Tamils - a Trans State Nation..

"To us all towns are one, all men our kin.
Life's good comes not from others' gift, nor ill
Man's pains and pains' relief are from within.
Thus have we seen in visions of the wise !."
-
Tamil Poem in Purananuru, circa 500 B.C 

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Home  >  Struggle for Tamil Eelam > Human Rights & the Tamil Nation > University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna Branch) > The Clash of Ideologies and the Continuing Tragedy in the Batticaloa and Amparai Districts, 8 May 1991- Table of Contents > Introduction > Chapter 1.Preface > Chapter 2.Reports > Chapter 3. Reports - Personal Chapter 4. The Refugee camp at the Eastern University - - Vantharumoolai > Chapter 5. The Armed Forces > Chapter 6. The Social Fabric and Communal Relations > Chapter 7. The Eastern Borderlands > Chapter 8. Colonisation - Issues and Non-Issues > Appendices

The Clash of Idealogies and the Continuing Tragedy
in the Batticaloa and Amparai Districts

Chapter 2. Reports
  2.1 Chenkaladi 2.2 Eravur 2.3 Kudiyiruppu 2.4 Batticaloa 2.5 Kattankudy 2.6 Kurukal Madam 2.7 Kaluwanchikudy 2.8 (Periya) Kallar 2.9 Kalmunai 2.10 Karaithevu 2.11Akkaraipattu 2.12 Thirukovil-Thambiluvil 2.13 Vinayagapuram 2.14 Thandiyady


 2.1 Chenkaladi

 The army arrived in Chenkaladi in late July 1990. People  fled into the jungle and later ended up at the Eastern University  refugee camp. On the first day the army took 8 persons in a round  up. They released 3 and went away with 5. Nothing more was heard  of them. Three months later information was received that one of  the prisoners, Elango, was under detention in the South.

 The first army unit stationed at Chenkaladi was harsh. A few  days later a two thousand strong army unit arrived. The senior  officers were camped in the Methodist Church. This unit was  extremely well-disciplined and the officers very courteous. When ever they removed cooking vessels from homes of local residents,  they washed them and put them back. Though this unit was there  only a few days, people became over confident. The word go around  and those who had fled started coming back.

 Eravur Massacre and after

On 11th August a landmine went  off in Chenkaladi. Though there were no casualties, the army  fired shells and took away 25 persons, including the post master  and a technical assistant. Some buildings were burnt. Many civi lians fled into the Muslim area (Eravur North). The army did not  respond while the LTTE massacred Muslims that night.

 As the army began moving towards Eravur from Chenkaladi the  following day (12th), soldiers stabbed Maruthappu, the sexton of  the Roman Catholic Church, and Seeni Podiyar, an 80 year old man.  One soldier who was concerned came running into the Methodist  Manse premises, collected the boys and pushed them inside, and  made the women stand in front. The other soldiers then passed by  without bothering to look inside (See Report No.5).

The church  was full of civilians' things, and 125 refugees were in the  church. At 12.00 p.m. Fr. Joseph, the Roman Catholic clergyman  brought news of the stabbings. Two soldiers were then standing  sentry in front of the church. At length, a church worker took  some water for the soldiers and asked them whether it was safe to  move about. The soldiers replied that there was nothing to fear  as long as they were there and that they could move about until  5.00p.m. A tractor was arranged to transport the things and the  people left for the Eastern University.

 The Methodist priest, Rev. Arulrajah, and Fr. Joseph went to  the Athiyamalai Roman Catholic Church and made it to Batticaloa  the following day by a circuitous route. There they made a com plaint to the military authorities about killings by the army.  Brigadier A.N.U. Seneviratne denied that there had been killings.  The clergymen returned to Chenkaladi with Fr. Diconic from Batti caloa. He and Fr. Joseph conducted the burial rites for Maruthap pu. An old beggar lady remaining in the Methodist Church was  dispatched to an old peoples' home. Nearly all those left in  Chenkalady went to Batticaloa on the 13th. An old couple, Mr.  Kanagaratnam and his wife decided to remain in their home. They  were later killed in shelling.

 2.2 Eravur

 Eravur is a village 4 miles north of Batticaloa town having  37,000 Muslims and 13,000 Tamils living in wards 4 and 5. Tamil- Muslim relations had been consistently good and the two communi ties were integrated, and their economic activities were comple mentary. The Tamils were chiefly from the service casts such as  barbers, dhobys, builders, goldsmiths and iron smiths. In some  sense they were better off serving Muslims rather than caste  conscious Vellalas. The Muslims were mainly farmers, labourers or  fishermen. These categories made up 95% of the Muslim population  in sharp contrast to Muslims of Kattankudy.

 Apart from the integration of economic and social life, the  relations between the two communities were also cemented in  educational life. Aligar Maha Vidyalayam in Eravur had eminent  Tamils and Muslims among its alumnii, and came first in the  island for Arts and Commerce in 1986. It attracts Tamil students  from as far as Kiran and Saththurukondan. S. Thambirasa was among  its eminent principals. The school has also produced many Tamils  who are doctors and engineers. Although recent politics has  tended to strain relations, there were leaders on both sides  working hard to maintain good relations. In 1985, a Tamil-Muslim  unity committee was set up with Dawood and Sivanandarajah as  joint secretaries. More recently Dawood and Thambapillay who were  class-mates at Aligar MV were joint secretaries. Dawood was  cluster principal of a group of schools in Eravur. Mr.Haniffa the  present AGA of Eravur was a principal who had served largely in  Tamil schools at Pandiruppu and later at Vantharumoolai Central.

 Following the LTTE assuming control in late 1989, Muslim  expectations were high. Because of the conduct of groups aligned  to the IPKF, the Muslims had provided substantial help to the  LTTE. Dawood, together with a number of other Muslim leaders held  talks with LTTE leaders including Anton Balasingam and Yogi with  regard to Muslim rights in the future political arrangement.  These were leaders who had staked the future of Muslims on good  relations with Tamils. The LTTE's response was lukewarm on Muslim  rights. These Muslim leaders spoke from LTTE platforms and were  filmed with LTTE leaders at the latter's Vaharai convention.

 The June War:

Eravur was among these villages which had no  record of communal violence on anything approaching the scale  known elsewhere. Although the massacre of Muslim policemen had  taken place further south and the army was expected in Eravur  anytime, the village leadership was intent on not allowing Tamil- Muslim relations to suffer. An elder showed a diary entry, where  Dawood summoned a meeting about 16th June of the village elders  and told them:"Do not fraternise with the army. Our Tamil brothers will be angry".

 The army which had been ordered to retake the East, went  into action without a clear strategy. The army was rushing to  Batticaloa from Valaichenai without securing its lines of commu nication. It moved into Eravur about the 23rd of June and moved  unresisted towards Batticaloa without setting up a camp. The LTTE  then moved back into Eravur.

 On 4th July (Haji), the LTTE abducted community leaders  Dawood, Kazi, M.L.A. Gafoor and Al Haj Ali Mohamed. This happened  in the morning. A person who had collected several lakhs of  rupees for the LTTE, approached them. Independent efforts were  also made by the Tamil-Muslim unity committee and the Roman  Catholic Church. After a long delay, the LTTE let it slip that  the last rites for these leaders could be performed.

 Just after the army passed through on 23rd June the LTTE had  come in large numbers and looted the MPCS and local shops, including Tamil ones. The same thing was going on in Chenkaladi. A  curfew was imposed. Mr. Tawfeek, a graduate teacher, who was on  the road was tied to a post while the looting went on. Others  seen with prayer caps were assaulted. The LTTE had also brought  Tamils from the neighbourhood and had encouraged them to loot.  The Pradeshiya Sabha (Regional Council) and Public Library were  also destroyed. Equipment from the Aligar MV laboratory was  carried away. These happened between 23rd and 27th June.

 One Muslim observed, "I was in Jaffna when the forces destroyed your public library. It was a piece of cultural genocide  worthy of publicity all over the world. Imagine what we would  have felt when the same was done to ours?"

 The army returned from Batticaloa in late July, about a  month later, to secure its lines of communication. Camps were set  up in Chenkaladi to the north and in Sathurukondan to the south  of Eravur. Patrols used to set off from both places simultaneous ly and meet in Eravur. Following the Kurukkal Madam massacre of  Muslims, there was talk of setting up an army camp in Eravur.

 What was behind the disappearance of Dawood and other leaders?:

A  common rumour in circulation among Tamils is that Dawood and  others were killed because they had garlanded the army when it  arrived. In fairness to these men, it is necessary to examine  this claim. Dawood belonged to the class of Eastern Muslims who  from humble beginnings rose through sheer hard work. He first  became a Tamil trained teacher, then worked for his degree,  diploma in education and finally passed the Administrative Ser vice examination. He was also a member of the Eastern University  Council. From his school days he had identified himself with the  social advancement of Eravur.

As a schoolboy he had organised  Jinnah library in 1952 which later became the public library. As  a community leader, he had staked his diplomatic efforts on good  relations with Tamils. He was an experienced man with a sense of  history and had seen a number of forces come and go in the space  of a few years.

It was only logical and in keeping with common  sense that he had, following the outbreak of war, cautioned the  village against fraternising with the Sri Lankan army. Would such  men have suddenly lost their heads to go and publicly garland the  Sri Lankan army that was passing through? This claim about Dawood welcoming the forces is strongly  denied by others close to him. Asked whether the villagers welcomed the army, a government servant gave an answer which carried  much conviction.

He said, "Most people in this village have  hardly gone beyond this region in all their lives and do not  speak Sinhalese. When the army came, the atmosphere was tense. A  boy was called out by soldiers from near my house. They asked him  for young coconuts to drink. He just stared in fear. They then  asked him where the LTTE was. The boy pointed to the jungle. A  soldier slapped him. That was how things were. Of course several  people gave them water when asked. Does that amount to welcoming  the army?"

It is further pointed out that when Dawood and others  were abducted on 4th July, the LTTE came to their homes and  called them. They came out promptly because they knew the LTTE  and did not think they had anything to hide."

 What could then have happened? Many community leaders, both  Muslim and Tamil, will readily admit on the basis of commonsense,  that when an army moves in, it is best to establish some human  communication. the soldiers are new to the place and are tense.  When they make irrational judgements, much damage can result.  Thus nearly all citizens' committees appointed by the LTTE in  Jaffna did business with the Sri Lankan army in 1987 after Opera tion Liberation, and with the IPKF later on. They even took part  in functions. Furthermore, if one had an LTTE connection of some  sort, it is better to introduce oneself before an informer does  it. These are realities in the North-East. The LTTE does not take  kindly to any action based on the initiative of persons not under  its control.

 For the disappearance of these Muslim leaders, one has to  look for causes in the LTTE's self inflicted paranoia against  Muslims. This is discussed separately.

 The Massacre,12th August :

By early August the cauldron had  been stirred. The LTTE had conducted massacres of Muslims in  Kurukkal Madam and Kattankudy and had destroyed the very communi ty leadership in Eravur that had worked for the maintenance of  good relations between Tamils and Muslims. This leaderlessness  combined with anger and fear were natural catalysts towards the  creation of anarchy.

 Muslims deny allegations that Muslim agents were then at  work pointing out Tamil youth to the army. In this atmosphere of  growing suspicion, Tamil claims are based on the premise that  several Tamil youth were picked by army patrols in the market  shared by Tamils and Muslims. There were other factors contributing to the tension. A call had been made by Muslim leaders based  in Colombo to set up an army camp in Eravur on the grounds that  Muslims were being attacked. Tamils on the other hand had fears  of the army based on experience. The anti-Muslim direction of the  LTTE had caused several Muslim cadre to desert and return to  their villages. News had also reached Eravur that the LTTE had  killed five of its Muslim cadre at Kokkadichcholai on suspicion.  

It is however a fact that Muslims and Tamils did have social and  neighbourly relations until 11th August. LTTE cadre arrived in Eravur about 10.30 p.m. on 11th August  and went about massacring Muslims until the early hours of the  morning. They went through the Muslim areas of Surattayankuda,  Michnagar, Meerakerni, Saddam Hussein village and Punnakuda,  killing 121 persons. Among the worst reported incidents was the  cutting of a pregnant lady's stomach. The baby is said to have  been pulled out and stabbed. The army based at Chenkaladi 1 1/2  miles away, it is said, came in the afternoon to 'collect  statistics'.

 The soldiers accompanied by mobs then went through the Tamil  wards (4 & 5) killing a number of civilians and burning dwellings. The rest fled. (Reports given separately). The creation of  home guard units by the government which went into action two  weeks later created an impossible situation for the Tamils.

 The Present:

Eravur is relatively calm today. Muslim elders  are very anxious to reassure Tamils and point to Tamils who have  been functioning unharmed. They are very anxious to re-establish  fraternal relations. One quoted a saying attributed to a Tamil  politician that Muslims and Tamils in that region are like coco nut and flour in the pittu. However, continuing LTTE attacks on  Muslims and a hint of anarchy which the forces have done little  to discourage, keep the two communities apart. Tamils go through  the main road of Eravur with some trepidation. It is a sad legacy  of liberation politics.

 The local economic life is at a standstill and the people  are living on government rations. 95% of the people who depend on  agriculture cannot go to their fields. 36,000 cattle are un accounted for and over 40,000 acres of paddy land belonging to  the village remain uncultivated. Two seasons - Kalapoham and  Munmari - have been missed. Villagers dare not go out to obtain  clay for bricks, firewood, river sand and keerai (spinach).  Fishermen who used to go to Punnakuda beach 3 miles away to the  east dare not go beyond 1/2 a mile from the village. While Mus lims are used by the state for propaganda, little publicity is  given outside to their sufferings. Tamils quite often believe  that Muslims are well off. Meanwhile the Tamils who used to earn  a living by providing services to the Muslims, languish in refu gee camps.

 2.3 Kudiyiruppu:The Massacre of Passengers, 21st February1991

 News was received that 6 Muslim home guards who went beyond  Eravur station road had been shot by the LTTE, killing two. The  four injured were sent to Polonnaruwa hospital. The university  staff who were opperating from Batticaloa, decided to return home  immediately. They left Eastern University in two vehicles, a car  in front and a Tata bus behind. At Chenkaladi, vehicles were  waiting in a queue, from the People's Bank up to the army camp.  The time was 1.30 p.m.

In the queue were vehicles and buses  transporting train passengers from Valaichenai to Batticaloa. The  AGA, Chenkaladi, drove his jeep up to the camp and went in to ask  for an escort to take them past Eravur. The AGA came out and said  that an escort will be given.

When the escort did not turn up,  Prof. Mano Sabaratnam and Dr. Jeyarajah went into the camp to ask  for an escort. Two TELO members with guns were then seen coming  out of the camp and stopping a van. The van went in front and  others followed. Behind the two university vehicles led by the  car, was a CTB bus from Valaichenai with passengers from the  train which had come from Colombo.

 While passing through Eravur, an army picket was on both  sides of the road. When passing the police station, Muslim home guards at the sentry point lightly made a cryptic utterance. They  said, "Say ta ta (goodbye) and go carefully". On reaching the  camp marking the southern boundary of Eravur and the deserted  Tamil village of Kudiyiruppu, the TELO escort turned back, presu mably on the grounds that it was a Tamil area all the way to  Batticaloa, and further that the LTTE may thus attack them.  Vehicles then took off on their own. After several vehicles had  gone ahead, the university car reached the security post marking  the end of Eravur. At this point the Chenkaladi AGA's jeep which  had gone ahead came rushing back to the post at full speed,  sounding the horn and flashing the head lamps, evidently warning  others of trouble.

 The university vehicles stopped near the security post.  After a few minutes the front vehicle started moving. The univer sity vehicles and the CTB bus followed. The car was about 1/4  mile behind the vehicle in front. As the university vehicles came  to the bend 400 yards from the security post, those inside saw  two men crouching behind bushes wearing camouflage banians of the  type worn by the armed forces and homeguards. One was carrying a  shot gun of the kind given to the homeguards and the other had a  pole. On seeing the university car, they ran back, presumably  thinking that those inside were persons of consequence.

 A little further on, those in the car saw a man in a T  shirt, soaking in blood, running towards the road with a limp,  signalling that he wanted help. Three men in sarongs, two with  knives and one with a pole were chasing him. The car being full,  the driver slowed down and signalled the Tata bus to stop and  pick up the fugitive. The bus driver not having seen the man,  overtook the car and went. The car driver then took the centre of  the road and braked, forcing the CTB bus behind to stop. The  conductor helped the injured man on board.

 At the same time the driver of the car saw in his mirror a  woman in a red sari, chased by other saronged men with knives.  All decided that she was too far for them to risk stopping. The  driver saw the woman being overtaken and stabbed. The vehicles  moved off and reported the incident to the army at the Saththuru kondan camp. The soldiers took over the CTB bus and rushed to wards Kudiyiruppu, in sharp contrast to the army in Kudiyiruppu.

 The van passenger's story:

About 40 train passengers were  squeezed into a van which had proceeded ahead of the university  vehicles. After the final check post in Eravur, the escort left,  and the van proceeded on its own. The following story was given  by a Jaffna University graduate working in Batticaloa: 

"I was seated in front with my brother-in-law who was next  to the driver. Just before we reached the bend (400 yards from  the security post and visible from it), a shot gun was fired,  catching, the driver full in the face. My brother-in-law became  soaked in the driver's blood. The van went straight, got off the  road at the bend and after some distance, was stopped by an  electric post. The driver had died immediately. Several of us  clambered out. I squeezed out through a window. I ran westwards  towards the lagoon. As I was running, I tripped against a clump  of grass and fell down. This saved me, as just then a pursuer  opened fire and the shot went over me. I got up and made it to  the shore of the lagoon. Evidently our pursuers had lost interest  in those who got away, and were busy with those trapped in the  van."

 "At the shore of the lagoon, I discovered a lady and a 20  year old girl, who had run into the water and whose feet were  stuck in the slime. I pulled them out and the three of us walked  along the lagoon shore to Thannamunai. I later discovered that my  brother-in-law had escaped and was picked up by a bus. As I got  up from my fall and was making it to the lagoon, I saw a ball of  smoke and realised that the van was being set on fire. I know  that about 15 of the passengers with injuries were later warded  at Batticaloa hospital. I figure that about 20 dead and injured  would have been burnt with the van."
 Whowasbehindtheattack?: Following the incident, no one  was questioned and no inquiry was held. The late Minister of  Defence when questioned at a press briefing maintained that the  attackers were civilians and that homeguards had not been invol ved. But the people had seen much and drew their own conclusions.

 It is understood that when the AGA reported the matter to  the security point on the Eravur-Kudiyiruppu border, he was told  that this was the boundary of the forces there and that they were  not supposed to go beyond.

 The attack had taken place about 400 yards from the security  post. At least two shots were fired which would have been clearly  heard at the post. Not only was no attempt made to offer help,  but no attempt was made to stop other vehicles going past their  check point.

 From the point of the attackers, they had chosen ideal  conditions. They had lain in wait in a Tamil area abandoned  during the arson and killing that followed the Eravur massacre.  Thus their presence was not anticipated. It is logical that they  were aware that the armed escort sent by the Chenkaladi army post  would stop at the end of Eravur. Who could have given them such  information? The attack was significantly carried out from a  point close enough to the security post to ensure that the attackers would probably not be disturbed by Tigers. Further, in the  Sri Lankan context, it is very seldom, if ever, that civilians  had been instigated into violent acts without inspiration from an  armed group.

 The vehicles from the university had not seen the van that  fell victim, because it had gone off the road at the bend and was  hidden behind the lush greenery that followed in the train of the  rainy season. The known facts and the cover up by the government led  ordinary people to believe that the forces were involved, and  that it was, by default or otherwise, part of government policy.

 2.4 Batticaloa & Environs 

When the army entered Batticaloa in June, the town did not  witness the sensational massacres that took place elsewhere. But  people were picked up and burning bodies started appearing at the  rate of about 5 a day. The largest single incident in town was  the appearance of 27 bodies down Bar Road.

Three battalions of  soldiers had moved into Batticaloa. One remained and two went  back having finished their 'job'. Brigadier A.N.U. Seneviratne  remained in charge of Batticaloa, with Brigadier Karunatilleke at  Valaichenai. During the early days, the army refused to entertain  civilian delegations.

A leading army officer is quoted as having  said, "We are different from the IPKF. They came to maintain  peace. But we came to fight." At that stage the LTTE had vanished. Of killing there was a good deal. But of fighting, almost  none!

 An elderly person gave an experience to illustrate on what  delicate threads lives of young boys hung in those days. He was  passing an army checkpoint when a Roman Catholic priest who had  finished a service came with a boy. The soldier at the checkpoint  detained the boy and asked the priest to go. The priest tried  explaining that the boy had just come from church worship. The  soldier again asked him to go. The priest then appealed to others  passing through, "This fool does not understand English or Tamil.  Can someone tell him in Sinhalese?"

The layman being a retired  government servant, went up to the soldier. The latter told him  that he had no business here. The old man tried to explain calmly. The soldier being unyielding, the priest darted inside and  grabbed the boy from his captors. Within those few moments the  boy was already bleeding from two head injuries. The old man  said, "If someone was detained and you did not get him out immediately, you had to assume that he was finished!" This was a  commonly held view based on tragic experiences, capped by burning  bodies. Often the myth that soldiers are foolish brutes and  officers are not too bad, served both sides.

 Massacre at Thannamunai:

The next serious occurrence around  Batticaloa, took place in Thannamunai, just north of Batticaloa.  The exact location was Pillaiyarady, near Sathurukondan. Early in  the morning about 7th August 1990, a cyclist who had come into  town with injuries was taken to the Roman Catholic Church autho rities. He reported that the army had moved in and massacred  about 200 people and that their bodies were being burnt. When the  army was contacted, they denied that such had taken place. After  further insistence by civilians, the injured man who was both  tired and confused was sent with Colonel Percy Fernando to the  area. It was around 3.30 p.m. The man, in his state, was unable  to locate the places where dead bodies were supposedly set on  fire. The party returned to town a short time later, before  nightfall.

 The army wanted Mr. Arunagirinathan, chairman of the Batti caloa citizens' committee to sign a statement to the effect that  there had been no massacre as alleged. The chairman signed the  statement and resigned from his position. It was then claimed in  the Defence Ministry press briefing that citizens'committee mem bers who were taken for an inspection had said that there was no  evidence of such an incident.

 As things calmed down, nuns from the Holy Family convent and  church officials went back to the are to restart the convent and  the Boys' town. They stumbled into about 100 skeletons.

 Twelve bodies in Iruthayapuram:

Although Batticaloa with its  numerous sentry points appeared calm on the surface and there  appeared to be a move towards not killing suspects detained,  things could hardly be other than deceptive.

 On 30th March 1991, a police patrol on bicycles through  Iruthayapuram was fired at killing one policeman. According to  the Virakesari (2nd April), 'uniformed' persons arrived that  evening and took several persons into custody. On the following  morning, Sunday, twelve bodies were found dumped with stab  wounds, and some with gun shot injuries. At the time of going to  press, 7 bodies had been identified by relatives at the Battica loa mortuary, whither they had been conveyed by the ICRC.
 Iruthayapuram had witnessed a massacre prior to the Indo- Lanka Accord. The recent massacre will persuade the people that  the Sri Lankan forces are incapable of maintaining order and will  add to the furthering of anarchy in the East. The militant stra tegy is also significant. Civilian cover was used to kill one  policeman and go into hiding. There was no strategy or wish to  protect civilians from reprisals.

 The Army's trip to Mudalaikudah:

Mudalaikudah (Crocodile  Bay) lies in the hinterland across the lagoon from Batticaloa.  Access is by ferry. The area is no man's land with no permanent  army presence. The villagers are normally left alone. The LTTE  comes occasionally. But when the army comes, pandemonium reigns.

 A woman described a visit on one such occasion earlier this  year. She had entered Mudalaikudah by ferry when gun shots were  heard. Then there was panic as people were urged to run for it  because the army had come. It was later learned that there had  been no confrontation with the LTTE. TELO cadre who came with the  army, it is said, had killed some alleged LTTE sympathisers. The  woman saw 3 bodies on the road. The army's visit was brief.

 A note on the Army Operation in Vaharai:

In UTHR (J) Report  No. 6, (Section 6.5), we quoted local sources to the effect that  over 100 civilian refugees were killed when the army moved in  during January. When we tried to check this out from leading  civilians in Batticaloa, no one was aware of deaths on that  scale.

 This points to some of the difficulties about getting accu rate information about the East. Many persons who used to play a  role had lost hope to a point that few are aware with any cer tainty, about what happens beyond their village or town. Documen tation of information is not done at the level of organisation  existing in 1987. When it comes to an incident in a remote area,  some person who escapes from the noise and confusion would give  an impressionistic picture. It is often difficult to go beyond  that. Regarding Vaharai, one individual said that he was aware of  4 refugees from one particular village being killed. Refugees in  the jungle would have been from several villages. It would thus  not be possible to get an accurate picture unless there is an  organisation having contacts in all villages actively involved in  documentation.

 In Trincomalee, people have been so intimidated by security  forces, that there is little information on what had happened  there. Another angle to this situation is that several persons  who used to take risks in highlighting human rights violations  have been killed after 1987, both in Batticaloa and in Trincoma lee, by more than one Tamil militant group.

 2.5 Kattankudy

 During the IPKF presence, the LTTE had good relations with  the Muslims of Kattandudy, where they used to take shelter. When  the LTTE assumed control in December 1989, the LTTE was said to  be extremely well behaved during the first two weeks. Hopes were  then very high. But from then on things gradually soured below  the surface. The high taxes demanded by the LTTE placed the  population which largely depended on trade under strain. The LTTE  began taking a repressive approach to any form of independent  Muslim activity. There were small incidents of acts against LTTE  supporters and subsequent reprisals.

 But the local leadership represented by the Federation of  Mosques and Muslim Institutions (FMMI) took a pragmatic approach  to the LTTE and constantly intervened to smoothen out matters.  The FMMI was under considerable pressure from young activists who  felt that it was a disgrace to palaver the LTTE unless it was  prepared to respect Muslims and recognise their right to some  autonomy. The FMMI together with other Muslim leaders constantly  put friendly pressure on the LTTE to make such a commitment. At  one point, in cracking down on all independent forms of Muslim  expression, the LTTE banned the FMMI.

 When Yogi visited the East subsequently, the local leaders  explained to him the tense situation created by the banning of  the FMMI. They told him that they had no wish to defy the LTTE  and that they could carry on as before if Yogi officially lifted  the ban imposed by the LTTE. This was done by Yogi. But Yogi also  maintained a silence on other Muslim demands. However, normal  relations continued. Newton, Karikalan, David and Ranjith Appa  were among the LTTE leaders maintaining frequent, friendly con tact with the Kattankudy elders.

 TheJuneWar : With the beginning of the June War, the  importance of Kattankudy to the residents of Batticaloa District  increased. With the direct routes leading out of the district  becoming closed, the Tamil traders and lorries unable to go out,  Kattankudy traders who were able to fetch goods from Kalmunai  became the source of food for the entire district. People from  outside regularly flocked into Kattankudy to purchase food items.

 Jinnah Hadjiaar was a mill owner living near the Manjantho duwa border, who knew Ranjith Appa. After the outbreak of war,  Hadjiaar had innocently told Ranjith Appa, "You must look after  the people of Kattankudy and see that they come to no harm." The  general tendency in Kattankudy even at that time was to rationa lise the massacre of Muslim policement at Rufus Kulam, together  with their Sinhalese colleagues.

 The residents of Kattankudy were taken by surprise, when the  LTTE came into the village on 26th June, imposed a curfew, stood  on both sides of the road and proceeded to loot the shops. One  person who came out unawares was killed. The looting was part of  a pattern everywhere in the district, including several Tamil  villages. 93 shops were looted. What offended the Muslims most  was that 3 shops adjoining a Mosque and maintained in support of  the Mosque, were burnt. The Mosque itself was saved by the people  dousing the fire after the LTTE had left. This spate of looting  left residents of the district with almost no access to food.

 The local leaders had maintained friendly relations with  officials in the Roman Catholic Church, to whom they made repre sentations. Within a week of the looting, LTTE leaders Newton and  Ranjith Appa came to the village, had a meeting with 15 elders  and conveyed their apologies for the 'mistake'. They gave assur ance of the LTTE's future good behaviour.
 While the Muslims remained hopeful, another blow came on  12th July when the LTTE massacred at least 68 Muslims at Kuruk kalmadam, 3 miles south of Kattankudy. (See next section for  report). Though these persons killed were from Kattankudy, there  was then, still a tendency to find reasons for the incident.  There was a story around that the LTTE had done it because a  Muslim deserter from its ranks had led the army to its Kanjikudi chcharu hideout.

 The Massacre of 3rd August:

The massacre of 3rd August (See  UTHR (J) Nos. 4 & 5 for reports), finally persuaded the local  people that there was no hope of accomodation with the LTTE. Like  the one of 12th July, this too was totally unprovoked. The local  leaders explained that the secretary, FMMI, issued a statement  because there was a great deal of confusion about who was respon sible. Among local residents itself there was a story that the  army, which was camped at the Araipattai and Navabkudah ends of  the main road, was responsible. The leaders explained that they  knew the LTTE and had seen who was responsible.

 Just prior to the massacre, Ranjith Appa had gone to the  house of Jinnah Hadjiaar and asked for his son-in-law. The son- in-law's small son had said that he was in the bathroom. Since  Ranjith Appa was a familiar visitor, there was no alarm. When the  son-in-law came to meet Ranjith, he was shot dead in the sight of  his wife and son. The party then proceeded to two Mosques and  massacred over 120 persons at 8.30 p.m. The massacre took place  at the time of Sujuth - prostration, the most sacred of moments.

 The leaders admitted that there were subsequently isolated  instances of mob violence against Tamils. But the FMMI did large ly restore calm. Since the Muslims felt helpless, it was decided  that they should accept the government's offer to train home  guards. One leader explained, "We did not want an extremist  organisation starting here. So we decided that the FMMI would  nominate persons for homeguard training. Whenever the government  decides to settle the problem, let them take back the arms they  issued. The problem is then off our hands".

 While homeguards may have been an expedient to restore calm,  as elsewhere, they were of no use in defending the people, but  were rather a nuisance to them, an easy target for the LTTE to  boost their image, and a source of terror to sundry Tamils within  their reach - particularly after an LTTE action. They became a  part of the problem. In the sequel the LTTE killed Muslim strag glers. The homeguards responded in similar fashion. According to  Muslim leaders 40 Muslim fishermen have been killed in several  incidents. Following the killing of some Muslim fishermen last  September, persons identified as Muslim homeguards abducted 17  Tamils and murdered then on the sea shore. This happened about  19th September, leading to an outcry to ban homeguards.

 In the process the boundary areas between Kattankudy and the  neighbouring Tamil villages became deserted. Muslims had to aban don the surrounding villages of Palamunai (800 families), Siha ram, Ollikulam, Keechchanpallam, Kankeyan Odai and Manmunai  (south of Kattankudy). Some of the residents of Palamunai and  Kankeyan Odai have now gone back. The rest of the villages are  completely deserted. Kattankudy now had a population of 40,000  confined to one square mile - amongst the world's highest popula tion densities.

 Muslim stragglers trying to make a living by fetching fire wood or by doing small business on bicycles, continued to be  picked off by the LTTE. In one incident 8 Muslims are said to  have been killed near Kallady, on the way to Batticaloa.
 In another incident during the first week of December, two  Muslim women of ages 65 and 55 went with two young boys in two  bullock carts with drivers, to fetch things from their abandoned  house in Ollikulam. All six were killed. A small boy of 8 is said  to have been killed when his grandmother tried to hide him in her  sari. Only 4 bodies were recovered.

 The present:

One elder said that he was not angry, but felt  broken hearted about Tamil responsibility for the entire tragedy.
 Kattankudy which depends heavily on trade has been hard hit  by its confinement. 6000 acres of paddy land in Paduvankarai  across the lagoon, belonging to its residents, have been aban doned for 5 years. They have also lost access to their coconut  estates situated in Tamil areas.

 Bishop Kingsley Swamipillai of the Roman Catholic Church  gave the following anecdote to explain how Tamils tend to under- estimate the difficulties and anxieties of Muslims. At a peace  meeting last year Tamils complained how they have to spend Rs.50/  to go from Batticaloa to Araipattai because they cannot go  through Kattankudy. They have to cross the lagoon, bypass Kattan kudy on the other side, and cross the lagoon again. "We have to  spend Rs.500/- to go Valaichenai, because we cannot go through  Batticaloa," replied the Muslims, "We have to go to Kalmunai and  then to Valaichenai via Amparai and Maha Oya." The Bishop added  that this was an eye opener to many Tamils.

 Among the handful of Muslim students attending Eastern Uni versity is one young boy offering Mathematics, acknowledged as  brilliant by his teachers. His future is as bleak as that of many  of his Tamil counterparts. He comes by van from Kattankudy. Gets  down just after Kallady bridge, follows classes at the universi ty's Uthaya Motors premises, and returns without loitering in  Batticaloa. His opportunities for further studies are remote.

 It is evident that the Muslims are as anxious as Tamils to  restore normal relations. The trend of current politics on the  part of both the government and the LTTE would be to keep the  communities divided.

 At the level of NGO's there appears to be little communication between those working among Tamils and those serving Mus lims. While the former are largely funded from the West, the  latter receive funds from Muslim sources. If there is better  communication and a pooling of resources at that level, it would  also help to bring some thaw at ground level. It is often the  case that the NGO's serving Tamils are often subject to stories  about the villainy of Muslims, and receive little information on  the difficulties faced by them. This has added to the process  leading to a feeling of isolation felt by the Muslim community.

 2.6 Kurukkal Madam

 On the way from Batticaloa to Kalmunai, there is a village  every two or three miles and each has peculiar traditions of its  own. Kurukkal Madam lies just south of Araipattai. It is a vil lage where both aspiration and attainment in the field of educa tion are high and many of its present and former inhabitants are  in government service or in the professions. The admission fi gures from the village to the Eastern University are said to be  very creditable. As the name suggests, the level of Hindu piety  is also high in the village. The militant tradition in the village is said to be low in comparison with the neightbouring  villages of Ambalanthurai, Kirankulam and Chettipalayam. About 11  of its members were in the PLOTE and TELO. After the LTTE deci mated other groups in 1986, nearly all these persons left the  East. Subsequently almost no one from the village joined the  LTTE, and thus it experienced little trouble from the forces that  came. Understandably, some suspicion and ill-feeling was directed  towards Kurukkal Madam from neighbouring villages.

 The Massacre of Muslims:

Following the end of the first week  of July, a convoy of Kattankudi resident Muslims was proceeding  thither, from Colombo, via Kalmunai. In the convoy were also  lorries carrying a large quantity of goods. The convoy was stop ped in Kurukkal Madam by the local LTTE group led by Mani - a  somwhat notorious figure. The captives were herded into a single  house. A witness put their number at 60 to 80. It was widely  understood that the initial motive was robbery.

 How the decision to massacre was taken appears a little  involved. A number of refugees from Karaitivu, Kalmunai and  Pandiruppu were present at Kurukkal Madam. Muslim informers and  helpers were associated in their minds with the widespread atro cities of the Sri Lankan forces. In terms of support and recruit ment, however irresponsible, the LTTE had some populist advantage  to be gained in the bloody assuaging of anti-Muslim feelings.

But  it is unlikely that a local leader would have taken such a deci sion upon himself, since there was apparently no clear line at  that time about Muslim civilians. Muslim sources in Kattankudy  name a senior LTTE leader in the Batticaloa hierarchy as having  given the order to kill. The Muslim civilians were later taken  out and reportedly killed nearby. Witnesses saw old women and  children among the victims. Among the motives suspected by resi dents is that of putting them into trouble when the army arrived.  It was by then clear from what had happened elsewhere that the  LTTE had no intention of stopping the army.

 Those in Kurukkalmadam left in fear. Many left as refugees  wading across water to Ambalanthurai. Several of them came back a  few days later.

 The army arrives:

When the army arrived a few days later, a  young man was in his house with his parents. A cyclist on the  road, on seeing the army left the bicycle on the road and ran  away. The army came into the house and took the young man and put  him into a tractor containing six young boys with hands tied and  eyes blindfolded, brought from Chettipalayam. The young man's  parents went up and pleaded. The mother was beaten. An officer  who came behind released the young man. Later six bodies were  found burnt, placed radially around a tyre. The army had also  done its usual looting of TV sets and watches.
 The local residents had further instances of the Tigers  wanting to put them into trouble. On one occasion, a Tiger was  standing near a house containing civilians while a patrol was  coming, ready to run away. On another occasion a landmine was  placed opposite the post office, then containing refugees. The  mine did not go off when a patrol passed by. The LTTE later  removed the mine.

 When things settled down, it turned out that a number of  people from the surrounding areas had been killed, while none had  died from Kurukkal Madam itself. That strengthened the prevalent  religious beliefs!

 2.7 Kaluwanchikudy

 Many of the buildings in town were destroyed when the army  shelled the area before moving in from Amparai. There used to be  a big LTTE camp in the area. The shells were fired from Periya  Porativu as the army moved along the Gonagolla - Kaluwanchikudy  road. There were initially the usual symptoms of Sri Lankan army  occupation. But we shall confine ourselves to what happened  subsequently, and for a change, to the rare positive side.

 The battalion that came into occupation subsequently was  commanded by Colonel Halangoda. The conduct of this unit is  spoken of with high praise by local civilians and others in  neighbouring areas. This period provided the civilians with both  dignity and confidence. The standards set were very unusual for  the Sri Lankan army.

 On one occasion an army patrol as well as the LTTE ended up  in the market at the same time. The troops were ordered not to  fire for the fear of hitting civilians. The confrontation ended  peacefully. In another incident an army patrol was ambushed in  Kottai Kallar, south of Kaluwanchikudy. Two soldiers were killed.  The army behaved itself and there were no reprisals against  civilians. The villagers were asked to tell the LTTE that there  was no objection to their coming into the village, provided they  did so without arms.

 When in mid-December 1990, the STF was on a vindictive binge  in Kallar and Periya Nilawanai further south, resulting in many  disappearances, the army at Kaluwanchikudy was warning people not  to proceed south as the STF was on a spree. Colonel Halangoda  left earlier this year on an overseas scholarhip. Because of a  total political vacuum, such achievements are too often short lived. Good officers, although they can decisively influence the  character of their unit, cannot compensate for poor political  wisdom.

 2.8 (Periya)Kallar

 According to residents in Kallar, the worst incident with  the IPKF was the kicking to death of a young boy by soldiers in  public view. This happened after the outbreak of the October 1987  war. Later things were quiet. About July 1989, 26 boys from  Kallar were conscripted for the ill fated TNA. The TNA was posted  in the Methodist Church Community Hall, and were described as not  aggressive. Strangely enough, many Tamil youth then took up  residence in Amparai town to evade conscription. They were then  well received, though Amparai became a death trap the following  June.

 In November 1989, the TNA confronted the LTTE at Thumpan kerni, beyond Palugamam. 7 were killed. The rest, including those  from Kallar, were taken prisoner and are missing since then.

 The June War:

On June 16th, the day on which the army ar rived, a man was hacked to death on the causeway to Kottai Kallar.  Five youths, including Suntheralingam, Paskaran, Sasikaran and  Gunam, were taken by the army in a round-up and are missing.

Subsequently, refugees from Veeramunai, Central Camp, Division 8,  Malwattai and Mallikaitivu came to reside at a camp in Kallar. In  late July, 35 of these refugees were rounded up by the STF and  Muslim vigilantes, taken to the Kallar beach, and shot dead.  Local residents were called in to carry the bodies into vehicles.

 During those days the STF used to fire at people from a  distance without verifying their targets. In September, a CTB  driver, Eliyathamby Rasiah and conductor Arumugam Anandan, both  from Kallar, on their way to work in Kalmunai, were shot dead by  the STF. This happened at 6 a.m. in Periya Kallar. A retired  gentleman, Kanthappar Vyramuththu was shot dead while crossing  the road.

 Kallar used to be a place patrolled by the STF in Periya  Nilawanai (Maruthamunai) from the south, and the army in Kaluwan chikudy from the north. The Batticaloa district ends with Kallar.  During late September, Sellappah Kanapathipillai (51) a teacher  who was listening to the radio in his house with Maruthanayagam,  a carpenter, were both taken out and shot by the army. Three  relatives who went in search of their bodies never returned.  Their bodies were recovered from the lagoon in a decomposed state  in Onththachichi Madam.

Three women relatives who went to Kalu wanchchikudy to meet the army are said to have been hacked and  thrown into a well. The well was later covered up. Three mothers  and three sons from Kallar travelling to Colombo by CTB bus in  October, were taken at Malwattai by army personnel and Muslim  home guards. They are still missing. 

Disappearances in December:

Two days after STF men were  ambushed in Panama (about 7th December), in the south of Amparai  District, the much dreaded white van doing nocturnal rounds, made  its appearance in the area. On the first day it drove into Kallar  at 7.30 p.m., with armed men in plain clothes. It went away at  8.30 p.m. taking away six persons. Among them were the son (O.L  student) and son-in-law (newly married) of Mr. Kanagasabai, and  three members of the Nadarajah family, including Nadarajah him self, his brother-in-law and his son (O.level student). The other  was a recently married 27 year old son of Bobby Arulampalam.

 Another who disappeared during this period was a graduate  teacher Thayalan from Jaffna University. He was taken on the way  to the National Savings Bank at Kalmunai. His father, Mr. Tissa veerasingham, principal of Thurainilawanai MV (High School),  appealed to the Minister of Education and to the Director of  Education, Batticaloa. There has been no response.
 Others who went missing during this period are 17 traders  from Kaluwanchikudi, Kurumanveli, Eruvil and Palugamam. These  persons used to come on bicycles from the north to purchase goods  from Muslim traders at Maruthamunai, after passing the STF camp.  While this was happening, the army at Kaluwanchikudy was warning  people not to go south (See also UTHR (J) No.6).

 While this was going on people were wondering why the STF  was resorting to reprisals there for what happened far south. The  reason now believed by many is based on the discovery that the  OIC at Thurainilawanai (Maruthamunai), was the namesake of the  commanding officer at Mankulam army camp, which fell to the LTTE  less than two weeks prior to the disappearances.

 According to local sources, 76 persons have been killed or  are missing in Kallar, since the outbreak of the war. The figure  includes the 35 refugees massacred in July.

 2.9 Kalmunai

 We add to what has been given in Reports 4 & 5. Following  the killing of policemen and 10 soldiers on 11th June, Kalmunai  town was subject to intense shelling by the army. On 14th June a  responsible person concerned about the Girls' Home, Kalmunai  telephoned LTTE's Castro as to what they should do. Castro rep lied not to worry and that nothing would happen. Despite making  plans for their withdrawal, they offered no guidance to the  civilians. Since shells were falling all around, it was decided  to evacuate the Girls' Home. Late that night 150 girs and others  walked to Karaitivu through Sainthamaruthu, a Muslim area. As the  army got close, confusion also reigned in Karaitivu. Lacking  guidance from anyone, plans were afoot to walk the girls 12 miles  south to Akkaraipattu. This was abandoned when others in Karaiti vu advised them to stay put. The girls got back to Kalmunai in  July, when a lorry sent with food by church authorities in Colom bo, was made available to transport them.

 The massacre of hundreds by the troops which came into  Kalmunai has been described in earlier reports. All other independent reports give variations on the figures, but the essential  facts stand. The list of dead and missing in and around Kalmunai  stands at above 1000. The army's attitude at that time is further  illustrated by the following incident. The only son of a professional man was taken by the army in a round up. The parents found  out the name of a senior commanding officer and went to the camp  at nightfall. They took that risk because every moment mattered.  They informed the sentry that they would like to speak to the  officer named. The sentry put them through, thinking from their  middle class bearing that the officer was known to them. They  pleaded with the officer.

The officer finally replied, "I will  release him because he is your only son. If you had another son,  I certainly would not release him". There was no question of  whether he had LTTE connections. All that mattered was that he  was a Tamil. In judging the officer, it must be kept in mind that  in an affair of low humanity, he came up at least to this level.

 The scars and the atmosphere of terror in Kalmunai will take  a long time to heal. With the exodus of a large number of senior  government servants, the Tamil middle class has shrunk, making  the community feel more abandoned. Kalmunai hospital now has no  specialists and its medical staff is depleted. One of its last  remaining Tamil doctors, a lady, fled Kalmunai, reportedly on  receiving a note of demand for liberation tax.

 2.10 Karaitivu

 At the time we visited Karaitivu, the people were sullen and  pessimistic. But it was said that killings of detainees by the  STF had reached a very low ebb. STF patrols could be seen on  bicycles in lanes, occasionally taking persons for an inquiry  while the women screamed. It is said that nearly all those taken  would be questioned and released. A few days later, when a bomb  exploded in Akkaraipattu market, a number of persons disappeared  in an area including Kalmunai and Karaitivu. Although Muslim  homeguards are said to have been responsible, they together with  the police and the STF are part of the same institution. Pretending that they are distinct, serves well to shuffle responsibili ty and to confuse. But it at the same time increases distrust and  uncertainty.

 We correct some figures given earlier. According to respon sible local sources, when the army came into Karaitivu in June  1990, they arrested 64 in a round up, and after 2 weeks, released  5. The others are missing. 16 others died when prisoners were  thrust into a room and a grenade was exploded. Of those killed in  the explosion were Sri Ram, who was due to enter the Faculty of  Medicine, University of Jaffna, and his younger brother. His  elder brother escaped. The total killed and missing in Karaitivu  since the outbreak of war is put at about 150.

 These sources also gave the number of Tamils in the area  killed in 1985 when the STF attacked in the company of a mob, as  19. A further 15 were missing. The damage to property was  enormous.

 According to local sources, an incident took place in Karai tivu about a month before the war of June 1990. This was the  period during which the two sides were involved in a war of  nerves. The government had set up a support police station in  Karaitivu, manned by 15 to 20 mainly Muslim policemen. One night  these policemen were killed. But no-one claimed responsibility.  The LTTE was in control at that time.

 In what follows, we correct an account given in Report 6, Section  6.5.

 STF roundup of Refugee Camp,12th December 1990:

At 5.30  a.m the STF surrounded the refugee camp at Vipulananda College.  Refugees from each village were asked to come out in turn, and  were marched past persons described as Muslim informers. 28  persons were taken into custody. The manner in which persons were  picked up was reminiscent of what happened in the Eastern Univer sity. Of the 28 picked up, 9 were refugees from Attapalam, a  Tamil village next to the neighbouring Muslim village of  Nintavur.

 The STF then moved into the refugee camp premises and sur rounded the main school building. Those outside heard a grenade  explosion followed by automatic fire and another explosion. It  turned out later that 3 LTTE cadre hiding in the ceiling had  died.

 Of the 28 taken, only one person from Attapalam was re leased. The rest are missing, mostly without any indication about  their fate. Chelliah Namasivayam, one of those detained, is  believed by his wife Manonmani to be in Magazine prison.
 WhattheRefugeesexperienced: In what follows we briefly sketch  out the experiences of refugees in the Karaitivu camp. The list  is far from exhaustive.

 AmparaiTown:

A leader from a community of Indian Tamil origin  living in Iraikamam Rd, Mihindapura, related their experience.  They were mainly Health Department labourers living in line  rooms. At 3.30 p.m. on 11th June, 3 policemen came to their  quarter, opened fire with their automatics, and started setting  fire to their rooms. They caught some boys and threw them into  the fire. It may be noted that except for the fact that these  people spoke. Tamil, they were as remote from the Tigers as  ordinary Sinhalese.

 At 7 p.m. the same evening, they were set upon by Sinhalese  mobs. Among those killed were members of an entire family. A  total of 70 persons from that community were killed. The survi vors walked it to Karaitivu via Veeramunai and Samanthurai.
 Although their work is of the most menial kind which few is  this country would willingly perform, they are desperate to get  back to work. The leader said that he could now make brief visits  to Amparai. But whether they could live there remains in doubt.  They have been told that they could get back to work at their own  risk. The health authorities are not prepared to guarantee their  safety. Those who visit Amparai town are still subject to threatening remarks.

 Muhangala,Ingurana:

At 1.30 p.m. on 13th June, a Sinhalese mob  attacked them with sticks and poles. Among those killed were 12  children, pregnant women and elderly persons. They walked to  Akkaraipattu through sugar cane fields.

 Inginiyagala: Approximately 40 Tamils were killed by police and  Sinhalese mobs.
 Korakovil: 30 killed.
 Attapalam: The army rounded up 36 persons on 2nd July and killed  8. Out of the remaining 28, 23 werereleased. The fate of 5 per sons is not known. In all, 58 persons are dead or missing. Of  this number 22 were adbucted by the army while travelling to  Colombo by bus. Those in the refugee camp remain because of  Muslim home guards.  Thiraikerni: 41 died on 6th August when the STF came with Muslim  home guards. The one person taken prisoner is missing.
 

Going through all these stories, one sees that a perverse  sense of historical memory justifies any act of violence by any  one party. There is no creative thrust by those who know better  to overcome this politics of destruction.

 2.11 Akkaraipattu

 The Police-mutiny:

Discipline among policemen in the East  was bad enough (see special Report No.3). In Akkaraipattu, things  had become unmanageable when a sub-Inspector was in charge of a  A-grade Police station. A new crisis developed when Inspector  Vahalathanthri was put in charge of the station. The new Inspec tor broke all the good traditions of the force. He enforced a  strict duty roster, inspection parades and banned the use of  liquor in the station. He pulled up his men for getting civilians  to dig bunkers, telling them that it was work which they ought to  do themselves. His men were also reportedly pulled up for mis treating those under detention. Both the Muslim and the Tamil  public saw stars. He later told a group of citizens that some  were trying to bribe him. But that his father and grandfather had  been in the police force, that he was a Christian (Roman Catho lic), and that he thus took integrity in duty very seriously. He  announced that he would only meet people officially and would not  attend private parties. People spoke of him with enthusiasm and  could not believe their ears.

 In the night, about 15th March 1991, drunken policemen  mutinied. Wild firing, mostly into the air, went on for a long  time, causing people to think that there was an LTTE attack.  Fortunately for the policemen, there was'nt one. The ASP, Kalmu nai, had to come with a party to quell the mutiny. Subsequently  many of the policemen were transferred. The Inspector told a  person that he would take the challenge and continue to do what  he was doing.

 In a country where policemen have been promoted on instructions from on high, precisely for being corrupt, Inspector Vahalathanthri deserves both sympathy and good wishes.

 The unexpected meeting:

A man with a familar face hailed us and  proceeded to greet us with touching enthusiasm. He had met us  last September when his family were among Sinhalese refugees in  Amparai town. He insisted on being the host at a tea shop. As  with most refugees, he found it depressing to live on handouts.  He left his wife and children in Amparai and had resumed work in  Akkaraipattu. Since there were differing versions of the destruc tion of the Buddhist temple in Amparai, he was asked for his  story. "Believe me sir," he said, "We saw it with our own eyes.  The Tigers came in a jeep on 14th June about 3.00 p.m. and stole  some of the things in the temple. They took an oil lamp and our  sadhu's (priest) fan. They also stole a radio cassette presented  to the sadhu by the Tamil people in appreciation of what he had  done for them. During the Tamil-Muslim clashes in 1985, the  Tamils had sheltered in the temple. Later the Tigers bombed the  temple which was once the refuge of Tamils".
 That gave another element of complexity to the chequered  history of the East.

 2.12 Thirukkovil-Thambiluvil 

A sizeable refugee population still remains in this area.  Most of them are from Veeramunai and Pottuvil. The former are in  camps. The main body of refugees from Pottuvil is in Komary. In  Thirukkovil-Thambiluvil itself, things are relatively calm. At  least for 1 1/2 months after the incident in Vinyagapuram there  had been no further killings. It is known in one case at least in  early March, that a person accused of supplying food to the LTTE  was warned and sent home. There appeared to be a change. But for  how long?

 The Tamil policemen from the region who survived, are now in  a temporary police station next to the STF camp, on probation.  Life is hard for them as local people do not take them seriously,  and they in turn feel impelled to do things to show that they are  real policemen.

 Following the news item of early Novemebr on headless bo dies, in 'the Island', no further headless bodies have been  sighted. The Amparai correspondent to whom the item was sourced,  had since also vanished from the pages of 'the Island'. (See Special Report No.3 for background information.) 

2.13 Vinayagapuram

 About the first week of February, the STF at Thirukkovil  picked up and reportedly killed two boys who had allegedly sup plied food to the LTTE, in hiding around Kanjikudichcharu. Some  said that the boys previously had EROS links. In response to  this, a dhoby in Vinayagapuram who did washing for the STF was  shot dead on the allegation that he had given information to the  STF.

Having made inquiries as to who shot the dhoby, the STF went  to Vinayagapuram looking for two boys Kuna and Kumar. The boys  not being present, the STF took their fathers. One man Shanmuga nathan had two daughters at home. Having taken the father, the  two girls were locked up. The girls screamed. The STF then let  out the girls and chased them away. According to local sources,  the STF had said, "When we acted against the JVP in the South, we  finished off entire families. But we are letting you go'. The  house was then set on fire. The other man taken was Vadivel,  whose house too was set on fire. Nothing more was heard of Shan muganathan and Vadivel.

 It is said that the citizens' committee of Thirukkovil- Thambiluvil raised the matter with the STF. The STF commandant  Lionel Karunasena, it is said, appeared to have been upset, and  had assured them that this would not happen again. 

2.14 Thandiyady

 The origin o fheadless bodies: Uthayakumar was a young boy from  Thambiluvil who was looking for a new life. It is said that he  was keenly studying the Bible. Then came the war of June 1990.  Young boys were in a panic over the thought of the armed forces  coming in. The LTTE urged them to join the final battle rather  than be killed while staying at home. Uthayakumar with many  frightened boys followed the LTTE into the jungle. The STF then  assumed control promising clemency.

 Uthayakumar returned about a month later and was staying at  home. He was pointed out to the STF by two informants moving with  the STF at that time, and was picked up. One dawn in late July,  his severed head and body were found a short distance from the  STF camp at Thandiyady, between Vinayagapuram and Komari. His  remains were interred by local villagers who had found them.  Uthayakumar's was the first in a list of over 30 headless corpses  found in the area.

 

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