Aerial Bombing- Genocide, Not Soft Option

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Aerial Bombing- Genocide, Not Soft Option Access to TAMIL INFORMATION Information is a Fundamental Bight NEWS BULLETIN OF THE TAMIL INFORMATION CENTRE NOV- DEC 1993 Nos. 28 & 29 LTTE DESTROY POONERYN ARMY CAMP The Liberation Tigers of Tamil persons had died earlier for lack of army unit only on 13 November. Eelam (LTTE) launched Operation medical treatment and two died of Thavalai, a massive assault on the shock during the Tiger operation. Both sides have suffered heavy Pooneryn army camp and the losses. At least 1,000 soldiers and Nagathevanthurai naval base in At dawn, military helicopters and navy personnel are either dead or Kilinochchi District on 11 bombers began attacking the missing. The government has not November.The two military bases Tigers. In Tiger counter- attacks a been able to draw up a complete list lie only a few miles apart, west of helicopter was damaged. of the dead, which has left parents Elephant Pass. in a state of shock and uncertainty. Amidst bombing the Tigers used Another 435 soldiers were injured. Sea Tigers landed near boats captured at the naval base to TheLTTEhasannouncedthat411 Nagathevanthurai naval base at 2.20 ferry arms and the injured across of their cadre were killed. am in two rowing boats across the the lagoon to the Jaffna peninsula. Kilali lagoon and began attacking Early morning the Tigers There were 292 army trainees in the military’s forward defence lines. announced over loudspeakers the Pooneryn camp at the time of Search lights in the base were urging soldiers who fled into the LTTE attack and according to smashed by gunfire. Another unit of coconut groves and paddy fields to reports all were killed. Observers 150 Sea Tigers landed in motor surrender. Another LTTE unit say the trainees had been sent to boats and entered the base. They began attacking regrouped soldiers Pooneryn to prevent them deserting targeted the communications under Colonel Ranjan Silva, who the army after completion of their building and damaged the radar and pleaded over the radio for training. communication equipment cutting reinforcements. The LTTE came off links with other camps. Many under heavy attack by the air force In Operation Thavalai Tigers sailors were killed in the unexpected and many Tigers were killed. captured Rs. 300 million ($6 attack and the others retreated east million) worth of arms and towards the Elephant Pass army According to reports, some of the equipment, including two Main camp. high ranking military officers had Battle Tanks, five 120 mm artillery decided not to send reinforcements guns and five naval boats. At about the same time two Tiger to save the soldiers trapped west of units from the direction of Mannar Pooneryn. Colombo newspapers Although the military expected an in the south and Paranthan in the say Prime Minister Ranil attack in view of Maveerar Varam east , breached the defence lines and Wickremasinghe intervened and (Great Heros Week) observed by entered the Pooneryn army camp. ensured that a rescue operation was the Tigers annually to The communications room and launched. Meanwhile the Tigers commemorate the dead in the war, other buildings in the camp were also attempted, as a diversionary such a ferocious offensive had not damaged by Tiger shelling. In an measure to infiltrate Palaly and been anticipated, particularly within hour of fighting many soldiers were Kankesanthurai army camps in the weeks after the Yal Devi operation killed. Col. Ranjan Silva assembled north of the Jaffna peninsula. by the army in September to the remaining 500 soldiers and capture Killali and two days before retreated west towards Sangupiddy. On 12 November army attempts the Hindu Deepavali festival. In the Thereafter the Tigers began to land on the sand banks, east of last three months the army had been removing the bodies and the Mandaitivu was thwarted by a interviewing Jaffna people arriving captured arms. The Tigers found 36 LTTE unit from Ariyalai which in Vavuniya, to gather information Tamil prisoners locked in-one room. landed on the Kalmunai Point on preparation for a major They had been arrested during army promontory west of Pooneryn. The offensive. Yal Devi was launched to operation Valampuri in October army was only able to land at discourage the Tigers from 199 1 and detained in squalid Kalmunai following LTTE undertaking any attacks and another conditions. Most of them were old withdrawal from Pooneryn. The najor military offensive on the men, women and children. Three rescue forces reached the besieged Jaffna peninsula was being planned Tamil Information Nos. 28 & 29 Nov-Dec 1993 1 for 1994. The pre-emptive strike by including ten people in one family and arms would force the the Tigers has thrown the military at Navanthurai. The genocidal government to sue for peace. But into disarray. attack came between 8.30 and hues and cries for a political 9.OOam while thousands of people solution seem to have fallen on deaf Retaliatory military attacks on were on the streets shopping and ears. The Defence Ministry has Jaffna peninsula began immediately. those killed included women and begun negotiations for immediate The Jaffna Government Agent’s children. Seventy one other purchase of arms. Reports say Rs. office was bombed on 13 November civilians were wounded. 2,000 million ($40 million) worth injuring 25 persons. Government of arms will arrive in Colombo in Agent K.Manickavasagar himself The capture of tanks and five the beginning of January 1994. was injured. On the same day St. mile range artillery guns by the Continuous bombing raids have James Church in Gurunagar was LTTE would give them an added been ordered, some reports say, by bombed killing nine civilians who advantage. The government seems President Wijetunge himself, on were praying inside. Over 50 people to have other unexpected problems Jaffna. According to the army the were injured, seven of whom died in too. Most of the Chinese supersonic intention of bombing and shelling hospital. A woman lost her leg when and other bombers had been at of Jaffna is to prevent the LTTE a children school in Kondavil was Katunayake airport from where from launching other Pooneryn-type attacked by the air force. Damage they took off for bombing raids on attacks. But the pattern of bombing by bombs to the market and shops the North- East. But international and shelling show that these are belonging to the Town Council in aviation agencies have protested nothing but revenge attacks on the Chavakachcheri is estimated at Rs. against using a civilian airport for Tamil population. The bombing 5. million ($100,000). Shelling from military planes and have warned Sri continues despite appeals from the Palaly and Mandaitivu military Lanka that air services would be Jaffna Catholic Bishop Thomas camps has caused extensive damage suspended if the bombers were not Savundaranayagam and the in many areas. Argentinean Puckara removed. The government fears the assurance given by Prime Minister planes bombed Gurunagar, Tigers may now target airports in Ranil Wickremasinghe to the Jaffna Sinnakadai and Pashaiyur and other the NorthEast using the captured Government Agent. areas in and around Jaffna town on 120 mm guns. Some observers 5 December killing 26 civilians believe that the massive loss of life RESETTLEMENT WITHOUT BASIC NEEDS Veeramunai village in Amparai educational needs of the 720 biggest hurdle for the villagers. District is an eye opener as far as students on roll. This school lacks a Even a sub-post office has not been resettlement programmes for library, playground and prayer hall not provided. The nearest postal Tamils are concerned Two among others. The other school now facility is three miles away. thousand five hundred and seventy houses the local police station. six persons from 580 families were The lack of basic facilities at resettled on 28.03.92 in this village The medical needs of the villagers Veeramunai even after a year from with the closest town being are catered to by the mobile hospital the initial resettlement is all the Akkaraipatru. This village was service which is available three days more important in so far as this vacated on 12.08.90 when violence in a week. The mobile service has was the first village to be resettled flared up in the area which resulted proved to bc totally inadequate to by inmates from a refugee camp in in 50 women being widowed. The the impoverished villagers. the east. The lack of facilities here fleeing villagers could not carry any prevailing for over a year is bound of their possessions with them and Roads in the village are in to have an adverse impact on all sought refuge in Karaitivu and disrepair due to.the long period of resettlement schemes and therefore Thirukkovil where they remained in neglect. There is no bus service due needs to be attended to without refugee camps until their to the state of the roads. Street further delay. resettlement. lighting is the only supply of electricity to the village. Only one of the two former schools is now functioning to meet the Communication is perhaps the 2 Nov-Dec 1993 Tamil Information Nos.28 & 29 TIC ACCESSION LIST A selection of documents received by TIC in November / December 1993 PC 4655 SHR 3281 SHR 3266 1,000 killed in raid by Tigers Briefing: Colombo after Premadasa: Structural adjustment in Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka: The Sunday Times; 2 l- the position of Sri Lankan Tamils in a grassroots perspective by Charles 1 l-93 sourthern and Central areas of the Abeysekera and others 1p. island Geneva; ICVA, August 1993. DESCRIPTORS: Attack on army London: British Refugee Council; 18p. camp / LTTE / Statement / Sri Decenber 1993 DESCRIPTORS: Economy / Sri Lankan Government / Statistics / 4p.
Recommended publications
  • Sri Lanka 2020 Human Rights Report
    SRI LANKA 2020 HUMAN RIGHTS REPORT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Sri Lanka is a constitutional, multiparty democratic republic with a freely elected government. Presidential elections were held in 2019, and Gotabaya Rajapaksa won the presidency. He appointed former president Mahinda Rajapaksa, his brother, as prime minister. On August 5, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa led the Sri Lankan People’s Freedom Alliance and small allied parties to secure a two- thirds supermajority, winning 150 of 225 seats in parliamentary elections. COVID-19 travel restrictions prevented international observers and limited domestic election observation. Domestic observers described the election as peaceful, technically well managed, and safe considering the COVID-19 pandemic but noted that unregulated campaign spending, abuse of state resources, and media bias affected the level playing field. The Sri Lanka Police are responsible for maintaining internal security and are under the Ministry of Public Security, formed on November 20. The military, under the Ministry of Defense, may be called upon to handle specifically delineated domestic security responsibilities, but generally without arrest authority. The nearly 11,000-member paramilitary Special Task Force, a police entity that reports to the inspector general of police, coordinates internal security operations with the military. Civilian officials maintained control over the security forces. Members of the security forces committed some abuses. The Sri Lanka parliament passed the 20th Amendment to the constitution on October 22. Opposition political leaders and civil society groups widely criticized the amendment for its broad expansion of executive authority that activists said would undermine the independence of the judiciary and independent state institutions, such as the Human Rights Commission and the Elections Commission, by granting the president sole authority to make appointments to these bodies with parliament afforded only a consultative role.
    [Show full text]
  • Justice Delayed, Justice Denied? the Search for Accountability for Alleged Wartime Atrocities Committed in Sri Lanka
    Pace International Law Review Volume 33 Issue 2 Spring 2021 Article 3 May 2021 Justice Delayed, Justice Denied? The Search for Accountability for Alleged Wartime Atrocities Committed in Sri Lanka Aloka Wanigasuriya University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Law Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/pilr Part of the Criminal Law Commons, Criminal Procedure Commons, Human Rights Law Commons, International Humanitarian Law Commons, International Law Commons, Law and Politics Commons, and the Military, War, and Peace Commons Recommended Citation Aloka Wanigasuriya, Justice Delayed, Justice Denied? The Search for Accountability for Alleged Wartime Atrocities Committed in Sri Lanka, 33 Pace Int'l L. Rev. 219 (2021) Available at: https://digitalcommons.pace.edu/pilr/vol33/iss2/3 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the School of Law at DigitalCommons@Pace. It has been accepted for inclusion in Pace International Law Review by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Pace. For more information, please contact [email protected]. JUSTICE DELAYED, JUSTICE DENIED? THE SEARCH FOR ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ALLEGED WARTIME ATROCITIES COMMITTED IN SRI LANKA Aloka Wanigasuriya* TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Introduction .......................................................................... 221 II. National Action ..................................................................... 223 A. National Mechanisms............................................... 223 1. Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka (HRCSL) ..............................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Reforming Sri Lankan Presidentialism: Provenance, Problems and Prospects Volume 2
    Reforming Sri Lankan Presidentialism: Provenance, Problems and Prospects Edited by Asanga Welikala Volume 2 18 Failure of Quasi-Gaullist Presidentialism in Sri Lanka Suri Ratnapala Constitutional Choices Sri Lanka’s Constitution combines a presidential system selectively borrowed from the Gaullist Constitution of France with a system of proportional representation in Parliament. The scheme of proportional representation replaced the ‘first past the post’ elections of the independence constitution and of the first republican constitution of 1972. It is strongly favoured by minority parties and several minor parties that owe their very existence to proportional representation. The elective executive presidency, at least initially, enjoyed substantial minority support as the president is directly elected by a national electorate, making it hard for a candidate to win without minority support. (Sri Lanka’s ethnic minorities constitute about 25 per cent of the population.) However, there is a growing national consensus that the quasi-Gaullist experiment has failed. All major political parties have called for its replacement while in opposition although in government, they are invariably seduced to silence by the fruits of office. Assuming that there is political will and ability to change the system, what alternative model should the nation embrace? Constitutions of nations in the modern era tend fall into four categories. 1.! Various forms of authoritarian government. These include absolute monarchies (emirates and sultanates of the Islamic world), personal dictatorships, oligarchies, theocracies (Iran) and single party rule (remaining real or nominal communist states). 2.! Parliamentary government based on the Westminster system with a largely ceremonial constitutional monarch or president. Most Western European countries, India, Japan, Israel and many former British colonies have this model with local variations.
    [Show full text]
  • Sri Lanka – Colonel Karuna – Abductions – Joseph Pararajasingham
    Refugee Review Tribunal AUSTRALIA RRT RESEARCH RESPONSE Research Response Number: LKA31328 Country: Sri Lanka Date: 16 February 2007 Keywords: Sri Lanka – Colonel Karuna – Abductions – Joseph Pararajasingham This response was prepared by the Country Research Section of the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RRT within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Questions 1. Please provide any information you have about the physical appearance, age, background, etc, of LTTE Commander Karuna. 2. Please provide current information about Karuna. 3. Please provide information about the murder of MP Joseph Pararajasingham. RESPONSE (Note: There is a range of transliteral spelling from non-English languages into English. In this Country Research Response the spelling is as per the primary source document). 1. Please provide any information you have regarding the physical appearance, age, background, etc, of LTTE Commander Karuna. “Colonel Karuna” is the nom de guerre of Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan. Karuna was born in Kiran in the Batticaloa district of Sri Lanka. A 2004 BBC News profile of Karuna describes him as being 40 years old whilst Wikipedia1 information gives his year of birth as 1966. A photograph of Karuna is printed in the attached BBC News profile (Gopalakrishnan, Ramesh 2004, ‘Profile: Colonel Karuna’, BBC News, 5 March http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3537025.stm – Accessed 7 February 2007 – Attachment 1; ‘Karuna: Rebels’ rebel’ 2004, The Sunday Times (Sri Lanka), 7 March http://www.sundaytimes.lk/040307/ – Accessed 7 February 2007 – Attachment 2; ‘Colonel Karuna’ 2007, Wikipedia, 27 January http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colonel_Karuna – Accessed 7 February 2007 – Attachment 3).
    [Show full text]
  • Country of Origin Information Report Sri Lanka May 2007
    COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION REPORT SRI LANKA 11 MAY 2007 Border & Immigration Agency COUNTRY OF ORIGIN INFORMATION SERVICE 11 MAY 2007 SRI LANKA Contents PREFACE Latest News EVENTS IN SRI LANKA, FROM 1 APRIL 2007 TO 30 APRIL 2007 REPORTS ON SRI LANKA PUBLISHED OR ACCESSED BETWEEN 1 AND 30 APRIL 2007 Paragraphs Background Information 1. GEOGRAPHY........................................................................................ 1.01 Map ................................................................................................ 1.06 2. ECONOMY............................................................................................ 2.01 3. HISTORY.............................................................................................. 3.01 The Internal conflict and the peace process.............................. 3.13 4. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS...................................................................... 4.01 Useful sources.............................................................................. 4.21 5. CONSTITUTION..................................................................................... 5.01 6. POLITICAL SYSTEM .............................................................................. 6.01 Human Rights 7. INTRODUCTION..................................................................................... 7.01 8. SECURITY FORCES............................................................................... 8.01 Police............................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Sri Lanka: Tamil Politics and the Quest for a Political Solution
    SRI LANKA: TAMIL POLITICS AND THE QUEST FOR A POLITICAL SOLUTION Asia Report N°239 – 20 November 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ................................................. i I. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................. 1 II. TAMIL GRIEVANCES AND THE FAILURE OF POLITICAL RESPONSES ........ 2 A. CONTINUING GRIEVANCES ........................................................................................................... 2 B. NATION, HOMELAND, SEPARATISM ............................................................................................. 3 C. THE THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT AND AFTER ................................................................................ 4 D. LOWERING THE BAR .................................................................................................................... 5 III. POST-WAR TAMIL POLITICS UNDER TNA LEADERSHIP ................................. 6 A. RESURRECTING THE DEMOCRATIC TRADITION IN TAMIL POLITICS .............................................. 6 1. The TNA ..................................................................................................................................... 6 2. Pro-government Tamil parties ..................................................................................................... 8 B. TNA’S MODERATE APPROACH: YET TO BEAR FRUIT .................................................................. 8 1. Patience and compromise in negotiations
    [Show full text]
  • Tides of Violence: Mapping the Sri Lankan Conflict from 1983 to 2009 About the Public Interest Advocacy Centre
    Tides of violence: mapping the Sri Lankan conflict from 1983 to 2009 About the Public Interest Advocacy Centre The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is an independent, non-profit legal centre based in Sydney. Established in 1982, PIAC tackles barriers to justice and fairness experienced by people who are vulnerable or facing disadvantage. We ensure basic rights are enjoyed across the community through legal assistance and strategic litigation, public policy development, communication and training. 2nd edition May 2019 Contact: Public Interest Advocacy Centre Level 5, 175 Liverpool St Sydney NSW 2000 Website: www.piac.asn.au Public Interest Advocacy Centre @PIACnews The Public Interest Advocacy Centre office is located on the land of the Gadigal of the Eora Nation. TIDES OF VIOLENCE: MAPPING THE SRI LANKAN CONFLICT FROM 1983 TO 2009 03 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... 09 Background to CMAP .............................................................................................................................................09 Report overview .......................................................................................................................................................09 Key violation patterns in each time period ......................................................................................................09 24 July 1983 – 28 July 1987 .................................................................................................................................10
    [Show full text]
  • The Israeli-Sri Lankan Relationship
    The Israeli-Sri Lankan Relationship by Punsara Amarasinghe BESA Center Perspectives Paper No. 1,962, March 12, 2021 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Following Indian premier Narendra Singh Modi’s historic visit to Israel in 2017, bilateral relations between India and Israel were elevated into a strategic partnership. But this was not Israel’s first successful diplomatic venture in South Asia. India’s tiny neighbor, Sri Lanka, had a strategic alliance with Israel long before India developed one. During the Cold War era, Sri Lanka was viewed as an Israeli success story in the region. Jewish relations with Sri Lanka have a long history that dates all the way back to the biblical epoch: the Sri Lankan city of Galle is said to be the city of Tarshish, to which King Solomon sent merchant ships. Beyond the biblical legacy, the Jewish presence in the island nation thrived under British rule, as many European Jews held prominent positions in the colonial administration. In the early stage of British rule, then Chief Justice of Sri Lanka Sir Alexander Johnston proposed the establishment of a Jewish settlement on the island, an idea that was not taken up by the colonial office in London. Both Israel and Sri Lanka became independent states in 1948. At Israel’s inception, it faced diplomatic hostility from the Arab world, and many post-colonial countries—including India—refused to recognize it as an independent state. But Sri Lanka’s first PM, D.S. Senanayake, initiated the island nation’s cooperation with Israel, despite the disapproval of many Asian and African states.
    [Show full text]
  • A Study of Violent Tamil Insurrection in Sri Lanka, 1972-1987
    SECESSIONIST GUERRILLAS: A STUDY OF VIOLENT TAMIL INSURRECTION IN SRI LANKA, 1972-1987 by SANTHANAM RAVINDRAN B.A., University Of Peradeniya, 1981 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES Department of Political Science We accept this thesis as conforming to the required standard THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA February 1988 @ Santhanam Ravindran, 1988 In presenting this thesis in partial fulfilment of the requirements for an advanced degree at the University of British Columbia, I agree that the Library shall make it freely available for reference and study. I further agree that permission for extensive copying of this thesis for scholarly purposes may be granted by the head of my department or by his or her representatives. It is understood that copying or publication of this thesis for financial gain shall not be allowed without my written permission. Department of Political Science The University of British Columbia 1956 Main Mall Vancouver, Canada V6T 1Y3 Date February 29, 1988 DE-6G/81) ABSTRACT In Sri Lanka, the Tamils' demand for a federal state has turned within a quarter of a century into a demand for the independent state of Eelam. Forces of secession set in motion by emerging Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinism and the resultant Tamil nationalism gathered momentum during the 1970s and 1980s which threatened the political integration of the island. Today Indian intervention has temporarily arrested the process of disintegration. But post-October 1987 developments illustrate that the secessionist war is far from over and secession still remains a real possibility.
    [Show full text]
  • Committee on Public Enterprises
    Parliament of Sri Lanka - Committee on Public Enterprises Committee on Public Enterprises Contact Committee Secretary Nandasiri Peiris Assistant Director (Administration) Parliament of Sri Lanka Sri Jayewardenapura Kotte 0094-11-2777301 0094-11-2777559 This committee has lapsed. (Seventh Parliament of the D.S.R. of Sri Lanka - 1st Session) Committee Reports This is the other Financial Committee in the Parliament which consists of twelve members nominated by the Committee of Selection. The duty of this Committee is to examine the accounts of the Public Corporations and of any Business Undertaking vested in the Government. These two Committees have the power to summon before them and question any person, call for and examine any paper, book, record or other documents and to have access to stores and property. While the Public Accounts Committee exercises oversight in the financial performance of Government Institutions, the Committee on Public Enterprises has been established on 21.06.1979 to ensure the observance of financial discipline in Public Corporations and other Semi Governmental bodies in which the Government has a financial stake. The Committee on Public Enterprises, which consists of 31 Members reflecting the party composition in the House, is established under the Standing Order 126 at the beginning of each Parliamentary Session and the Chairman is elected by the Members of the Committee at its first session. Its quorum is four. The duty of the Committee is to report to Parliament on accounts examined, budgets and estimates, financial procedures, performance and management of Corporations and other Government Business Undertakings. The accounts of these organizations are audited by the Auditor-General and form the basis of the investigations of the Committee.
    [Show full text]
  • News Round Up
    NEWS ROUND UP Tuesday, February 05, 2019 Contents President raps politicians for country’s paralysis ......................................................................................... 2 Fraudulent ATM skimming: Industry says situation under control but urges vigilance ............................... 3 SL draws record $ 2.3 b FDI in 2018, eyes $ 3 b this year despite political challenges: Malik ..................... 4 Malik welcomes Dubai’s Essar for Rs. 30 b mixed development PPP in Battaramulla ................................. 5 US says eager to build on partnership with Sri Lanka .................................................................................. 6 Piramal Glass laments Govt. failure to reduce furnace oil prices ................................................................. 6 Who is fooling whom with another draft national maritime and logistics policy? ...................................... 7 Taprobane Securities (Pvt) Ltd – Research + 94 11 5328200 [email protected] President raps politicians for country’s paralysis President Maithripala Sirisena yesterday during his Independence Day address made a string of political and economic observations focusing on development, fighting corruption, holding provincial council elections and criticised actions during the recent Constitutional crisis and moves by the United National Party (UNP) to establish a National Government. Delivering his address to the nation to mark the 71st Independence Day, Sirisena took on several key issues and made fresh observations on
    [Show full text]
  • DISAPPEARANCES Disappeared
    This study explores the impact of the ruling elite’s political project through the experiences of 87 relatives of the DISAPPEARANCES DISAPPEARANCES disappeared. It considers how their own A SOCIOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF A SOCIOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF political project to re-establish the IN SRI LANKA socio–legal identity of the disappeared was exploited by the political elite and their own communities rendering them socially ostracised. Within this context, DISAPPEARANCES transitional justice mechanisms including prosecutions and social movements were manipulated and IN SRI LANKA politicised along party lines as part of a ritual of conspiracy against the victims to deny state terror and protect those responsible for it. About the author: Jane Thomson-Senanayake, B.A Hons (NSW), Grad Dip (NSW), Grad Cert (New England), M.A (Deakin), PhD (Sydney), is a human rights and social policy researcher. Her academic J research has focused on political ane Thomson-Senanayake violence, enforced disappearances, transitional justice and social restoration in contexts including Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia and East Timor. She was awarded the Lionel Murphy Postgraduate Scholarship in 2004 and completed her PhD in 2013 at the University of Sydney. Her doctoral research, which explored enforced disapearances over three decades in Sri Lanka and involved extensive fieldwork across eight districts, provided the basis Rs 1000/= Jane Thomson-Senanayake for this publication. Asian Human Rights Commission, Unit 1 & 2 12/F, Hopeful Factory Centre 10-16 Wo Shing Street, Fotan, N.T. ,Hong Kong, China A SOCIOLOGICAL EXPLORATION OF DISAPPEARANCES IN SRI LANKA ''Not even a person, not even a word...'' Jane Thomson-Senanayake ii A sociological exploration of disappearances in Sri Lanka ''Not even a person, not even a word...'' © Jane Thomson-Senanayake 2014 ISBN (Print) : 978-955-4597-04-4 Published by Asian Human Rights Commission Unit 1 & 2 12/F.
    [Show full text]