TAMIL GUARDIAN No. 374 ISSN 1369-2208 WEDNESDAY JUNE 04, 2008 free fortnightly : The blind spot in genocide theory PAGE 9

Development untenable without peace PAGE 3

Give up US Ambassador tells LTTE PAGE 4

Farewell PAGE 10

TMVP behind Eastern abductions PAGE 6

Sri Lankan soldiers patrolling along front lines in the North have faced stiff resistance as they attempted to push into LTTE-held territory around Mannar and Vavuniya. Photo Lakruwan Wanniarachchi / AFP / Getty Images Story pages 2, 19 2 TAMIL GUARDIAN Wednesday June 04, 2008 AADDCCHHAAYYAA NEWS SRI LANKAN & SOUTH INDIAN RESTAURANT & TAKEAWAY PROMPTLY ATTENDED SERVICE The Best Caterers In South West Opening Hours: 12 Noon to 11PM 164 Merton High Street South Wimbledon London SW19 1AZ Tel: 020 8540 8192 Colonel with LTTE commandos before the attack on Chirantheevu Naval base JJenasenas FFoooodd Tiger Commandos destroy camp in strategic islet && WWineine LIBERATION Tigers of (LTTE) fighters belonging to a special marine wing of the launched a pre-dawn 225 Southcroft Road attack against a strategic naval base on an islet off penin- sula last week killing at least 13 London sailors and wounding many more. Six civilians including chil- dren were killed when Sri Lankan SW16 6QT forces in nearby bases retaliated by launching heavy artillery fire. According to LTTE officials, Tel: 0208 677 5668 the raid was launched at 1:25 a.m. on Thursday May 29 and the base was brought under the LTTE con- trol at 2:00 a.m. With Compliments "At least 13 (SLN) personnel were killed and many sailors wounded in the raid carried out by a special marine wing of the Sea Tigers," LTTE officials added. The Sea Tigers also seized tions. the ministry said. weapons, including a 50-caliber 10 masks, a solar panel with Following the raid Sri Lankan machine gun, a mortar, two Ligh battery and a binocular were forces retaliated by directing hea- Machine Guns and a radar from among the accessories seized by vy artillery fire towards coastal the camp on Chiruththeevu islet the Tigers. villages of Jaffna. situated between to Mandaithee- Three dead bodies of the Sri Six civilians, including chil- vu island and Jaffna city. Lanka Navy sailors were recov- dren and a couple, were killed and Fresh There were no LTTE casual- ered by the Tigers. 13 persons were wounded when ties in the operation, the officials The LTTE last Thursday dis- shells hit the coastal villages Ku- said adding that the marines safe- played the weapons and military runakar, Kozhumpuththurai, Paa- ly returned to their base in equipments seized in the attack to saiyoor and areas close to Jaffna mainland after destroying the media in Vanni. Fort, Thuraiappa Stadium and the 59 Kingston Road SLN camp. The Tigers also identified one Sri Lanka Telecommunication One 50 caliber machine gun, of the SLN sailors killed in action building. one radar equipment, one RPD as Ranasingha Aaarachchige Two children, boys of 14 and London LMG, one AK LMG, one 60 mm Saman Pushpa Kumara from 13, and their mother were killed mortar, one 40 mm Rocket Laun- Bangalavaththa with Sri Lankan in Paasaiyoor. The father and cher, four T-56 type-2 assault national identity card number another brother were wounded. SW19 1JN rifles were seized by the Sea 841912462 V. In Kurunakar, Joseph Francis, Tigers. However, Sri Lanka's defence 54, and his wife Joseph Francis 141 shells for 60 mm mortar, ministry said army and navy per- Sagayarani, 53, were killed on the UK 06 rockets for 40 mm Rocket sonnel successfully repulsed the spot when shells hit their house. Launcher, 930 rounds for 50 cal- Tigers, killing at least 16 LTTE Their children were wounded iber machine gun, 430 linked 50 cadres and destroying three in the attack, according to initial Tel: 07723 614 183 caliber rounds, an extra barrel for enemy boats. reports. Their house was located the 50 caliber gun, extra barrel for "Troops have also mounted near Kurunakar water tank. RPD LMG, 795 rounds for RPD heavy artillery attacks towards 13 civilians were admitted to LMG, and 1,380 linked 7.62 mm the fleeing terrorists as enemy Jaffna hospital following the With Compliments rounds were among the ammuni- fatalities were expected to soar," shelling duel. TAMIL GUARDIAN Wednesday June 04, 2008 3 INTERVIEW Development untenable without peace says LTTE political head

TamilNet

"DEVELOPMENT is possible also has commented on this only when there is permanent regard while expressing his opin- peace. To achieve peace the ion that the political solution Internat-ional Community (IC) should go beyond the 13th should engage seriously in restor- amendment. How do you look at ing the status quo which the IC basing the discussions on the 13th itself has disturbed in recent amendment? times, and should pressurise the Nadesan: The Tamils have reject- Sri Lankan government to come ed the 13th amendment long to terms with a negotiated settle- back. In the last 21-years of its ment," said Liberation Tigers of introduction, neither Tamils nor Tami-leelam (LTTE) Political Sinhalese have shown any enthu- Head B. Nadesan, in an exclusive siasm towards the 13th amend- interview to TamilNet on Friday, ment. How can one consider it as while responding to a question on a basis for settlement when it has LTTE's position on International been proven that people have no involvement in 's 'devel- interest in it? opment-agenda'. Mahinda regime uses this 13th "Recognition of Tamil sover- amendment drama to pursue its eignty and right to self-determi- war against the Tamil nation nation are key issues in creating a while paying lip service to the climate for a negotiated settle- political solution. ment," Nadesan added. TamilNet: 'Development' appears 'Development' has long been to be the paradigm associated used as a camouflage to deprive with the political ongoing, espe- the Tamils of their homeland and cially in the Eastern Province. to subordinate the Tamil regions What is the position of the LTTE by the Sinhala majoritarian gov- regarding International involve- ernment of Colombo, Mr. ment in this process? Nadesan further said. Nadesan: 'Development' has long He also revealed that the Sri been used as a camouflage to Lankan government has not been deprive the Tamils of their home- providing access to the land and to subordinate the Tamil Norwegian facilitators to visit regions by the Sinhala majoritari- LTTE polotical head Nadesan called for peace as a precondition to sustainable development Vanni to meet with the LTTE rep- an government of Colombo. resentatives. Historically, the so-called cessfully making use of the uni- merger of the merged North-East the European Union, Japan, and Full text of the interview fol- 'development schemes' were tary constitution for this anti- Province and in nullifying the P- Norway, have told the Sri Lankan lows: introduced with an ethnic oppres- Tamil 'development agenda'. TOMS. government to provide access to TamilNet: In a recent interview, sive agenda of disturbing the geo- This is why we envisaged Besides the handicapped con- their representatives and the facil- the U.S. Ambassador for Sri graphical contiguity of the Tamil extra-constitutional arrangements stitution, large-scale misappropri- itator to visit Vanni and discuss Lanka has stated that it would be homeland. such as opting for the World Bank ation of development funds by the with us. Norwegian Special very useful for LTTE leader The coastal routes linking the to act as a custodian of donor government for sustaining the Envoy and the Norwegian Pirapaharan to give up the idea of villages in the Tamil homeland funds to rebuild the Northeast war, and through that sustaining Ambassador to Sri Lanka have seeking an independent Tamil were neglected and instead the its regime, will never allow any expressed their desire to have dia- State and agreeing to negotiate infrastructure was designed to real development. logue. But, the Sri Lankan gov- with a united Sri Lanka. What is link Sinhala areas with Tamil Development schemes Further, corruption within the ernment has not been providing your response? coastal villages. Administrative in Sri Lanka have ranks and files of the Sri Lankan access to the Norwegian facilita- Nadesan: The Tamileelam strug- borders were expanded to include government is a serious impedi- tors in an attempt to block our gle is not simply a LTTE struggle. Sinhala areas to systematically historically been ment for any development pro- diplomatic dialogue with the It is Tamil people's legitimate alter the demographic propor- introduced with an gramme. Even Sinhalese who facilitator. struggle with moral, political and tions. Colonisation schemes were bring to light such malpractices TamilNet: The LTTE is accused legal reasons. It is a very democ- introduced under the pretext of ethnic oppressive are penalised violently. of carrying out attacks on civilian ratic goal. And the LTTE repre- development scheme, evicting agenda of disturbing Therefore, the priority of the targets in the South. Can you sents only people's mandate. Tamils from a large number of the geographical International Community should comment? As far as the LTTE is con- villages. Since the independence first be placed at finding a politi- Nadesan: The LTTE categorical- cerned, the ultimate aim is what is of Ceylon, there has been a con- contiguity of the cal solution, before embarking ly denies responsibility for the good for Eezham Tamils who tinuous record of the Sri Lankan Tamil homeland - upon a development-agenda in attacks on civilians in Sri Lanka. were placed at the receiving end state systematically applying the this Island. We never mean ill-will against the for more than a century and face 'development-agenda' to serve a B. Nadesan Development is possible only Sinhalese people. Attacks on genocide in Sri Lanka. 'colonisation-agenda'. when there is permanent peace. civilian targets by the Sri Lankan Experience has made the Eezham The Sinhalese leaders have For that the International armed forces have become rou- Tamils to decide on a separate mastered the art of misleading the during the negotiations as well as Community should engage seri- tine occurrences in Vanni. Human state and to fight for it. donors and the International in the Post Tsunami agreement ously in restoring the status quo Rights violations of civilians such Recognition of Tamil sovereignty Community in sustaining their (P-TOMS) signed by the parties. which it itself has disturbed in as abductions, disappearances and and right to self-determination are oppressive agenda while divert- But, again, what happened to recent times and should pres- extra-judicial killings take place key issues in creating a climate ing the funds to the infrastructure, SIHRN and, especially to the P- surise the Sri Lankan government throughout the Sri Lanka govern- for a negotiated settlement. As which has deprived Tamils of TOMS agreement, which was a to come to terms with a negotiat- ment controlled territories, every this has been the logical end for their economic opportunities and purely humanitarian agreement, ed settlement. This only can pave day. Now the Sinhala regime situations similar to that of the their very existence in their own has been widely witnessed by the way for a true development. unleashes violence against the Tamils, in different parts of the villages. International Community. TamilNet: What is the present Sinhala and Tamil journalists. contemporary world, it is a puzzle Thus, there was no real capital The Sri Lanka government status of your dialogue with the Many attacks and violations by what makes it different only in the accumulation in the Tamil regions can invoke provisions of the uni- Norwegian peace facilitators? known perpetrators such as the case of the Eezham Tamils. in the past several decades. The tary constitution at any time it Nadesan: We have requested the armed forces have still not been TamilNet: The implementation of capital accumulation was concen- wishes to nullify development of Royal Norwegian Government to brought to justice. One needs a the 13th amendment appears to be trating in Sinhala areas, especial- the Tamils of the North and East. continue the facilitation. It should holistic approach to stop such the basis for political discussions ly in and around Colombo. We have witnessed prece- also be noted that the Co-Chairs, anti-people activities in Sri at present. The U.S. Ambassador The Sri Lankan state is suc- dence in this regard in the de- representing the United States, Lanka. 4 TAMIL GUARDIAN Wednesday June 04, 2008 NEWS Give up Eelam US Ambassador tells LTTE

THE Liberation Tigers should tance for the East and the US gov- give up its demand for a separate ernment is considering it now," he state, the US Ambassador to Sri said. Lanka told a government owned When questioned about a newspaper, saying that the Tamil solution for Sri Lanka, Blake community wanted a solution to refused to be drawn. "I don't real- the over two-decade-old ethnic ly want to come up with a propos- conflict within a "united" Sri al because whenever I try to say Lanka. something I am later accused of "I think it would be very use- trying to dictate to the Sri Lankan ful for Pirapaharan to give up this people. The US does not have any idea of seeking an independent intention of doing that." Tamil state and agreeing to nego- But Blake called on the gov- tiate with a united Sri Lanka," US ernment to go beyond the 13th ambassador to Sri Lanka Robert Amendment, the political solu- Blake told the Sunday Observer tion suggested by the All Party newspaper in an interview. Representative Committee He thinks "95 per cent of them (APRC). However, he did stress support a solution within a frame- that he was not calling for negoti- work of a united Sri Lanka" Blake ations with the LTTE. said, citing his discussions with "I think that it is important for Tamil people in Sri Lanka. the government to consult a wide "They (the Tamil people) are range of Tamils. We are not call- not seeking an independent Tamil ing for negotiations with the Eelam which Pirapaharan is seek- LTTE. That is something that the ing," Blake told the Sunday government has to decide." Observer. "It is important to recognize Blake said giving up the idea more than half of the Tamils are of a separate state would give living outside the Wanni. I think Pirapaharan "lots of credibility to their interests also should be respond to lots of scepticism here respected as well. So, people like in the South (Sri Lanka) that the Anandasngaree and other elected LTTE would never negotiate with representatives in the government the government." controlled areas are needed to be The US envoy said Sinhalese, brought into this process and con- Tamils and Muslims have been sulted," he said. living together in a peaceful man- On being questioned about the US Ambassador Robert Blake (r) alleges that 95% of Tamils want a solution within a united Sri Lanka ner in the country. recent visit to Sri Lanka by "I always remind people who Iranian President Mahmoud are visiting from US that Ahmadinejad, Blake expressed Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims his country's concern about Iran, Hold referendum to test support lived together and continue to live but acknowledged Sri Lanka's peacefully together. continued interactions. "Tamils are living in Colombo "We always want all our for Tamil statehood - Fein peacefully with their Sinhalese friends to make the same point for and Muslim friends. So there is Iran. At the same time we under- no ethnic conflict here. And cer- stand that Sri Lanka has to devel- tainly the government is defend- op relationships with Iran and we TamilNet Full text of Fein's note to by the Prevention of Terrorism ing itself against terrorism," he do not have objections if they Ambassador Blake follows: Act. said. donate funds education projects Among other things, the Act In reply to another question, in the South". United States Ambassador makes criminal any peaceful Ta- Blake said US believes that the "Our concerns about Iran is Robert Blake urged LTTE leader mil protest against their persecuti- answer to the conflict lies with a well-known. President Bush, BRUCE FEIN, Attorney for a Velupillai Prabharakan to reno- on that upsets a Sinhalese. Gene- power sharing concept which can Secretary of State Rice and many US-based Tamil Activist Group, unce the Tamil quest for state- ral Fonseka sulked like Achilles respond to the aspirations of our leaders are concerned about in responding to a statement by hood in an interview published in in his tent. Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. their nuclear capabilities. We Ambassador Robert Blake to the Sunday Observer Newspaper "If Prabhakaran enjoys such Blake also pledged his coun- acknowledge their right to devel- Sunday Observer saying that on May 25. microscopic popular support," he try's continued support for Sri op civil nuclear energy for energy from his discussions with Tamils With the owlish certainty ruminated with the dullness of a Lanka. purposes. But the US opposes he knows that "over 95 percent of which earmarks the glitterati, the jackal, "then I will be soon asked "The US has provided mili- nuclear weapons. Similarly we them [Tamils] support a solution Ambassador proclaimed that the why the Sri Lankan armed forces tary, law enforcement and other have expressed our deep concern within a framework of a united Tamil people "are not seeking an are not running victory laps kinds of support to help the gov- about the Iranian support for Sri Lanka," challenged Tamil Eelam which around the Jaffna Peninsula." ernment to defend itself while international terrorism particulary Ambassador to hold a referendum Prabharkan is seeking." It seems reasonable to conjec- believing that a purely a military in the Middle East, especially the to prove his assertion of percent- Indeed, he had discerned from ture that Ambassador Blake 95% solution would not be the correct support for groups like Hisbulla," age Tamil support, and added that his opulent ambassadorial milieu estimate of Tamil statehood oppo- solution for this conflict," he said. he said. "[i]f statehood prevails, the that a staggering "95%" support- sition may have ignored grisly or "The US also has concerns Ambassador should be the first to ed a solution within a united Sri odious landmarks in the history of about Tamils who suffer dispro- Following are excerpts of the concede Prabhakaran's superiori- Lanka, leaving Prabhakaran with Sri Lanka: portionately due to human rights interview published in the Sunday ty in discerning the political aspi- a depleted 5% following. 1. The Citizenship Act violations. It is important to give Observer: rations of the Tamil people." The Rajapaksa brothers rejoi- which denied civic and political them a sense of feeling that they In the same interview Amba- ced. The Ambassador confirmed rights to one million Tamils of could live with respect and digni- Q: Are you satisfied with the sup- ssador Blake added, "[t]hey their fairy tale that Tamils from Indian descent who toiled on the ty here. So improving the human port that the US had offered so far [Tamils] are not seeking an inde- the north and east had flocked by tea plantations; and, subjected the rights performances is also an to Sri Lanka and what are the pendent Tamil Eelam which the hundreds of thousands to remaining Tamils to a Sinhalese important aspect of our dialogue strategic areas where the US and Prabhakaran is seeking. I think it Colombo not to escape from aeri- majority tyranny. with the government." Sri Lanka should work closely? would be very useful for Prabha- al bombardments, an embargo on 2. The 1956 Official Lan- Ambassador Blake also A: Yes. The US and Sri Lanka are karan to give up this idea of seek- humanitarian aid, and routine guage Act providing that "Sinhala pledged US support for continued close friends for more than 50 ing an independent Tamil State assassinations and kidnappings; Only" shall be the official lan- development of the East. "We and agreeing to negotiate with a but to enjoy the blessings of racial have proposed to give more assis- Continued on p14 united Sri Lanka." and religious harmony fostered Continued on p14 TAMIL GUARDIAN Wednesday June 04, 2008 5 NEWS Business as usual despite rights record

Feizal Samath IPS

IS Sri Lanka's bloody ethnic con- The EC says retaining GSP+ flict and dismal human rights depends on how well the Sri record an issue for international Lankan government is seen corporations and multinationals implementing 27 international doing business in the country? conventions on human rights, Business leaders and rights labour rights and environmental activists are divided on this. standards. Sri Lankan garment factories will be hardest hit should the European Union not extend the country’s The economy, despite the con- But Julian Wilson, EU ambas- GSP+ status, but reports of that possibility as ‘rubbish’ says the EU Ambassador to the country flict, is recording an average sador in Colombo, has criticised growth of over five percent per newspaper reports on the continu- annum. Last year it was 6.2 per- ation of GSP+ being linked to cent, a figure which the World human rights abuses as 'rubbish'. Bank commended last week. In The '' newspaper Sri Lanka warns fact, the Bank is putting together recently quoted him as saying at a a higher four-year funding pro- function on the issue of GSP+ gramme totalling 900 million dol- that "I will only say that a lot of lars starting from June 2008, up melodramatic rubbish has been from around 700 million dollars against Western written about the renewal of in the previous 2005-2008 GSP+ in the local press. The truth Country Assistance Strategy is simple if somewhat banal--the (CAS). The Bank's board is meet- EU wants Sri Lanka to receive ing on Jun. 5 to approve the new GSP+ again for the coming three sanctions CAS. years," he said. "Yes, certainly people are con- Yet respected activists like cerned about the violence in Sri Jehan Perera, director at the local Lanka and the human rights situa- National Peace Council, says tion, and big corporations are not despite these public statements investing. But Sri Lanka has a the EU is ''very, very'' concerned AFP Lanka's eastern province. said Deputy Assistant Secretary small domestic market for them about the human rights situation Sri Lanka's President of State for South and Central to invest in and their concentra- and has privately expressed this. Mahinda Rajapakse vowed this Asian Affairs Evan Feigenbaum. tion currently is on the global cri- "There is a great deal of disap- week to press on with a military "So we are encouraging sis of high food and fuel prices, pointment being expressed over SRI LANKA called on Western campaign to crush the Liberation everybody not least the govern- which is seen touching 150 dol- the lack of implementation of the powers last week to be wary of Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who have ment to pursue a political solu- lars per barrel in coming months," conventions. EU officials say Sri imposing sanctions for its alleged been fighting for a homeland tion," Feigenbaum said. said Mahendra Amarasuriya, a Lanka has all the institutions in human rights violations, warning since 1972. Washington considers the local business leader who is cur- place but no political will to that the action could worsen the Expressing concern over the LTTE as a terrorist group. rently chairman of Lions Interna- implement them (conventions)," island's long-running ethnic con- rights violations and the raging Sri Lanka was thrown out of tional, the global charity driven said. flict. the UN's Human Rights Council by big business. Perera says Sri Lanka's loss at The United States and the this month, with the watchdog Amarasuriya, who heads Sri the U.N. Human Rights Council European Union have withheld “The truth is simple if group Human Rights Watch even Lanka's most profitable private vote will give added strength to various aid programs and are branding them as one of the bank, Commercial Bank, says the EU to hold the government debating whether to withdraw somewhat banal - the world's worst perpetrators of "dis- that despite concerns Sri Lanka accountable for the growing num- special trade benefits from Sri EU wants Sri Lanka appearances" and abductions. continues to draw investments ber of human rights abuses when Lanka amid concerns the human to receive GSP+ again According to the New York- from Asian Tigers like Sri Lanka's application for a con- rights situation has deteriorated based group, at least 1,500 people and Korea. tinuation of the trade concessions since the government pulled out for the coming three "disappeared" between 2006 and Malaysia was Sri Lanka's is made this year. of a Norwegian-brokered truce years” - Julian 2007 - mostly ethnic Tamils liv- biggest foreign investor in 2007, Garments, Sri Lanka's biggest with the Tamil Tigers in January. ing in the Sinhalese-majority the third year running, ousting commodity export, are the biggest "It really is necessary to have Wilson, European island's restive north and east. countries like Britain and Japan. beneficiary of the concessions. sympathy for and understanding Union ambassador in Peiris cited 60 indictments Neighbouring is also a The industry, workers and trade of the problems of a developing Colombo criticising sent out recently by the office of major investor in Sri Lanka. unions fear up to 200,000 workers country that is grappling with ter- Sri Lanka's attorney general seek- Human rights activists see dif- and their dependants would be rorism," Sri Lanka's minister of newspaper reports ing criminal prosecution on sus- ferent. They point to the country's affected if these concessions are international trade G.L. Peiris said that linked the contin- pected rights abusers, as well as inability to retain its seat on the lost. in Washington on May 29. Colombo's action to halt the con- U.N. Human Rights Council, at Sri Lanka's human rights "And to cut off resources, to uation of Sri Lanka’s scription of child soldiers among last week's poll, as a negative record is appalling, with intimida- threaten to withdraw trade bene- GSP+ status to paramilitary troops. trend that could affect trade and tion of the media being amongst fits, GSP (General System of human rights abuses If the Western powers pulled one that is likely to affect Sri the worst forms of abuse. Last Preference) and so on -- all of that back GSP preferential duty-free Lanka's chances of continuing to week, Keith Noyahr, defence is unhelpful because that will privileges from Sri Lanka, he benefit from European duty free columnist and associate editor of only mean the dissemination of said, "then hundreds of thousands concessions. the English-language 'Nation' poverty, deprivation and adversi- civil war, the US State of poor people are going to be Sri Lanka is the only South newspaper, a weekly, was abduct- ty," he told AFP. Department said Thursday that thrown out of employment. Asian nation to enjoy generalised ed by an unidentified group near Peiris said under such sanc- there was no military solution to "It is not going to be a mea- system of preferences (GSP+) his Colombo home and brutally tions and other pressures on "a the ethnic conflict, and empha- sure directed against the govern- duty free trade concessions from assaulted. democratic government pitted sized the need for a political set- ment as 65 to 70 percent of gar- the European Community. The Newspapers, rights groups against terrorism, you can't possi- tlement. ment factories is situated in the three-year scheme that covers and colleagues of Noyahr had bly prevail." "We have said repeatedly that rural sector and people working 7,200 items, including garments, recently criticised the army com- Peiris was in Washington for there is no military solution to the on garment factories are women ends in December 2008 and is up talks with US officials and to woo conflict in Sri Lanka and there who have become breadwinners for renewal. Continued on p18 US investors to set up shop in Sri needs to be a political solution," of families," he said. 6 TAMIL GUARDIAN Wednesday June 04, 2008 NEWS East erupts in communal violence

HEIGHTENED tension in the native of Savalakadai in Amparai, Batticaloa District, following Shanthan's father was killed in a clashes between the Tamil Tamil-Muslim conflict in the Makkal Vidudalai Puligal early 90s, after which Shanthan (TMVP) and the Muslims, is joined the Eelam Peoples expected to cast its shadow on the Revolutionary Liberation Front June 4 maiden session of the (EPRLF - Razeek group). newly elected Eastern Provincial Former TMVP leader Karuna Council. Amman appointed him to be in Continuing skirmishes between charge of the Ariyampathi divi- the TMVP and a group of Muslim sion in Batticaloa. Shanthan func- youths has compelled the police tioned as the de facto chairman to impose local curfew. Two and delivered the goods to the Muslim youth abducted last people of the area. Shanthan also week, allegedly by the TMVP took a strong stance against cadres, have still not been Muslim colonisation within the Piliayan was selected as Chairman of the Chief Minister’s Forum Photo courtesy Daily Mirror released, despite repeated division, resulting in a feud appeals. between him and the Muslim Intervention of senior Muslim community. politicians, both local and nation- Shanthan's wife later contested al, to diffuse the simmering situa- the March 10 local polls and Pillayan admits tion, has so far failed to produce became the chairperson of the any positive results. council, but according to local The TMVP is adamant not to reports, her husband virtually ran release the two youths from the council. Shanthan was also a Eravur. trusted lieutenant of the present TMVP behind TMVP's refusal to release the Eastern Province chief minister abductees has sent a strong mes- Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan sage to the rest of the country alias Pillaiyan. that, the party is ready to take on Local intelligence sources point abductions in East the Muslims, who the party sus- out that Shanthan's killing in a pects to have masterminded the predominantly Muslim area has assassination last week of not only led to suspicion, but is Shanthan - a senior TMVP cadre construed as a mischievous act in Kathankudi, reported The aimed at triggering off fresh Bottom Line agency. clashes between the Muslims and THE newly appointed Chief (NMC) in a statement to media Badulla. As TMVP cadres continue to go the Tamils. Minister of the Eastern Province said the TMVP should be dis- The forum discusses issues berserk in the Muslim hamlets in A polarisation of the Tamils and has admitted that members of his armed to create normalcy in the related to devolution of powers to the east, threatening and intimi- the Muslims was widely speculat- organisation are responsible for east. the provinces. dating Muslims, the police failed ed following the May 10 Eastern recent kidnappings in Eravur. The Sri Lanka government Though the system of provin- to bring the TMVP under control, Provincial Councils election, as, Speaking to BBC Tamil has not been taking any concrete cial government came into vogue resulting in Muslim youths and for the first time, the ruling party Service, Chief Minister Sivanesa- steps to stop killings and abduc- in 1988 after the Indo-Lanka militants taking up arms against fielded two chief ministerial can- thurai Chandrakanthan, known as tion of Muslims by the 'Pillaiyan Accord of 1987, following the the TMVP. didates from both the Tamil and Pillayan, admitted that the person group', the NMC accused. 13th Amendment to the While the TMVP cadres pose Muslim communities. accused of abducting two Musli- "NMC condemns Pillaiyan Constitution, various provisions threats to the Muslims, the However, as anticipated, the com- ms in Eravur is a member of the group for using arms against have not been fully implemented. Muslim militants, on the other munities, though worked sepa- Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal Muslim people while saying that Pillayan's election for a period hand, have threatened to strike at rately to promote their respective (TMVP). they have accepted democracy," of four months was being project- Tamils living in some of the candidates, did not enter into any "The person who was invol- they said in a statement. ed in the context of the claims by Muslim villages. sort of communal clashes. ved in the abduction has been "It is a coward act to abduct President This has resulted in more than A sudden outbreak of violence in handed over to police," CM Pilla- three Muslim traders and later kill regime that the polls in the east 400 to 500 Tamil families living Kathankudi is now viewed as an yan told LR Jegatheesan of BBC them in retaliation to the killing were a 'triumph of democracy'. in the border villages, fleeing to attempt by a few unknown ele- Tamil Service. of two cadres of the Pillaiyan The next meeting of the Chief safer locations. ments to destabilise the east and TMVP leader Pillayan insist- group in Muslim dominated Minister's Forum is scheduled to Already some 252 Tamil families portray the TMVP leader ed the accused is "not directly Kaathankudy be held in Batticaloa. have sought refuge at Pillaiyan as a weak leader, involved in this incident" quoting "Action should be taken A conference organised by the Thannamunai Punitha Valanar according to The Bottom Line. reports received by the Chief immediately to stop another con- Centre for Policy Alternatives Vidyalaya and another 250 fami- It was following the killing of Minister's office. flict between Tamils and (CPA) earlier last week main- lies at Mylampaveli Sri Shanthan and his bodyguard that, "However we will not permit Muslims," the NMC statement tained that despite the misgivings Vigneswara School. the TMVP cadres went berserk, anybody from our organisation to said. about the 13th Amendment, the The Government has, to date, not spraying bullets at Muslims in take law into their hands and as Meanwhile, a woman was original objectives of establishing evolved a mechanism to issue dry Kathankudi. In this incident, three such we have handed him over to shot dead by police on 26 May as the Provincial Councils were the rations and other relief to these Muslims were killed, one was the police" Chief Minister police and tried resolution of the ethnic conflict people. hacked to death and a Sinhalese Pillayan said. to disperse crowds in Eravur who and the creation of a provincial- However, the TMVP has initiated sustained injuries. Two other Muslims have gone took to the streets to protest as level tier of government to a relief programme and begun The police were brought into the missing in Eravur since 22 May. news spread that another person address regional development. distributing dry rations to the scene to bring law and order, to The Chief Minister said that gone missing. "Why did neither of these refugees. no avail. The Muslim clergy and he has no information about the The person reappeared within objectives come to fruition? The Similarly, several hundreds of other leading personalities made two missing Muslims but expre- hours claiming his bicycle needed consensus among elected mem- Muslims are also living in fear for several appeals to the police to ssed his hope that they would be to be repaired, but the situation in bers and officials of Provincial the same reasons. check on the armed TMVP cadres found soon. Eravur remained tense, journal- Councils is that there are common The police, to date, have not made roaming the streets, but the police "So far no confirmed news in ists said. issues affecting all provinces as any arrests in connection with the had no control. this regard has been received" Separately, Pillayan, was well as other issues that pertain killing of Shanthan and his body- added Chief Minister Pillayan. elected Chairman of the "Chief uniquely to some provinces," it guard Dharshan on 22 May. A Continued on p18 The National Muslim Council Minister's Forum" on 31 May in said. TAMIL GUARDIAN Wednesday June 04, 2008 7 NEWS Claymore attack in Vanni kills 16 civilians, including five children

THE Sri Lankan army carried out a claymore attack inside LTTE administrated Vanni targeting a van returning from Mulangavil on Murukandi - Akkaraayan road killing 16 people including 5 chil- dren and 7 women. A Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) tar- geted the Hiace van returning from Akkaraayan hospital to on Murukandi - Akkaraayan Road on Friday, June 30 around 2:15 pm. Community leaders labeled the attack as a 'barbaric' and 'des- picable' act and said Sri Lanka's political and military leaders who should bear the responsibility of this crime. They also added that the SLA used the mourning day observed following the demise of Libera- tion Tigers Senior Commander Brigadier Balraj to step up DPU attacks against civilians in LTTE controlled Vanni. 16 dead bodies, including females and 6 children were taken to Kilinochchi hospital.

“We were able to identify only two among the badly mangled bodies of the victims. Since the whole village has been Civilians continue to be the target of violence, including in this claymore attack by the Sri Lankan Army in the Vanni that claimed 16 lives affected by this tragic event, we are at a loss female 5. Samikkannu Karuppiah, 45, as to where to visit to male our express our 6. Ungu Karuppiah, female Colombo train blast condolence” - 7. Keerthika Chandrasekaran, 11, female Kilinochchi Bharathy 8. Karthika Chandramohan, 10, Viththiyalayam female 9. Thanaluxmy Subramaniam, 54, kills 9, injures 73 principle female 10. Kalaathevi Sivakumaran, 34, female Two children, one of them 11. Ganesh Thanarajan, 34, male seriously wounded, were taken to Five of the killed children NINE people were killed and 73 AFP that the train suddenly The blast came a day after the the hospital. were studying in Kilinochchi more wounded last week when a slowed after a "deafening noise". government issued emergency Their father, mother, a sister Baarathy Viththiyalayam and two powerful bomb ripped through a "People were shouting 'bomb, warnings to the public to be vigi- and two brothers were killed in adults were employees at the packed passenger train in the sub- bomb!' and scrambling to get out lant about unclaimed parcels and the attack. school. urbs of the Sri Lankan capital, of the windows of the carriage... I packages. Keerthika Vijayaratnam, 13, The victims were residents of Colombo. managed to jump out from the Nayanakkara said: "The alert was seriously injured and her 14- Baarathypuram and Malayala- The blast, which occurred at door. People were stumbling out had been issued after the police year-old sister was also wounded. puram, situated 3 km southwest about 5 pm near the suburban of that carriage with blood stains and the military defused two Their parents, Vijayaratnam of Kilinochchi town. Dehiwala railway station, was on their clothes, some with burns, powerful bombs in Colombo dis- Periyavamy and Logantha The bodies of all 16 victims triggered by a parcel bomb kept in some looking dazed," she said. trict on Saturday. The bombs had Vijayaratnam, were killed along were laid to rest Saturday after- the fourth compartment of the Eyewitness R A Upali told the been planted in two buses." with elder sister Sivalaksala noon 5:20 p.m. in Baarathypuram Colombo - Panadura train carry- BBC Sinhala service the explo- On Monday evening, howev- Vijayaratnam, 18, and brothers General Cemetery. ing passengers on their way back sion took place as the train was er, the parcel in the train went Thanushan Vijayaratnam, 10 and Prior to the burial, the caskets home after their day's work. pulling out of the station. unnoticed. The train had left the Vithushan Vijayaratnam, 7. containing the remains of the vic- State television said around "I ran to the place where the Maradana railway station and was The other victims were identi- tims were taken from their resi- 200 people were on board the explosion happened. I saw people about to enter Dehiwala when the fied as: dences to Bharathy Viththiya- train at the time of the attack. fall on the platform. People with explosion occurred. Following 1. Subramaniyam Alakan, 41, layam at 12:30 p.m. and an event 's military spokes- minor injuries ran towards us." the blast, train services were dis- male to pay homage was held at 1:00 man, Brigadier Udaya Nanayak- The train compartment's win- rupted for hours on the route. 2. Saraswathy Subramaniyam, p.m. presided over by Mr. Rajen- kara, blamed the LTTE for the dows were blown out and part of Monday's blast comes three 40, female diram, the Principal of the school. attack and said a pregnant woman its roof was torn off in the blast, days after the LTTE blamed gov- 3. Panneerselvam Alakuraani, 45, LTTE Po§litical Head, B. was among those killed. which left bloodstained bags and ernment forces for an explosion female Commuter Ramani Padmala- umbrellas strewn among the which killed a group of people in 4. Rajendran Kalaavathi, 29, Continued on p18 tha, 42, told French news agency debris. Tiger-controlled territory. 8 TAMIL GUARDIAN Wednesday June 04, 2008 EDITORIAL TAMIL GUARDIAN TG NEWS, P.O.BOX. 2308, Watford, WD18 1LS, UK [email protected] www.tamilguardian.com Tel 0845 0949873 WEDNESDAY JUNE 04, 2008 No. 374

Gone with the Wind International actions have revealed the hollowness of external assurances.

As Sri Lanka's military struggles to make degree of self-governance within a united Sri crush the Tamil rebellion. Of course, the mil- progress against the Liberation Tigers' deter- Lanka" - and why they don't have any of this, itary question is still unresolved and there is mined resistance in the island's north, and the even after sixty years of ethnic strife. still hope in Colombo and in many other cap- Mahinda Rajapakse government's frantic The contradictions in Mr. Blake's state- itals of the world that the Sinhalese can do efforts to defeat the LTTE shreds the already ments are reflective of international their part, but there is no longer the confi- frayed social, economic and political fabric hypocrisy vis-à-vis the oppression of the dence that engendered the arrogance with of the island, international disquiet is mount- Tamils. Despite the solemn moralising on which Tamil suffering has been repeatedly ing. It is against the now apparent inevitabil- human rights, on 'grievances', on dignity and dismissed over the past two years. By giving ity of a protracted, bloody and utterly so on, the international community in fact Sri Lanka the means and, thereby, the destructive war - despite the best will of the has very little commitment to these things. In encouragement to smash the Tamil struggle - international community, the destruction will short, if the Tamils can be militarily disci- and its demands for justice - militarily, the not remain confined to the northern battle- plined and their demands silenced, then international community is responsible for fields - that international calls for negotia- that'll do just fine; international interests can the unfolding catastrophe. tions have reemerged. However, despite mur- proceed undisturbed. However, even when it comes to seeking a murings of there not being any military solu- A little reflection on recent history is in negotiated solution to Sri Lanka's crisis, the tion to the conflict, the core of present inter- order to put things in perspective. To begin international community prefers to somehow national policy in Sri Lanka turns on precise- with, the US-led international community make the LTTE the problem. Mr. Blake ly that: the military crippling, if not destruc- approached the Norwegian peace process wants the LTTE to give up its demand for tion of the LTTE. It is on this basis that the with cynicism and insincerity. Rather than Tamil Eelam and accept a united Sri Lanka - international community first armed and pre- seizing the moment and making the restora- as if it is the Tamils' demand for indepen- pared the during the tion of the Tamils' dignity and self-rule their dence which is the fundamental problem, Norwegian peace process and, secondly, then focus, the international community made the rather than the racism of the Sri Lankan state pointedly stood aside as Colombo went to weakening and marginalizing of the LTTE which has, over sixty years, pursued a project war, inflicting widespread suffering on the their preoccupation. Why is why, despite of Sinhala supremacy in constitutional and Tamils. everyone agreeing it was a military 'stale- military terms. In an interview with the state-owned mate' that forced negotiations, the US took Thus, not only is the international com- Sunday Observer newspaper two weeks ago, the lead in rearming and reconstituting the munity not committed to a negotiated solu- the United States' Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Sri Lankan military. According to Brian tion in principle, it is also not committed to Mr. Robert O' Blake, gave voice to the inter- Blodgett, an American military scholar, with- defending the Tamils' rights vis-à-vis state national community's anxieties. "We do not in the first year of the talks, 2002, the Navy oppression or racism. Indeed, it was believe," he regretted, "a military solution is and Air Force doubled in size, the Army's Ambassador Lunstead's predecessor, Mr. going to be possible." 25 years of experience artillery firepower was doubled and tank Ashley Wills, who grandly suggested in has shown that the LTTE is a rather formida- strength tripled. Mr. Blake's predecessor, 2003, during the peace process, that it was ble organization, and it will be very difficult Jeffrey Lunstead, boasted of this as the US's time for the LTTE to disarm because "now to defeat them militarily, he conceded. contribution to peace. that the world is paying attention to Sri Therefore, Mr. Blake said, "the way to reach Quite apart from this, whilst maintaining Lanka as never before, the international com- a solution to the conflict is through a political the suffering of the Tamils in the Northeast, munity will be watching closely to see that solution." In short, it is only because the the international community worked to no one's rights gets abused systematically." Tamil struggle is so difficult to put down mil- restore the war-damaged economy and Well, history - and that includes the track itarily that there must be a 'solution'. strengthened Colombo's hand as much as record of the international community as well To the US and likeminded members of the possible. In short, the international communi- as the Sri Lankan state - have revealed the international community, the problem in Sri ty made it possible for the Sri Lankan state to hollowness of such external assurances. Lanka is simply the LTTE i.e. 'terrorism'. confidently resume its war against the Tamil The point is this: as much as the Tamils There is, despite sixty years of easily accessi- rebellion to Sinhala rule. And before may want it, genuine prospects for a lasting ble history, including three decades of mili- Colombo resumed its onslaught, the interna- negotiated peace in Sri Lanka are nowhere in tarised brutality, no acknowledgement of the tional community moved to hamper the sight, irrespective of the noises international oppression by the Sinhala state - with which, LTTE's ability to resist: this is essentially actors make. They will only improve when as Mr. Blake proudly says, the US "has been what the bans by the EU and Canada were the Sri Lankan state's sword is blunted in the close friends for more than 50 years now." So about. As any fool knows, without the LTTE, battlefields of the north and it turns - as in much for defending freedom. For the interna- there is no question of the Sinhala state mak- 2001- to the international community to res- tional community, the Sri Lankan state, ing any 'concessions' to the Tamils. So much cue it from a predicament of its own making. which they are unashamedly ready and eager for 'a very high degree of self-governance', Even, then, rather than assurances, it is only to do business with, is in no way racist. It's let alone 'a sense of respect and dignity.' when the international community takes con- just bad at governing. This is why Mr. Blake The problem, as is also blatantly clear, is crete steps to discipline the Sri Lankan state won't make clear why he thinks the Tamils Colombo still can't do it. Despite being given that the Tamils can take international claims "suffer disproportionately from human rights as much firepower as it can deploy, unlimit- of wanting peace seriously. At present, whilst violations," or why they don't have "a sense ed logistical support and, above all, the polit- an imposed solution is in the interests of of respect and dignity" in Sri Lanka. Conseq- ical space to inflict the suffering and terror everyone except the Tamils, a just solution is, uently, it is not at all clear why he feels the necessary to compel the Tamils to give up conversely, only in the interests of the Tamils "should be able to have a very high their demands, the Sinhala state has failed to Tamils. TAMIL GUARDIAN Wednesday June 04, 2008 9 OPINION The blind spot in genocide theory

The first of a three part series on genocide, politicide and international failure in Sri Lanka. J. T. Janani Tamil Guardian

GENOCIDE is the systematic in 1949, the Sinhala Only Act in attempt to annihilate a racial 1956, and, from the background group or nation. Closely linked is of politics, to the 'Mahinda politicide: the annihilation of a Chintana' ('Mahinda's Way') of group with a given political today. belief: such as the Tamil belief in In this way they sealed the a separate state of Eelam. Sinhala-Buddhist hold on power. In the UN definition, acts The citizenship act of 1949 neu- committed with the intent to tralised Tamil political power in destroy, in whole or in part, a parliament by reducing the num- national, ethnical, racial or reli- bers of Tamils eligible to vote by gious group constitute 'genocide'. a full 33%. The Sinhala Only Act These acts include (1) killing ensured that by the 1970s, Tamils members of the group (2) caus- there were very few Tamils in ing serious bodily or mental government, especially the civil harm to members of the group service and administrative ranks (3) Deliberately inflicting on the that provided the infrastructure group conditions of life calculat- of a state. Tamils, like the Tutsi ed to bring about its physical in Rwanda, had been the majori- destruction in whole or in part; ty of government civil servants 'Politicide' covers groups that before the Act. share a political belief (such as By a process of recruiting Eelam) but not a distinct ethnic Sinhalese only since 1962, Dr. broadcast during the July 1983 ogise or offer protection. The pogrom was an example identity. Brian Blodget describes how the anti-Tamil pogrom, which saw The President was a member where "a crisis or opportunity is The Tamils, a distinct ethnic Sri Lankan military was also ren- the gruesome mass murder of of the ruling elite. The genocidal caused by or blamed on the vic- group with a contiguous millen- dered ethnically pure. thousands of Tamils. anti Tamil pogrom of 1983 was tim and the perpetrators believe nia-old history, allege genocide. And so an ethnically pure rul- As Tamil families were being the strategy this elite used to that they can get away with it". But genocide may pretend to be ing elite increased its power base hacked to death or burnt alive on "resolve real solidarity and legiti- In any other context, it would politicide, a "lesser" crime, not by cleansing lower level govern- the streets, in their homes, their macy conflicts or challenges to be astonishing that the President covered by the UN. ment ranks and the military of workplaces and temples, their interests against victims" to could try to put the blame for Social scientists have devel- those who might oppose it in President Jayawardene came on use Ms Fein's words. mass murder of the Tamils on the oped a general theory of geno- coming years. radio for the first time on the There had always been legiti- victims themselves. And that he cide by identifying the central Sri Lanka's political parties 28th July to give his now infa- macy issues in Sri Lanka, a could conceivably mention the elements in a 'genocidal conjunc- are dynastic as are the ruling mous broadcast. country formed by Colonial pow- year 1956 as the beginning of ture' - almost like trying to define elites. They include firstly, the Instead of either apologising ers by artificially uniting differ- "distrust" that led to this slaugh- a mathematical equation. One Bandaranaike Family that first or promising protection to the ent historical Tamil and Sinhala ter. objective of this effort is to pre- swept to power on the race card Tamil people during the pogrom, governances. After the British Because 1956 was the year of dict or prevent future genocides. of the "Sinhala Only Act". he chose instead to talk about the left, the exclusion of Tamils via the "Sinhala Only Act" - legisla- As Dr. Helen Fein explains: Secondly the Uncle-Nephew "suspicion between the Sinhala racist legislation exacerbated the tion designed to ensure that "Genocide is viewed couple of the late Junius and the Tamil people" which, he government's crisis of legitimacy. Tamils did not hold government theoretically... as a strategy that Jayawardene and Ranil said, began in 1956 and to blame It is now widely accepted that office or jobs of any note, unless ruling elites use to resolve real Wickeremesinghe that dominated the pogroms on the desire of the the 1983 pogrom was state they passed the significant hurdle solidarity and legitimacy con- the oppostion UNP party. Tamil people for separation orchestrated and government of fluency in Sinhalese. flicts or challenges to their inter- Jayawardene proved his race cre- which he said began in 1976. ministers were complicit; for As with the 1949 citizenship ests against victims decreed out- dentials by presiding over the He concluded his broadcast example, the mobs had been pro- act that former U.S. Attorney side their universe of obligation largest anti-Tamil race pogrom, by promising to the (Sinhala- vided with electoral registers to General Bruce Fein, has com- in situations in which a crisis or , in 1983. Thirdly, the Buddhist) nation that "We will help identify Tamils and the rul- pared to Hitler's Nuremberg opportunity is caused by or three brothers of the Rajapakse also see that those ... who advo- ing party's officials and their laws (1935), the intent of this blamed on the victim (or victim family who now dominate the cate the separation of the country affiliates owned many of the legislation was to exclude the impedes taking advantage of an SLFP-led far right alliance which lose their civic rights and cannot vehicles used to transport the Tamil minority from participa- opportunity) and the perpetrators is the UPFA. hold office, cannot practice pro- mobs (the military provided the tion in important areas of soci- believe that they can get away All these families are, of fessions, cannot join movements rest). ety: the civil service, the military, with it" course, Sinhalese-Buddhist. or organisations in this country. Another Presidential speech and jobs in state-owned indus- But even in this narrow theo- Because the ruling elites We are very sorry that this step two weeks prior to 23 July 1983 tries, which in Sri Lanka would retical approach, Sri Lanka's came to power through a racist should be taken. But I cannot had paved the way for the even include most of the media. treatment of its Tamil community electoral strategy, the Tamils are see, and my Government cannot pogrom: "I have tried to be effec- As James Smith said constitutes genocide. "victims decreed outside their see, any other way by which we tive for sometime but cannot. I "Genocide is not extreme war or Firstly, the politics of race universe of obligation" to use can appease the natural desire am not worried about the opinion conflict; it is extreme exclusion. have dominated Sri Lankan elec- Helen Fein's words. Precisely and request of the Sinhala people of the Jaffna (Tamil) people Exclusion may start with name- tions since independence; gov- because these governments are to prevent the country being now… Now, we cannot think of calling, but may end with a ernments that have come to obligated to an entirely different divided, and to see that those them. Not about their lives or of group of people being excluded power are invariably those that group: the majoritarian Sinhala- who speak for division are not their opinion about us... The from a society to the point where have espoused the anti-Tamil Buddhist electorate which able to do so legally." more you put pressure in the they are destroyed" card. brought them to power. President Jayawardene's north, the happier the Sinhala But given that genocide nec- The organised Buddhist cler- Much of the behaviour and speech makes no rational sense people will be here... really, if I essarily means the victim must gy are a "ruling elite": They have attitudes of the Sinhala ruling outside of genocide theory. But starve the Tamils out, the Sinhala be blamed the President's broad- modernised but retained their elites, including the present day within the framework above as people will be happy." cast during the pogrom makes historical role as "king makers Rajapakse family, towards the articulated by Helen Fein it Again, outside of the theory perfect sense. and advisors" in the ancient Tamils is incomprehensible out- makes perfect sense. in which the victims were While the 1983 pogrom led Sinhalese kingdoms. side of genocide theory. The victims, the Tamil peo- decreed "outside the universe of to some immediate international This militant clergy helped For example, it is only in this ple, had well prior to 1983 been obligation" of the President, this protest, there was no recognition formulate the supremacist poli- framework of genocide theory decreed "outside the universe of statement that "if I starve the of genocide outside of a few cies from the stripping of citizen- that we can begin to make sense obligation" of the President; Tamils out the Sinhala people ship of 1 million minority Tamils of President Jayawardene's radio hence there was no need to apol- will be happy" makes no sense. Continued on p19 10 TAMIL GUARDIAN Wednesday June 04, 2008 TAMIL GUARDIAN Wednesday June 04, 2008 11 BALRAJ FUNERAL

Brigadier Balraj’s body laid to rest Pirapaharan felicitates THE remains of Brigadier church of Infant Jesus in Mull- last respects at the event which Earlier, several thousand me- Balaraj, a senior commander aiththeevu. The cortege arrived at continued till 2:10 p.m. mbers of the public had had an Liberation Tigers, who passed the church around 12:30 p.m. The casket was then taken in opportunity to pay their last away due to a sudden heart attack Poorani, head of LTTE Naval procession from Mulliyavalai ju- respects to Brigadier Balraj when on 20 May 2008, was laid to rest wing's women's division, lit the nction to Mulliyavalai Vidyana- the casket was kept at Mallaawi, Commander Balraj 6.30 pm on Friday, 23 May, with common flame at the event held nda College where another event Vanni. full military honours in in the main hall of Millaiththeevu to pay homage to Brigadier Balraj Colonel Ramesh, one of Mulliyavalai Heroes Cemetery Maha Vidyalyam to pay homage was held at 4:00p.m presided by Senior LTTE commanders, eulo- the presence of thousands of pub- to Brigadier Balraj. Umainesan, political head of gized Brig. Balraj at the event in VELUPILLAI Pirapaharan, the message follows: victories, the heroic military his martial characteristics struck lic and hundreds of LTTE cadres. Vinayagam, deputy comman- Mulliyavalai zone. Mallaawi. leader of the Liberation Tigers, in leader, who trained, guided and fear in the hearts of the enemy. After the homage ceremony der of the Sea Tigers, presided the A number of LTTE represen- Col. and several his condolence message follow- Head Quarters fought with our fighting forma- These same characteristics held Thursday in Kilinochchi, the event. tatives including head of the LTTE military commanders for ing the demise of Brigadier Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam tions and conventional brigades, strengthened the conviction and casket containing the remains of After that Chandrasegaram LTTE political wing B. Nadesan, the Northern Front including Balraj, elaborated on the charac- Tamil Eelam is with us no more. Our nation is morale of our fighters. They Brigadier Balraj was kept at and Gnanasekaram, siblings of commander of the Northern Front Colonel Mugunthan and Colonel teristics that he admired in 21 May 2008 in profound grief at his loss. brought us victories. Puthukkudiyiruppu Central Coll- late Brigadier Balraj, lit the flame Colonel Theepan, Colonel Jeyam, Kumunan laid garlands over the Brigadier Balraj as an exceptional My beloved Tamil people, I loved him deeply as an Brigadier Balraj has not left ege from 8:00a.m till 11:00a.m to of sacrifice, and garlanded the LTTE military advisor Dinesh, remains of late Brigadier Balraj. military leader. Our movement, in its long exceptional military leader. I rec- us. As the energy that seeks our enable the public to pay their last remains. head of the Education unit of C. Navaratnarajah, President of Balraj was at the center of journey towards freedom, has ognized in him, from the very nation's freedom, as the fiery respects. Colonel Soosai, special com- Tamil Eelam Ilankumaran, Head Kilinochchi Traders Association, many of LTTE's Himalayan victo- made many admirable sacrifices; beginning, the rare martial nature force that moves us on, he will After an eulogy by Poddu mander of Sea Tigers garlanded of LTTE justice department Para, presided over the event. ries, he said and remembered him its history is filled with so many and martial characteristics that always be within us. Ammaan, head of the LTTE Inte- the remains of Brigadier Balraj Thamilenthi, Mannar division Press reports said a number of as the "heroic military leader, celebrated brave deeds; it has were natural to him. I saw him lligence Wing, the casket preced- and paid special tribute to commander Laxman and LTTE (SLAF) Kfir who trained, guided and fought reached numerous achievements; develop as an idealistic fighter Signed ed by percussion band and acco- Brigadier Balraj. secretariat administrator Neethan jet fighters flew over the skies in with our fighting formations and and it has won great military vic- with great skill and leadership. V Pirapaharan mpanied by thousands of people Thousands of people gathered garlanded the remains of a provocative act to intimidate the conventional brigades." tories. The man, who was at the His ability to move the fight- Leader of the Liberation Tigers of was taken in procession to the in the school premises paid their Brigadier Balraj. public during the event. Full text of LTTE leader's center of many of our Himalayan ing units, his focused actions, and Tamil Eelam 12 TAMIL GUARDIAN Wednesday June 04, 2008 FEATURES Reserved hero: Brigadier Balraj

TamilNet

IN over two decades of service troops, such a move had hitherto with the Liberation Tigers of been considered an impossibility. Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Brig. It was also considered impos- Balraj, who passed away May 20 sible for a lightly armed strike after a heart attack, had been a force, surrounded by thousands of courageous and skilled fighter Sri Lankan troops supported by and commander whose last years artillery, tanks and airpower, to were spent institutionalizing the seriously disrupt the key highway training of a new generation of for very long. LTTE field officers. Although he However, holding what joined the LTTE later than many became called the 'Vaththirayan of the other top commanders, Box', a perimeter of a few kilo- Brig. Balraj had risen rapidly metres deep inside the Jaffna through the ranks on the strength High Security Zones, with no of his shrewdness on the battle- hope of resupply unless the field and courage under fire, Elephant Pass base fell to the fighters who served with him said LTTE, Brig. Balraj and his troops this week. battled the Sri Lankan forces for Brig. Balraj had been ailing 34 days with only the weapons for some time and had been hos- they had carried with them. pitalised for two weeks three When the LTTE assault on the months ago. He had undergone a Elephant Pass base complex heart-related operation in 2003, began, the SLA garrison there during the Norwegian peace was unable to receive supplies process. The operation was con- from Jaffna due to Balraj's 'cut ducted in a hospital out'. and he had spent several months The SLA therefore launched recuperating in Vanni thereafter. repeated onslaughts against Brig. Throughout his career, Brig. Balraj's position to clear the A9 Balraj, one the LTTE comman- and save the Elephant Pass base. ders most feared by the Sri As the situation became critical, Lankan military, had always pre- top Sri Lankan commanders con- ferred to lead his troops from the verged in Jaffna to mobilise the front. relief effort, but to no avail: the LTTE fighters who served 'Vaththirayan box' held until the served with Major Pasilan. The Indian military launched assigned objective, in this case with him say he preferred to Elephant Pass garrison collapsed Colonel Theepan, the present its Operation Checkmate in sever- the barracks part of the base. direct his battles from amidst the before a major LTTE offensive. Northern Forces Commander of al phases, once deploying the elite Subsequently, the SLA expan- exploding shells and flying bul- At least 4 Sri Lankan comman- the LTTE, recalled that in one Gurkha regiment. ded the EP base into a complex lets of the frontline - a few hun- ders were put in charge, one by heavy battle at In one critical battlefront, which was the largest SLA instal- dred metres from the enemy posi- one, against the Tiger forces led Munthirikaikkulam, Balraj took Balraj launched a surprise frontal lation in the island. Ten years tions - rather than the confines of by Balraj. part in an LTTE ambush in which assault on the Gurkhas located in later, it was Balraj's raid which a command-centre. Brig. Balraj's raid gave lie to fourteen SLA soldiers were killed open terrain. The ferocity of the ensured its fall to the LTTE. He had been seriously wound- the assumption that no rear and several weapons were seized. LTTE attack forced the elite sol- In 1993, the SLA launched a ed many times in his two decades defence in depth of a state's con- Balraj later took part in sever- diers to scatter into booby- major offensive, Yarl Devi, of service, the healing often com- ventional army could only be al ambushes on SLA forces in trapped jungles where they suf- against LTTE, under the com- pounded by his diabetes. seriously threatened by an armed Vanni during that year, demon- fered heavy casualties. This bat- mand of Col. , Brig. Balraj had twice com- force supported by strategic air strating considerable courage and tlefront defined Balraj as a fear- now a Lt. Gen. and overall com- manded the LTTE's crack power. battlefield acumen, Col. Theepan less commander. mander of the SLA. Anthony Regiment. He was its Balraj (Balasegaram Kandiah) said in his tribute on May 22. When the conflict between the LTTE forces, under the com- first commander for two years was born on 27 November, 1965. However, Balraj's defining Sri Lankan state and the LTTE mand of Balraj, with Theepan as from when the unit, designed for He hails from Kokkuththoduvaay moment as a field commander resumed after the withdrawal of deputy commander, led a counter- conventional war fighting, was in Mullaiththeevu district. came later during the India - the IPKF, in what became known offensive against the advancing established in 1991 and had led it He joined the LTTE in 1983 as LTTE war. He fought side by side as Eelam War II, Balraj led key SLA forces. again for another two years from a part time member and became a with Major Pasilan and Major fronts in several battles and Taking up entrenched posi- 1995. full time member in 1984. Maran in Jaffna when the conflict sweeping operations against the tions in unfavourable, open ter- Brig. Balraj came to particular Fellow fighters remark that he erupted between the LTTE and SLA. rain at Puloappalai, the LTTE public prominence for his com- had been wounded in combat the Indian Peace Keeping Force In 1990 he was involved in the forces launched a surprise attack mand of a daring operation in even before he received his mili- (IPKF) in 1987. Armed with an LTTE's assault on SLA-held on the SLA, inflicting heavy 2000 in which he led 1,200 LTTE tary training: he was in the 9th AK-47 assault rifle and a Rocket- Maangkulam - in the centre of the casualties and destroying tanks fighters into the Sri Lanka Army batch of the LTTE training pro- Propelled-Grenade launcher, now LTTE-held Vanni region. and armoured vehicles. (SLA) -held Jaffna peninsula to gram in . Balraj fought Indian forces at Balraj also participated in the The SLA offensive was routed capture and hold a section of the In 1985 he departed for India Koapaay, destroying battle tanks. LTTE's first assault on the in six days. Col. Fonseka was key A9 highway linking the SLA from Vanni for military training. Later, as the LTTE shifted its Elephant Pass base in 1991. amongst the wounded. Balraj was base complex at Elephant Pass His batch, travelling under the base to Vanni moved and Although the LTTE operation also badly wounded in his leg. with the Jaffna rearbase areas. supervision of a senior LTTE switched from urban- to jungle- failed to capture base, it defined Adele Balasingham, wife of The large LTTE strike force cadre, Kandeepan, was confront- warfare, Balraj was moved into the movement's forces evolution the LTTE's late theoretician, slipped into the heavily fortified ed by the SLA. Kandeepan and the deep jungles of Manalaaru, into a conventional war-fighting , recalls peninsula by sea and trekked some of the other recruits were which is near his native place of force. Balraj's injuries in her book, 'Will inland from Thalaiyadi to the killed in the ensuing clash. Balraj Kokkuththoduvaay. Balraj commanded one of the to Freedom', based on her several Puthukkaattu Junction on the A9. was wounded. Balraj was wounded three four fronts in that battle, the only years of experiences living with With complex defences manned When Balraj came back to times during direct confrontations front in which the LTTE forces the LTTE. by thousands of Sri Lankan Vanni from training in 1986, he with the Indian Army. succeeded in capturing their "A measure of Balraj's TAMIL GUARDIAN Wednesday June 04, 2008 13 FEATURES Admired female LTTE leader killed in battle

LT COL SELVY, deputy leader of the Sothiya Regiment, was killed on 25 May 2008 at the age of 38 in a frontline battle at the Mannar forward defence line (FDL). Lt Col Selvy hailed from Jaff- na and joined the LTTE in 1995 prior to the mass displacement from Jaffna in that year. She was following an undergraduate cour- se at Jaffna University when she joined the LTTE. Even her seniors within the LTTE feared her for her stringent adherence to rules and the extre- me austere life that she led and expected others in the movement to lead. To her subordinates she was the counsellor who could be approached with any kind of problems. Yet they too feared her for her absolute honesty. There were rare instances in her life as a leader of a frontline unit where she dared to disobey orders of her seniors that she cle- arly perceived as unwise. At her funeral her seniors expressed their respect for her decisions of this type. Lt Col Selvy loved learning the in all its man- ifestations. Lately, she eagerly grasped an opportunity to learn the oldest text on Tamil grammar, Tholhapiyam. It was one of her regrets that she could not dedicate herself to the women fighters. She had the ature to cite poems war and brav- this task since her duties at the ability to ease the tension and ery with relevance to the situation frontline made this very difficult. make people laugh with her lan- in hand which often made her Her ability with the language guage skills. She could use her fighting unit shake out of the gave her a valued skill to enthuse knowledge of ancient Tamil liter- pressures they were facing. courage revealed itself to us when SLA troops, the LTTE again shift- which thousands of soldiers were "Balraj is known, loved and Banu and Col. Jeyam, who had shrapnel smashed his right leg in ed its rear base to Vanni. deployed from the Muhaimalai respected not only for his leg- also been sent to the east, also the Yarl Devi battle of 1993. A Balraj subsequently led, as frontline to capture Elephant Pass endary military successes and returned in phases with their decision not to amputate the limb Coordinating Commander, the from the Tigers. undisputed and abounding fighters. was made and Balraj suffered LTTE's Operation Unceasing The abortive offensive was courage, but also for his utter Whilst the Sri Lankan govern- excruciating pain of limb repair. Waves I, the assault on the SLA the last major engagement of commitment and devotion to the ment of President Mahinda Raja- Compounding his healing prob- base at Mullaiththeevu in July Eelam War III as nine months lat- cadres under his command. paksa said the LTTE had been lems was unstable diabetes. After 1996. The Tigers seized artillery er, the Norwegian-facilitated pe- Sensitive and respectful of the routed in the east, observers now many months in bed and a great in Mullaiththeevu for the first ace process began in earnest with sacrifice and tribulations they say the LTTE had opted not to deal of pain, Balraj eventually time. a mutual ceasefire, later formal- have endured, Balraj opts to fight in strategically unfavourable walked again on his leg, but the Later, in 1997 and 1998, he ized into the Ceasefire Agreement spend as much time as possible in terrain and had instead gradually injury left him with a permanent led several counter-attacks agai- (CFA) in February 2002. the camps with them." relocated its main forces to the limp and a recurrent wound infec- nst the SLA's Operation Jaya During the lengthy peace In 2003 Balraj suffered a heart Vanni to confront the SLA's tion." Sikirui, then the largest over process, the LTTE embarked, as attack underwent surgery in massed formations there. "Nevertheless, he viewed his offensive launched by the Sri part of its state-building project, Singapore. Reports say that even as he injury a insignificant compared Lankan forces. to institutionalize the training of In 2004, Balraj was amongst was forced to rest in hospital by with the suffering and sacrifices In 1998 Balraj led a lighting field commanders at different lev- the senior LTTE officers sent to bouts of illness in the past year, of his cadres and continued to assault into the then SLA-con- els of responsibility. the east. However, Balraj did not Brig. Balraj had continued to function as a field commander in trolled town of Kilinochchi, Recognizing the unfolding participate in the offensive opera- engage himself in the military the warzone." whose residents had fled when generational shift in one of the tions and his exact role in the east campaign, often visiting the During Eelam War III, which the SLA captured it in 1996, soon world's longest running liberation remains a secret. Mannaar and Manalaaru fronts followed the short-lived peace after the Mullaiththeevu battle. struggles, the LTTE sought to He was still there in where LTTE fighters are present- talks with the government of Balraj's assault was part of impart command knowledge and December 2004, when the Indian ly putting up stiff resistance President Chandrika Kumaratu- Operation Unceasing Waves II, in skills to talented and battle expe- Ocean tsunami struck, killing against the SLA. nga, Balraj commanded impor- which Kilinochchi was again rienced soldiers. thirty thousand people across the Speaking in May 2006, soon tant defensive battles against the brought under LTTE control. Balraj, with more than 20- island's northern, eastern and after the Sri Lankan government massed formations of the SLA Operation Unceasing Waves years of combat experience and southern coasts. had launched its opening offen- deployed to capture the Jaffna III, the third in the series, was the skilled in various war-fighting Balraj, based in Vakarai, nar- sive against the LTTE in peninsula. massive LTTE counter-offensive strategies, had the assignment of rowly escaped the crashing waves Champoor, in the Eastern He led LTTE forces deployed in late 1999 and early 2000, developing the training programs. and soon after, returned to Vanni, Province, Brig (then Colonel) as part of Operation 'Tiger Leap', which first recaptured in six days In her book, 'Will to Freedom' with a number of LTTE fighters. Balraj observed: "The Fourth a counter offensive with opera- the vast territory the SLA had Adele Balasingham notes her In Vanni he resumed direction of Eelam War will be the final war, tions in sea and land and using struggled for eighteen months to observations about several of the training programs for LTTE offi- and a terrible war that will bring surface-to-air attack. occupy and then overran the top LTTE figures, including cers. the long awaited liberation to our After the mass civilian exodus Elephant Pass base complex. Balraj. After the SLA launched major people and our homeland. We are from Jaffna compelled by the In 2001, Balraj played a key "Incredible as it may seem, operations in the Eastern province certainly positioned to be victori- massive bombardment and 'broad role in crushing the SLA's mas- this fighting hero is a reserved in mid-2006, other top LTTE offi- ous. The people are with us and front' assault by two divisions of sive Operation 'Agni Khiela', in man," she writes. cers, including Col. Sornam, Col. our leader will lead us to victory." 14 TAMIL GUARDIAN Wednesday June 04, 2008 NEWS Give up Eelam ...

Continued from p4 ing the LTTE. rity, I think that the new Chief Minister in order to secure the years now. The US is a strong Q: Criticism had mounted when support of the people of the East, supporter of Sri Lanka's fight the East was about to be liberated. it is very important to show that against terrorism. We strongly Now the Mahinda Rajapaksa gov- he has been given opportunities to believe that Sri Lanka like all ernment has created the right serve all other communities in the other countries has an obligation environment to give more power East and pursuing development in to defend its people against LTTE to the people whereby they can a neutral way. terrorism. look after their own affairs. What And I think that way he can The US has provided military, is your comment on restoring ensure that there is harmony law enforcement and other kinds democracy in the East? among these communities and of support to help the government A: I think President Rajapaksa also stability in the East, which to defend itself while believing and the Sri Lankan Government will automatically reach to a that a purely a military solution made very important progress greater development and priority would not be the correct solution over the past year. First they have for the people of the East. for this conflict. expelled the LTTE from the East. The US believes that the That is a positive development Q: Will the US continue with its answer to the conflict lies with a and secondly they have restored support to develop the East? power sharing concept which can government services. A: Yes, we have quite a number of respond to the aspirations of In the East they have reopened projects with the assistance of the Bruce Fein challenged Ambassador Blake to support a referendum Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims. schools, hospitals and govern- private sector, for example the We also believe that in this very ment institutions. Now there is a vocational training. We have just important stage of the conflict, it greater sense of normalcy in announced a major project in is very important for the govern- many towns in the East. People Batticaloa to develop dairy indus- ment to address the human rights are out late at nights, going for try and another to grow vegeta- issues as well. movies and for shopping which is bles for exports. Referendum ... The US also has concerns a big achievement after 20 years. We strongly believe that we about Tamils who suffer dispro- There is stability now, in that part need to help the people of the East portionately due to human rights of the country. and give them economic opportu- violations. With regard to the election we nities. We believe that there is a Continued from p4 It is important to give them a always support the principle of big role for the private sector to dent J.R. Jayawardene to the sense of feeling that they could free elections. It is important to play. We have proposed to give guage. Daily Telegraph on July 11, 1983 live with respect and dignity here. allow the local inhabitants to rep- more assistance for the East and 3. The revocation of con- while state organized race riots So improving the human rights resent their views. There have the US government is considering stitutional safeguards for the were slaughtering Tamils by the performances is also an important been some controversies which it now. Tamil minority in the new 1972 thousands and displacing more aspect of our dialogue with the were highlighted in the media. Republican Constitution imposed than 100,000: "I am not worried government. The Opposition parties have Q: You have always advocated a without popular ratification. about the opinion of the Tamil alleged that there were many credible political package to meet 4. The statement of S.J.V. people…now we cannot think of Q: The US supports developing irregularities. The US is not in a the aspirations of the Tamils. Chelvanayakam, leader of the them, not about their lives or their countries. Sri Lanka has been bat- position to judge since we did not How do you see the APRC pro- Tamil United Liberation Front, opinion…the more you put pres- tered and bruised by LTTE terror- have observers on the ground. But posal to implement the 13th after winning the by-election in sure in the north, the happier the ism and how best the US could we think that it is important for Amendment? 1974 where he sought a mandate Sinhala people will be support in curbing terrorism? the government and the new A: The East is a fine laboratory to for Tamil Eelam: "The National here…Really if I starve the A: I think I have just answered Provincial Council to look into show that powers within the 13th Convention of the Tamil United Tamils out, the Sinhalese people that question. The US is one of those charges seriously and act on Amendment be devolved within Liberation Front meeting at will be happy." the first countries to declare them. the Eastern Provincial Council. Pannakam…on the 14th day of Ambassador Blake, however, LTTE as a foreign terrorist organ- In the long run it is really But I think the government needs May 1976, hereby declares that should be praised for tacitly isation in 1997. We have also important to consider what the to go beyond the 13th Amend- the Tamils of Ceylon, by virtue of acknowledging that the political helped to investigate and prose- people of the East believe. If they ment. their great language, their reli- fate of the Tamil people should cute people in the US, who were believe that it was largely a free The way they develop must be gions, their separate culture and pivot on what the majority cher- trying to provide arms to the and fair election and they support a significant power sharing pro- heritage, their history of indepen- ish. LTTE. the new council, then the interna- posals through the APRC using dent existence as a separate state The Tamil majority should not So, the FBI, for an example, tional community should also be some other mechanisms. But I do over a distinct territory for sever- be dictated to by Prabhakarkan or has conducted distinct operations prepared to accept their decision believe that the APRC has made al centuries till they were con- anyone else - including the Am- that had resulted in the arrest of in toto. lots of progress. quered by the armed might of the bassador who has never attracted many people and those investiga- In terms of what happens According to Prof. Vitharana European invaders, and above all a single Tamil vote. tions are on-going. We also have a after, I think that the new Chief over 90 percent of their work has by their will to exist as a separate The time-honored method for central bank, which improves Minister has an important chal- been done and I think the APRC entity ruling themselves in their determining whether a group of financial investigations to track lenge on his hand. First of all, he has been a useful mechanism to own territory, are a nation distinct people desire independent state- down the money flow into the has to assure security, because on get the Southern consensus to and apart from the Sinhalese and hood under international law is by LTTE and help to stop those one hand he is the chosen Chief move forward. The most impor- this Convention announced to the conducting a fair and free referen- money from flowing in. Minister of the Eastern Province tant thing is to come up with an world that the Republican dum. East Timor, Eritrea, and Then the most importantly we and on the other hand he is the idea which is really welcomed by Constitution of 1972 has made Montenegro are recent examples. work with our friends in the mili- head of the TMVP which still has the Tamils. the Tamils a slave nation ruled by (Kosovo declared its indepen- tary to help them to stop import of armed cadres. I think that it is important for the new colonial masters, the dence by parliamentary vote). arms into this country. So, he is in a difficult position the government to consult a wide Sinhalese, who are using the In Canada, Quebec has twice We gave them a maritime sur- where he has to enforce state law range of Tamils. We are not call- power they have wrongly usurped voted on independence, and veillance system last year - a ra- as the Chief Minister and on the ing for negotiations with the to deprive the Tamil nation of its rejected the option twice. dar system - that will give the Sri other hand a fairly large number LTTE. That is something that the territory, language, citizenship, And the United States permits Lanka Navy a much better picture of armed cadres. I think some- government has to decide. economic life, opportunities of Puerto Rico an independence of LTTE naval activities in their thing must be done and they can It is important to recognize employment and education, there- vote, which has never attracted waters and thereby give them the not continue to do illegal activi- more than half of the Tamils are by destroying all attributes of more than a tiny 4%. opportunity to detect LTTE ship- ties in the East. living outside the Wanni. I think nationhood of the Tamil people, Ambassador Blake should ments of arms. I must say they Otherwise they would under- their interests also should be and therefore…This convention pursue the logic of his own exhor- have enjoyed considerable succe- mine the leadership of Pillaiyan respected as well. So, people like resolves that the restoration and tation to Prabhakaran. He should ss last year in sinking many of and the transition that the TMVP Anandasngaree and other elected reconstitution of the Free, expose his 95% figure to the test these ships. is trying to make while being a representatives in the government Sovereign, Secular, Socialist of a Tamil statehood referendum The ban on LTTE is extreme- para-military group and a politi- controlled areas are needed to be State of Tamil Eelam based on the conducted under United Nations ly effective in terms of imple- cal party. So, we support the idea brought into this process and con- right of self determination inher- auspices. menting the American law. of them of being a political party. sulted. ent in every nation has become If statehood prevails, the People understand that we are But that transition must be com- inevitable in order to safeguard Ambassador should be the first to very strict about forcing our laws pleted and certainly they can not Q: You mentioned the solution the very existence of the Tamil concede Prabhakaran's superiori- which will prosecute anyone who be in both. should be something beyond in this country." ty in discerning the political aspi- is believed to be illegally assist- Beyond the challenge of secu- Continued on p17 5. The statement of Presi- rations of the Tamil people. TAMIL GUARDIAN Wednesday June 04, 2008 15 NEWS Rights groups decry killing of another Tamil Jounalist

A TAMIL television journalist working an Sri Lanka army-held area in the northern Jaffna penin- sula was hacked to death along with his friend on Wednesday evening when he was returning home from work, officials from the TV station said. "Our Jaffna correspondent Paranerupasinghem Devakumar was hacked to death in the army- controlled area in Jaffna yester- day evening," said Susil Kindelpitiya, news director of the Maharaja Television and Radio, said on Thursday May 28. The friend accompanying him, 24-year-old computer tech- nician Mahendran Varadan, died later in hospital from the injuries he sustained in the attack. A media rights groups con- demned the killing and said the government's vociferous condem- nations and promises of inquiries were meaningless without the will to push investigations for- ward. Free Media Movement (FMM) an influential media rights group in a statement said, Devakumar is the ninth media worker to have been killed in Jaffna since 2006. "It is with sickeningly increas- ing frequency that we are com- pelled to ask the government to take concrete measures to halt the killing, assault and intimidation of journalists in Sri Lanka," FMM statement said. The FMM said none of the Journalists carried posters bearing the disfigured face of Keith Noyhar, who was abducted, badly beaten and then dropped off outside his disappearances, abductions or resicdence, alleegedly because of his criticism of the government’s war efforts. Photo Lakruwan Wanniarachchi / AFP / Getty Images murders of media workers have been probed and the perpetrators According to Amnesty killing and said: "The government inability and its lack of political describe Sri Lanka as one of the brought to justice. International, at least 10 Sri in Colombo must do everything will to protect journalists." most dangerous places in the Stressing that Devakumar's Lankan media workers have been possible to establish the circum- The government has reported- world for journalists after Iraq. murder was just the latest in a killed over the past two years, stances of this murder and identi- ly assigned three police teams to On May 22, Keith Noyahr, a series of killings of journalists in while others have been abducted, ty those responsible, so that it probe the incident. Priority could deputy editor of The Nation the troubled Jaffna region, the tortured or illegally detained. does not go unpunished as so not be given to any hypothesis for weekly, was abducted and severe- Free Media Movement said con- Most are Tamil journalists many others have." the time being as Devakumar was ly beaten after criticising demnations and promises of working in the ethnic Tamil Reporters Without Borders known for covering both sides of Colombo's war against LTTE. investigations had no meaning majority areas of the north and added: "Although no suspect has the war between the government Sri Lanka's defence secretary "without the political will" to east. Sinhalese journalists work- yet been found, the security forces and the Liberation Tigers branded as "traitors" any journal- complete the investigations. "The ing in the south also face intimi- forces should explain how this of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). He had ists who wrote reports that could repugnant impunity that aids and dation, particularly when report- attack took place in an area of the not been criticised or threatened damage the security forces. abets violence against journalists ing cases of graft, Amnesty said. peninsula that is supposed to be in the past and a personal motive Journalists are barred from and media personnel must come Reporters Without Borders under close military control. The cannot be ruled out. visiting front lines or areas held to an end," the FMM said. expressed its outrage at the latest government is exposing both its Media rights watchdogs by the LTTE. Gotabhaya ‘warns’ state employed journalists

SRI LANKA'S Defence Secre- sibility if any harm befalls on meeting with the Defence Sec-re- video footage of Balasooriya crit- Lake House journalists, cannot tary and the brother of Sri Lankan them from 'patriotic citizens' who tary, no details of their attendance icizing the government, and that criticise government policies no President Mahinda Rajapaksa on support the military. were made public, TamilNet rep- the two journalists were called in matter what their position is and it May 26 invited two journalists - On Wednesday, SL Minister orted. When Pathmakumara men- for a meeting for clarification and could be considered as a grave Poddala Jayantha of Working Keheliya Rambukwella con- tioned that both Balasooriya and not for reprimanding. He said, at a crime to do so. Journalists' Association and firmed the meeting and reiterated Jayantha had worked for the elec- media protest campaign held last He said that though funda- Sanath Balasooriya, secretary of that state employees should abide tion victory of Mahinda Rajapak- week to condemn the brutal mental rights are enjoyed by any the organization, both employed by rules of their employer organi- se, Gotabhaya Rajapakse had assault on The Nation Associate other citizen, government ser- in the state-owned Lake House - zation. Although Lake House allegedly dismissed the fact as Editor Keith Noyahr, Balasuriya vants cannot criticise the policies and cautioned them that their Director Bandula Pathmakumara, irrelevant to current matters. had criticised government poli- adopted by the government as it is activities are bringing disrepute to and Director of the Media Center In the press briefing, Hulu- cies on conducting the war. clearly stated so in the Establish- State armed forces, and that the for National Security Lakshman galla mentioned that the Defence Hulugalle charged that gov- ment Code, reported the Daily Government will not bear respon- Hulugalla participated in the Ministry has in its possession ernment employees, including Mirror. 16 TAMIL GUARDIAN Wednesday June 04, 2008