Access to Information is a Tamil Information ndamental Right

NEWS BULLETIN OF THE TAMIL INFORMATION CENTRE AUGUST 1992 No. 13

PRAISE TO GEN. KOBBEKADUA: A Shameful Strategy for Survival

A landmine killed six senior Sri impression. He added that Sinhalese majority and for the Lankan military commanders, Kobbekaduwa had many friends purpose of survival of the leaders including northern Army and admirers in the Tamil Tamils say that praise of Commander General Denzil community and his loss means a lot Kobbekaduwa’s military Kobbekaduwa at Araliturai on to the plight of the Tamil people of capabilities by Tamil leaders is Kayts Island west of the North. The TEL0 leader also understandable. But, tributes while peninsula on 8th August. Jaffna urged the Tamil people in ignoring the General’s human Army Commander Brigadier to attend the funeral of rights violations against the Tamil Wijaya Wimalaratne and northern the General. people are meaningless and should naval Commander Commodore stand totally condemned. The Mohan Jayamaha were among the The PLOTE leader emphasised Tamil people, particularly those dead. that General Kobbekaduwa had living in the Tamil Homeland have stood above race, religion and different opinion about General The LTTE claimed responsibility political difference and worked Kobbekaduwa. The truth about the and the Sri Lankan government towards bringing the Tamil actions of General Kobbekaduwa insisted that the deaths were community back to the political and Brigadier Wimalaratne in the caused by a pressure mine buried mainstream. The leader of the North-East have been completely eighteen months ago when the Eelam People’s Democratic Party overshadowed by these statements. LTTE held the Islands. Some (EPDP) which operates with the sources dismissing the government army on Kayts Island where the The Tamil Information Centre is view say that the mine was explosion occurred, described informed that there are at least . triggered by a remote control General Kobbedkaduwa as a fine eleven Tamils currently living in device. Reports say that the (joint) soldier. He said his death is an Britain as refugees who had been opposition had intended to irreparable loss and has created a tortured under the direct nominate General Kobbekaduwa as void which cannot be filled in the supervision of General Kobbeka- the candidate for the next forseeable future. Leader of an duwa. In some cases the General presidential election and that he EROS faction said that death of himself had participated in the would have been a strong Kobbekaduwa was a great loss. The torture. contender against President leader of the All Ceylon Tamil ‘Ravi” was arrested by General Premadasa. Congress (ACTC) predicted that the “Tamils will only realise as the Kobbekaduwa in his home at General Kobbekaduwa has been days go by that our lot would have Kanakarayankulam in Vavuniya praised by the media for his District in 1985. At that time been better with General General Kobbekaduwa was achievements in the North-East. Kobbekaduwa alive” Newspaper reports say that he commanding officer for Kilinoch- always had the safely of civilians in The Tamil population which is chi District and coordinated his mind and that Tamils looked now living under military rule is operations in Vavuniya. Twenty upon him as a saviour. shocked by the statements made by others arrested along with Ravi the Tamil leaders who are living in were taken to Joseph headquarters Glowing tributes to General the capital Colombo. Report say and tortured. Ravi was held for Kobbekaduwa, have surprisingly many are angry and astonished, two weeks. He was assaulted with come from Tamil militant leaders though they condemn all killings batons, belts and plastic pipes and political parties. A TEL0 and sympathise with the families of filled with concrete. General leader said that General Kobbeka- the dead. Kobbekaduwa himself assaulted duwa’s personality and courage him on several occasions with coupled with an abiding concern All these statements appear to plastic pipes. Ravi was hung for civilian life cast an indelible have been made to pacify the upside down and a chillie fire was

Tamil Information No 13 1 placed under him. Ravi did not the Tamil Homeland during this has shocked the people and has even know why he had been period There are over 6,000 caused anger among Muslims. subjected to such treatment. He widows and over 10,000 orphans in Many have said that it was an asks if it was not a punishment, the Jaffna District alone. Houses, irresponsible statement by the could it be a deterrant or a means schools and temples have been leader. of intimidating a whole com- destroyed by shelling and bombing. munity? The hapless Tamils look upon the Statements in order to placate Tamil groups and their leaders to Ravi’s elder brother Shan was Sinhala leaders has also been made bring them salvation. Irresponsible arrested on 17th February 1984 in by the LTTE in 1989 and 1990, statements by the groups would Vavuniya. He was also taken to the when talks were taking place affect the trust placed in them by Joseph camp and interrogated and between the LTTE and the Sri the people. Most of the Tamil tortured. General Kobbekaduwa Lankan government. LTTE said people are hurt over the statements was present during interrogation that it could trust President made by Tamil leaders on General and torture although he did not Premadasa to resolve the conflict. Kobbekaduwa and these statements participate. Other LTTE leaders and have been made without any ‘Operation Liberation’ launched spokesmen extolled the virtues of consideration for the feeling and by the Sri Lankan armed forces in President Premadasa at meetings in suffering of the people. and abroad. As soon as mid 1987 in the Sources say the Sri Lankan fighting between LTTE and the Sri was led by General Kobbekaduwa. government is often pressurising Lankan forces resumed in June During this operation over 800 the leaders of militant groups in civilians were killed. Military 1990, the LTTE began denouncing President Premadasa. Colombo to make statements on vehicles were used to demolish such occasions, and the government hundreds of houses in Vadamarat- Earlier, LTTE said it was having is even offering money to them. It chy. If had not intervened at discussions with the Muslims may be recalled that between 1987 this stage many more civilians regarding their problems and issues and 1990 the IPKF offered money would have been massacred. As concerning them, but later gave an to militant groups to release Northern Commander General ultimatum to the Muslims to leave statements. Militant groups often Kobbekaduwa was involved in all the North. seem to be concerned only of their major military operations in the survival. If it is the survival of an Though there are confirmed North since June 1990. In an individual or groups of individuals reports that Muslims are appeal to foreign ambassadors in their actions could be understood. increasinghly taking a radical stand Colombo, the Jaffna Citizens What is at stake is the survival of and are engaged in largescale Committee says that over 30,000 the whole Tamil community and human rights violations against the innocent unarmed men, women Tamils say that such statements Tamils, LTTE leader Yogi and children have been killed and cannot be the way forward to t denouncing the Muslims as traitors over 10,000 have disappeared in achieve their goals+ Situation Report

JOURNALIST GRILLED brought the government into the President is not honest in what disrepute and caused disaffaction, if he is saying. His actions do not John Colmey an American published. He also had denied the agree with his statements+ journalist working for the magazine allegation that the sketch was “Asia Week” was interrogated by about President Premadasa riding the CID in connection with a on the back of a Tiger+ sketch found in his possession CALL FOR POLITICAL SOLUTION BY MILITARY which is believed to have contained PRESIDENT CALL FOR COMMANDER the sketch of a Tiger and the face POLlTlCAL SOLUTION of President Premadasa. At the Lieutenant-General Cecil President Premadasa speaking at weekly news conference at the Waidyaratne told reporters in a meeting in Kegalle District Parliamentary complex, Bradman Jaffna that security forces lacked admitting that some of the most Weerakoon, Presidential Advisor equipment and troops to crush the efficient officers in the Lankan on International Affairs declared LTTE and that a political solution security forces had been killed in that John Colmey had not been needed to resolve the Tamil crisis, the mine explosion in the North deported but had left the country virtually ruling out a military said that he wanted to find a on his own accord and the CID had victory. According Waidyaratne political solution to the ethnic recorded a statement from him 200,000 troops would be needed to crisis at national level and end the about his involvement in the crush the LTTE. The strength of war which he said was costing $455 “illustrated material” which, Sri Lankan security forces at million per year. However, Tamils according to him, could have present is about 1OO,OOO+ who attended the meeting say that

Tamil Information No.13 2 TAMILS RELEASED FROM KEREPESTARCSA DETENTION TIC ACCESSION LIST CAMP IN HUNGARY A Selection of documents received by TIC in August 1992 Fifty-one Sri Lankan Tamil refugees held at the Kerepestarcsa detention camp in Hungary were GFL 233 2p. released following intervention by Wilson, A.Jeyaratnam DESCRIPTORS: Attack on the United Nations High Journalists / Petition / Sinha- Commissioner for Refugees The Tamil Federal Party in Ceylon lese / Southern Region (UNHCR). A letter written by the Politics Tamils to the Tamil Information London: Journal of Common- SHR 998 Centre and other organisations had wealth Political Studies; July 1966. Sri Lanka: Freedom of Expression been smuggled out of the camp. 177p.-137p. cases in the North: Victims of The camp which is near Budapest LTTE Repression is notorious for the treatment of DESCRIPTORS: Tamils / Poli- tics / Political Parties / His- London: Article 19; August 17 detainees and lack of facilities. 1992 According to Amnesty Inter- tory / Propaganda national, beatings of inmates often SHR 994 No.14; 6p. occur in the camp and tear-gas has Fernando, Tyronne DESCRIPTORS: Freedom of been used in confined spaces. A opinion and Expression / Chinese man who had lost Hundred days in Sri Lanka’87 LTTE / Northern Region consciousness after being hit about the face and head was taken to the Sri Lanka: Chromographic (Pty) SHR997 hospital. Amnesty says that there is Ltd.: 1988 Permanent Mission of Sri Lanka: no information about his 147p. statement by Ambassador Bernard subsequent condition or wherea- A.B.Goonetilleke Permanent bouts. DESCRIPTORS: History of conflict / Human Rights Viola- Representative of Sri Lanka The Tamils had been held for tions / J-VP /India Geneva: 13 August 1992 three months often in total darkness. They say that they did not SHR 990 DESCRIPTORS: Human Rights Violations / Tamil have sufficient water and the Neelavannan accommodation lacked proper Homeland / Politics / Relief / Negotiations ventilation. The guards at the camp Mindum Yalppanam Erikiratu were unruly and often assaulted the (Text in Tamil) Tamils. Some Tamil women also Yalppanam: Vatathar Veliyidu; complained of sexual harassment. 1981 SHR 996 Sri Lanka: Human Rights and the The Tamils decided to launch a 78p. hunger strike from 7th September issues of War and Peace: Briefing demanding decisions on asylum DESCRIPTORS: Northern No.1 applications, provision of medical Region / Destruction of cul- tural centres / Attack on MPs Jaffna University Teachers for and other facilities and the Human Rights; August 1992 intervention of the UNHCR and / Destruction of Business / Establishments / Destruction 24p. ICRC. The TIC contacted the of Publishing Places UNHCR who assured that DESCRIPTORS: Human following representations to the GFL 231 Rights Violations / war / Poli- Hungarian government visits by tics / Muslims / Prisoners UNHCR officials had been allowed. Simon Casie Chitty The TIC also launched a campaign The Ceylon Gazetteer for the release of the Tamils. The SHR 995 UNHCR provided financial Colombo: PLW & Company: 1989 Press Release by University of assistance to the Hungarian Red 286p. Cross to attend to the needs of the Denver refugees. DESCRIPTORS: Moors of Cey- lon / Tamils / Caste Classifi- Colorado: University of Denver; 20 Following negotiations the cations / Tamil Ceremonies August 1992 Tamils were released. UNHCR will 40p- interview all the Tamil refugees and SHR 999 make recommendations to the DESCRIPTORS: Petition / UN Appeal by Free Media Movement- /Tamils / Human Rights Hungarian government on the Sri Lanka asylum applications. The Hungarian government will grant asylum to Sri Lanka: Free Media Movement; those recommended by UNHCR+ 1992

Tamil Information No.13 3 AUGUST DIARY

AUGUST 1 AUGUST 7 and her husband and three children REPORTS DENIED BY JOURNALIST ATTACKED: seriously injured when two airforce CO-E PRESIDENT: Thugs attacked foreign and local planes bombed Navatkuli around Chairman of the Parliamentary journalists who were present at the 6.30 am Eight bombs were droped. Select Committee on the national launching of a campaign by Lalith Many houses destroyed and trees conflict Mangala Moonesinghe Athulathmudali’s Democratic have been broken and uprooted. denied reports that he had United National Front(DUNF) to AUGUST 11 discussions with the Jaffna collect a million signatures Government Agent K Manickava- demanding the resignation of LTTE ATTACKS: The LTTE sagar and editor of Udayan President Premadasa. attacked army positions at Mulliyan newspaper to make contact with in Jaffna District An army the LTTE leadership. AUGUST 6 spokesman said attacks had been KOKKADDICHOLAI repulsed. AUGUST 2 KILLERS: Reports said that 18 AUGUST 12 SECURITY ALERT IN JAIL: soldiers would appear before a Reports said that following military tribunal for the massacre STUDENT KILLED BY information that LTTE was of 67 Tamils at Kokkaddicholai in SHELL: A ten year old student planning to forcibly enter the Batticaloa District on 12 June. returning home after tution classes Chenkalpet prison in Tamil Nadu Over 150 died in the massacre. in Erlalai in the Jaffna peninsula was killed by a shell from Palali. where the 26 accused in the Rajiv AUGUST 9 Gandhi murder case are held, Four others were injured. security was tightened in the area. TAMILS MASSACRED: AUGUST 13 Thirty-five Tamils including women AUGUST 3 and eleven children, most of them COMMONWEALTH MEDIA- TION: Senator Garath Evans, the SOLDIERS KILLED IN Tamils of Indian origin from the ATTACK: Fourteen soldiers on a plantations who had settled in Australian Foreign Affairs Minister search and destroy mission were Mylanthanai village on the addressing a meeting organised by killed in the Karadiyanaru jungles Batticaloa-Polarmaruwa border the Federation of Tamils in in the Batticaloa District. Two were massacred by an armed gang Melbourne said that the Australian soldiers were injured Security alleged to be soldiers following the government was concerned over sources said nine Tigers were shot land mine blast in Araliturai in the continuing war between the dead in Trincomalee. which 10 senior millitary officers LTTE and the government forces were killed. It was further revealed which has cost thousands of lives. AUGUST 4 that the gang also had abducted 9 He had added that his government ARMY PATROL AT- villagers including two women. has once again stressed to the Sri TACKED: LTTE surprised Lankan government of its readiness soldiers who were on patrol at AUGUST 10 to mediate with the involvement of Pirrappanmadu village near WITNESS KILLED: Ilayathambi “Commonwealth”. Vavuniya killing 15 of them and Nesadurai of Karaitivu in AUGUST 14 seriously wounding the rest. The Batticaloa District was shot dead by ambush is reported to have taken Home Guards. He had been DEATHS IN TIGER place within L’ITE held territory. summoned by courts to give ATTACK: Seven policemen were evidence relating to atrocities by killed and five injured in a LTTE AUGUST 5 Muslim Home Guards. ambush at Bakkiella on the LTTE KILL SOLDIERS: Four Batticaloa-Amparai border. SHELL ATTACK ON soldiers involved in a road clearing AUGUST 15 operation at Nanattan in Mannar JAFFNA: Kavitha Rajaratnam, a District were ambushed and killed young woman was killed and six APPOINTMENT OF NEW by the LTTE. others including a three year old MILITARY OFFICERS: child named Pathinather Gavaskar Defence Ministry announced the AUGUST 6 were seriously wounded when appointment of Maj. Gen. Gerry de TAMILS ARRESTED IN security forces indiscriminately Silva, eastern commander of the Sri COLOMBO: Over 300 Tamils fired shells into Navanthurai and Lankan Security forces for the were arrested in Colombo after Oddumadam area at about 8.45 North to fill the vacancy caused by allegations that L’ITE cadres had pm. Some houses were also the death of Maj. Gen. Denzil infiltrated into Colombo and damaged. Kobbekaduwa. The government Puttalam Districts. A number of communique added that Brig. BOMB KILL PREGNANT Rohan Daluwatte would succeed Tamil women were also taken into MOTHER: Sinnathurai. Eeswary, custody. Brig. Vijeya Wimalaratne and Brig. a young pregnant mother was killed Lucky Algama, a graduate of the AUGUST DIARY

Pakistan Defence Academy and renounced that a 12 km area had Madras High Court lifted the “stay known for his role in the fight been captured around Mathagal in Order” on repatriation of Tamil against JVP would succeed Maj. the Jaffna peninsula. refugees issued earlier following Gen. De Silva as the eastern petitions by P Nedumaran, commander. AUGUST 22 President of the Tamil National RICE FIELDS SCOURED Movement and Dr Ramdas, AUGUST 16 FOR MINES: Over 200 soldiers President of the Proletarian,, VOW TO DEFEAT LTTE: and police began a search of about People’s Party accusing the Tamil General , Sri 300 to 400 acres of paddy field in Nadu government of forcibly Lanka's top army general pledged Amparai for landmines. The search returning the Tamil refugees to Sri in a statement that the security for mines followed the killing of Lanka. The court said that there forces would step up their threefarmersbyasmallmineina was no concrete evidence to show campaign against LTTE who killed field. that the Tamil Nadu governmet the entire northern military top AUGUST 23 had adopted intimidatory steps. brass, with “renewed dedication”. However, most of the refugees LANDMINE ATTACK IN AUGUST 17 claim that they were given an TRINCOMALEE: Five soldiers ultimatum by the authorities and ATTACK ON CIVILIANS: including an officer were killed in a they have no choice in the matter. Following the killing of two LTTE landmine attack between soldiers at Thetrativu in Batticaloa Kallaru and Mavilaru in Trincoma- AUGUST 26 District by a landmine, soldiers lee District. BUNKERS DESTROYED: attacked civilians on the streets. AUGUST 24 Three military bunkers at The Kalmunai-Batticaloa bus Periyapachchaipallai near the service was disrupted Five Tamils LTTE LEADERS KILLED: Elephant Pass camp were overrun were arrested by the army. LTTE announced that some of by LTTE in a predawn attack Five their best men namely Somasun- AUGUST 16 soldiers were reported killed and tharam Satkunam alias Rajan, several others seriously injured in BUS DAMAGED IN SNIPER commander of the “Charles the attack FIRE: Sniper fire from the army Anthony Brigade”, Captain camp in Mandaitivu damaged a bus Ganeshan alias Puniyamoorthy of AUGUST 26 at the Jaffna bus stand. ICRC Trincomalee and Captain Vanni NAVAL BOAT CAPTURED: officilal inspected the damage. alias Kanapathippillai Kananathan The LTTE claimed that it had of Thunukai had been killed in a AUGUST 19 captured a British-made patrol counter offensive to recapture the craft fitted with naval communica- TAMILS ARRESTED: Two territory lost to government troops tion equipment and a 20 millimetre hundred and eighty four Tamils in Mathagal. machine gun from the Naval base were arrested in Colombo in a in the government-controlled three day operation by the police. AUGUST 25 Mandativu islet. The arrests were made on SPECIAL FUND FOR allegations of LTTE infiltration. REFUGEES: According to AUGUST 30 government sources, five countries, BOMB KILL PAS- Australia, Canada, France, USA SANGERS:Over ten people AUGUST 20 and UK have contributed including a soldier were killed and CIVILIANS DIE IN SHEL- approximately SLRs 70 million 23 more wounded when a hidden LING: Ten civilians were killed (US $1.6 million) to UNHCR to bomb blew up a bus parked with and over 50 injured in shelling and provide emergency relief to Tamils passangers at the main bus station bombing of Sillalai, Pandaterrippu, returning from India. in Trincomalee. Military sources Marisankoodal, Mathagal, AUGUST 26 have accused the LTTE for the Alaveddy and Ilavalai. There was blast, but LTTE sources deny continuous shelling from army ARMY OPERATION IN involvement. BATTICALOA: JOC reports camps and five planes were AUGUST 31 engaged in bombing. Houses, said that two Tigers were killed in temples and other buildings were an attack at Thikkodai in REFUGEES FLOWN TO damaged. Around 4,000 persons Batticaloa District Thirty six TRINCOMALEE: One hundred fled the area. Tamils were arrested by the and thirty two Tamil refugees were security forces. returned to Trincomalee in an AUGUST 21 Indian Airlines plane. On arrival OPERATION EARTH- they were sent to the refugee camp QUAKE: Following the launching AUGUST 27 at Uppuveli. of Operation Earthquake the army STAY ORDER LIFTED: The PLANTATION TAMILS, PRIVATISATION AND EDUCATION TEA has dominated Sri Lanka’s infant mortality rates. Literacy rate hey accounted for under 25%. in the plantation sector is 61.8% as economy for over a century. In the Around two million people early 19th century the British against the national rate of 85%. My 4.2% of the people own depend on the 400,000 persons colonial administration opened up employed by the state corporations. houses compared to 90% in the vast areas of land for cash crop Trade unions say nearly 200,000 ural and 66.4% in the urban cultivation. The local Sinhalese workmen will be made redundant sectors. Plantation wages are the population was unwilling to work by privatisation and the companies lowest in the island and on the newly opened plantations health and may lower wages to current levels and the planters began recruiting sanitary facilities remain marginal paid by privately-owned estates and Tamil labour from South India. without any improvement. They curtail even the meagre welfare, we also endured three major health and housing facilities gained By the 1930s the immigrant outbreaks of racial violence in the plantation population had reached after decades of struggle. Some stormy years since independence in unions fear that privatisation will 690,000. Their poor living and 1948 at a cost of thousands of lives. working conditions were ignored eopardise the recently negotiated until the Ceylon Indian Congress Over 500,000 acres of plantation collective agreement. They contend (CIC), the first organisation to and was acquired by the state in hat the problem on plantations is represent the plantation workers, 1972 and were vested in two state not management but the economic was formed in 1939. The CIC corporations. Initial optimism over policy of the government which has became the Ceylon Workers and reform dissipated when ed to rise in the cost of produci Congress (CWC) in 1950 and plantation workers were subject to tion. remains the most influential trade violent attacks and many were Trade unions are apprehensive union on the plantations. dismissed. Mismanagement and hat two tiers of supervision by the political interference blighted the The backing given in Parliament government and by private lay-today running of the tea companies will create confusion to opposition left-wing parties by estates and the two corporations and further affect production. the seven CIC members elected in began incurring losses. 1947 incensed the ruling United Collective bargaining and the National Party (UNP). Removal of In recent years the government settlement of industrial disputes Tamil and left-wing domination in has come under World Bank will become more difficult, say the plantations became a priority pressure to privatise the plantation local union leaders who fear many and discriminatory legislation sector to make it economically workers will lose their jobs. deprived a million plantation viable. Nearly 450 estates 468,000 Education as the vehicle for acres in extent were allocated to 22 Tamils of their right to citizenship advancement of the plantation and the vote. private companies in May 1992. community, has not been According to the government encouraged by trade unions for fear Negotiations between India and private companies will only handle Sri Lanka on the future of the of being overwhelmed by a new management, and ownership will class of educated youth. Trade plantation Tamils culminated in remain with the state. the Indo-Ceylon Agreements of unions which control the lives of 1964 and 1974. Under the Tea production fell by 10% last plantation workers confine agreements 450,000 Tamils were tc year and the average annual rubber themselves to adult education be granted Sri Lankan citizenship production has declined by 242 courses and seminars. In many and 675,000 accepted by India. million pounds in the last three estates classes are conducted in Despite the agreements, there years. Sri Lanka is set to lose at dilapidated buildings and other remained over 400,000 stateless least five billion rupees ($113.6 educational facilities such as persons in 1984. Many of the million) in tea earnings this year equipment and furniture are not 500,000 repatriated to South India andwillfalltothirdplaceinthe provided. There is a total lack of were further impoverished and country's export ratings, economist facilities for teaching science in marginalised by corrupt or inept say. Tamil schools in the plantation areas and little enthusiasm is development schemes set up to Supporters of privatisation say resettle them in the Nilgiris Hills. shown in filling teaching vacancies. new management will increase Libraries are found only in a very In Sri Lanka, four decades of wages and provide better housing. few estate areas. struggle ended when the If the plantation industry is to government relented following become viable and withstand Requests have been made to the threat of strike action by the competition from other tea- Tamil Information Centre for unions, and enacted legislation in producing countries. State books and periodicals for libraries 1986 and 1988 to grant citizenship involvement has to be reduced to a in plantations. TIC calls upon to all stateless Tamils. Despite minimum. They point out that those interested in providing books progress in the grant of citizenship before nationalisation, 70% of Sri and magazines, to contact the TIC workers live and work in appalling Lanka’s foreign exchange earnings for further details. TIC hopes to conditions. Plantation districts came from export of tea, rubber collect books for libraries in other have the highest maternal and and coconut products while today areas of the Hill Country as well+ Situation Report

DISAPPEARANCE OF RETURNED REFUGEE IN NO BIRTH CERTIFICATE TAMIL YOUTHS IN THE PRISON IN JAFFNA HOSPITAL EAST A Tamil refugee who returned Birth registration certificates are Reports say that over 5,000 from Tamil Nadu is being held in not issued at the Jaffna general Tamil youths arrested by the the Colombo Magazine prison for hospital in respect of births in the security forces in the East have the last three months. In a habeas hospital. Four months ago the disappeared. These arrests had corpus application Rosari Joy certificates were exhausted but the taken place from 1990 and parents Anand says that her husband, issue was resumed in early July. say that they have no information Gnanapragasam Joy Anand, who Reports say that once again issue whatsoever about their fate. Most had returned from India on 6th of certificates has been stopped of the arrests have been carried out March was arrested at Pesalai and many parents daily visit the in Batticaloa, Amparai and refugee camp on Mannar Island on hospital to obtain the certificates+ Akkaraipatru. Many arrests took 13 April by soldiers from the place in refugee camps. Although Thallady army camp. Currently he in many cases army officers is held at the Magazine Prison informed parents that their under emergency regulations. WIDOWS NEED children would be released after Reports say that around 600 ASSISTANCE inquiry no-one has been released+ Tamils are held in the Magazine and Kalutara prisons under Batticaloa MP Prins Casinadar, detention orders or emergency in a letter to Rehabilitation regulations without being brought Minister P. Dayaratue says that 412 TAMIL ARRESTED AT widows in refugee camps in AIRPORT before a court or being informed of the reasons for their arrest+ Batticaloa District are suffering A young Tamil woman deported without proper assistance to enable from Denmark was handed over to them to take care of their children. the police at the Katunayake TAMILS ABDUCTED IN These widows are at refugee camps Airport. She was held by the police VALAICHENAI in Valaichenai, Kalliyankadu, Senkalady, Kallady and Eravur. for fourteen days. When she was Six Tamils travelling in the produced before the Negambo The MP has requested compensa- Colombo/Batticaloa train were Magistrate the police said that tion for death of husbands and abducted by unknown gunmen’ at assistance to launch self-help their investigations had not been the Valaichenai railway station on completed and objected strongly to projects+ 10th August 1992. Reports say the her being released. They said that abduction was carried out by LTTE links were being investiga- TAMIL TORTURED IN Muslim Home Guards. Meanwhile, ted. However the Magistrate Tamils in the villages of Eravur, CUSTODY ordered her to be released as the Arumugathankudiruppu and police had not produced any A Tamil youth who made Iyankerni in the Batticaloa District evidence+ preparations to travel to Australia say they live in fear of Home is being held at the notorious Guards. As Home Guards threaten “Sixth Floor” of the Colombo PLOICE OCCUPY the villagers most of them spend police headquarters for the past VILLAGE SCHOOL the nights in jungles+ one year. Chelliah Sundaramurthy of Udupiddy in Jaffna, was arrested Education of children in the FORCIBLE in August 1991 in the Colombo Veeramunai village in the RESETTLEMENT OF surburb of Wellawatte by the rmy Batticaloa District has been badly TAMILS IN UNSAFE and was handed over to the police affected as the police is occupying a week later. He had been severely the village school. The children of PLACES assaulted and tortured while in the 150 refugee families resettled Four hundred and twenty Tamil army custody. Torture continued in the village are unable to families have been forcibly on the Sixth Floor and on 26th continue their education. Another resettled in Manjamthoduvai in November 1991 he was forced to 372 families of the Veeramunai Batticaloa District by the Army sign a statement. In a habeas village are living in camps at near the army camp. Tamils corpus application to the Court of Thimkovil, Karaitivu and displaced earlier had refused to Appeal Sundaramurthy’s mother Kalmunai for the past two years+ return to the village because of the has sought his release and medical , army camp and activitiy of Muslim examination+ Home Guards+

Tamil Information No.13 7 Petition to the United Nation

In June 1992 the Tamil Informa- pointed to the report where it criminal law and impose sanctions tion Centre submitted a petition on states that the aim of the UN must, for any refusal to comply with the plight of the Sri Lankan enter alia, be, where conflict erupts, decisions of the Tribunal or any Tamils, signed by nearly 10,000 to engage in peace-making aimed other organ of the UN+ members and friends of the Tamil at resolving the issues that have led Community, to the Secretary to the conflict. General of the United Nations Dr. Boutros Boutros Ghal. As a body composed of nations, COLONISATION IN no acknowledgement is sent to TAMIL HOMELAND The petition was submitted in petitions submitted by NGOs or June 1992 in the light of UN group of individuals to the UN. Security forces have prohibited General Assembly debates on However TIC hopes that the UN displaced Tamils from Thekankadu mechanisms to allow intervention will consider the petition and take in Vavuniya in 1990 to return to to protect human rights and assist positive action to intervene in Sri their village. Meanwhile, reports internally displaced persons. The Lanka. say Sinhalere colonisation is taking UN High Commissioner for Meanwhile, TIC understands place in the village. AU attempts by Refugees Mrs Sadako Ogata had Vavuniya Kachcheri officials to also said that human rights that a group of intellectuals in Sri Lanka have also submitted a prevent the colonisation have violations were a major cause of petition to the UN calling for failed. Lands in Thekankadu would refugee flows and emphasised the intervention. be used for building factories and need for preventive protection that government quarters, President might obviate the need for flight. In August 1992 yet another Premadasa has announced. The petition called on the petition was submitted to the UN on behalf of the Sri Lankan Tamils Meanwhile, calls have been made United Nations to debate the Sri by the Global Organisation of through government controlled Lankan Tamil issue as a matter of People of Indian Origin, Friends of “Daily News” newspaper to NGOs urgency and urge the Sri Lankan India Society International and the to provide assistance to clear government to abandon the National Federation of Indian jungles in Kanniya, Alankemy, military solution, use the good American Associations. The Upparu, Kandalkadu, Milawewa, offices offered by the Common- Kuchchaveli, and Colony 9 in the wealth and countries like Australia, petition has been signed by Luis Kutner, Chairman of the Trincomalee District According to Canada, India, Norway and Commission for International Due reports the government intends to Switzerland to facilitate negotia- Process of Law and Ved. P. Nanda, colonise these Tamil villages and tions and to seek a lasting solution. Professor of Law at the University surrounding areas with Sinhalese The petition also urged the UN to people+ ensure recognition of the right of of Denver College of Law. self-determination of Tamils and The petition requests the W-CHIEF MINISTER OF end all human rights violations. formation of an ad hoc Commis- NORTH-EAST WISHES TO RETURN TO SRI LANKA The TIC wrote to the Secretary sion to function as an ad hoc General in August 1992 once again Tribunal, pursuant to Article 22 of A senior Madya Pradesh state pointing out the deteriorating the UN Charter, by a resolution of government officer has leaked to situation in Sri Lanka and the the Human Rights Commission, the press that Varadaraja Perumal, government’s clear intention to the UN General Assembly, the the former chief minister of Sri pursue a military solution. The TIC Security Council and the Lanka’s north-eastern province refered to the Secretary General’s Sub-Commission on the Prevention who has been in the high security report to the 47th session of the of Discrimination and Protection Chanderi Fort in India as a “special UN General Assembly on of Minorities to investigate guest” of the Indian government “preventive diplomacy, peace- allegations of torture, arbitrary and looked after by a company of making and peacekeeping” arrest, disappearance, killings and the Madhya Pradesh Special Armed wherein it had been emphasised attempted genocide. Force (SAF) wishes to return to Sri that democracy within nations The petition also calls for the ad Lanka to resume active political requiries respect for human rights hoc Tribunal to be authorised to life. The senior leader of the and fundamental freedoms as set function as an International EPRLF was also said to have been forth in the UN Charter and Criminal Tribunal to try officers concerned about the future of his requiries as well a deeper and agents of the Sri Lankan two sons and two daughters who understanding and respect for the government under international are living with him+ rights of minorities. TIC also TAMIL INFORMATION is published by Tamil Information Centre. Thamil House, 720 Romford Road, London El2 6BT. Tel: 081514 6390 SUBSCRIPTlON: UK - £6.00 All Other Countries - £lO.OO