Lest We Forget

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Lest we forget – Massacres of Tamils 1956 2002 The soldiers wanted the men to fetch some water for them to wash before breakfast. It was around 8 o’clock. The men obliged and the soldiers ate their food and we starved – did not even have a cup of plain tea. When their breakfast was over, they asked the people to accompany them on their journey but never told us as to where they were taking us to. We complied with their orders and proceeded along the jungle path when we met another group of soldiers, and the officer commanding that group found fault with the soldiers who had taken women together with men. The second group leader came up to the women and spoke in Tamil and said, “Do not proceed further with the men. The soldiers are in an unfamiliar area. We need men. Wait there under the tree until noon and get back to your places and your men will return to you after showing us the way.” We remained at that place waiting for our men who went in the direction of Kumarankulam, but they did not return. The sun came vertically over our heads and there were no signs of the men returning. Since we had to prepare food for our children and for the men who had gone with the soldiers, we returned to our huts and busied ourselves cooking food that we did not eat. As we were waiting for the men to return, a message came of killing. The messenger, who himself had escaped death, said the remains of those killed were scattered in the Kumarankulam area. I could not believe the message but when the other women started going to the homes of relatives at Kolavil, Panankadu and Akkaraipattu in search of safety, I too left Vayaloor. I left everything behind as they were and went to my people. The elderly persons whom the army left in their chenas proceeded to the place where the men were slaughtered. Grief-stricken relatives went to Kumarankulam in tractor-driven trailers and brought the dead to our ancestral villages who were buried according to customary rituals. We lost all that we owned at Vayaloor." A trader who went to Vayaloor frequently on business, Vyramuthu Kanagasabai, said, "I went to Vayaloor - Periyatalawe on the 23 rd evening with the hired double bullock cart to bring goods for the Sunday fair at TirukkoviI. I spent the night and helped to uproot the mature manioc. As I was preparing to leave the area on the 24th, I found the entire settlement rounded up. I remained in a hut with the farmers. I was taken into custody, but released. I don't know what happened to the cart, the bulls and the carter I took to Vayaloor. I lost all the money I carried and the bicycle I used for my journey. When the soldiers asked me to run away, I went, but remained hiding a little away from Kumarankulam. A little after I left the farmers, I heard the gunshots. When the soldiers left in their vehicles, I went to the place and saw the men shot dead. However, there were two who were injured. One was shot through the mouth. He did not die and the other was named Nadarasa. I returned to Vayaloor and conveyed the fate of the men. Kanagasabai confirmed that as many as 40 were killed.” Report by NESOHR, Information Collected by SNE 33
Lest we forget – Massacres of Tamils 1956 2002 39. Eeddimurinchan massacre 19, 20.03.1986 Eeddimurnchan village is situated in the Vavuniya district. Most people in the village are farmers. In the 1970’s upcountry Tamils displaced from their homes due to violence by the Sinhala mobs were settled in the settlements of Dollar farm, Ken farm, Ceylon Theater and others like it in Vavuniya. In the 1980’s the Sri Lankan military chased these upcountry Tamils from their homes in these settlements and settled Sinhala prisoners in their homes and armed them as well. These Sinhala prisoners tormented the long term residents of the area with thefts of their livestock, farm products and homes. The prisoners also started to attack the people. On 19.03.1986, the Sri Lankan military and the settled Sinhala prisoners came through the jungle in many military vehicles and arrived at Eeddimurinchan village at 4.30 pm. They started shooting the people and burning their homes. They also took away all valuable things from the homes. On the next day the military and Sinhala groups rounded up the Nedunkerni village early in the morning. They started shooting everyone including old people and children. 20 people were killed in the two days of violence. Property worth hundreds of thousands of rupees was also damaged. The Sri Lankan Air Force helicopter provided cover for the military on land to carry out the massacre. The strafing by the helicopter damaged houses in Periyakulam, 3 Kms away as well. Frightened people took refuge in the jungles. Fearing the military, relatives took the bodies of their family members and buried them in the jungle. 40. Anandapuram shelling 04.06.1986 Anandapuram is a small village situated in the Kilinochchi district. The main occupation of the people is farming. In 1986, the Sri Lankan military began expanding their military camps in civilian areas and also was shelling the civilian areas. On 04.06.1984, at 5.00 am, the shelling began from the military camp in Kilinochchi town towards Anandapuram. One of the shells fell on the house of Ramaih Periyanpillai located on Selva road and completely destroyed his house. Five young children were sleeping in one room with their mother. Four of the children were killed, their bodies broken to smithereens. The fifth child was taken to hospital with serious injuries to the head and the body. He died in the hospital. Mother also sustained serious injuries. Report by NESOHR, Information Collected by SNE 34
Page 1 and 2: Lest We Forget Massacres of Tamils
Page 3 and 4: Lest we forget - Massacres of Tamil
Page 49: Lest we forget - Massacres of Tamil
Page 101 and 102:
Lest we forget - Massacres of Tamil
Page 103 and 104:
Page 105 and 106:
Page 107 and 108:
Page 109 and 110:
Page 111 and 112:
Page 113 and 114:
Page 115 and 116:
Page 117 and 118:
Page 119 and 120:
Page 121 and 122:
Page 123 and 124:
Page 125 and 126:
Page 127 and 128:
Page 129 and 130:
Page 131 and 132:
Page 133 and 134:
Page 135 and 136:
Page 137 and 138:
Page 139 and 140:
Page 141 and 142:
Page 143 and 144:
Page 145 and 146:
Page 147 and 148:
Page 149 and 150:
Page 151 and 152:
Page 153 and 154:
Page 155 and 156:
Page 157 and 158:
show all

Lest We Forget

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?