Lest We Forget

Lest we forget – Massacres of Tamils 1956 ­2002
On 19.12.2000 9 people from Mirusuvil went to their village to collect essential
items they needed for living. All 9 were arrested while they were collecting the
things from their homes. The arrested people were blind folded and attacked by
the military. One of those arrested managed to escape and return to Karaveddy
to tell the fate of the others.
Based on the information given by Ponnaiah Maheswaran, who managed to
escape, and the soldier who was on duty at that time, Lance Corporal
Ratnayake, in the presence of the Police Inspector, Upali Gunawardhana,
Deputy Police Inspector, Nimal Srinath, district judge, Annalingam
Premshankar, and Point Pedro District Medical Officer, Kathiravetpillai, a mass
grave was dug up on 25.12.2000. The eight bodies were buried only 2 feet
below the ground.
The Tamil daily Veerakesari published from Colombo in a report quoted a
hospital report on the inquest, “A body of a 21 year old man was recovered
from the mass grave and was identified by Ponnaih Maheswaran and Lance
Corporal Ratnayake. This body was wrapped in a red saree. Next the body of a
male child was recovered. His skin was peeled and his body was pink. Throats
of the bodies were cut with sharp knives and the arms and legs were chopped
off.”
Report by NESOHR,
Information Collected by SNE
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