TAMIL INFORMATION CENTRE AUGUST 1992 No
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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 General 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 Jaffna 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 Colombo 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. Sri Lanka and abroad. As soon as mid 1987 in the Jaffna peninsula 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 India 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.