government been a general e LTTE's willingness governmentiscommitte There will ur school of thought ment that argues th to cease hostilities
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acceptance of the
litical solution that gotiation, what is ering conflict that War at Worst Or a ar at best. ersons have been ng that the LTTE er of peace negoovernment. They hat in the past all n the government egotiations was ation of the Norit. :asion the offer to communicated by Swedish head of aps this was an :nsure deniability, otiate was spurned . Or it could have xpression of the to talk peace if the dtopeace.
doubtedly be a within the governat any LTTE offer at this stage and engage in negotiations is due to their military weakness, and the deire to gain time to egroup and reoup their stregth. On the other and, there will be ther voices withthe government hat argue that the var has already ost far too many ves, and if it is rolonged it can ad to the loss of ore lives and to conomic disasr. It will also be nly a matter of me before the TTE is able to hit soit target that auses massive islocation throuhout the counry. In the past the TTE have been ble to penetrate Il defences and ttack the coun
try's Central Bank, oil refinery and international airport, and wreak tremendous economic damage. There is always a better time to cease hostilities and to negotiate. That time is now. It is sooner rather than later.
Tragically, the elimination of Kethesh Loganathan from the government's peace secretariat will do much harm to the prospects for a negotiated settlement that is based on a sharing of power and on a respect for human rights. Kethesh was a person who used to argue that the peace process, as it was conceptualized in 2002, was flawed. He pointed out that the peace process relied too much on the Ceasefire Agreement as its centre piece. The Ceasefire Agreement had many deficiencies as an instrument of peace all by itself. Kethesh grieved when time and again his former comrades in the Tamil militancy who had joined the mainstream society were gunned down by the LTTE.
Political solution
When the LTTE first began its campaign of assassinations, less than a year after they signed the Ceasefire Agreement, Kethesh insisted that civil society organizations should take up the matter. He warned that the neglect of human rights, and the failure to uphold the right of people to live without fear of being gunned down by assassins, was fundamental to the peace process. Like a prophet in the ancient tradition, he spoke truth in the face of power, and it is a tragedy that his prophecy has come true. It is now clear that the Ceasefire Agreement did not adequately address the issue of human rights and of the participation of the Muslim community in the peace process.
The LTTE attack on the town of Muttur which is predominantly Muslim made them helpless victims of another community's fight. This was also the pattern throughout the peace process when the government and LTTE took decisions on behalf of the Musim community, which was remdered helpless. As refugees today they are again helpless, and the government's blocking of humanitarian access to the conflict areas has made their vulnerability even greater. The fact that the Muslim community has got pummeled in times of both war (continued on next page)
Page 24
24 TAMIL TIMES
The return to madness four years oftemporary
- An Interventionist Tribu to Kethesh Loganathar
Rajan Philips
"Sri Lanka: Lost Opportunities' is the title of an important book on Sri Lanka's national question. The good man who wrote that book in 1995, Kethesh Logan-athan, has fallen victim to yet another lost opportunity to give priority to finding a political solution to the national question.
What began euphemistically as a "humanitarian dispute over water has now become a full scale war. Several hundreds have been killed, almost a lakh of people are displaced, local and foreign NGO workers have been killed or threatened, and even the High Commissioner for Pakistan has been targeted.
The genie of war has escaped the much cracked ceasefire bottle and it is not going to be easy to put it back. Armed conflict is not a one-day
cricket game to di losers. In this wau has lost somethin the East more tha has gained anytl government nor
mood to admit lo self-restraint. No1 of conclusively o other. They will sl past, only when th have suffered er need to retreat an
Tamil Intellectual LTTE kills, Govel
Kethesh Logar list of Tamils kill political differenc Tamil intellectuals ers has become a
(continued from page 23) and peace makes it necessary that they should be represented by their own representatives in any future peace talks.
Kethesh also pointed out that another weakness in the peace process was that the Ceasefire Agreement was formulated in a political vacuum. The tragedy is that while the LTTE leadership wages a war for Tamil rights, it eliminates Tamil intellectuals who could provide an alternative vision of the future to Tamils and Sinhalese and Muslims alike. The gentle Neelan Tiruchelvam, with his Harvard doctorate, his incisive mind with its broad sweep of the principles of constitutional law, and his ability to get along with all types of people, both local and international, could have been a great strength to Sri Lanka in helping to us to find our way to a mutually acceptable and just political solution. But this was the man the LTTE sent a suicide bomber
to eliminate. In th his assassins sho galeofhishousewhenh At seminar afte promoted a feder ethnic conflict. H member of the Ce ternatives, which leading institution general populati tional solution to and on possible Kethesh was in th vocating a federal ka's ethnic conflic autonomy, equal r of the country col there are to be talk ernment and LTTE ture, this is the iss be dealt with first, an indefinite futul peace process th 2002 and ended t the war will stop a start sooner rather
after sanity:
te
2clare winners and already, everyone g, the Muslims of n others, but none ning. Neither the the LTTE is in a sses and exercise are they capable verwhelming each ow down, as in the ley run out of fuel, hough blows and d recuperate.
ls:
nment betrays
lathan joins a long ed by Tamils over es. The killing of and political leadpredictable crime
e case of Kethesh, t him through the ecame to meet them. :r seminar, Kethesh al solution to the e was a founding ntre for Policy Alhas become the that educates the on on a constituthe ethnic conflict federal solutions. le forefront of adsolution to Sri Lan, in which regional ghts and the unity ld be obtained. If s between the govnow, or in the fule that will need to and not put off for e time, like in the at commenced in his year. Hopefully nd peace talks will than later. O
AUGUST 2006
of the LTTE. Government spokesmen have called on the international community to stop the LTTE from future killings. The international community has done more than its part. The banning of the LTTE in India and several Western countries is a direct result of the LTTE's violation of the most basic of human rights: LIFE.
The recent EU statement condemns the killing of Loganathan and makes it clear that the EU will not lift its ban until the LTTE stops such killings. Significantly, the EU did not indicate the LTTE's ongoing battles with the Sri Lankan army as a reason for continuing the ban. The international community seems to be adopting a neutral position in the battles between the LTTE and the army, apart from calling on both sides to stop fighting and start talking.
While calling on the LTTE to honour and observe the human rights of the Tamil people, the international community has also been asking the Sri Lankan government to honour and observe the democratic and political rights of the same Tamil people. The entire international community that is interested in Sri Lanka is unanimous in its view that the only way to honour and observe the democratic and political rights of not only the Tamils but also the Muslims is to implement a sustained process of devolution.
Will the Sri Lankan government deliver on this expectation? Or will it again turn a deafear to this call of the international community just as the LTTE always turns a deaf ear to calls for observance of the human rights of Tamils and Muslims?
“Devolve or die”, wrote Dayan Jaya-tilleke. “Die rather than devolve” seems to be the motto of the JVP and the JHU who are now in the saddle riding the State to war.
"Self-rule and shared rule', opined Kethesh Loganathan. He joined the Government Peace Secretariat to work towards that goal. That the JVP and the JHU should be al
Page 25
AUGUST 2006
lowed to usurp the government agenda for their own ends is a betrayal of Kethesh Loganathan and everything that he stood for and hoped to achieve through the Peace Secretariat.
What is conveniently forgotten in the lamentations for Loganathan and those who preceded him is that everyone of them, in their different ways, not only stood up to the LTTE but also stood up for the Tamils against the unitary state. The LTTE's human crime of killing is blatant and is readily condemned, but the government's political crime of not doing anything to change the unitary state is rarely mentioned and is easily ignored.
With a macabre sense of timing, Kethesh Loganathan was killed on the anniversary of Lakshman Kadirgamar's assassination. But I must say that Kethesh Loganathan was different from all others before him because he was a rare, if not the only, member of his social milieu to actually become a member of one of the Tamil militant organizations that sprouted after 1977. Each organization has had its bourgeois or notable fellow travelers and benefactors at home and abroad, but few of them crossed the line and became members of these organizations.
Kethesh was not only the son of C. Loganathan, a charming Colombo Tamil socialite and the first Ceylonese national to head the Bank of Ceylon, but also the nephew of C. Tharmakulasingham, C. Loganathan's younger brother, lawyer, and an LSSP stalwart in Point Pedro whose untimely death deprived the LSSP of a leader of potential national prominence but based in the North. C. Loganathan was proud that Kethesh was taking after his uncle in taking to politics.
More than his pedigree Kethesh was unique for his disinterested commitment to the cause of peace, which he understood as being not only the absence of war but also the assur
ance of justice a Lanka's minoritic ture. I say "disin did not see poli process as launc and career. He di Secretariat to emb do something p against the advic own security. To bornly preferred
suburban reside of state protectio
Destroying the p JVP's remarkab
Kethesh Log critical of the N. peace process bec tect the Tamils wh the LTTE from t LTTE. In fact, he lacuna. But he di illusion that peace in Sri Lanka withc the LTTE. For h meant neither the LTTE nor a milita it. Finally, he ur southern consens lution as the nec negotiating with t
Like many otl ther and blamed all these shortcon the Norwegians h scapegoat for the ernment and oppo South to take adv, process and the c reach consensus bring diplomatic pressure to bear C
It is not nece; dismal roles of in cept to indicate t and commissions polarization and political forces til the peace process ent and altogeth sons. I am of cou forces spearhead the JHU and whc process as an infri
nd equality for Sri in a federal strucrested' because he ics and the peace ling pads for fame not join the Peace ellish his CV but to sitive and did so
of many about his
the end he stubhe "obscurity of his ce to the panoply
.
eace process: eachievement anathan (KL) was orwegian designed ause it did not proo did not agree with eing killed by the agonized over this d not entertain any could be achieved out negotiating with im peace process appeasement of the ryengagement with ged the need for a us on a federal soessary premise for he LTTE.
hers, KL went furhe Norwegians for hings. In my view, ave been made the failure of the govsition leaders in the intage of the peace :asefire agreement, between them, and and international in the LTTE.
sary to revisit the lividual leaders exat their omissions directly led to the strengthening of at are opposed to for entirely differr reactionary rease referring to the d by the JVP and oppose the peace gement of Sri Lan
TAMIL TIMES 25
ka's sovereignty, a threat to national security and a violation of the unitary constitution. Every one of these charges has been proven wrong.
As I said earlier, the JVP and the JHU have usurped the government agenda and have succeeded in dragging the country into a full scale war. It is a remarkable achievement for two organizations that could never win a sizable measure of support among the Sinhalese on their own and who were trounced at the Local Government elections when they tried to test the waters on their own. The JVP's influence in the government extends beyond the peace process, to stifling sensible decisions in key sectors of the economy based on its outdated approach to trade unionism.
What is worse, the JVP is spearheading a thorough reversal of everything that has been achieved by the People's Alliance on the peace front after 1994. That achievement was nothing less than a sea change in the political orientation of the Sinhalese society and the slow build up of counter-LTTE space within the Tamil society. KL made a sincere and honest effort by joining the Peace Secretariat to build on that achievement and improve on the peace process by addressing its shortcomings that he had been consistently and courageously identifying.
It is fair to say that KL did not join the Peace Secretariat to be a party to restarting the war. But once the war restarted he was reduced to a coopted Tamil who had no input or relevance to government decision making that was all about war and nothing about peace, let alone devolution. The least the government can do now to honour the memory of Kethesh Loganathan, Neelan Tiruchelvam, Lakshman Kadirgamar and everyone else who paid with their lives for Tamil democracy and Sri Lankan federalism is to unilaterally set about federalizing the state and creating international pressure on the LTTE to accept both. O
Page 26
26 TAMIL TIMES
Waterturning into Fir The Betrayal of People int
Sumanasiri Liyanage and Nimanthi Perera-Rajasinghai
Is it true that the war began with water? However, later developments suggest that it is not so simple. Vasantha Raja in his article on the Mavil Aru incident said that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) made a big mistake over the Mavil Aru issue by providing space for the Government of Sri Lanka to make a "strategic move' to drive the LTTE away from the Eastern Province. What he suggests is that the Mavil Aru is only a pretence for the GoSL to implement its planned military strategy. We wish to add, the closing down of the sluice gates of Mavil Aru seems to be a part of the military strategy of the LTTE as well. Some months ago, the LTTE had warned Muttur Muslims that they should leave Muttur immediately. There were hand bills posted and distributed in Muttur asking Muslims to leave the area. Discussions between the community leaders and the LTTE, and heightened security presence stopped this expulsion temporarily. Muttur is a strategically important place for the LTTE to operate against the Sri Lankan Navy and to capture Trincomalee. In this context the closure of the Mavil Aru anicut seems to be clearly linked to the LTTE's strategic move to capture Muttur. It appeared to be an attempt to deviate the focus of the Sri Lankan security forces toward a dif. ferent location, so that the LTTE could capture Muttur.
Hence, both the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE moved toward strategic action that would enable them to obtain their desired objective. This main objective seems to be the Trincomalee harbour. In the military perspective of the GoSL, the continuous presence of the LTTE in Sampur would be a threat to Trincomalee harbour and its naval
base. Simultanec wishes to gain cor this would enable t their control over harbour and attack the area. What through the action is that neither part the well-being of populations living i Muslim, Thamil or Let us remap : dents of the last few ited warfare’ as it commenced with t sluice gates in Mav This meant that th to the area and 15, wated land were d sult. We also know that this water serv of civilians in the drinking water, was manitarian concern ernment to do wha ited war' for hum We heard time an likes of defense sp Rambukwelle state open the sluice gat tarian mission and measure.' What is this outcry is that the government ha bigger than the hu ated by the closul by the LTTE. Afte not dying because ter as water was pr the government ag dent was however
ernment as an eXC attack LTTE contrc a result actually enc of civilian populat Hence, the May needs to be unders context of the broa
dadi
e he East
Th
usly, the LTTE trol of Muttur as hem to strengthen the Trincomalee navy activities in becomes clear is of both parties icularly cares for the large civilian n this area be they
Sinhalese. some of the inciweeks. This "limhas been called, he closing of the til Aru on July 20. ere Was no Water 000 acres of cultiestroyed as a refrom news reports ed the daily needs area, such as their hing etc.. This huenabled the govt it called its "limanitarian reasons. d time again, the okesman Minister that the attack to te was “a humania disaster control forgotten in all of the disaster that d created is much man disaster cree of sluice gates r all, people were there was no waovided to them by gencies. This inciused by the gov:use to bomb and olled areas, and as langering the lives ions. vil Aru water issue stood in the larger d strategies of the
AUGUST2006
two main actors. The GoSL desired to use this as an excuse to reclaim Sampur and the LTTE desired to use it to recapture Muttur. Neither party was concerned about the welfare and security of the people living in the
aca,
Humanitarian Crisis and Collateral Damage
In all these strategies, human beings have become nothing more than collateral damage. According to the Sri Lankan Muslim Information Centre (SLMIC) approximately 40, 000 Civilians have been displaced from Muttur as a result of the violence in Muttur. Many of them live today in refugee camps. Other sources state that 50, 259 Muttur civilians have been registered as displaced. The total Internally Displaced People as at 9am on August 8th 2006 in camps were 41,270 persons (Trincomalee Town 6 camps-2828 persons, Kantale 8 camps- 19,880 persons, Seruwila 16 camps -10,292 persons, Kinniya 6 camps- 1678 persons, Thampalagamam 9 camps- 6592 people and one camp in Negombo-153 persons.) The people left to other districts such as Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Kandy and Colombo as well. (see "Displaced people of Muthur want to stay in Negombo” by Dushiyanthini Kanagasabapathipillai. The tragedy of what has happened to civilian populations is beyond narration. What has become clear is that the LTTE demanded that the people of Muttur leave it once they entered the town, they also separated men and women and asked the women to leave, but kept behind certain men they felt were jihadists. As people were attempting to leave Muttur, the LTTE checked about 15, 000 men, one by one and chose a few and tied their hands behind their backs and separated them from the others. The LTTE had claimed at the time that they had lists of those jihadists. They separated young men from their families and as families refused to leave these young men behind, they were brutally beaten by the LTTE. We also know that army
Page 27
AUGUST 2006
forces indiscriminately shelled schools and other places in which civilians were taking refuge, knowing very well that civilians were residing in these school. In the midst of this shelling and counter-shelling, many civilians are now displaced in Kantalai and the surrounding areas.
While a large number of those displaced are Muslims, there are also approximately 15,000 Thamil IDPs in this lot. The gruesome and violent killings/assassinations of 17 aid workers of Action Contre la Faim are a reminder that Tamil civilians continue to be badly affected by ongoing hostilities. These aid workers were Tamil men and women from the Trincomalee area and their murder marks the callous disregard for aid workers who take risks to provide necessities for those affected by conflict. Kantalai is in no way prepared to cope with the massive influx of people into its environs and we have read how the villagers have felt resentment at this huge inflow of civilians, and also that
violence in the ar Tuesday the 8th of lims were taken aw and their bodies w lowing day. We har aid-workers in K have been cross have begun to buil heard from aid wor ries bringing in su placed Tamil co barred by the mili the areas and were While in Colo chchi elite groups reality of war is q August the 11th, th in Colombo "to sho and to argue for v tigers.' Wimal W lighted the need of during a parliamer on 10th of Augus ners by the JVP ar lustrating army sol battle, looking tou are to rouse the pu
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"ea continues. On August two Musray in a white van, ere found the folve also heard from antalai that there fires as tensions d. Further, we also kers there that lorpplies for the dismmunities were tary from entering asked to return, mbo and Killinoshout for war, the uite different. On he JVP had a rally w people the way war to "defeat the eerawan sa highcapturing Sampur itary speech made it. The huge banld around town ildiers prepared for gh and masculine ublic toward patriotism and warfare. What LTTE propaganda does is not dissimilar to this. What both forget is the flip side of war, and how this ideoogy hides other realities and lived experiences. War means, young Sinhala men will return to their families in coffins. It means that Tamil children and youth will be returned to families to be buried along with the thousand others who have died for the nation. It means that women and chilldren, and loved ones will have to face again years of mourning and
grief. It means that money which could be spent to reduce the stark poverty in Sri Lanka will instead be spent to kill human beings. It means that the Sri Lankan state will become more indebted as it pays for the high costs of warfare, while more and more welfare expenditure is cut,
Lack of Concern for Human Life and selfish objectives The GoSL had ample time and ample warning of what has happened in Sri Lanka these past weeks. Muttur was a time bomb waiting to explode. Why didn't the government prepare to meet the consequences of warfare? Did the GoSL have any plans to meet humanitarian disaster that would associate with its military action? Security in Muttur, as reported by the UTHR has been extremely lax. The LTTE too has no concern what so ever for the wellbeing of civilians and thinks it can expel civilians as it wishes. Both have proven that they make no preparation to protect the lives of people before the onset of
War,
As is clear in the manner in which relief is carried out in Kantale, the state has very little control of what is happening to the displaced persons, and relies more and more on international aid and aid workers to do the work for them. Despite ministries and departments to deal with disaster management and human rights, the state has no respect for human beings and no capacity to cope with crisis. This highlights clearly that both the LTTE and the GoSL have only one concern, and that is military strategy and gaining power over one another. The lives of people mean NOTHING to them.
The violence in Mavil Aru, Muttur and now Sampur is but a microcosm of what is to come in the next months if the military confrontation continues. . This "limited war' has given rise to enormous consequences in terms of displacement, deaths, injuries and trauma. War in a large scale, so desired by various factions, will only increase the numbers (continued on next page)
Page 28
28 TAMIL TIMES
Mutur:Abetra) Of a communit
Mirak Raheem
The battle for Mutur is apparently over. As the state media proclaims "Government in Full Control of Mutur.” Ironically, the military offensive for Maavil Aru that commenced on July 31st to open the sluice gates following the LTTE's following their closure by the Tigers that spilled over into a battle for Mutur continues as the fighting had not seem to be over in Eastern Trincomalee. The LTTE had announced that it had opened the sluice gates as a humanitarian gesture but it is not yet clear whether the two sides are willing to step down from their military posturing and violence. While military analysts and their arm chair counterparts debate, extol and critique the success of both sides' campaigns, the violence against the civilians during this last week of military and LTTE action has been presented as an unfortunate consequence, rather than the crime that it is.
(continued from page 27) of civilian casualties in the future. If people, Muslims, Thamils and Sinhalese cannot stop war they should design new strategies to avoid the consequences of "dirty war'. For example, Muslims and others in Muttur can declare that their area is a peace zone from which both armed forces should withdraw. People's committees can be formed to supervise it and a multi-ethnic police force can do policing in case of problems. People in the area can come to an agreement with two parties that both parties would not militarily intervene in Muttur. This is not a utopian idea since many countries give an example of the presence of peace zones in the midst of war.
This article is dedicated to the memory of fellow activist, friend and co-thinker, Kethesh (Ketheswaran Loganathan) O
The military an the Battle for Mutu day of the battle í LTTE launched a against Army Ca Mutur Area. More t res reportedly infi ing control of ke town, including til The two sides fir other's positions forces maintaining against the LTTE i. the surrounding Sampur. Military both sides declared been liberated, th jetty was claimed then the other an blaming each oth landed on civilian the 5th, 3 days aft it seemingly ende ment intensified moved into secur town and the LTT withdrawal from N
An alternate v. of Mutur reads: ( the LTTE laid sieg the government a the LTTE back, sh town its residents schools and churc unit of the Mutul was hit by a shell. people and forcil shut down. Over t a number of shells including the Aral gust 3rd where ci shelter. 10 civilian attack. The artille vilian movement cult, even to get food and water. T killed could not be tives and friends step outside their effectively shut humanitarian assi a brief ceasefire t
AUGUST 2006
/al у?
Ialysts” version of r reads: on the 3rd or Mavil Aru the counter offensive mps around the han 200 LTTE cad|trated Mutur taky sections of the he police station. ed shells at each with the Security an artillery barrage n Mutur Town and areas including propaganda from that the town had e strategic Mutur by one side and d with both sides er for shells that targets. Finally on er the battle began ‘d, as the governits attacks and 2 control over the E made a strategic Mutur. 2rsion of the Siege on August 2nd as ge to the town and ttempted to push ells begin to hit the flee to mosques, hes. The maternity District Hospital injuring scores of ng the hospital to ne successive days, hit civilian targets bic College on Auvilians had sought s were killed in the y barrage made ciincreasingly diffibasic supplies of he bodies of those buried as their relawere too scared to shelters. The siege off the town from stance, apart from ) pull out some of
the injured, and effectively trapped the residents within the town. On the second night of continuous shelling the Muslim civilians debated leaving en masse, on foot carrying a white flag. An eyewitness reports stated that a shell landed at approximately 6.20 a.m. at the Arabic College the next morning as if to confirm that flight from Mutur was the only option. Over the next 24 hours thousands of Mutur's residents fled south to Kantale.
Charges that need to be answered
While the urgency of the resulting humanitarian crisis demands immediate attention, the human rights abuses should not be ignored. There are some critical charges that need to be answered by the LTTE and the government. o The LTTE attempted to infiltrate and capture Mutur despite the fact that it is a concentrated urban settlement, effectively making the civilians human shields. o Some eye witnesses allege that the LTTE fired mortars close to civilian shelters such as schools and religious institutions, Did the LTTE launch artillery attacks from areas close to these shelters knowing full well that the security forces would retaliate? If so, they were deliberately trying to cause civilian casualties. O The Government and the LTTE blame each other for the shells that hit civilian targets but both sides failed to end the shelling. Did neither side know the layout of the town, particularly the location of buildings such as schools and religious institutions which are always places for refuge during times of conflict, and are recognized as such by international humanitarian law and norms of human decency? Who fired the shells on the Arabic College? o The residents of Mutur demanded a ceasefire, even as a temporary measure, so as to allow humanitarian assistance and key actors such as the ICRC and the SLMM into the town but the two sides were not willing to guarantee their safety. The killing of 17 humanitarian workers from Action Contre La Faim in a brutal manner has to be investigated and the culprits brought to justice. o Given the casualties and the damages to property the victims need to
Page 29
AUGUST 2006
be compensated. Who will pay for it? In addition to violating basic international norms and conventions governing armed conflict, both sides demonstrated a fundamental disregard for civilian life. They expect not to be held responsible and to use the cover of war to hide these violations. A question we all have to ask is - "Is the argument of military necessity and the collateral damage that it necessitates enough to justify the level of human suffering it has caused?" If we do care for the future of our country as a multicultural country respective of justice and co-existence, we as concerned citizens need to demand that an impartial commission be established to investigate the violence in and around Mutur. It needs to be stated that there are a number of ongoing investigations: the killing of the five youth in Trincomalee in January 2006, the killing and burning of 4 people in Pesalai in December 2005. The victims are waiting for justice. "Humanitarian Wars, Ethnic Cleansing and other Betrayals
The hysterical irony is that both sides insist they are fighting for humanitarian reasons. The suffering of one community is used to legitimize the brutalization of another, widening the cycle of violence and suffering. Taking the two sides justification at face value and given the present context with each side taking great pains to explain that they remain committed to the ceasefire, the government and the LTTE have fundamentally betrayed the civilians whom they both claim to protect. For the Muslim Community of Mutur the battle has been a betrayal at multiple levels.
The LTTE when it entered Mutur told the community that it was fighting on their behalf and assured their safety. When the Muslim Community took the decision to leave south to Kantale, the LTTE said it would provide safe passage and even drinking water. Between the 3rd Mile Post and Pachanoor the LTTE cadres' behaviour abruptly changed- they began to verbally and physically abuse the civilians and demanded that the men should separate from the women and youth under 15. A masked man identified individuals from among the crowd, who were accused of being members of Jihad, and they were tied
up by the LTTE ing reports as to with some statin gan firing at the in the vicinity rel of the LTTE cac Muslims. It is sti many of the me the LTTE, with r. ing from 30 to 60 killed in the expl LTTE.
For the Musl Mutur and across LTTE's targeting incident near Pa lenged the limite the LTTE. Besi norms of interna law enshrined in tion, the LTTE's Pachanoor sugg antees it provide The Siege of M sented by some a its policy of eth precedent of the Northern Muslim expelled by the L) still living in disp reminder of the I the "Muslim prob this year, notices demanding that within 72 hours.
While the LT the notice, it failed ing suspicions of tentions. From Mutur is a confirm overall strategy o ethnic Tamil Eelai of the East facin that of their nori
The fact of forcil
munity into disp ripples of fear ac Muslims as the N perceived to be a created some sor with the LTTE. thus a serious co other Muslim cor for the Mutur Mu ently living in the ation.
That a Tamiling needs to be f and social level fo realized, especiall recognized. Yet, c ess the LTTE has
There are conflictwhat happened next, that the LTTE bemen. A shell landed ortedly killing some res and the fleeing l unclear as to how
were abducted by ugh estimates rangand how many were sion orshot by the
m Communities of
the North East the
of Mutur and the chanoor have chali trust they have of les violating basic ional humanitarian he Geneva Convenaction especially at ests that the guars are meaningless. utur has been pres a continuation of nic cleansing. The expulsion of the s who were forcibly TE in 1990 and are blacement is a stark TTE's approach to lem.” On May 29th appeared in Mutur the Muslims leave
TE denied sending to condemnit, rais' its underlying inthis perspective, lation of the LTTE's f creating a monon, with the Muslims g the same fate as hern counterparts. g the Mutur Comlacement has sent oss the East Coast utur Muslims was :ommunity that had
of modus vivendi heir safe return is ncern for all these munities, not least lims who are presmost pathetic situ
uslim understandIrged at a political a final peace to be in the East, is well er this peace procnot responded in a
TAMIL TIMES 29
consistent and adequate manner to address the basic fears of the Muslim community. The LTTE has seamlessly shifted from confidence building measures to harassment and human rights abuses; local LTTE leaders and cadres are, given the freedom to carry out repressive policies in contravention of guarantees given by the LTTE leader while the LTTE leadership speaks of assurances and mutual coexistence.
The Government too has betrayed the Muslim Community. Like the residents of Kebetigollewa the people of Mutur are also asking where were the armed forces and the police that was meant to protect them. Muslims are reminded of other instances of state inaction as during the Valaichennai Communal violence of April 2003 when the armed forces stood by and watched as the bodies of Muslims killed in the violence were burnt in front of them. The expulsion of the northern Muslims in 1990 did not take place in just LTTE-controlled areas but also in Government held areas such as Mannar Island where the armed forces were not willing to provide security assurances to the communities there.
During the siege, the Muslims of Mutur appealled directly to the President through Muslim political leaders to stop the artillery barrage it wasof no avail. A question that arises is - would the Government have adopted such an approach if it was a Sinhala Community that was taken hostage? Instead, Muslims are forced to deal with the reality that they would be the target of both sides. The government response to the humanitarian crisis has also raised serious fears within the Muslim Community. Besides not taking measures to ensure humanitarian relief during the siege, the response to the mass exodus has been problematic at multiple levels. It was Muslim relief agencies and civil society groups that rushed in to provide immediate relief, while the INGOs and government agencies with their disaster preparedness manuals seem to have missed the glaring fact that there were more than 40,000 people who needed urgent relief for at least three days before the exodus took place. As seen with the tsunami disaster, government is increasingly divesting itself of imple
Page 30
30 TAM TIMES
mentation duties relating to relief. While efforts are being made to address this large scale crisis, the situation is still desperate - people sleeping under trees and by the roadside, 5 toilets for more than 4,000 people in one welfare camp, the list goes on. This situation needs to be addressed immediately but the needs of other displaced and affected communities in the North East should also be taken up.
The Government is sensitive to the concerns of the Sinhala Community of Kantale who are afraid that the displaced could become a semipermanent population. It is keen to shift the Muslims to Kinniya, so that they can be among their own kind. Reports of two Muslims displaced killed in Kantale by an unknown group makes clear the security threats they continue to face.
The state needs to provide security for the displaced of all communities and mediate between local host communities and the displaced. The violence in Mutur and Thopur seem to be continuing with reports filtering of civilians still facing the threat of shells and bullets. Creating conditions for the return of Mutur’s Muslims is also an urgent requirement, especially in the sphere of security, An immediate ceasefire needs to be negotiated to end the fighting and cannot be further delayed. The onus is on both parties to end the killings
OW.
Mutur is a stark example of the security and political dilemma of the Muslim Community in the North East. On one hand they have to face the LTTE policy towards them that wildly oscillates between engagement and brutality. These policies ignore and subvert the history of TamilMuslim coexistence and the reality of mutual dependency of the Muslim and Tamil communities. On the other the Muslims have to deal with a state as citizens who are meant to be provided protection but not left to be helpless during times of crisis. The response to this dilemma does not have one answer. Ensuring Muslim concerns at peace talks is essential and a separate Muslim delegation is just one to ensure that, (The writer is a researcher at the Centre for Policy Alternatives, Colombo)
“Given the con only one hope: the a step-by-step appr adherence to the c ing a special envo ing towards media be, foreign peace! tion hasa glimmer Without it, Sri Lan archy will continu man Rights Comr statement on 14 A went on to say:
"Last week Ho China Morning P. lished an editorial should not ignore conflict (August 8, rial Wondered as ti levels of violence conflict being equal compared to Leban tres of conflict, th by the United Nat international forum The essential n issues involved in pressed concern ar sive carnage, disp ple and other gross rights to occur wit the absence of suc potential exists for lence and anarchy,
The question who should take present state of ki the bewildermen populations of the well as the people ( try. The crux of th who can, and who When it comes what is now called complete absence ( seems to be willing ing it. The goverr LTTE for wanting LTTE on the othel government. There people can turn to pacity to stand bet
AUGUST 2006
hplexities, there is UN. By adopting oach - calling for easefire, appointy and then worktion and, if needs ceepers - the naof hope for peace, ka's slide into ane,” the Asian Humission said in a ugust 2006 which
ing Kong’s South ost (SCMP) pubentitled the “UN [the] Sri Lankan , 2006), The editoo why despite the in the Sri Lankan to, or worse when on and other theae attention shown ions or any other
is almost nil. horal and political such a lack of exe allowing a maslacement of peoabuses of human hout challenge. In h a challenge the even greater vio
is not one about the blame for the lings, losses and t caused to the North and East as of the whole counhe matter is rather
should, stop it. to the stopping of a "war' there is a of any agency that , or capable of dohment blames the , the war and the hand blames the is nobody that the ) that has the caween the combat
e on-going carnage. should worry abou
ants and bring any forgeful messages of peace, as are usually found in other conflicts. A call for peace is seen by the antagonists as acts of treachery in favour of one party or another,
This aspect of the absence of a peaceful solution is not new in the Sri Lankan conflict. In fact, ever since the mid 70s when the conflict intensified with a former president's order to a military commander to "stop the northern insurgency within three months', a fight to the finish psychology was entrenched in all the parties to the conflict, and this psychology has become much more deeply entrenched as time has gone by, Within this context even a ceasefire is seen as an opportunity for a period of intense preparation by both sides for a more violent stage of the war at any time in the future.
The result of all this is massive loss of life, generally estimated to be over 60,000 people and hundreds of thousands of families who have become displaced over the previous decades. In intensified periods of conflict, as we have at the moment, these numbers increase enormously. Short periods of "peace' are not stable enough for such displaced persons to settle down again.
While the theatre of 'war' is the North and the East the entire country has been deeply transformed by this conflict. All law enforcement agencies have collapsed throughout the country making it one of the most dangerous lands to live in, or to invest in. Throughout the country the Sri Lankan police have proven to be an internally degenerated institution that the people have lost their confidence in. Assassinations have become something quite normal and threats of assassination are used in every form of social transaction making rationalized arrangements of living almost impossible. The symbol of all this is bullet riddled bodies scattered about over various places,
Page 31
AUGUST 2006
treated without any form of respect as deserving of a human being.
However, expressions of the horrors of the war mean nothing in the Sri Lankan context. It does not provoke outrage locally or internationally. Instead what seems to have emerged is a sense of helplessness and hopelessness expressed both locally and internationally,
It is from this point of view that the following conclusion in the SCMP's editorial mentioned above is relevant.
Given the complexities, there is only one hope: the UN. By adopting a step-by-step approach - calling for adherence to the ceasefire, appointing a special envoy and then working towards mediation and, if needs be, foreign peacekeepers - the nation has a glimmer of hope for peace. Without it, Sri Lanka's slide into anarchy will continue.”
A UN response needed
In a further statement dated 17 August, the AHRC advocating a direct ,
role of intervention in the case of Sri
Lanka's worsenin "While the call for tion of the Sri La arisen from high l as the Secretary Ge Nations and even make hardly any di mal situation of cc the suffering caus by all parties to the the reported incide lowing various atta vestigated. Indeed feature of the state the last few week absence of credibl the international being prevented fr vestigations and o the bodies are bein vent such investi tional journalists complained of the the areas of confli One of the grou making desperate c is the Muslim com In the recent day about 45,000 perso
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g situation said, a peaceful resolunkan conflict has evel sources such neral of the United the Pope, these fference to the disomplete neglect of sed to the people conflict. None of nts of killings folcks have been inthe one marked of the killings over s is the complete le inquiries. Even organisations are om conducting inin some occasions g cremated to pregations. Internaassociations have lack of access to
Ct. ups that have been calls for protection munity in the East. 's of the conflict ns are said to have been displaced and many are dead or wounded. There are reports of accusations by the displaced persons who are demandng that the government and the LTTE must guaranee their absolute safety and secuity. As the discussions between these two parties have ceased there is no way that these displaced persons will have he common guarantee that they reuest. They have "ejected unilateral jeclarations of protection as having hardly any meaning, as the recent violence has been perpetrated on them despite of
TAMIL TIMES 31
such guarantees. According to reports the Muslim communities in the areas concerned are complaining of complete abandonment by all parties. The plight of the Muslim community in the affected areas is a glaring example of the nature of the violence practiced by all parties to the conflict without any regard to any civilised norms of restraint or protection afforded to persons at times of serious conflict.
The international organisations that had earlier been playing the role of monitors, and at least keeping a head count of the dead and wounded, are now unable to perform their functions. The killing of 17 aid workers belonging to a French organisation working on tsunami relief is a clear indication of the absence of respect for the lives of anyone.
The degeneration of conflicts into such situations is not new in Sri Lanka. In 1971 when pockets of rebels attacked some places with Molotov cocktails and other rudimentary weapons a whole scale military campaign was launched which killed at least 10,000 people, mostly in the South of the country. No headcount was ever taken. Accept for a few incidents of individual cases of murder or rape the whole process of these large scale killings was never investigated. Once again in the South between 1987 and 1991 there was another killing on a large scale where huge numbers of people disappeared. Several commissions appointed many years later collected the names of around 30,000 persons. However, criminal investigations into these killings have never taken place except in a handful of individual cases. From 1977 until now a regular spate of killings has taken place the numbers of which are estimated to be more than 60,000 persons but no investigations of any significance have ever been conducted.
The concept of the complete extermination of opponents is now embedded in Sri Lanka as a permissible conduct to end conflicts. This approach of extermination, which is part of the unwritten conduct of the state in the times it considers moments of
(continued on next page)
Page 32
32 TAMILTIMES
SLMM consideri \ pulling out
August 14 - Accusing both the Government and the LTTE of using the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) as a political cover, the head of the cease-fire monitors has indicated willingness to withdraw the whole mission from the country, if both parties do not cease their "offensive operations.”
"I recommended to Norway, to consider withdrawing the mission (SLMM) because, I can't see the need for it to function, if it is not used by the parties. So, why should we be here and sometimes, risk lives, when the parties don't want us. They just want us as a political cover. That's why they have not terminated the Cease-fire Agreement (CFA),” SLMM head Ulf Henricsson told the Colombo newspaper, Daily Mirror, in an interview.
The Swedish head, who in any case may have to pull out by the end of this month, to keep in line with an LTTE demand for EU monitors to leave, says the final decision of with
(continued from page 31) crisis, has caused equally repugnant retaliation on the part of the rebel groups. The former president, Jayawardene characterised this as a killing match.
There are no internal mechanisms available within the Sri Lankan legal system to bring about any form of restraint under the circumstances that are being experienced now. There is nothing to stop the carnage, displacement and the resultant collapse of all institutions of law and order.
When in Nepal a situation of great danger arose in February 2005 with the possibility of large scale massacres by different parties to the conflict, the United Nations sent a special human rights monitoring mission. The result of this mission was to reduce the heights of violence and to make possible a democratic solution to the problem. In fact such a solu
drawing the whole Norwegian facilita the two warring p warned of such a p "The Governme don't want us to l the normal case. Th they can use us anc us when we say so ant about them. Th but not the cons. Bo happy when I rule a he said.
The SLMM hea he has ruled the Go operation in Mavil , ing air attacks on r "offensive' and no operation' or defen termed by the Go talk about humanit defensive air strikes tary offensive oper think whatever the problem to see air sive operation. Of fighting your enem
tion emerged withi the UN interventio space for the peace assert themselves a parties, including This initiative in N expression of the ur international comm carnage taking pl eyes.
A heavy respol the United Nations save lives in the mo is now taking place such a diplomatic developed is somet retary General and discover.
About AHRC: Rights Commissi non-governmental nitoring and lobby issues in Asia. The group was founde
AUGUST 2006
ing
eam lies with the tors, adding that arties have been ossibility.
nt and the LTTE eave. But that is Ley want us when they don't want mething unpleasley take the pros th parties are very gainst the other,”
d further said that vernment military Aru and the ensuebel targets as an t a "humanitarian sive operation, as vernment. "They arian operation or 1.I rule it as miliations. They may y want. I have a strikes as a defencourse, you are y and the Govern
njust one year of n which provided
loving masses to gainst all warring the king himself. epal arose as an willingness of the hunity to watch a ace before their
isibility lies with
to find a way to ment of crisis that in Sri Lanka. How
solution can be hing that the Sechis advisors must
The Asian Human on is a regional organisation moing human rights Hong Kong-based
in 1984.
ment feels the whole operation right now is defensive. But that is not my view on it, at least not according to the CFA," the SLMM head said.
He further noted that even the LTTE claim that it was also carrying out defensive operations on their part was not acceptable, as the their attacks were also "offensives', according to the CFA. w
Prior to the re-opening of the Mavil Aru anicut last week, Mr. Henrikssen attempted to visit the site with the LTTE Trincomalee political leadership on August 6, to monitor its re-opening, after the rebels agreed to the move, following talks with the Norwegian facilitators. However, the SLMM head could not go all the way as the Air Force launched fresh raids near the anicut, just minutes before he could reach the site, forcing him to take cover and the LTTE to reconsider its decision to open the sluice gates.
The Government, later, said it was not aware of Mr. Henricsson's presence in the area but the SLMM head says he has ample evidence to prove the Government was informed of his intention to visit the site, well in ad
WaCC.
"The government knew I was in the area, with the intention of going with the LTTE to check if they were opening the water. I still have the SMS on that, as we have emails and we have a response on that. I talked to the Peace Secretariat and the General responsible in the area. So, the Government knew exactly what we were doing,” Mr. Henricsson said firmly. -
The SLMM head says, in his view, both parties are committed to talks on their own conditions and are not willing to compromise, which is leading to their own demise and in turn, victimising innocent civilians.
Concerned about current situation
Aug 17 - The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission said they regret about the current situation in Sri Lanka which diplomats are being killed and targeted with firearms and bombs. The Mission's spokesperson Thornfinnur Omarson said they are concerned about the situation.
Page 33
AUGUST 2006
He said their monitors had gone to the scene of bomb blast at Dharmapala Mawatha, Kollupitiya. "We are presently conducting inquiries into the assassination of Kethesh Loganathan (Deputy Secretary General of Peace Secretariat) and the incident at Kollupitiya,” Omarson said.
He categorically condemned the two incidents, and said they were yet to ascertain whether the attempt was made on the life of Pakistan High Commissioner in Sri Lanka or not. He declined to comment on the perpetrators behind the two incidents saying, “the SLMM is yet to ascertain the perpetrators. The inquiries are in progress,” he said.
Asked if the SLMM had to put the blame on any party over the current upsurge of violence in the country, whom they would blame, Omar said, "All we can say is we have been saying to both the LTTE and the Government that there will be no solution to the conflictif the parties continue with military action.”
"We have said there is no military solution to the problem. Ultimately the country will suffer as a result,' he said.
Asked the SLMM whether the killing of Loganathan was an act that may be categorised under military means, Omarson said they had already communicated a statement on the killing of Loganathan. "There are no words strong enough to condemn this vicious cold blooded murder of yet another statesman who lived for peace.'
Monitors quit Trinco
August 18 - Monitors of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) posted in the Trincomalee district left for Colombo Thursday (17) morning as the ground situation was not conducive for further monitoring. Trincomalee SLMM office located along the Inner Harbour Road in the east port town was closed down Wednesday and all six monitors led by SLMM Head of Trincomalee District Office (DO) Ove Janssen, left by road to Colombo, SLMM sources said.
“Due to the unstable situation, SLMM Head of Mission decided to
Ces
August 02 - Pe way said that the operations by the ernment of Sri La 'deadlock' and cc the armed confli ment issued by O; after fighting esca ernment forces ar called on both sid and withdraw to th
The full text o lows: “Norway ur sation of hostilitie ing the past few the Sri Lanka Ce. the Government o
implement the fir Security Plan restr Major General Ul of Mission (HoM week.
"We are cons the developments to evacuate monit conflict areas,' he “Measures hav to improve the s premises by con: Due to the limitat perform its mand deteriorating secu possible that all Sl be withdrawn to C before the possib restricted even fu SLMM monito had been staying at Nilaveli, abouts of Trincomalee Pulmoddai road.
SLIMM monito cision to close dov office and to leav lowing an attack sentry at the Pillai tion at the entral village, about Trincomalee town, on Wednesday.
The SLN sent
TAMIL TIMES 33
NorWay urges sation of hostilities'
ace facilitator Nor
intensive military LTTE and the govnka had resulted in uld easily escalate ct. The first stateslo came one week lated between govld Tamil Tigers. It les cease hostilities heir prior positions. f the statement folges immediate cess in Sri Lanka Durdays, the parties to asefire Agreement, f Sri Lanka and the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), have engaged in intensive military operations following the LTTE's closure of the water supply from the LTTE-controlled area to the government-controlled area. The situation is deadlocked and could easily lead to an escalation of the armed conflict. The hostilities violate the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement.
"Norway urges the immediate cessation of hostilities on both sides in order to pave the way for negotiations aimed at resolving the water dispute. The LTTE must reopen the water supply to prevent further civil(continued on next page)
st phase of SLMM icting movements,” f Henricsson, Head ) SLMM, said last
stantly evaluating and are prepared ors away from the 2 said.
ve also been taken ecurity at SLMM structing shelters. ions for SLMM to ated tasks and the rity situations it is LMM monitors will olombo next week ilities to travel are rther.”
ors in Trincomalee in a hotel located ixteen km offnorth on Trincomalee
rs had taken the dewn the Trincomalee e for Colombo folon Sri Lanka Navy kulam Bridge junchce to Sampaltivu 7 km north of around 10.30 p.m.,
ry point is located
between Nilaveli and Trincomalee town. SLMM monitors staying in a hotel in Nilaveli area had to pass through this SLN sentry point to report to the SLMM office in Trincomalee town, sources said.
SLMM District Offices (DO) are operated in the six district-capitals, Jaffna, Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara in the NorthEast.
Each District has established a Local Monitoring Committee. The committee consists of five members, two appointed by GOSL, two by the LTTE and one SLMM monitor, the chairman.
The mission also operated six Points of Contact (POC) in Delft, Point Pedro, Silavatturai, Muthur, Killinochchi, Valaichchenai and Akkaraipattu.
Earlier, the SLMM Naval Monitoring Teams in Jaffna and Trincomalee were forced to temporarily suspend their monitoring and patrol as the parties engaged in hostile acts in the sea following an unresolved sea-dispute between the parties on Sea Tiger vessel movement.
SLMM Headquarters is located in Colombo and it maintains a Liaison Office to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Kilinochchi. O
Page 34
34 TAM TIMES
ian suffering and damage to crops, and both parties' military forces must withdraw to the positions they held when they entered into the Ceasefire Agreement in 2002,' said Minister of International Development Erik Solheim.
The escalation of the conflict coincides with the deterioration of the situation of the civilian Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). The LTTE has refused to cooperate with Danish, Finish and Swedish monitors since the EU included the LTTE in its list of terror groups earlier this year. On 3 August Special Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer will make a longplanned visit to Sri Lanka for talks with the parties.
"I am sending Hanssen-Bauer to Sri Lanka to discuss the future of the SLMM with both parties. The SLMM monitors from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway have done and are doing a great job in these difficult times. Their efforts have undoubtedly been decisive in getting the parties to respect the Ceasefire Agreement,” said Mr Solheim.
Karuna faction opens office in Colombo:
August 10 - The political arm of the Karuna faction, the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP), opened its first political office in Colombo 9 August amid tight security. As police checked vehicles entering Schofield Place in Kollupitiya, where the TMVP office is located some tension prevailed in the area with even media persons covering the event having to undergo body checks by unarmed TMVP cadres.
TMVP spokesman Mr. Thuyavan declared open the new office by unveiling the party name board followed by multi-religious ceremonies and a speech by the Batticaloa political of fice head Mr. Pratheep.
Mr. Pratheep said the TMVP faction which operated a political and military wing would contest the next parliamentary elections in the North and East with the sole intention of accomplishing its 7-point political agenda.
“Due to the elimination of Tamil intellectuals, politicians and the ter
rorization of oppon a political vacuum and the TMVP acc sibility of providing ship to the Tamil pe Hence all the peopl who genuinely feel ute to this cause ar dated,' Mr. Prathee The TMVP is r litical party in Sri opened its first of two months ago.
India won't recons ban on LTTE
CHENNAI, Aug National security Narayanan has said ernment would not imposed on the LT would be no direct Sri Lankan crisis. Al Tamil Nadu Chi Karunanidhi, Mr. N don't think the gov has any doubt abol LTTE. We regard th gerous organisatio necessary.'
He was respond on the Chief Minis ment that the ban o was "debatable'. H ment was clear abo vention in Sri Lan main in the loop b suasion possible” kan government to lution to the ethnic "So far our pos not directly involv dia is an importa Lanka is sensitiv cerns. But as far as after our last exp LTTE, we do not w directly," Mr. Nara
Clarifying that unanimity betwee state government policy towards Sri told the Chief Mir Sri Lankan foreign Samaraweera abou the importance of rity of the Tamils, ers and distinctic and other Tamils.'
ents in Sri Lanka had been created 'pted the respon; political leaderbple of Sri Lanka. : and the diaspora they can contrib: to be accommop said.
'gistered as a poLanka. The party ice in Batticaloa
der
just 10- : India's adviser M K
the Central goveconsider the ban TE and that there intervention in the ter a meeting with ef Minister M sarayanan said, "I fernment of India ut the ban on the le LTTE as a dann and the ban is
ling to a question ter's recent comn the terror group said the governut no direct interka, but would reby using “all perto push the Lanfind an early socrisis. tion is that we are ed. However, Inht factor and Sri about our conthat is concerned, erience with the ant to get involved yanan said. here was complete in the Centre and on Indian foreign Lanka, he said, "I ister how we told minister Mangala tour position - safety and secuevolution of pown between LTTE
AUGUST 2006
US: No military solution to the conflict
August 11 - The US Embassy in Sri Lanka, in a press release issued on Friday (11) said there can be "no military solution to the conflict that continues to divide Sri Lankans. Without political commitment and a spirit of compromise between both parties, there will be no end to the conflict. "There is no other way forward than through a return to negotiations.' The United States is "deeply concerned by the dislocation of tens of thousands of innocent civilians and the killing of NGO personnel in the northeast.' The following is the full text of the US press release:
"The events of the past weeks demonstrate again that there can be no military solution to the conflict that continues to divide Sri Lankans. The people of Sri Lanka need and deserve peace. The United States is deeply concerned by the dislocation of tens of thousands of innocent civilians and the killing of NGO personnel in the northeast.
We call on the LTTE to return to political negotiations and to renounce terrorism. At the same time, we look to the Government of Sri Lanka to address the legitimate grievances of Tamil-speaking people and to respond to incidents of violence against civilians with prompt, independent investigations. Without political commitment and a spirit of compromise between both parties, there will be no end to the conflict. There is no other way forward than through a return to negotiations.” -
A tribute to Kadirgamar
August 10 - The Sri Lanka Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies has been renamed after Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies to pursue his vision, on the eve of his first death anniversary. Kadirgamar was assassinated buy a suspected LTTE sniper on August 12, 2005.
The Institute was the brainchild of the late Foreign Minister, who felt the need of a multidisciplinary research forum dedicated to analyzing
Page 35
AUGUST 2006
Sri Lanka's strategic interests in the contemporary global and domestic context, made a proposal to the Cabinet in 2000 to initiate such a facility,
Following his death, President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was the then Prime Minister, proposed that the Institute be named after Kadirgamar considering his monumental service to the country. The Institution fills a huge vacuum that existed in the country for an independent forum that could generate research to contribute to national policy formulation. The institute in addition to carrying out policy re
search would also function as a fo
rum where policy makers, academics and practitioners of diplomacy and foreign relations can meet and develop ideas. The identified areas of research were to include among others, National security, Peace building, strategic interests, post conflict scenarios and so forth.
Professor of International Relations at Oxford and member of International Institution of Strategic Studies, Professor Adam Roberts, paid a glowing tribute to his late friend.
He observed Kadirgamar's efforts which won unreserved fame and admiration in the international circuit. "Tall Trees are the ones that capture the wind," Roberts said.
A stamp was issued in honour of the late Minister with Minister of Posts and Telecommunications D.M. Jayaratne handing the first day cover to the Prime Minister. The inauguration was attended by Ministers, diplomats, Foreign dignitaries, Scholars and senior military officers.
Annan expresses
profound concern'
August 14 - U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan expressed concern on Monday (14) over the ongoing violence in northeast Sri Lanka - that reportedly killed dozens of students. Annan is "profoundly concerned at the rising death toll, including the seven people killed in a bomb attack in Colombo today, and reports of dozens of students killed in a school as a result of air strikes in the NorthEast," according to a statement.
He also deplores the assassina
Norwa “cessation 0
August 02- Pea said that the inten tions by the LTTE of Sri Lanka had re and could easily esc flict. The first state came one week aft between governmen gers. It called on b tilities and withdrav tions.
The fülltext oft "Norway urges imr hostilities in Sri La
tion over the wee waran Loganathar general of the Gov retariat and vete rights advocate, it
Annan called government and th of Tamil Eelam to agencies free and to the affected po the civilian popul contested areas.
Canada's concern escalation of host August 16 - Ca Foreign Affairs ar Atlantic Canad Agency, Peter Mi ment on Tuesday ( cern regarding the tilities in Sri Lank cerned by the esc ties in Sri Lanka be forces and the Lil Tamil Eelam (LTT immediate cessatio a return to negoti his statement. "Ca there can be no n this lengthy confli be achieved wher from violence and seek a resolutio through negotiatic ues to actively su the co-chairs of Conference in st Lankan peace proc indispensable worl facilitator,” he fi Statement,
TAM TIMES 35
y urges f Ihostilities”
:e facilitator Norway sive military operaand the government sulted in "deadlock' alate the armed conment issued by Oslo 'r fighting escalated ; forces and Tamil Tioth sides cease hosv to their prior posi
he statement follows: nediate cessation of nka During the past
kend of Ketheshl, deputy secretary ernment Peace Secran Tamil human
said. on the Sri Lankan e Liberation Tigers allow humanitarian unimpeded access pulation and allow ation to leave the
Over
ilities nadian Minister of ld Minister of the a Opportunities cKay, in a state15) expressed conescalation of hosa. “Canada is conalation of hostilitween government peration Tigers of E). We call for an n of hostilities and tions," he said in nada believes that ilitary solution to it. Peace can only all parties desist intimidation and to the conflict n. Canada continport the efforts of he Tokyo Donor pport of the Sri ess, as well as the of the Norwegian rther said in his O
few days, the parties to the Sri Lanka Ceasefire Agreement, the Government of ri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), have engaged in intensive military operations following the LTTE's closure of the water supply from the LTTE-controlled area to the government-controlled area. The situation is deadlocked and could easily lead to an escalation of the armed conflict. The hostilities violate the 2002 Ceasefire Agree
ment,
“Norway urges the immediate cessation of hostilities on both sides in order to pave the way for negotiations aimed at resolving the water dispute. The LTTE must reopen the water supply to prevent further civilian suffering and damage to crops, and both parties' military forces must withdraw to the positions they held when they entered into the Ceasefire Agreement in 2002," said Minister of International Development Erik Solheim.
The escalation of the conflict coincides with the deterioration of the situation of the civilian Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). The LTTE has refused to cooperate with Danish, Finish and Swedish monitors since the EU included the LTTE in its list of terror groups earlier this year. On 3 August Special Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer will make a long-planned visit to Sri Lanka for talks with the parties.
"I am sending Hanssen-Bauer to Sri Lanka to discuss the future of the SLMM with both parties. The SLMM monitors from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway have done and are doing a great job in these difficult times. Their efforts have undoubtedly been decisive in getting the parties to respect the Ceasefire Agreement,” said Mr Solheim.
A tribute to Kadirgamar
August 10 - The Sri Lanka Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies has been renamed after Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies to pursue his vision, on the eve of his first death anniversary. Kadirgamar was assassinated buy a suspected LTTE sniper on August 12, 2005.
The Institute was the brainchild of the late Foreign Minister, who felt the need of a multidisciplinary research forum dedicated to analyzing Sri Lanka’s strategic interests in the contemporary global and domestic context, made a pro
(continued on page 41)
Page 36
36 TAM TIMES
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IN MEMORAMS
Third Anniversary Remembrance
8th August 2006
Mrs Poo Sivasubramaniam (1929-2003)
Remembered with love
and affection by family and friends
siva.niranganOsteria.co.uk +44. 144225.9122
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AUGUST 2006
Fifth Year Remembrance
Dr. Chelvadurai Manogaran (1935 - 2001) Emeritus Professor of Geography, University of Wisconsin-Parkside, USA. Sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his beloved wife Santhana Thevi (Kili); daughters Shakila Shimp and Anita Langewisch Manogaran, Sons-in-law Douglas Shimp and Matthew Langewisch, grandchildren Nathaniel and Kiran Shimp, family and friends.
Second Year Remembrance
M.C.I.O.B.; M.C..Arb; F.G.S.; former Principal Consultant Civil Engineer, Foster Wheeler Energy Ltd., Shinfield Park, Reading, Berks RG2 9FM, UK; son of late ArunaSalam Thirunavukkarasu and Parvathipillai of Atchu-valey, Jaffna passed away on 6th August 2004
Rennenbered with love and affection by his beMr. Thirunavukkarasu loved wife Vijeyaluxmi on Nadesamoorthy B.Sc.; the secondanniversaryof M.Sc.; C. Eng.; M. l.Struct. E.; his passing away.
Tenth Anniversary Remembrance 22nd August 2006
parents, Mr. & Mrs Selvarajah (UK), brother Muraleedaran and Sister-in-law Dr. Sukanya (Australia); Sister Dr. Subathini and brother-in-law Ramesh (Jaffna); sister Shanthini and brother-in-law Shanmuganathan (UK); sister Shamini and brother-in-law Uthayakumaran (UK); unCles, aunts. Other relatives and friends.
Your Memories are always with us.
in everloving memory of Mr. - 63 Elm Croft Crescent, Selvarajah Kiritharan. North Harrow, Sadly missed and fondly re- Middlesex HA2 6HL membered by his loving Tel 0208 8636768.
nkans.com
Page 37
AUGUST 2006
First Year Remembrance
In loving memory of Mr Sinnathurai Mahalingam, born on 01/02/1912, (Former Vice-Principal, Jaffna Central College) on the First Anniversary of his passing away on 23rd August 2005. Sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his daughters Mrs Lalitha Dilkushi Karunakaran and Miss. Priyadarshini Damayanthy; sons Premkumar, Mohankumar, Ranjitkumar, Nimalkumar and Tilakkumar. sons-in-law Karunakaran and Thirunavukarasu; daughters-in-law Kamalarani, Vijayaluxmi, Nirmala, Yasothara and Nalini grandchildren Kishore, Mathan, Anjaana, Roshaan, Sathiya, Poornima, Shameela, Mano, Vinithra, Pradeep, Tilna, Durga, Niruthan and Nivetha and great grandchildren Adam, Ishaan and Ayesha. His beloved wife Poornambihai Ambal and loving daughter Mrs Ranjini Geetanjali Thirunavukarasu predeceased him on 5th June 1994 and 24th May 1996 respectively. Our loving memories of them are deep in our hearts.
— M. Ranjitkumar, 12 Chase Lane, Barkingside, Essex IG6 1BH. Tel 02085185759.
Fourth Anniversary Remembrance
In ever loving memory of Mr. Sinnatham by Sivapiragasam of Sandilipay, formerly of Irrigation Department, Colombo on the fourth anniversary of his passing away on 23rd August 2002.(20th August according to the Hindu calendar.) Fondly remembered and sadly missed by his children Radha, Sivakumaran, Rajini, Ramini, Rohini and Renuka; daughter-in-law Navananisons-in-law Viswanathan, Dr. Salama and Umasuthan, grandchildren Sivaruby & Siva-yogi, Krishnakumar & Ahilan, Shireen, Vidya & Menaha, Jenani & Richard; great granddaughters Yalini and Leela, Maya and Sister Kanmani.
-10 Orchard Court, Worcester Park, Surrey KT47LD. Tel 02083306722.
TAMIL TIMES 37
Sixth Anniversary Remembrance
S
Birth: 18.08.1953 Rest: 1.09.2005
Doctor Shanthi Kumaran Ratnasingham, Retd. Staff Associate Specialist in Anaesthesia in Royal Infirmary Hospital, Edinburgh
A year has passed with
lightning speed Since the sad day
when my Kumaran was called away. lf I could have saved you, you never would have passed away To live with my grief,
so hard I try
First Anniversary Remembrance
In loving memory of Mrs Amirtharanee Ratnasingham on the sixth anniversary of her passing away on 21st August 2005.
Deep in our hearts your memory lives on As well as that of your SO.
lf my tears could bring you back I would still hear your
voice calling Sinamma The pain and anguish only God can heal Fondmen ories
of you Kumarant No one can steal.
Thank you Lord for the loved one whom you blessed with great intellect and humour. Affectionately remembered and profoundly missed by Thevaranee and other members of the family. Thevaranee Wishes to express her sincere thanks to all those who helped and supported her at the time of the bereavement and those friends and Classmates of Kumaran who have contributed towards the purchase of a computer for the Jaffna Hospital. - Miss. J.T. Rasiah, 64 Jessup Close, London.
Third Year Remembrance
In loving remembrance of Mr. Chellappah Balasingam on the third anniversary of his passing away on the 10th August 2003.
Sadly missed and fondly remembered by his beloved wife Balasaraswathy, loving children Ragulan, Renuka (both of UK), Ravichandran (Chennai, India), Raga van and Rathika (both of UK); Sons-in-law Shriananda and Rajaloganathan; daughters-in-law Sujatha, Shantha and Shankari; grandChildren Hariharan, Rishiharan, Sinduja, Bhairavi, Sriram, Pirana van and Lakshmanan.
- 3A The Drive, Northwood,
Middlesex HA61HQ. Tel: O1923842275.
Page 38
38 AML TIMES
Mr. Mayilvaganam Velummylum J.P., U.M., Attorney-at-Law and former Chairman, Urban Council, Point Pedro passed away On 31.8.89 and the Seventeenth anniversary of his passing away falls on 31st August 2006.
Anniversary Remembrance
Sadly missed and lovingly remembered by his loving wife, children Thayanandarajah (UK), Nithianandarajah (New Zealand), Mayilvaganarajah (UK), - Chitra (Colombo), Anandarajah, Krishnarajah and Jayanthi (all of Chennai), grandsons Cameron, Ewan and Atharsan, Son-in-law Kamaleswaran (Colombo); daughters-in-law Sumitra (UK), Devi (New Zealand), relations, friends and a host
of grateful constituents
- Hillcroft, 14 Howards Wood Drive, Gerrards Cross, Bucks SL97HN.
Forthcoming Events C
September 03 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Paris
Ganesh Temple Eleventh Annual Chariot (Ther) Festival. For details Tel: O033142O95045 Avani Sunday (3) 048 a.m. Paris Ganesh Tem
ple: Theertham Festival, Sangapisegan and Thiruvunjal; EekathaSi 05 PirathOSam. Avani Oonam
07 Fil MOOr 10 Sankadakara Sathu-irthi,
Aavani Sunday (4) 12 Karthigai 13 Shri Krishna Jayanthi 14 Feast of the Exaltation of
the Holy Cross 17 Eekathasi 19 PirathOSan 21 Amavasai; Feast of St.
Mathew 23 Navarathiri starts;
Puradasu Sani(1)
WEDDING BELLS
We congratulate the following couples on their recent wedding.
Chenduran, Son of Mr.S Kamala Devi & Dr. Chelappah Shanmuganathan of 146, Ridge Lane, Watford, Herts WD17 4WU and Martina, daughter of Mrs Hana Piskata & Mr. Slavonur Piskaty of Janacka949, Paradubice
53012, Czech Republic on 18th August 2006 at the VIP Lounge, 47, High Street, Edgware, Middx.
Bamini, daughter of Mr. & Mrs Balasingam of 46 Highlands Goins, Ilford, Essex Gl 3LD and Mahilirajan, son of Mrs. R. Mylvaganam of6, Rue des Jardins, 94240 L'hay les Roses, France on 20th August 2006 at The Old Town
75047
EMIERGENCYTRA
AUGUST 2006
In loving memory of Mr. Apputhura i Gunaratnam, former Divisional Supertendent of Post Of. fices, Sri Lanka on the sixteenth anniversary of his passing away on 28th August 1990.
Annversary Remembrance Mr. Apputhurai Gunaratnam
Sadly missed and fondly remembered by his loving wife Rani; children Thirukumar (Australia), Vasuki (Sri Lanka), Devaki (Australia), Sutharsan (UK), Sarathadevi (California); sons-in-la v Ravindran, Radhakrishnan and Sashikanth; daughters-in-law Vasanthi and Suzanne, grandchildren Ash vini, Yathurshini, Prushoth, Mayurikka and Mayuran.
- 1 Appin Court, Roxborough Park, Harrow-on-the-Hill, MiddХ НА2 0KO.
26 Sathurthi; Luxmy Pooja
Starts 27 Fease of St. Vincent de
Paul! 28 ShaShti 29 Saraswathy Pooja starts 30 Puradasi Sani (2), Feast of St. Jerome At Bhavan Centre, 4A Castle town Road, London W/14 9HO. ዝeዘ: 0207 381 308.6/4608. MVebsite: W.bhavan.net, Sept. 2nd 2-5 p.m. Talk by OverSeas Academicians
Dr. Subesh Kak & Dr. S.Navaratna Rajaram. All Welcome. Sept. 16th 6.30 p.m. Navaras presents Sitar & HinduSan VocalConcert Sanjeev Chimalgi (Hindustan Vocal); Ustad Sulat Khan (Sitar); Yogesh Shamsil (Tabla); Sudhir Nayaka (Harmonium) Sept. 30th 6 p.m. Durgashfami Puja
All WellComme.
Hall, 29 The Broadway, London E154BO.
Saravana, son of Dr. & MrS Rajan Namasivayam of 2, Balmoral Gdns, Croydon Surrey CR2 OHN and Vanee, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Rajadurai Anpananthar of 146 Shelley Ave, Manor Park, London E12 6PU on 27th August 2006 at The Platinum Suite, EXCell,
Docklands, London E16 1XL.
Branawan, Son Drs Kandiah & Shanthy Sivakumar of 7 Gossington Close, Chislehurst, Kent BR7 6TG and Hannah, daughter of Mic hael & Elaine Neale of East end Farm, Grovesend Road, Thornbury, South Glos, BS35 2HB, on 27th August 2006 at Lindley Hall, 80 Vincent Square, London SW1P2PE.
VEL ONLY
S 676 360
-SRI LANKA -SOUTH INDA SINGAPORE
Page 39
AUGUST 2008
Book Review
“THE FOOTFALLSONTIME"
by Justice C.V.Wigneswaran, Retired Judge of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka.
(The Foonfalls on Time' was recently launched in remembrance of the late Yogendra Duraiswamy by his widow and author, Mrs. Sivanandi Duraiswamy)
Minstres saintess Auvaiyar was asked by Muruga, the Warrior God of the Tamils, as to what was the greatest in this world. She replied in chaste Tamil "Peridhu peridhpuvanam peridhu" which rendered into English runs thus -
"Great indeed this vast wide world, Yet it lies light on the head of serpent bold, (Goddess) Uma wears on littlefingerserpent akinringgold, Goddess herself an adjunct in Lord Shiva's hold, Shiva resides in hearts of devotees of divine mould, Greatness of devotees in fact is too great to be told."
Mrs. Sivanandini Duraiswamy has ventured to describe the biographies of eighteen personifications of greatness - ancient, medieval and modern, Indian and Sri Lankan from the Hindu fold, in her latest publication "The Footfalls on Time".
Starting with ancient Thirumoolar and followed by Karaikkal Arnmaiyar she describes in Part I the lives of the three more famous Nayanmars (Appar, Sundarar and Sambandar) and then Manicca vasagar. Also Serkkilar who wrote interalia their biographies in the Periya Puranam, the more recent Pattinaththar and Thayumanavarand the Sri Lankan sages of yester-century Yogaswami and Swami Vipulananthar find a place.
Part II of her book examines the lives of the young and brilliant Adhi Shankarar followed by God intoxicated Mirabhai, musical maestro Tyagarajar, Holy Mother Sarada Devi, Swami Vivekananda, Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Chinmayananda.
The catalyst that inspired her to undertake such a task seems to be some young pilgrims from the West, thirsty for knowledge about the mysticism of the Indian ethos, whom she met in Madurai in South India years ago in the company of her late husband Mr. Yogendra Duraiswamy.
The core of mysticism is the quest for communion with the Sacred. Hinduism frontine innermorial had reconnended different paths in order to unfold the mysteries of life and to imbibe the Sacred. The ancient saints and sages were tremendously interested in the art of living. They probed into their relationships with innumerable expressions of life surrounding them, they watched carefully the inner drama taking place in themselves both on the biological as well as the psychological levels, in the waking state, dream state and deep sleep state.
They came up with paths broadly probing into life at an intellectual level (Gnana), physical level (Karma), emotional level (Bhakti) and spiritual level (Dhyana). These paths took their votaries away from mere mundane enjoyment of life to probe further into the recesses of their beings to face up with something which exceeded themselves.
The saints and sages mentioned in "The Footfalls on Time" could be classified as having belonged to these different paths or margas. While Adhi Shankarar is reputed to have been a
/
TAMIL TIMES 39
Gnana Yogi (man of wisdom) his life had glimpses of a Karma Yogi as well as Bhakthi Yogi illustrating the fact that these paths can overlap. Page 163 of "The Footfalls on Time" refers to the famous Bhaja Govindam composition which exhorted a student of religion not to waste his time on the rules of grammar but to seek Govinda (the Lord) with his heart. Shankarar realised that heart was the doorway to heavenly bliss. Many saints and sages mentioned in the Book including the Nayanmars and Mirabhai were great Bhathars or devotee of the Divine singing their hymns with great devotion, deriving emotional fulfilment and in the process a glimpse of the DiV6.
Holy Mother, after the passing away of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa considered duty and dhyana as her foremost mission in life. She followed the Karma marga but with little fanfare. Swami Vivekananda did his duties as a man of dynamism and action. Swami Chinmayananda spent his life transforming himself into a conduit pipe to propagate the ancient Vedic wisdom to the common man. He followed the path of wisdom and dhyana.
Yet bhakthi remains the most captivating path that enthralls the modern man. In a world which is mesmerised by scientific outputs, where knowledge, reason and materialistic attitudes loom large, dipping deep into our hearts gives us a much wanted recreative recess and relaxation. The ideal marga or path recommended for the modern human being is the path of devotion or bhakti. Leafing through the lives of great bhaktas infects us with their devotion, enthusiasm and enriching experiences.
Sivanandini has therefore selected a majority of great bhaktas as those Who left an indelible mark On the Sands of history - The Footfalls on Time'. Biographies of this nature in English fulfil a crying need among many Hindus and others today who have difficulties with their mother tongues, though keen on knowing about great saints and sages of yore.
It is said that in South Africa, Mauritius and elsewhere, the progeny of Tamil Hindustransliterate the Thevarams in English and sing them reading from the English version due to their ignorance of the Tamil script in which Thevarams were composed and sung. There are English speaking Hindus who do not have an opportunity nor a necessity to study Tamil but keen on professing their traditional religion. Hinduism is a well formulated scientifically acceptable deep and profound religion which has developed through the inputs of great saints, sages and savants qualifying to be called Sanatana Dharmathe perennial truth, the youngsters have grown to understand. And this book is precisely what they would need.
Some of the more famous torch bearers of this ancient religion find their biographies described in The Footfalls on Time'. The book is not merely a biographical sketch. It also discusses philosophical concepts and truths. It would make good reading to those amongst us who are Anglophiles whether Tamils or non Tamils. The language is romantic, picturesque and imaginative. The style of writing brings nostalgic memories of a bygone age appropriate no doubt to the personalities whose lives are examined. The book would no doubt be popular among discerning connoisseurs of mystical literatu
(Footfalls on Time' can be purchased from the publishers Vijitha Yapa Bookshop from their website www.vithayapa.com. The price in UK is £8.50 and in the USA $ 16.50)
Page 40
40 TAMIL TIMES
Lions Club Paradise Seychelles donates to elderly
The newly launched Lions Club Paradise Seychelles has made donations to two institutions for the elderly.
Following a donation of men's wear to the elderly of the North East Point Regional Home, the club donated six standing fans to the English River Old People's Home. The fans have been sponsored by G.S. Pillay & Company and Abhaye Valabhijired.
The Set of Shirts and trousers was handed Overto the director of Hospital Administration, MarieAnge Denis, by the president of the Lions Club Paradise Seychelles, V. Sivasupramanian, Who Said that the club's commitment is "towards the elderly, the sick and the youths."
Accepting the set of clothing in the presence of the Minster for Health and Social Services, Vincent Meriton, and the principal secretaries for Health and Social Services, Jessie Esparon and Marie-Antoinette Alexis respectively, Mrs Denis thanked the Club for its support. She said it was always very encouraging to receive any kind of support in this day and age “where people concentrate only on their personal benefits." There are currently 92 men and 42 women residing at the North East Point Regional Horne. Accepting the fans from Mr Sivasupramanian during the ceremony at the English River Old People's Home, the district's administrator, Andrea Mounac, thanked the two sponsors and the Lions Club Paradise of Seychelles "for the much awaited donation" which he said would Surely bring more comfort to the residents.
For his part, Mr Sivasupramanian said he was very happy to make the donation, as a first step in the club's mission to help in the promotion of better living conditions among people in the community. He also called on other organisations to help for the betterment of the lives of the less fortunate in the community.
The ceremony was attended by members of other clubs as well as residents of the home.
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A Professional Performance
The Flute Recital of Yatheesan, Son of Dr. and Mrs Selvakumar and disciple of Sri. P. Gnanavarathan took place on 15th July 2006, when he ascended the Beck Theatre stage at Hayes. According to the brochure the main item was ‘Ragam, Thanam and Pallavi'in Dwiragam. My past experience has been often that when the debutante plays, the ragam gets quite distorted. it needs a lot of experience and imagination to play a ragam. Very rarely have I heard a near perfect raga Alapana. Hencel was very anxious to listen how the two ragas would come out of the flute that night.
The concert started very punctually and the moment Yatheesan pressed the flute against his lips, the music started to flow. Within minutes of his Natakuninchivamammy anxiety vanished. Abohi, Golai, Hamsanadham and Kamboji followed one after the other like the planes landing at the nearby Heathrow airport. Theraga alapana and the kalpanaswaras came effortlessly. Nannu Palimba, gem of a composition from Sri Thiagarajah Swami came next. Sri Thiagarajah saw the picture of Sri Rama brought as a wedding present to his daughter by his disciple. Tears came in his eyes and Sang, "Oh! Rama did you walk all the way to come and bless me?' Yatheesan's rendering of this krithi brought tears in my eyes as well. Sri TV Pitchiappa was a renowned violinist in Sri Lanka. A composition by him in the ragam Jothiswaroopini Cane next.
The main item was in the ragas, Kalyani and Revathy. Yatheesan did the alapana in both ragas, continued with the Thanam and Pallavi. His Guru Sri Gnanavarathan composed the Pallavi. He must have had ample confidence in his pupil's ability to compose such a difficult Pallavi. The pupil certainly did not disappoint him. Then followed the Ragamaliga. Flutist and Sri Gnanasundaram, accompanying on the violin played the ragas Hindolam, Madhuvanthi, Valaji and Kapi alternating. It was a delight to listento. The concert concluded With a Bajan in Dwijavanthi, a Behag composition - Muruganin maru peyar azhagu”, Lalgudi's Thillana in Desh and Thirupugazh in Bageshwari.
To invite flutist, Smt Mala Chandrasekar, was both appropriate and courageous attempt by the parents. The compere,
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Page 41
AUGUST 2006
Sri Ravi Sanguhan kept the Script to a minimum and yet mentioned all the details. There was no intermission. The accompanying musicians, Sri Kirupakaran, Sri Prakash and Sri Balaji Krishnamurthy supported Yatheesan well. These are
plus points ofthe Arangetram.
Sri Gnanavarathan is a very good teacher and nurtures his pupils well and Yatheesan is a very keen and dedicated pupil. Both of them can be proud of each other. The parents of Yatheesan, Dr Selvakumar and Sounthravali must have invested a lot of time and effort in Yatheesan's musical journey. They too can be proud of their son because the debut was not a mere Arangetram. It was a full professional Kutcheri' in every sense of the word.
- Hindolam
(continued from page 35)
posal to the Cabinet in 2000 to initiate such a facility.
Following his death, President Mahinda Rajapaksa who was the then Prime Minister, proposed that the Institute be named after Kadirgamar considering his monumental service to the country. The Institution fills a huge vacuum that existed in the country for an independent forum that could generate research to contribute to national policy formulation. The institute in addition to carrying out policy research would also function as a forum where policy makers, academics and practitioners of diplomacy and foreign relations can meet and develop ideas. The identified areas of research were to include among others, National security, Peace building, strategic interests, post conflict scenarios and so forth.
Professor of International Relations at Oxford and member of International Institution of Strategic Studies, Professor Adam Roberts, paid a glowing tribute to his late friend.
He observed Kadirgamar's efforts which won unreserved fame and admiration in the international circuit. "Tall Trees are the ones that capture the wind,” Roberts said.
A stamp was issued in honour of the late Minister with Minister of Posts and Telecommunications D.M. Jayaratne handing the first day cover to the Prime Minister. The inauguration was attended by Ministers, diplomats, Foreign dignitaries, Scholars and senior military officers.
India won’t reconsider
ban on LTTE CHENNAI, August 10- : India's National security adviser M K Narayanan has said the Central government would not reconsider the ban imposed on the LTTE and that there would be no direct intervention in the Sri Lankan crisis. After a meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, Mr. Narayanan said, "I don't think the government of India has any doubt about the ban on the LTTE. We regard the LTTE as a dangerous organisation and the ban is necessary.”
He was responding to a question on the Chief Minister's recent comment that the ban on the terror group was ‘debatable'. He said the government was clear about no direct intervention in Sri Lanka, but would remain in the loop by using "all persuasion possible" to push the Lankan government to find an early solution to the ethnic crisis.
“So far our position is that we are not directly involved. However, India is an important factor and Sri Lanka is sensitive about our concerns. But as far as that is concerned, after our last experience with the LTTE, we do not want to get involved directly,” Mr. Narayanan said.
Clarifying that there was complete unanimity between the Centre and state government on Indian foreign policy towards
TAMIL TIMES 41
ALAND THAT'S SOWN WITH THE DEAD...
Look, look into the depths of yester years No reflections, no waves but down under Skeletons, skulls and teeth lie, to tell the story To all, at all times what happened when and where. When criminal acts are brushed aside, Abominable deeds go beside unchecked. The doers try to hide their sin Under water and in shallow graves. “Sin?” “Killing is a sin.” "YOU KILL SOWEKILL." We hear this loud cry echoing around. Four hundred years of colonialism: “ Kai kaddi vaay puthaiththa kaalam” Killings were rampant. That's What Ourancestors underwent. Six decades of so-called "independence': Still killings are rampant. "Maarthaddisuthanthiramputhaipadum kaalam." A land that's sown with the "Dead," Waste no time. Wake up and stare Right into the eye of PEACE With Sincerity and Honesty, Reconciliation and Reconstruction And bring in peace with justice To the aggrieved "Living."
-Varatha Shanmuganathan
Sri Lanka, he said, "I told the Chief Minister how we told Sri Lankan foreign minister Mangala Samaraweera about our position - the importance of safety and security of the Tamils, devolution of powers and distinction between LTTE and other Tamils.”
Karuna faction opens
office in Colombo: August 10 - The political arm of the Karuna faction, the Thamil Makkal Viduthalai Pullikal (TMVP), opened its first political office in Colombo 9 August amid tight security. As police checked vehicles entering Schofield Place in Kollupitiya, where the TMVP office is located some tension prevailed in the area with even media persons covering the event having to undergo body checks by unarmed TMVP cadres.
TMVP spokesman Mr. Thuyavan declared open the new office by unveiling the party name board foilowed by multireligious ceremonies and a speech by the Batticaloa political office head Mr. Pratheep.
Mr. Pratheep said the TMVP faction which operated a political and military wing would contest the next parliamentary elections in the North and East with the sole intention of accomplishing its 7-point political agenda.
“Due to the elimination of Tamil intellectuals, politicians and the terrorization of opponents in Sri Lanka a political vacuum had been created and the TMVP accepted the responsibility of providing political leadership to the Tamil people of Sri Lanka. Hence all the people and the diaspora who genuinely feel they can contribute to this cause are to be accommodated,' Mr. Pratheep said.
The TMVP is registered as a political party in Sri Lanka. The party opened its first office in Batticaloa two months ago.
Page 42
42 TAMILTIMES
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