Murugar Gunasingam - The Tamil Eelam Liberation Struggle_ State Terrorism and Ethnic Cleansing (1948 - 2009)-MV Publications (2014) (1)

clearly understood from the speech of the American Deputy Minister
Richard Aamitraech:

He requested the Tamil Tigers to shrug off violence and bifurcation.
We also request the Tamil Tigers organisation to openly declare that
they will not resort to violence and terrorism. The Tamil Tigers
should declare very clearly to the people of Sri Lanka and the
international community that they have given up the armed struggle
to establish a separate government."

 

This commanding tone of Aamitraech as a representative of a super
power had shattered the very base of the Tamil ethnic issue. Also his speech
clearly shows that he did not have a deep understanding of the self
determination rights of the Tamil people, that the Eelam demand is not a
demand for bifurcation but is a freedom struggle to recover a lost Tamil
Eelam nation and that his speech shows a superficial understanding of the
issue. If he had a good understanding of the Tamil ethnic issue, he could
never have delivered such a speech in an international arena. Also he did not
utter a word about the state sponsored terrorism of the Sri Lankan
government and its continued anti-Tamil activities. Hence we can state
without hesitation that the Oslo conference is a planned and biased affair
aimed at sabotaging the freedom struggle of the LTTE.

Even the Norwegian peace brokers kept mum about the speech of
Aamitraech which also raises serious suspicions. We can see the Norwegian
peace brokers only as agents who gave shape to the American conspiracy.
Also none of the representatives from more than 30 countries which
participated in the conference raised any opposition to the speeches of
Aamitraech. Hence we should assume that the participating countries quietly
extended their supporting hand to the American plans and motives. The
Political adviser of the Tamil Tigers Anton Balasingham who participated in
this conference gave a lengthy speech. Every word that he spoke described
the problems faced by the Tamils in their daily lives, the solutions to those
problems and the hegemony of the Sinhalese army and its cleansing
activities. But in such a gathering of the countries of the world, Anton
Balasingham could have given a detailed and fitting response to the speech
of the American Minister Aamitraech. At the least, he could have explained
that Sri Lanka is an Island comprising of two separate nations which have
been ruled separately forever in history and that the Tamils have lost their
country because of the foreign powers who reigned in Sri Lanka. Our
neighbouring Sinhalese country has been trying to decimate us ever since the
independence of Sri Lanka. Hence we have been forced to wage an armed
struggle for about 30 years to decide our own fate on the basis of the Tamil's
right to self determination. Hence any proposed solution for this ethnic issue
resulting out of these peace talks should address the political aspirations of

the Tamil people. Anton Balasingham could have responded that the request
from the mediators to the Tigers to give up their demand for separation is a
completely biased stance. Anyone who would take a scientific look at this
issue will be wondering as to why he did not capitalize on this rare
opportunity.

Following the conference in Oslo from 2-5 December 2002, the third
round of talks was held in Oslo. In these peace talks, a committee of scholars

 

from the Canadian federation participated as special invitees. Internal and external right to self
determination, federal structures, provincial autonomy and federal autonomy were discussed in great
detail. Following this, the fourth round of talks took place during 6-9tn January 2003 in Thailand. In
this meeting issues regarding the high security zone and surrender of arms by the LTTE were the key
items discussed additionally. The government announced that the Indian Army General Sathish
Nambiar would devise a plan to solve these issues. But the Tamil Tigers argued that the high security
zone issue should not be linked with the arms surrender issue. Later the Tamil Tigers rejected the
plan prepared by Nambiar.

The fifth round of talks continued in Berlin in Germany during 7-8 February 2003. While the
peace talks were progressing Sri Lankan navy captured a vessel of the Sea Tigers near Neduntheevu
off the Jaffna Gulf. The Sea Tigers' boat was blasted. All three Tamil Tigers soldiers on board the
vessel committed suicide. This news was relayed to Anton Balasingham through both Tamil Tigers
and the International Ceasefire monitoring committee. There were heated altercations in the
discussion table that this event was a blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement. But in spite of this,
the discussions continued. During these peace talks, there were discussions regarding the recruitment
of child soldiers in the Tamil Tigers' army. Tamilselvan gave the following details in his reply:

The Tamil Tigers organisation has been taking care of thousands of children in many of
their orphanages and child care centres. Due to the economic destructions, poverty and
deprivation that ensued due to the war, numerous children have been orphaned and have
lost all means of livelihood and are taking refuge with the LTTE. We are embracing them
and are taking care of them. We are spending crores of money on them. We are not
recruiting anyone less than 18 years of age in our organisation. We have recently handed
over 350 Tamil children to their parents since they were underage/

After these talks, Anton Balasingham and Adele Balasingham met Prabhakaran on 5 March 2003. In
this situation, the leader of monitoring committee General Relevson and outgoing leader
Poorakovdae met Prabhakaran. During these meetings, Prabhakaran gave the arguments of his side
and explained his stand.

After these incidents, later, on 10 March 2003, the General of the Sea Tigers wing Soosai
informed Prabhakaran that the Sri Lankan navy had burnt down a merchant ship of the Tamil Tigers
and that eleven Sea Tigers were also killed in this event.    This would have definitely angered
Prabhakaran

 

and he would have considered this event a clear violation of the ceasefire
agreement and that this would have long term effects on the peace process.
Tamilselvan wrote a detailed letter regarding this to the Defence Minister
Thilak Marappana. This letter should have created anxiety in the minds of Sri
Lankan government and Norwegian Peace committee. As a consequence, the
Norwegian team comprising of Vidar Helgison, John Westberg, Hans
Bruttskon and Mrs Leela Golden travelled to Kilinochchi on 13 March 2003
and had a meeting with Prabhakaran." They must have visited to find out if
the Tamil Tigers are parting ways with the peace talks. Following this, the
sixth round of talks took place during 18-21 March 2003 in Japan. The tragic
event of burning the Tamil Tiger's ship became an item of key deliberation
along with the issue regarding the modernisation efforts of the Sri Lankan
army. They also warned that such things could break down the peace talks.
They also accused that the SIHRAN subcommittee is dormant and granting
of funds and appointment of officers and staff were still due. At this juncture,
they were informed that the seventh stage of talks would take place in
Thailand in April.

In the six stages of the talks so far, both parties had a very open
discussion regarding the humanitarian issues faced by the Tamil people. As a
result, many of the banned commodities were permitted to the Tamil
regions. But most of the essential commodities were blocked at the check
posts of the Sinhalese army. Also as a result of the peace talks, the A9
Highway connecting Vanni with the Jaffna country was opened for regular
traffic. The ban issued by the Sri Lankan government on the LTTE was also
revoked. Except these, there have been many cases of violation of the terms
of the ceasefire agreement which led to the death of many Tamil Tiger
fighters. The ceasefire monitoring committee was unable to stop the
increased atrocities of the army in the East province. The rehabilitation and
resettlement of the displaced people have not happened at all. The army did
not leave the schools, temples, public places and habitations adamantly
occupied by them which were caught in the so called protected zone. The Sri
Lankan Tamil issue was caught in a tri-lateral tug of war between the three
power centres Chandrika, the army and Ranil Wickremasinghe. This

situation would have created a lot of anxiety and displeasure in the minds of
the LTTE.

At this juncture, the funding countries decided to conduct the
preliminary meeting for the conference of the funding nations in Washington
during 14-15 April instead of in June 2003. This meeting took place as
planned. Representatives from 21 countries and 16 international
organisations participated in this event. Moragoda participated in this event
on behalf of the Sri Lankan government. But no one from the Tamil Tiger's

 

side was called for this meeting. When the Tamil Tigers demanded an
explanation regarding this, American Minister Richard Aamitraech who
headed the meeting reiterated whatever he told in the Oslo conference:

Tamil Tigers must shrug off terrorism beyond any doubt, both in
their word and action. America cannot allow a banned organisation.

After this the Norwegian representatives visited Vanni and requested
Prabhakaran to participate in the conference of the funding nations to be held
in June 2003 in Japan. Prabhakaran would have been strongly distressed that
not even a single person was invited from the Tamil Tigers to represent them
in the preliminary meeting held in Washington. Hence he informed the
Norwegian representatives that they were not participating in the peace talks
in Japan. Also when the Norwegian representatives asked Prabhakaran's
opinion on reinitiating the peace talks, he gave out his stance as follows:

He stressed that an interim committee with sufficient rights is
mandatory to perform rehabilitation, resettlement and development
activities in a good manner in the Tamil homelands. He opined that
the Ranil Wickremasinghe government should submit a draft for this
arrangement based on which the peace talks can be resumed.

Following this, the leadership of the Tamil Tigers used scholars to prepare a
draft plan named 'Interim Self-Governing Authority' and presented it to the
Wickremasinghe government on 1 November 2003. Unfortunately on 7
February 2004, President Chandrika dissolved the Parliament. The Ranil
Wickremasinghe rule came to an end and the peace talks also died with it.

We can understand a few important facts from these discussions. In the
Oslo conference of the funding nations itself it was decided to conduct the
next phase of conference of the funding nations in Japan. At this juncture, the
preliminary meeting which held in Washington needs to be seen as clearly
planned by America against the Tamil Tigers. Firstly, such a preliminary
meeting was not necessary. In the six stages of the peace talks and the
conference of the funding nations in Oslo, Tamil Tigers participated as equal
partners with the representatives of the Sri Lankan government. Why should
the Tamil Tigers, who participated in all these talks be denied permission to

attend the preliminary meeting in Washington? The reasoning given by the
American Minister that the LTTE cannot be permitted to enter America since
they were a banned organisation, is highly treacherous and venomous. If the
ban was the only key reason, why can't the American Minister organise the
meeting in a different country where the representatives of the Tamil Tigers,

 

a major player in this issue, will be able to participate? It can be clearly seen
that the Norwegian committee which has been mediating the peace process
also fell into this vicious trap of America and ended up simply nodding their
heads. Also Viswananthan Ruthirakumaran who participated in the peace
talks as a representative of the Tamil Tigers has been living in the US with a
proper residence permit. Why couldn't America and the Norwegian
committee invite him as the sole representative of the Tamil Tigers? Also
Ruthirakumaran has participated as a representative of the Tamil Tigers in all
the peace talks initiated by the Norwegian team. If he had not been a
dependable member of the LTTE, why would the leadership of the Tamil
Tigers send him as their representative to all the peace talks? How come he
was allowed to go back to the US after participating in these peace talks
representing the Tamil Tigers?

The Sri Lankan government would have definitely modernized its army,
navy and air force in these periods of peace talks. America and its allied
countries would have bolstered the Sri Lankan efforts and supplied them
with all sorts of military equipment and war techniques. The Oslo speech and
Washington speech of the American Minister very clearly show that the
America had clearly exploited the services of the Norwegian Peace
initiatives to brand the Tamil Tigers as a terrorist organisation among the
countries of the world. The political history students of the future will
understand that this is a clear move the isolate the Tamil Tigers and gather
the strength of the entire world along with that of the armed forces of Sri
Lanka against Tigers and destroy them by forcing them out of the peace
process. This act is a clear conspiracy of the America and other countries of
the world to totally annihilate the Tamil Tigers which ensured the ultimate
death of the peace process.

The Chandrika government refused to accept the Interim Self-governing
Authority rule. The SLFP and JVP fought the election in alliance and formed
the Parliament. Mahinda Rajapaksa was appointed the Prime Minister.
Chandrika continued to be the President. At this juncture, due to the growing
agitations in the south of Sri Lanka against the peace initiatives of Norway, it
temporarily stopped the peace efforts.

At this juncture, on 26 December 2004 the Northern, Eastern and
Southern coasts of Sri Lanka were heavily hit by Tsunami. To speed up the
relief process the Tamil Tigers worked together with the Sri Lankan
government under the joint leadership of funding countries. A body named
'Post Tsunami Operational Management7 was established. Many people
expected that this would promote understanding between Tamil Tigers and
the Sri Lankan government. But the JVP cadres prevented it stopped this.
Hence a major share of the contributions given by the countries of the world

 

was spent only on the Sinhalese regions in the south. The Tamil Tigers had to take on their shoulders
the responsibility of rehabilitating the people in the Tsunami affected regions in the North and East
provinces. Before the onset of tsunami, Karuna the East province in charge of the LTTE, parted ways
with the LTTE and joined hands with the Sri Lankan government. This led to serious clashes
between the Karuna group and the Tamil Tigers. The Sri Lankan government exploited this situation
and joined hands the Karuna group to wage war on the Tamil Tigers. This forced the people in the
East in to a very precarious situation. In the Presidential elections held in November

2005,              Sri Lanka Freedom Party forged an alliance with the Buddhist

extremist parties Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and Hela Urimaya and Leftist


parties and won the elections. Mahinda Rajapaksa was elected President.
In another major turn of events, the JVP filed a case in the court and came out successfully in

declaring that the 13th Amendment and the joint provincial council of the North and East formed in
1987 were invalid. This became an issue of great contention at that time. The Indian Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh who met Mahinda Rajapaksa in the conference of the Non-Aligned nations in
Cuba stressed upon him to reunite the North and East provinces.

Rajapaksa continued to pose as someone looking for the support of the Norwegian mediators.
The events that followed showed that he had a clear and solid plot to annihilate the Tamil Tigers and
completely dominate the Tamil people to his well and wish through procrastination in the guise of
conducting talks for peaceful solution, while intensifying the attacks on the North and East
provinces. At this juncture, owing to pressure from India and other countries of the world, on 19
February 2006 and later during 28-29 October 2006 under the mediation of Norway, representatives
of the Sri Lankan government and those of the Tamil Tigers engaged in the first and second phases of
peace talks in Geneva. The A9 Highway which was opened due to the peace initiatives of Norway
had been closed by the Sri Lankan government. In the first phase of the talks, the opening of the A9
Highway became the key item for deliberation. With the Sri Lankan government rejecting any claim
to open the A9 Highway, the peace talks ended up in failure as usual. Also the political adviser to the
LTTE, Anton Balasingham, who was severely affected by urinal disease passed away on 14
December

2006.              The sad demise of Anton Balasingham who had so far participated in

various discussions with the government and other institutions on behalf of

the Tamil Tigers and justified the Tamil struggle for the right to self

determination also became an important reason for the stalling of the peace

talks. The Tamil Tigers acknowledged his contributions and conferred upon


the title 'Voice of the Nation'.

 

Adele Balasingham, the wife of Anton Balasingham has made enormous contributions to the
Tamil people and the Eelam Liberation circle. Particularly, she inculcated the heart of revolutionary
thinking among Tamil women, old and young. She was quite familiar with Tamil culture and
tradition. She had a deep knowledge of politics, as can be seen in her 'Will to Freedom*. It must be
noted at this juncture that there have been a longstanding contact between Australia and Tamil
Eelam. Sir Ponnambalam Ramanathan has played a vital role in Sri Lankan politics, Tamil politics in
particular, during the close of the 19th century and the early part of the next century.

Everyone called his wife Lady Ramanathan. She was Australian. She served for many years as
the principal of Ramanathan College, founded by Sir Ramanathan. She loved the Tamil land and its
people. After about hundred years Adele Balasingham has taken Lady Ramanathan*s place in an
entirely different circumstance. She has spent a long time in Tamil Eelam where she has lived
incognito for many years. Still she came forward to participate in the peace talks on behalf of the
LTTE. She has carved out for herself a noted place in the hearts of the Tamil people and the history
of the Tamil Eelam freedom struggle.

At this juncture, though the ceasefire agreement was officially in effect, the aerial and other
military attacks on the Tamil Tigers were being carried out very severely. During these attacks, many
civilians were killed and injured and Tamil people had to face inexplicable losses. Tamils from
various walks of life were shot dead by the Sinhalese thugs with the connivance of the Sinhalese
army. Many Tamils were abducted. In the Eastern province alone, about 250,000 Tamil people were
forced to migrate out of their own places as refugees. Due to the intensified fight between the Tigers
and the Sinhalese army, the A9 Highway was closed. Because of this all the 700,000 Tamils in the
Jaffna gulf were caught in great exertion. Due to blockades on food and medical supplies and hurdles
in transportation, Tamil people died in large numbers. To stop the Sri Lankan air force from killing
the Tamils through bombings and to demolish the economic base of Sri Lanka the Tamil Tigers' air
force attacked the Katunayake airport in March 2007 and destroyed many fighter crafts. On 22
October 2007 they attacked and destroyed Anuradhapura as well.

Following this, the Sri Lankan air force conducted severe raids on the Vanni region and created
calamity. Specifically, on 27 November 2007 the Political Wing's Deputy in-charge Su.Pa.
Tamilselvan was killed on the spot along with five more people by the shelling of the Sri Lankan air
force.

At this juncture, due to the pressure from India and the international community, Mahinda
Rajapaksa had announced the solution package of his

 

government for the district councils. The UNP expressed its opinion that 'in
the district council solution package, there seems to be no solution'. It also
said that this will increase the complexity of the ethnic issue. Jaya Deva
Uyaangoda, a Professor in the Political science department of the Colombo
University and belonging to the majority Sinhalese ethnicity, expressed his
opinion as follows:

This solution plan is acceptable only to the Sinhalese people. Any
minority with dignity will reject this proposed solution.

Also Sumanagiri Liyanake, a visiting lecturer of the Peradeniya University,
and of Sinhalese ethnicity expressed his opinion about the proposed solution
as follows:

This solution has no relevance to the current situation and also
justifies the demand of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam for the
formation of a separate country.

Also an English newspaper from Colombo in its editorial wrote as follows:

This proposed solution will fuel trust deficit and conflicts between
the two ethnicities.

The Tamil National Alliance stated:

4(1

This proposed solution is not worth any analysis.

A Tamil magazine from Colombo in its opinion told that:

This solution plan has let down the world and the entire Tamil
community.

In short, the key objective of Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Sinhalese
chauvinistic political and military leaders, is to prolong the discussion
process, utilise the extra time in their favour, build up their military,
modernize it and destroy the Tamil Tigers and send the Tamil Eelam
liberation demands to the grave with the support of the world countries. The
diabolic motives and activities of these people did not fail to destroy the
entire Tamil community and their lives.

The global super power America and its ally England extended all sorts
of military support to the war aimed at destroying the freedom fighters. The

 

Israelis, after roaming around the world like stray dogs and after getting
killed in their hundreds of thousand by the world, finally found a nation for
themselves. These Israelis forgot the sufferings, insults and losses they faced
and stood shoulder to shoulder in extending total support to the chauvinistic
Sri Lankan government in decimating the Eelam Tamils who are in the same
situation as the Israelis once found themselves in. Pakistan which secured a
separate nation of its own from the Indian subcontinent though it lacked any
basic right to demand it, forgot its horrible experiences and came forward to
support the Sri Lankan government to destroy the Eelam Tamils and their
liberation struggle. Mao Zedong took a lengthy journey to enable the
blossoming of a people's government in a modern China which is termed as
'Red China'. But China to safeguard its regional interests extended a helping
hand to Sri Lanka in decimating Tamils and their liberation fight by
supplying military assistance and armaments. India which was under the
imperialistic control of alien powers for many centuries, secured its
independence through the non-violent struggles of Gandhi. Indian politicians
don't have to be taught about the significance of a thirst for independence. It
is hard to believe that even India supported Sri Lanka in its attempt to
annihilate Tamils and their freedom struggle by giving war training, strategic
military advice, scouting on the Eelam freedom fighters using their spy
satellites. The European Union comprising of 27 nations which respect
democracy and human rights has been continuously extending its support
and blessings to the Sri Lankan government. Above all these, many master
minds like Karuna and K. Pathmanathan who wrongly call themselves to be
sons of Mother Eelam and also few Eelam Tamil leaders have also
cooperated with Mahinda Rajapaksa in destroying the Liberation Tigers of
Tamil Eelam and the Tamils. Using this comfortable position, Mahinda
Rajapaksa on 14 January 2008 broke the ceasefire agreement and started the
war. This became the fourth Eelam war for the Tamil Tigers. How are the
political history students and scholars of the future going to approach this?

Tamil Ethnic Cleansing Activities (1990 - 2008)

The intense fighting between Tamil Tigers and the Sri Lankan army since the
1990s in the Jaffna country, East provinces and Vanni region did not fail to

inflict severe losses and destructions to the Tamil people living in these
regions. The same situation continued till the beginning of the peace talks
initiated by Norway. In these periods, many thousands of Tamils have been
massacred by the Sri Lankan army. Tamil people have been subjected to
numerous displacements. Tamil women have been raped, Tamils have
disappeared, many thousands of Tamil women were widowed and Tamils

 

have lost a lot of their lands. Many hundred Hindu temples, Christian
churches, schools, colleges, cultural centres, commercial establishments,
markets, buildings and hospitals have been destroyed by the Sri Lankan
army, navy and the air force. It is an impossible task to write about each of
these incidents in detail in this single research book. Hence we use the
information available from a couple of tabulations to give an idea of the
depth of the destructions described above. The readers will understand that
each of the events given there will carry very long and terrible stories behind.
Following these tables, it will be apt to quote a few important examples and
explain them in detail in order to explore the state of the Tamil people.

Table 6.1: Attacks and Destruction by Sri Lankan Forces (1990-2009)

 

Incident Date Place Deaths Action by Sources

Kalmunai 12.06.1990 Kalmunai, 160 to Sri www.uthr.org

Massacre Amparai District 250 Lankan

Army

Thiriyaikeny 6.08.1990 Thiriyaikeny, 47 Sri www.tamilnet.com

Massacre Amparai District Lankan

Army

Veeramunai 12.08.1990 Amparai District 21 Armed Civilian,

Padukolai www.amnestyusa.org

East University 5.09.1990 Vantharumulai, 158 Sri www.hrw.org

Massacre Baticoloa Lankan

Army

Saththurukondan 9.09.1990 Baticoloa 184 Sri www.jstor.org

Massacre Lankan

Army

Chavakachcheri 9.10.1990 Chavakachcheri. 12 Sri w ww.amnestyusa

Massacre Jaffna Lankan .org

Army

Kondaichi 1991 (Feb) Kondaichi, 4 Sri www.amnestyusa.org

Massacre Mannar Lankan

Army

Eravur Massacre 20.02.1991 Eravur, 6 Armed www.amnestyusa.org

Baticoloa Civilian

Forces

Iruthayapuram 1991 Iruthayapuram, 11 Sri www.amnestyusa.org

Massacre (March) Baticoloa Lankan

Police

Nayanmar 12.04.1991 Nayanmarthidal 4 Sri www.amnestyusa.org

Massacre Thampalakamam Lankan

Trincomalee Army

Kokaddicholai 12.06.1991 Kokaddicholai, 152 87 Sri sundaytimes.lk

Massacre Baticoloa Lankan

Army

Polanaruva 29.04.1992 Muthukal, Armed www.uthr.org

Massacre Polanaruva Civilian

Forces

and

Sri

Lankan

Police

 

Table 6.1: continued

 

Incident Date Place Deaths Action Sources

by

Mayilantanai 9.10.992 Mayilantanai, 35 Sri news.bbc.co.uk
Massacre Baticoloa
Lankan

Army

Paliyadvaddai 24.10.1992 Paliyadvaddai, 10- 11 Sri Sri Lanka: Assessment
Massacre Baticoloa
Lankan of the Human Rights

Army Situation, ASA

37/1/93, Amnesty

International,

February 1993

Kilali Massacre 2.01.1993 Jaffna 35-100 Sri www.unhcr.org

Lankan

Navy

Vannaththi Am 17.02.1993 Baticoloa 16 Sri www.amnestyusa.org
Massacre
Lankan

Army

Kalviyankadu 27.07.1993 Kalviyankadu, 6 Sri www.unhcr.org
Massacre Jaffna
Lankan

Air Force

Coastal Area 29.07.1993 Jaffna 19 Sri www.unhcr.org
Massacre
Lankan

Navy

Pulmottai 6.05.1995 Trincomalee 5 Sri www.unhcr.org
Massacre
Lankan

Army

Naval i Church 9.07.1995 Navali Jaffna 125 Sri www.hrw.org
Massacre
Lankan

Air Force

Nagar Kovil 22.09.1995 Nagar Kovil, 39 Sri brcslproject.gn.apc.org

School Massacre Jaffna Lankan

Air Force

Kumarapuram 11.02.1996 Kumarapuram, 24 Sri www.sundaytimen .Ik
Massacre Trincomalee
Lankan

Army

Thampalakamam 3.02.1998 Thampalakama, 8 Sri www.tamilnet.com

Massacre Trincomalee Lankan

Police

Puthukudiyiruppu 15.09.1999 Puthukudiyiruppu, 21 Sri www.amnesty.org

Massacre Mullaitivu Lankan

Air Force

Pallikkuda 12.05.2000 Pallikkuda, 5 Sri www.msf.org
Massacre Kilinochchi
Lankan

Air Force

Silavaththurai 13.05.2000 Silavaththurai, 5 Sri www.msf.org
Massacre Mannar
Lankan

Navy

Colombuththurai 15.05.2000 Colombuththurai, 5 Sri www.msf.org

Massacre Jaffna Lankan

Army

Mirusuvil 20.12.2000 Mirusuvil, Jaffna 8 Sri www.epidemio-
Massacre
Lankan ufpel.org.br

Army

Trincomalee 2.01.2006 Trincomalee 5 Sri www.nation.lk
Massacre
Lankan

Police

Allaipiddi 13.05.2006 Allaipiddi, Jaffna 13 Sri www.uthr.org
Massacre
Lankan

Navy

Pesalai Church 17.06.2006 Pesalai, Mannar 6 Sri www.nationalcatholic
Massacre
Lankan reporter.org

Navy

 

Table 6.1: continued

 

Incident Date Place Deaths Action Sources

by

Trincomalee 4.08.2006 Trincomalee 17 Sri news .independent .co

Rehabilition Lankan .uk

Workers Police

Massacre

St. Phillip's 13.08.2006 Allaipiddi, Jaffna 15-36 Sri www.uthr.org

Church Massacre Lankan

Army

Sencholai 14.08.2006 Mullaitivu 61 Sri news .independent .co

Bombing Lankan .uk

Air Force

Vakarai Bombing 7.11.2006 Kathiraveli, 45 Sri news.bbc.co.uk

Baticoloa Lankan

Army

Thandikulam 19.11.2006 Thandikulam, 5 Sri news.bbc.co.uk

Massacre Vavuniya Lankan

Army and

Police

Padakuththurai 2.01.2007 Iluppakkadavai, 15 Sri news.bbc.co.uk

Bombing Mannar Lankan

Air Force

Murasumoddai 1.01.2009 Residential Area 5 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Bombing Lankan What is to

Air Force be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Murasumoddai 1.01.2009 Residential Area 10 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Lankan What is to

Army

Mullaitivu 2.01.2009 Petrol Station 4 Sri be done about this?,
Massacre Lankan Tamil
Army
Nadu,2010.
Tharmapuram 8.01.2009 Tharmapuram, 7 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,
Hospital Mullaitivu 4 Lankan
Massacre Army What is to
be done about this?,
Puthukudiyiruppu 18.01.2009 Many Areas Sri
Massacre Lankan Tamil
Army Nadu,2010.
www.hrw.org
Mullaitivu 18.01.2009 Many Areas 18 Sri
Massacre Lankan Prabhakaran, J.,
Army What is to

Vanni Massacre 20.01.2009 Displaced Area 15 Sri be done about this?,
Lankan Tamil
Army
Nadu,2010.
Vallipuram 22.01.2009 Vallipuram, 5 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,
Hospital Mullaitivu Lankan
Massacre Army What is to
be done about this?,
Suthanthirapuram 24.01.2009 Suthanthirapuram, Over Sri
Lankan Tamil
Massacre Mullaitivu 11 Army Nadu,2010.
Prabhakaran, J.,
Udaiyarkaddu 26.01.2009 Udaiyarkaddu, 12 Sri What is to
Lankan be done about this?,

Tamil
Nadu,2010.
www.hrw.org

www.icrc.org

www.hrw.org

Hospital Mullaitivu

Massacre Over Army Prabhakaran, J.,
Vanni Massacre 28.01.2009 Security Zone 100 What is to
Sri
Lankan be done about this?,
Army Tamil

Nadu,2010.

 

Table 6.1: continued

 

Incident Date Place Deaths Action Sources

by

Udaiyarkaddu 28.01.2009 Security Zone 69 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Vanni Massacre 29.01.2009 Security Zone 44 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Suthanthirapuram 31.01.2009 Security Zone 30 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Lankan What is to

Air Force be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Puthukudiyiruppu 01.02.2009 Puthukudiyiruppu, Over 9 Sri www.hrw.org

Hospital Massacre 03.02.2009 Mullaitivu Lankan

Army

Moonkilaru 1.02.2009 Security Zone Over 13 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Lankan What is to

Air Force be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Puthukudiyiruppu 4.02.2009 Security Zone Over 50 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Udaiyarkaddu 5.02.2009 Hospital 5 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Suthanthirapuram 5.02.2009 Security Zone Over Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre 100 Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Ponnambalam 5.02.2009 Puthukudiyiruppu, Over Sri www.hrw.org

Memorial 6.02.2009 Mullaitivu 75 Lankan

Hospital Air Force

Bombing

Maththalan 10.02.2009 Security Zone Over 36 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Puthumaththalan 9.02.2009 Puthumaththalan, Over 16 Sri

Hospital 10.02.2009 Mullaitivu Lankan www.hrw.org

Bombings Army

Thevipuram 14.02.2009 Security Zone Over Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre 75 Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Thevipuram 16.02.2009 Security Zone 260 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Maththalan 18.02.2009 Security Zone 108 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Ananthapuram 18.02.2009 Refugee Camp Over 50 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,
Massacre 19.02.2009 Refugee Camp
Lankan What is to
Iranaipalai
Massacre Air Force be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

30 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Families Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

 

Table 6.1: continued

 

Incident Date Place Deaths Action Sources
by
Vanni Massacre 21.02.2009 Security Prabhakaran, J.,
Zone 13 Sri What is to
Lankan
Army be done about this?,
Tamil
Vanni Massacre 22.02.2009 Security 39 Sri
Zone Lankan Nadu,2010.
Army Prabhakaran, J.,

Puthumaththala 24.02.2009 Temporary 6 Sri What is to
Lankan be done about this?,
n Massacre Hospital Army
Tamil
Mullaitivu 28.2.2009 Security 40 Sri Nadu, 2010.
Massacre Zone Lankan Prabhakaran, J.,
Army What is to
be done about this?,
Mullaitivu 1.03.2009 Security 37 Sri
Massacre Zone Lankan Tamil
Army Nadu,2010.
Prabhakaran, J.,
Mullivaikal 2.03.2009 Security 45 Sri What is to
Massacre Zone Lankan be done about this?,
Army
Tamil
Nadu,2010.
Prabhakaran, J.,
What is to
be done about this?,

Tamil
Nadu,2010.
Prabhakaran, J.,
What is to
be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Maththalan 3.03.2009 Security 13 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Temporary Zone Lankan What is to

Hospital Army be done about this?,

Massacre Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Mullaitivu 4.03.2009 Security 73 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Zone Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Pokkanai 4.03.2009 Security 25 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Zone Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Maththalan 4.03.2009 Security 23 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Zone Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Iraddaivaikkal 4.03.2009 Security 10 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Zone Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Iranaipalai 4.03.2009 Security 23 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Zone Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Ananthapuram 5.03.2009 Security 69 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Zone Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Mullivaikal 6.03.2009 Security 86 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Zone Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Maththalan 7.03.2009 Refugee 53 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Camp Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Mullaitivu 8.03.2009 Security 71 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Zone Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

 

Table 6.1: continued

 

Incident Date Place Deaths Action Sources

by

Ampalavan 9.03.2009 Security 74 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,
Pokkanai Zone
Massacre Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Vanni Massacre 10.03.2009 Security 129 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,
Zone
Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Mullivaikal 11.03.2009 Security 82 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,
Massacre Zone
Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Mullaitivu 14.03.2009 Security 69 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,
Massacre Zone
Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Vanni Massacre 15.0- Security 58 Air forces Prabhakaran, J.,
3.2009 Zone
What is to

be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Vanni Massacre 16.03.2009 Security 29 Air forces Prabhakaran, J.,
Zone
What is to

be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Vanni Massacre 17.03.2009 Security 32 Air forces Prabhakaran, J.,

Zone What is to

be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Ampalavan 17.03.2009 Security 52 Air forces Prabhakaran, J.,

Pokkanai Zone What is to

Massacre be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Pokkanai and 19.03.2009 Security 39 Air forces Prabhakaran, J.,

Maththalan Zone What is to

Massacre be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Mullaitivu 20.03.2009 Security 46 Air forces Prabhakaran, J„

Massacre Zone What is to

be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Maththalan 20.03.2009 Security 16 Air forces Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Zone What is to

be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Vanni area 21.03.2009 Security 42 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Zone Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Puthumaththalan 22.03.2009 Security 32 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Temporary Zone Lankan What is to

Hospital Army be done about this?,

Massacre Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Puthumaththalan 23.03.2009 Security 96 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Temporary Zone Lankan What is to

Hospital Army be done about this?,

Massacre Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Valajarmadam 24.03.2009 Security 62 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Zone Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Pokkanai 25.03.2009 Security 49 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Zone Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

 

Table 6.1: continued
 

Incident Date Place Deaths Action Sources
by
Maththalan 25.03.2009 Security Prabhakaran, J.,
Massacre Zone 17 Sri What is to
Lankan
Maththalan 25.03.2009 Security Army be done about this?,
Massacre Zone Tamil
65 Sri
Puthumaththalan 26.03.2009 Hospital Lankan Nadu, 2010.
Temporary Army Prabhakaran, J.,
Hospital
Massacre 5 Sri What is to
Lankan be done about this?,
Pokkanai and 27.03.2009 Security Army
Maththalan 28.03.2009 Zone Tamil
Massacre 179 Sri Nadu,2010.
Lankan Prabhakaran, J.,
Maththalan 29.03.2009 Security Army What is to
Massacre Zone be done about this?,
17 Sri
Pokkanai 29.03.2009 Security Lankan Tamil
Massacre Zone Army Nadu, 2010.
Prabhakaran, J.,
18 Sri What is to
Lankan be done about this?,
Army
Tamil
Nadu, 2010.
Prabhakaran, J.,
What is to
be done about this?,

Tamil
Nadu,2010.
Prabhakaran, J.,
What is to
be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Valajarmadam 29.03.2009 Security 15 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Zone Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Valajarmadam 30.03.2009 Security 88 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Zone Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Ampalavan 31.03.2009 Security 45 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

and Pokkanai Zone Lankan What is to

Massacre Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Puthumaththalan 1.04.2009 Security 33 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Zone Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Puthumaththalan 2.04.2009 Security 31 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Zone Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Puthumaththalan 3.04.2009 Security 26 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Zone Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Puthumaththalan 4.04.2009 Security 71 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Temporary Zone Lankan What is to

Hospital Army be done about this?,

Massacre Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Pokkanai 8.04.2009 Security 129 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,
Massacre Zone
Lankan What is to
Vanni 9.04.2009 Security
Massacre Zone Army be done about this?,

Vanni 10.04.2009 Security Tamil
Massacre Zone
Nadu,2010.

52 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

12 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

 

Table 6.1: continued

 

Incident Date Place Deaths Action by Sources

Pulmoddai 11.04.2009 Security 17 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,

Massacre Zone Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu,2010.

Vanni 12.04.2009 Security 30 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,
Massacre Zone
Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Vanni 13.04.2009 Security 23 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,
Massacre Zone
Lankan What is to

Army be done about this?,

Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Mullaitivu 16.04.2009 Security Over Sri Prabhakaran, J.,
Massacre Zone 57 Lankan What is to
Army
be done about this?,
Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Mullivaikkal 17.04.2009 Security Over Sri Prabhakaran, J.,
Massacre 18.04.2009 Zone 60 Lankan What is to
Army
be done about this?,
Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Valaijarmada 21.04.2009 Temporary 7 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,
Lankan What is to
m Massacre Hospital Army
be done about this?,
Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Valaijarmada 23.04.2009 Refugee 14 Sri Prabhakaran, J.,
Lankan What is to
m Massacre Camp Army
be done about this?,
Mullivaikkal 26.04.2009 Security 4 Sri Tamil

Massacre Zone Lankan Nadu, 2010.

Army Prabhakaran, J.,
What is to
Mullivaikkal 26.04.2009 Security Over Sri
Massacre 28.04.2009 Zone 200 Lankan be done about this?,
Army Tamil

Mullivaikkal 29.04.2009 Temporary 9 Sri Nadu,2010.
Lankan
Massacre Hospital Army Prabhakaran, J.,
What is to
Mullivaikkal 2.05.2009 Temporary 64 Sri
Lankan be done about this?,
Massacre Hospital Army Tamil

Mullivaikkal 9.05.2009 Security 1200 Sri Nadu,2010.
Lankan
Massacre Zone Army Prabhakaran, J.,
What is to
Mullivaikkal 10.05.2009 Security 3200 Sri
Massacre 11.05.2009 Zone Lankan be done about this?,
Army Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Prabhakaran, J.,
What is to

be done about this?,
Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Prabhakaran, J.,
What is to

be done about this?,
Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Prabhakaran, J.,
What is to

be done about this?,
Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

Mullivaikkal 13.05.2009 Temporary Over Sri Prabhakaran, J.,
Massacre Hospital 100 Lankan What is to
Army
be done about this?,
Tamil

Nadu, 2010.

 

Table 6.2: Ethnic Cleansing of Tamils (1990-2008)

 

Incident Date Govt 0-5 6-12 13-21 22-35 36-55 Over Total
Servants Years Years Years Years Years 56

Years

M F MF MF MF MF M F MF

Veeramunai 20.06.1990 1 1 1   1 1 1 8 12   179 8 2 9 224

Paranthan 24.07.1990               1     11       12

Pothuvil 30.07.1990 1       4   1   66   31   2   105

Thiriyai 6.08.1990 1               9   39   1   50

Swimming Pool

Thurai Nilavanai 12.08.1990             2 1 20 6 25       54

Nilliyadi Market 29.08.1990 2 1     1   1   2   3 1 1   12

Saththurukondan 9.09.1990     10 10 13 20 3 6 14 22 52 12 23 14 199
Vantharu Mulai 5.09.1990 4     2 2   5   47 2 7   3 1 73

23.9.1990

Vantharu Mulai 5.09.1990   1         2   6   1       10
Dissappearance 23.09.1990

Mandaitivu 25.08.1990             3   66   12       81
23.09.1990

Mandaitivu 25.08.1990                             0
Disappearance 23.09.1990

Oddisuddam 27.11.1990 1               1           2

Puthukudiyiruppu 30.01.1991 1           6 1 3   2   3   16

Vankalai 17.02.1991 3               1  1       5
to 1993

Vaddakcatchi 28.02.1991                   3 3 3     9
Paddy Farm

Uruthirapuram 4.02.1992             4   3   1       9

Vattappalai 18.05.1992           3   1 3 1 5       14
Shelling

Thellippalai 30.05.1992     1           5   1   2   10

Shelling 53

Kilali S.N 02.01.1993 2   1       7 2 13 1 19 4 2 1 20
36
21.07.1993 13
8
Maththalan 18.09.1993             4   4   11      

Chvakachcheri 28.09.1993   1 1   4 7     13   5 4 1  

Yakappar Church 13.10.1993   1   1 1 1 1       4 2 1 1

Sundikkulam S.N 18.02.1994                 5   3      

 

Table 62: Continued

 

Incident Date Govt 0-5 6-12 13-21 22-35 36-55 Over Total
Servants Years Years Years Years Years 56

Years

M F MF MF MF MF MF MF

Navali (Refuge 9.07.1995 5 3   1 12 13 18 8 24 19 35 10 3 2 153
Camp)

Nagar Kovil 22.09.1995   1   1 8 13 2 3             28
School

Kumarapuram - 1996     3 1 3 3 4     3 2 2 1 2 24
Muthur

Nachchikkuda 16.03.1996       1   1 3 2 4   4 1 1 2 19

Thampirai 17.05.1996                 3   4       7

Mallavi 24.07.1996       2     3       1   2 1 9

Kaithady 7.09.1996 1 1         1 1             4
(Kirishanthy
Raping)

Vavunikkulam 26.09.1996     1         3 3 2 2 4 2   17
15.08.1998

Konavil 27.09.1996   1         1   1   1   1   5

Mullivaikal 13.05.1997             2   1   3   3   9

Panannankaddy 5.07.1997                     2       2

Mankulam 8.06.1997                 3 1 3       7

Thambalakamam 1.02.1998             4   2   2       8

Palaiya 26.03.1998               1   1 2     2 6
Vaddakachchi

Suthanthirapuram 10.06.1998       2 1   2 3 15 2 3 2 2   32
Shelling

Visuvamadu 25.11.1998       1     2 1 2           6
Shelling

Manthuvil 15.09.1999               2939231 29
Market
Palinagar 3.12.1999             3      1  2  6
Madu Church 20.11.1999   1 414432443212 35
Mirusuvil 15.12.2000       1    1  1  1      4
Pesalai 23.12.2005     1            12      4
Trincomalee 2.01.2006             5              5
Manippay 14.01.2006               1  1  1    3

 

Table 6.2: Continued

 

Incident Date Govt 0-5 6-12 13-21 22-35 36-55 Over Total
Servants Years Years Years Years Years 56
7
MF MF MF MF MF MF Years 13
       5   2 MF 5
TRO 25.01.2006         1      3  8     13
       4  1  1  2
Trincomalee 23.04.2006          2 3  23   
       2     12 7
Puththur 18.04.2006        8
        2  5     13
Trincomalee 25.04.2006            7  1     10
2          6  2    
Uthayan 2.05.2006     1  1  11  1 13 21 4
Newspaper 1  5
    11    11    17
Nelliyadi 4.05.2006     5 Fishermen    5
12   5 
Manthuvil 6.05.2006                1    119
         
Allaipiddy 13.05.2006     46 9 18 6 10
  2 3 6 21 2 42
Vadamunai - 7.06.2006     31 31 52
       2  10
Nodukal(Baticoloa)  1  1 4
        49          1 5
Valvai Raping 8.06.2006             10      1     4
  2  1       1    
Pesalai Church 17.06.2006      2       11
     4   
Atchan Farm 5.08.2006    

Nedunkerni - 8.08.2006 1 3
Ambulance

East District 8.03.2006    
Council 12.03.2006

Allaippiddi 13.08.2006    
Shelling

Sensolai 14.08.2006    

Poththuvil 17.09.2006    

Kaiveli 16.10.2006    

Thiruvaiaru 2.11.2006    

Vavuniya Farm 18.11.2006    

School 2.01.2007     3 2   1     2 2 2 1 1 1 15
Padakuththurai 2.09.2007       1     1   5 1 1 1   1 11
Chilapaththurai 25.11.2007           1 1     1   2     5
Tharumapuram

 

Table 6.2: Continued

 

Incident Date Govt 0-5 6-12 13-21 22-35 36-55 Over Total
Servants Years Years Years Years Years 56

Years

M F MF MF M F M F M F MF

Iyankulam 27.11.2007 2   -   1 4                 7

Pulikalin Kural 27.11.2007       1       2   3 1 1 2 10
Radio

Thadchanamaru 29.01.2008 1 3     7 5   1       2   1 20
thamadu

Kiranchi 22.02.2008     2         2   3     1 1 9

Murukandy 23.05.2008       1 3   1   2   3 5   1 16

Puthur 2.06.2008     1     1     1   1 1 1   6
Nathampiran
Temple

Puthukkudiyiruppu 15.06.2008               3     1       4
A

Puthumurippu 30.08.2008     2             2         4
Shelling

Kumarapuram 10.10.2008             1         1   1 3
Shelling

Uruththirapuram 24.10.2008                 1       1   2
Shelling

Vallipuram 30.10.2008         1                   1

Uthavanoor 29.11.2008     1                   1   2

Vaddakkachchi 1.12.2008     2   1   1   1   1       6
Shelling 20.12.2008

Total Killings 26 18 37 32 79 87 181 64 476 94 550 89 80 53 1871

In the preceding fifth chapter, the total count of the Tamils killed by the

Sinhalese armed forces and Sinhalese thugs during the period between 1956

and 1990 has been listed in tables 5.1 and 5.2. Following this, the count of

the Tamils killed between 1990 and 2009 has been listed in the tables in this
chapter. More specifically the details of the people killed by the Indian army
during the period 1987 to 1990 are not available and hence they have not
been included in this table. Also the details of the large scale massacres of
the Tamil people killed during the early days of May 2009 are not yet
available fully and hence they have not been included either. Also in the fifth
chapter and this chapter the details about the deaths of the freedom fighters
are not included. The information on the deaths of the Tamil Tiger cadres will
be included in the succeeding chapter.

The above table lists how many Tamil men and women were killed

 

brutally and indiscriminately by the Sri Lankan government forces through shelling, air borne attacks
and Sinhalese thugs. Many women have been raped. Many thousands have been injured. Many others
have disappeared. We are able to show these facts clearly through the documents available with us. In
the first table, the total count of the Tamils killed by the Sri Lankan armed forces had been recorded
as 10,041. In the second table, the number of Tamils killed by the Sinhalese army and the Sinhalese
thugs has been registered as 2038. As per the records available in the two tables, the total numbers of
Tamils killed add up to 12,079. But about 672 instances of death have been shown in both the tables
and hence, after corrections for the double counting, the net numbers of killings come to about
11,407. Hence the total number of Tamils killed between 1956 and 2009 before the final battle is
registered as 23,788. Also, the Sangathi website registers that the number of disappearances in Sri
Lanka is 5,658 referring to the reports of UN. It is worth mentioning that the whereabouts of these
missing people are not known till date. The loss of lives of the Tamil liberation fighters who have lost
their lives since 1974 has not been included here. They will be presented as part of Chapter 7. But the
above statistics have been derived out of the details available with us so far. As mentioned earlier,
proper information about the death toll during the final phase of battle is not available with us fully
and hence have not been added in these tables.

In a country where one race is being subjected to ethnic cleansing by another race or the
government or when there is a battle between a government and a liberation struggle movement, it is
impossible to keep a proper count of the deaths of the civilians who are caught in the crossfire.
Hence the above records about the death toll of Tamil people cannot be precise. Also while
considering the numbers provided in chapter five and this chapter, it will not be wrong to take that
the actual count should be more than twice of what has been given here. Also Anton Balasingham,
the political adviser to the LTTE in his book 'War and Peace' has mentioned that about 6,000 people
have lost their lives in the war till 1995. n Above all, from the reports of the UN we can understand
that about 40,000 civilians have been killed during the final phase of the battle. Sri Lankan
parliamentary member from the Tamil alliance, Sreedharan in his address to the Madurai Lawyer's
organisation on 11 April 2012 gave some statistics which are given below:

In the democratic and armed struggle conducted by the Tamils in Sri Lanka about 300,000
civilians and more than 40,000 freedom fighters have been killed by the Sri Lankan armed
forces and the Sinhalese thugs. In the final battle in 2009, about 140,000 Tamils were
killed by the Sri Lankan government forces.

 

We can see that the data given by Sreedharan is about three times the count
of forty thousand available from the UN reports. It still remains a question as
to what extent we can accept the numbers from the UN reports. The key
reason is that in the final battle which went ahead continuously for three
months many thousands of people have been killed at various stages in
bunches. The corpses of the people who were so killed, were heaped and
buried immediately in large pits which acted as mass graves. In the last three
or four days of military assault, thousands and thousands of people have
died. In this stage, whoever was left alive was evacuated from that
unfortunate zone and it was just the Sinhalese army alone which buried the
dead in large sand pits en masse. Hence the Sri Lankan government and the
Sinhalese army would not have released the real totals to the world. But
Sreedharan is the parliamentary representative of the Kilinochchi
constituency in Vanni region. For sure, he will know the details of the total
population of the Vanni region. He would have also known the number of
people who have been expelled from the Vanni region and have taken refuge
in the detention camps. Hence we need to accept that the numbers given by
Sreedharan as accurate to a considerable extent. Hence it is essential to
remind ourselves that the numbers given in the above table are derived from
the documents which are available with us so far. There is no doubt that the
students of Sri Lankan political history will engage in the collection of
proper records regarding these losses and present an accurate picture of the
numbers and facts when the political arena of Sri Lanka returns to normalcy
at some point in future. But without doubt, many more Tamils would have
been killed than what have been shown in these tables.

Also many Tamils have been killed in places like Hindu temples,
Christian churches, schools, public places, hospitals, orphanages, refugee
camps and communication centres. We can declare that none of these could
be Tamil Tiger fighters based on various evidences. Many witnesses have
been recorded in this regard. If that be the case, the act of the Sri Lankan
government killing innocent civilians is an act of ethnic cleansing. Though
the tables listed above show clear information about the Tamil ethnic
cleansing, we bring to light the distressing lives of Tamil people through a
few important examples.

The army which rounded up the Pandiruppu, Kalmunai and Senai
Kudiyiruppu villages on 11 August 1990, fired their guns and ordered people to
come out of their homes. Out of there people, 25 young men were taken to the
Kaaththaankudi army camp and all were shot dead there. The mothers who
went to the camps were attacked with guns. Many young mothers were raped.
Many men who accompanied the mothers were also killed. The army killed a
total of 62 people in this event. The very next morning after this incident, the

 

army which was stationed in the Nilaavanai, Kallaaru camp, rounded up the
Thurainilaavanai village and attacked all the people regardless of age, fired at
them and killed more than 60 civilians. Also the same day in another round up
and assault on villages such as Sengaladi and Kiraan about 10 people were
subjected to fatal injuries. The injured civilians were admitted to the Eraavoor
hospital. The army which stormed the hospital along with Muslim and
Sinhalese mobs butchered and killed all the 10 mentioned above.

On morning of 29 August 1990, the people who have gathered in the
Nilliyadi market in Paruthithurai were shelled from fighter jets. In this
incident about 14 men, women and children were killed. 24 people were
injured.

On 10 October 1990, an old man Thangaraasu Ayyanar who escaped the
massacre of Eraavoor described the tragic incident as follows:

To meet my son who was arrested and kept under custody in
Karaitheevu Shanmura School, I went along with Doctor
Shanmuganathan and his wife. The army men have kept many
people under custody there. They have separated men and women
and kept them in separate class rooms. Many people including
Doctor Shanmuganathan were butchered to death. I fell on the floor
with injuries. Many women were raped and later killed. The poured
fuel on the dead and burnt them. I somehow managed to escape.

Sathrukondaan village is located at about 2 kilometers from the Batticaloa
town. On 9 September 1990, many hundreds of men and women were
arrested by the army and taken to the army camp. About 85 women were
raped by more than 100 army men. They chopped parts of their body
including breasts, hands, and legs and killed them all brutally after heinous
torture. They killed about 68 children including 5 infants. They chopped the
male reproductive organs and other body parts of 17 men and killed them
after brutal tortures. In total about 205 people were killed in this incident.

In 1990 after the war has intensified, on 5 September 1990, a large mass
of army men in their military vehicles entered the Vandhaarumoolao
University from Sathurukondaan army camp. The arrested 158 youth from
there and tied their hands and legs and took them to villages at the rear end