Mass Graves in the Tamil Homeland
Presented at International Conference on Tamil Nationhood and Search for Peace in Sri Lanka Carleton University Ottawa, Canada May 21, 1999 Outline
Chemmani Mass Grave Stadium Grave Other Mass Graves Exhumation Procedures Prosecution of Perpetrators Conditions of Genocide Conclusions Chemmani Timeline
Military Makes > 600 Disappearances of Tamils Continue Tamil Civilians Disappear
Military Invasion of Jaffna Military Occupation of Jaffna Continues 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Murder of Krishanthi & Rajapakse's Confession June 15, 1999 Family, Sept. 7, 1996 July 3, 1998 Exhumation Begins
No Action by SLG on Chemmani Allegations To Jaffna Town To Nallur Chemmani Mass Grave
A9
Chemmani Mass Grave Site N
SLA check post Brother
Mother
SLA check post Clothing
Krishanthi
Se cur ity Zone Uppu Aaru Lagoon (Salt Pan)
Scale ~ 1 mile A9
Kaithadi SLA check post
Navatkuli To Kilinochchi / Kandy Source: Yukthiya map July 13, 1998 Details added using Sri Lanka survey map Where are Mass Graves in Tamil Eelam ?
Stadium Chemmani N Jaffna
Kilinochchi Oddusudan Manal Aaru A9
Navalady Saththurukkondaan Batticaloa Kandy
Kokkaddichcholai Veeramunai Colombo Bolgoda Lake Pandiruppu Udumbankulam More Mass Graves & Massacres in Tamil Homeland
1987 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999
Jan. 1987 1st Kokkaddichchcholai Massacre
1989? Stadium mass grave
1990 Navalady & other mass graves in east
Sept. 1990 Sathurukkondan mass grave
Jan. 1991 2nd Kokkadichcholai massacre
July 1995 Bolgoda Lake killings
Feb. 1996 Kumarapuram massacre
1996 Chemmani mass graves
1998 4th Mile Post massacre
1998 600 Oddusudan disappearances Procedure for Excavation of Mass Graves
Mapping of Grave Site [Forensic Anthropologists & Geologists] Collection of Pre-death Data [Anthropologists] Exhumation of Graves [Forensic Archaeologists] Autopsies and DNA Analysis [Pathologists] Forensic Reports Submitted to International War Crime Tribunal
Source: Physicians for Human Rights website (www.phrusa.org) & Argentine Forensic Antropology Team Chain of Command - 1996 During Chemmani Murders in Jaffna Pres. Chandrika Kumaratunga Minister of Defence & Positions in 1999 Commander-in-Chief Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte Head of Joint Operations Bureau Deputy Minister of Defence
Gen. Rohan Daluwatte Governor of Northeast Province Army Commander (GOC)
Brig. Gen. Jayawardhana Army Commander (GOC) Northern Headquarters, Vavuniya
Brig. Sri Lal Weerasooriya Deputy Chief of Staff Jaffna Commander
Brig. Janaka Perera In charge of Chemmani area
2nd Lt. Shashinda Thudugala In charge of Chemmani Chk Points
Cpl. Somaratna Rajapakse & others Sentenced to death Conclusions
Neutral international body for credibile exhumation Intl. War Crimes Tribunal needed to prosecute offenders Impunity for security forces too widespread Mass graves are symptom of genocide