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. . . . . Access to Information is a Fundamental Bight

NEWS BULLETIN OF THE TAMIL INFORMATION CENTRE SEPTEMBER 1993 No. 26

ARMY FAILS TO TAKE IN OPERATION YAL DEVI

Over 100 civilians are reported Helicopters continued to fire on troops advanced to Kilali on 1 killed in Operation Yal Devi Kunchuparanthan in Kilinochchi October and claimed to have launched by the military in . At Pulopallai troops destroyed a pier and 450 boats. on 28 September. Reports say the faced major attacks by the Tigers. Defence Ministry says 114 main objectives of the operation, Some sources say the LTTE did soldiers, including seven officers,’ involving around 9,000 troops, not offer much resistance earlier in were killed and 248 were seriously were capturing, Chavakachcheri order to draw the Army into injured. According to the LTTE town in the south of the Jaffna difficult terrain covered by 96 Tigers were killed in the battle peninsula to prevent people coconut trees, thorn bushes and and the army’s four Czech made crossing the Jaffna lagoon at Kilali ponds. Main Battle Tanks were destroyed. and to launch an offensive on the Jaffna town further west. Surprisingly, the Army withdrew from Kilali on 4 According to reports, plans for October and returned to Operation Yal Devi began as Elephant Pass. The foilowing soon as Hamilton. day civilian crossing at Kilali Wanasinghe assumed duties with Sea Tiger security as Secretary to the Ministry of resumed. The Tigers had Defence. General Wanasinghe moved most of the boats now also heads the Joint further east of Ki1ali during Operations Committee ‘formed Operation Yal Devi and the after the disbanding of the Army claim that 450 boats Joint Operations Command. by’ were destroyed was certainly President D. B..Wijetunge. false. Army officers accuse Weapons and military the political leadership for the equipment received from decision to withdraw from China in late September were Kilali and government officers in ’ immediately dispatched to the The was shelled say the decision was north and the three armed forces from military bases in , taken by the military high chiefs flew to, Palaly Army Camp Palaly, Mathagal and Karainagar command. Apparently no one in Jaffna on 26 September to.meet and from naval vessels. On 28 wants to take the blame for defeat. the northern commanders. September 20 civilians were buried alive at Sangathanai in According to Army Commander Curfew was imposed in Jaffna, Chavakachcheri when a bunker Cecil Waidyaratne Operation Yal Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and collapsed due to airforce bombing. Devi had four aims: 1) to advance Mannar districts on 28 September Seven others were rescued and to Kilali pier and destroy all boats and troops began advancing from admitted to the Chavakachcheri and allied facilities thereby Elephant Pass northwards towards hospital. The Nanthavil Amman preventing the LTTE from making Iyakachchi and northwest towards temple in Kokkuvil was use of this crossing point; 2) to Pallai accompained by extensively damaged by bombs destroy as many LTTE camps indiscriminate bombing and and four elderly civilians were while advancing; 3) to kill as many shelling of populated areas. killed. Seventeen students LTTE cadres as possible; 4) to Supersonic planes bombed Kilali, attending classes in the adjoining deny the LTTE a major source of . Allippalai, Sangathanai, Mattuvil, social welfare centre were injured. income. ‘It was alleged that the’ Chavakachcheri, Pallai, Kokkuvil, LTTE was making use of the Eluthumatuval and Nanthavil. After heavy fighting at Pallai, crossing to earn millions. of rupees

Tamil Information No. 26 j September 1993 . 1 a month. Lt Gen Waidyaratne is and has ended in failure at the cost of hundreds of lives. adamant that these objectives had Both parties are continuing to been achieved but has not attempt to win battles saying that explained the withdrawal. Reports from Colombo indicate such victories are necessary for a that whatever claims by the stronger negotiating position. But The fierce charge by the Tigers in authorities about successes at in reality, winning a battle makes the Pulopallai area took the troops battle fronts and whatever them believe that they could win by surprise and reports say that statistics are released by the the war. Therefore fighting many soldiers fled in panic. Army Defence Ministry, ordinary people continues in which many hundreds officers had great difficulty in have learned to make their own of innocent civilians are killed. As making them hold their positions. observations and judgement. Many said earlier, many operations have The large number of deaths had people stand by the Galle road and been launched for the capture of demoralised the troops. It was observe ambulances rushing from the Jaffna peninsula. At least, after realised for the first time since the the Ratmalana airport to the Operation Yal Devi the Sri Laukan beginning of the operation that General Hospital taking injured government must realise the territory could not be held. and dead soldiers and they are able futility of the attempt at a military to estimate the number injured and Airforce bombing was not solution. killed and judge whether the army effective because of the terrain and Tigers could ambush the troops in has been successful. Observers say Prime Minister Ranil any number cf places. Although most soldiers sent to the front line Wickremasinghe and Foreign the aim was to establish camp at are from rural areas and their Minister A.C.S.Hameed have been Kilali, commanders also realised deaths do not evoke any emotion recently saying in the United that the camp could not be in Colombo. Politicians praise the States and Britain that supplied through land or the “sacrifice they have made for their was pursuing a political lagoon and without supplies there country” and have no hesitation in settlement. President Wijetunge was no hope of holding the camp sending more to their deaths. continues to lament over the huge or making further advance on amount of money spent on Chavakachcheri. In fact a camp Operation Yal Devi was planned in defence. If these concerns are could not be established anywhere the backdrop of President genuine, the government must along the 12km route the army had Wijetunge’s continuous assertion accept all as equal citizens of Sri advanced. There would have been that Sri Lanka faces a terrorist Lanka, and call for a ceasefire and further losses and the troops would problem and not an ethnic crisis, enter into negotiations to work out have been further demoralised. For and the anticipated publication of a lasting solution. Continuing the these reasons, analysts say, the the Parliamentary Select military objective will lead to decision was taken to withdraw. Committee report in mid-October: further militarisation of the whole The Sri Lankan government has society and result in suffering and Several major military operations also rejected all recent peace increased human rights violations. have been launched in the Jaffna initiatives including international If the international community peninsula in the last two years. A mediation efforts. Observers does not play a role in finding a large number of civilians have believe that the real objective of solution to the Sri Lankan crisis, been killed and enormous property the operation was to weaken the human right violations will destroyed in operations Liberation, bargaining position of the Tamils continue and more lives will be Valampuri, Chess, and Whirlwind. and impose the recommendations lost. The international community Operation Yal Devi, named atter of the Select Committee which has must press for a political solution the Colombo Jaffna express train, already been rejected by all Tamil, in Sri Lanka. was the biggest operation thus far political parties.

REPRISAL KILLING PROHIBITED ZONE POLICE OFFICER KILLED REDUCED Three policemen on patrol near Assistant superintendent of REDD BARNA village in Ampara Police Ranjith Ekanayake was Responding to India’s concerns the killed by gunmen on 19 District were killed in an LTTE government reduced the prohibited September at Rawanaella in ambush. P.Gopalapillai a resident zone from the earlier announced of the village was tortured and northern territorial waters to Sri , Budulla District. Deputy Inspector killed by armed men in military General Frank Silva notified all Lanka's maritime boundary in the police stations to apprehend all fatigues. Villagers fled the area north as per Emergency army deserters after the leader of and fifty three houses were set (Establishment of Prohibited Zone alight as night fell. the gang was identified as an army No. 2) Regulations 1993. desertor. .

Tamil Information No. 26 September l993 2 2224 Tamil Detainees TIC ACCESSION LIST in NE Military Camps A selection of documents received by TIC in September 1993

Human Rights Task Force in its annual report has revealed the number of detainees held in SHR 3223 Office practice in “safe third military camps in North-East as at Balasingham, Anton country” asylum cases 10 August 1993. The camps where Itandu tacaptankalum pulikalum London: Amnesty International detainees are held have been listed : LTTE; August 1992 (British Section); July 1993 with Eastern Province accounting 43p. (Text in Tamil) 8p. for the vast majority. Some of the DESCRIPTORS: LTTE / War / DESCRIPTORS: Asylum / Cases camps listed are:- Ethnic Problem / History / United Kingdom

Camps Detainees SHR 3222 SGN 363 Inkulap Eelaththuppooradanar Batticaloa Military/ Inkulap Kavitaikal Penamunaiyillihmtu ed. by Vi. Police camp - 982 Paris: LTTE International Pacupati Selvatacakopal Trincomalee Military Secretariat; 1993 Canada: Nilal Publication; 1988 camp- 141 36p. 160p. (Text in Tamil) Amparai military camp - 27 DESCRIPTION: Political poems/ DESCRIPTORS: Tamil / Essays Hardy military camp - 06 Tamil Batticaloa military prison - 142 SGN 359 Kommathurai military SHR 3220 Eelaththuppooradanar prison - 50 Interviews given by Dr. Kumar Minkananit Tamilum Eluttuc Trincomalee military -- Rupesinghe, Secretary General, Cirtituttamum ed. by Ita. prison - 718 International Alert: press cuttings- Nakalinkam Valaichchenai military Sri Lanka 2-29 August, 1993 Canada: Nilal Publication; 1989 prison - 07 Sri Lanka: The Sunday Times; 29 96p. Thandikulam military August 1993 DESCRIPTORS: Computer / prison - 75 4p. Tamil Programme Islands military prison - 16 DESCRIPTORS: Interview / Wanni military prison - 60 Peace initiative / Ethnic problem SGN 357 Eelaththuppooradanar Military authorities have SGN 369 Eelat Tamil aringnarkaI ed.by maintained that all detainees have Gnanamaniyam Edward Itayaccantita LTTE links. Tavattiru Vipulananta adikalatin Canada: Nilal Publication; 1992 nutrandup pamalar 60p. In addition to these 2224 London: Ancient Tamil Folk DESCRIPTORS: Biography / detainees, 960 Tamil detainees Theatre; 22 December 1992 Tamil scholars have been listed as being held at 25p. (Text in Tamil) the Kalutara and Magazine DESCRIPTORS: Poems / PB prisons. The report also reveals Vipulanantar / Tamil Libertas: newsletter that HRTF received 2351 Canada: International Centre for complaints of disappearances but it SHR 3224 Human Rights and Democratic hasbeenabletotraceonly 114 The state Co-ordinating Committee Development; September 1993 persons. of NGO’s for Relief and Vol. 3. No.4 Rehabilitation of Sri Lankan 6p. Refugees DESCRIPTORS: Human Rights NEW DEFENCE Madras: TECRAS; June 1993 Violation SECRETARY 4p. DESCRIPTORS: Tamil Nadu / SHR 3230 Towards Peace in Shri Lanka: Disbanded JOC’s chief General Sri Lankan Tamil / Refugees / Collection of Appeals 1991-1992 Hamilton Wanasinghe took over NGO’s / Basic needs 15p the position of Defence Secretary OHR 251 DESCRIPTORS: Peace on 08 September vacated by Air Initiative/ Appeal Chief Marshall Passing the buck: deficient Home who resigned earlier.

Tamil Information No. 26 September 1993 3 SEPTEMBER DIARY

thirteenth LAWASIA conference SEPTEMBER 01 SEPTEMBER 07 was held in Colombo with the NAVY ATTACKS INDIAN KILALY KILLING theme focus ” The role of law in a FISHERMEN An Indian national CONTINUES: Two Air Force region undergoing accelerating was killed and three others were helicopters and two attack air craft change”. injured when naval craft attacked strafed civilian boats carrying the boat in which the occupants passengers across the Jaffna SEPTEMBER 13 were engaged in fishing in the lagoon which though prohibited is UNDERGRADUATES northern waters. the only entry / exit point to the PROTEST: Engineering faculty besieged Jaffna peninsula and students at Peradeniya university SEPTEMBER 02 killed seven of them. Thirty were boycotted lectures in support of AMMUNITION TRUCK injured and the attacks had been several student demands. Five EXPLODES: An army truck made after flares were lit to students continue a fast in rotation being loaded with explosives blew identify the boats according to back their demands. up at Punanai in Batticaloa survivors of this attack. District. Two soldiers were killed SEPTEMBER 14 and six others including four SEPTEMBER 08 REFUGEE APPREHENSIONS: civilian employees were seriously POLICE SEARCH REFUGEE Refugees at the Valaichenai wounded in this incident. RETURNEES: Five hundred and refugee camp expressed their fifteen Tamil refugees returning concern for safety in resettlement SEPTEMBER 03 from India were subjected to a at their border villages to the . PROHIBITED WATERS: police search despite protests by officials who visited the camp. Northern territorial waters were UNHCR officials running the They appealed to the Batticaloa declared a ‘Prohibited Zone’ by the transit camp in Trincomalee. Government Agent, NORAD government. This order made by representatives and Rehabilitation President Wijetunge covers the SEPTEMBER 09 Ministry officials to ensure their area stretching from north of . TORTURE VICTIMS: The security by opening ICRC offices Mannar in the west coast to Supreme Court ordered a medical and police stations. Trincomalee on the east coast. examination on Veerasingham Mahadevan and Arunasalam SEPTEMBER 15 SEPTEMBER 04 Ketheeswaran who had filed ORCHESTRATED SHELLING: POT AND KETTLE: SLFP fundamental rights applications. Army camps at Mandaitivu, leader Mrs. Sirimavo Both applicants now in detention Madagal and Palaly in Jaffna Bandaranaike speaking at the 42 at Kalutara prison have alleged District commenced simultaneous annual general meeting of her torture after their arrests in shelling for one hour from 5 p.m. party faulted the government for Trincomalee District in March targeting populated areas. The not presenting any proposals 1992. head of a’eleven year old girl was before the Parliamentary Select blown apart and eleven others Committee for settling the SEPTEMBER 10 were injured when a shell festering north east problem TULF VICE PRESIDENT exploded at Chunnakam. although the government party ARRESTED: A vice president of members were present in the the moderate TULF party and a SEPTEMBER 16 committee in preponderant retired public servantaged 65 MID DAY MEAL numbers years who was with him were PROGRAMME SCRAPPED: arrested in Colombo and detained Four million school children SEPTEMBER 05 at a police station on suspicion of enjoying this benefit begun by FISHERY LOSS: Fisheries links with the LTTE. former President Premadasa were Minister J.M.Perera accepted that deprived of this when this the prohibited zone in force in SEPTEMBER 11 programme was scrapped. north east is causing great hardship PLANTATION STRIKE to those dependent on fishing for ENTERS FIFTH MONTH: The SEPTEMBER 17 their livelihood. strike at the Haputale Needwood DEATH SQUADS AGAIN: tea estate in Badulla District Government MP Hudson SEPTEMBER 06 continued despite the matter being Samarasinghe and opposition MP JOC DISBANDED: President referred for arbitration by the Mahinda Rajapakse have urged the Wijetunge did away with the Joint labour department. new Defence Secretary General Operations Command and set up a Hamilton Wanasighe to act Defence Co ordinating Committee SEPTEMBER 12 promptly to apprehend the death in its place. CONFERENCE: The squads who are openly engaged in

Tamil Information No. 26 September 1993 4

SEPTEMBER DIARY . abductions and killings. Parliament that several places of and Mullaitivu Districts were worship had been damaged due to brought under a curfew and troops SEPTEMBER 18 serial bombing and cited the with air cover moved out of the TAMIL GOLDSMITHS Durghai Amman Temple in Jaffna Vankalai army camp in Mannar ARRESTED: S.Lingarajah (25 District where six devotees were District. Five soldiers were killed Yrs), I.Sivaganeshan (25 Yrs) and killed and eleven were injured. He his brother Maheswaran( 15 Yrs) also stressed that the ethnic SEPTEMBER 28 all from Batticaloa District problem should be peacefully OPERATION YAL DEVI: employed in a jeweller’s shop at resolved if the war is to be Curfew was clamped in Jaffna and Panadura in Kalutara District were brought to an end. Kilinochi Districts as troops arrested on suspicion. backed by artillery, battle tanks SEPTEMBER 24 with sea and air cover moved out SEPTEMBER 19 CHOLERA EPIDEMIC: The of the Elephant Pass camp in the TRANSMITTER DESTROYED: health ministry reported that it had direction of Pallai in Jaffna Military sources reported the received confirmation from ICRC District. Resistance from the killing of four LTTE cadres in the as to the prevalence of cholera in LTTE hampered progress. Kudumbimalai area of Batticaloa the Jaffna peninsula. Twenty two District. Radio transmitters used cases had been reported according SEPTEMBER 29 by them were destroyed in this to the ICRC. CANNON FODDER: At least operation according to the same seventy soldiers were killed and sources. SEPTEMBER 25 over hundred were injured as the LTTE HIDEOUT push to Pallai continued. LTTE SEPTEMBER 20 DESTROYED: Military sources casualty figures were put by SHOPS OF TAMILS reported the destruction of an military sources at around two SEARCHED: All shops owned by LTTE camp at Angodavillu in hundred. Tamils in Badulla town centre Polonnaruwa District. Ten LTTE were subjected to a search at 4 cadres were killed in this incident INTENSE AERIAL BOMBING: a.m.. Two Tamils were arrested on and forces also recovered rifles Air force planes were engaged in suspicion during this search. and radios used by them. bombing scattered areas in Kilinochchi, Chavakacheri and SEPTEMBER 21 POLICE POST OVERRUN: Jaffna areas. The Viththaha SELECT COMMITTEE’S The police post at Katuwanwila in Pillayar Temple at LAST SITTING: The Batticaloa District was overrun by Eluthumadduval was completely Parliamentary Select Committee LTTE cadres at 3a.m. Five destroyed. Troops continued to decided to terminate its policemen were killed and five advance towards the Kilali lagoon proceedings and submit its report were injured in this attack. crossing, to Parliament. The chairman gave Twenty others at the post had fled time for any further proposals to to the jungles in the face of this POLICE CLASH WITH be submitted by any interested attack. Four LTTE cadres were RESIDENTS: Muslim residents party till 15 October. of Main Street at Ottamavadi in reported. killed in this incident. Batticaloa District were involved SEPTEMBER 22 SEPTEMBER 26 in a clash with Police in the ASHROFF’S CONCERN: AIRMEN AMBUSHED: Three morning. Ten shops, ten houses Speaking in parliament on the airmen were killed and four were and four motor vehicles all owned amendment to the Sports Bill injured when an air force patrol by Muslims were allegedly SLMC leader Ashraff decried was ambushed by the LTTE at damaged at 7 pm by Police. discussing sports at a time when Morawewa in Trincomalee bloodshed was continuing in north District. SEPTEMBER 30 east. The Parliamentary Select TROOP ADVANCE: Troops Committee’s decision to wind up AERIAL BOMBING: Omantai continued their push towards the sittings without finding a solution and Navatkulam villages in Kilali lagoon crossing with LTTE to the north east problem had District were targeted resistance diminishing. dashed all his party’s hopes he by air force planes at 11 p.m.. added. Many residential building were SHELLING TARGETED severely damaged in this mid CMLIANS: Shelling from SEPTEMBER 23 night air raid. Palaly army camp claimed the WAR ON PLACES OF lives of five civilians at Navakkiri WORSHIP: State Minister SEPTEMBER 27 village in Jaffna District. Eleven P.P.Devaraj acknowledged in CURFEW DECLARED: Mannar others were injured..

Tamil Information No. 26 September 1993 5 Situation Report

ABDUCTION AND TAMIL ARRESTS POLICE ABET KILLINGS IN THE CONTINUE ABDUCTION NORTHEAST UNABATED Answering questions in parliament Midnight visits by armed gangs, Six Tamils from Wattala in Minister Wimal Wickremasinghe abductions from residences and Colombo District including women disclosed that Abdul Gafoor from subsequent killing of those so travelling in a coach to Kandy Akkaraipatru in Ampara District abducted have become common in were arrested on 15 September at was abducted on 26 August in the northeast. The latest victims Peradeniya Road in Kandy. Being broad daylight within the Criminal were T.Thevarajah, S.Packiyarajah Tamils they are held on suspicion Investigations Department’s and A.Thangarajah from and have to prove their innocence. compound in Colombo under the Mahilavedduvan village in very nose of Police officers on Batticaloa District. All three were Mass arrest of Tamils in Colombo guard duty. He had presented abducted by an armed gang on the in violation of the measures agreed himself for questioning at the CID night of 15 September from their to between the government and headquarters and was leaving the homes. The dead bodies of the first and Tamil political leaders in June building when he was abducted by two named were recovered later. prompted State Minister persons who arrived in a vehicle A.Thangarajah was found with M.S.Sellasamy to confer with bearing registration number 5 l- serious injuries and was admitted President Wijetunge and Defence 1725. to hospital in a critical condition. Secretary General Hamilton Wanasinghe on 15 September. He was not arrested by the CID A doctor from Bible in the According to the Minister not even according to the Minister. He Moneragala District was stopped in a single terrorist had been however admitted that the his car at Siyambalanduwa in the identified from among the 15,000 abducted person is now held in Ampara District on 15 September Tamils recently arrested. custody at Batticaloa by security by armed gunmen in uniform who forces on a charge that he supplied set fire to his vehicle when he The Minister reported after the banned commodities to terrorists. refused to give up his vehicle. This meeting that the Defence Secretary doctor managed to escape with had agreed to consider new burns and was admitted to Ampara procedures of arrest which would hospital. avoid indiscriminate arrests in POLICE ANNOUNCE future. LOCAL ELECTIONS It is significant that these developments are within the Eastern province which the At a Peace Committee meeting in security forces claim to be under Batticaloa eastern province Deputy their control. The government COMMUNAL AMITY Inspector General Police announced local elections on announced that local elections 19August and referendum on 24 Seven village divisions with would be held in Batticaloa during Augustbasedonthis reportbythe Muslim residents brought three January 94. security forces. years back within the Muslim Assistant Government Agent’s President of the Peace Committee division of Ottamavadi were once brought to the notice of this police SHELL FIRE again brought within the Tamil officer that mail to Batticaloa was DISPLACES Valaichchenai regional secretariat. being opened at the police station before delivery resulting in delay RESIDENTS This has been done due to the and pilfering. He pointed out that demands made by the Muslim this belies the claim that normalcy Residents of Kottady, residents who preferred to opt out prevails in this province and Naavaanthurai and Araaly in of the Muslim Ottamavadi requested that if necessary, vetting Jaffna District have been forced to division. This has been hailed as a of private mail should be done at flee their villages during the first rejection of the attempts by the post office itself two weeks in September due to interested elements to keep the intermittent shelling directed from Muslim and Tamil communities the Mandaitivu army camp. divided.

Tamil Information No. 26 September 1993 6 Situation Report

90,000 KILLING NEW 3 FAMILIES FIELDS SECURITY AFFECTED ARRANGEMENT The declarationby the government The latest figures released in a that the territorial waters around Five districts bordering the north the north east coast is a prohibited crime prevention report by the police department gives the east province have been granted a zone has left 90,000 families special status by the police depending on fishing without a number of reported killings from 1 January 1988 to 30 June 1993 as department. Each of these districts livelihood. Appeals have been 17,72 1. The highest figure for a will be under a Deputy Inspector made to the Jaffna Government General of Police from October 93. Agent to provide some relief by year has been 8,127 in 1989. fishermen’s co operatives and MPs. It is significant that most extra The districts selected for this special policing are Puttalam, No relief measures have been judicial killings went unreported as were the killings in the war torn , Polonnaruwa, effected inspite of several appeals north east; Monaragala and Ampara. made to the authorities.

TRANSPORT HOUNDING OUT OF FORTY EIGHT DESERTERS HARVEST CIVILIANS KILLED IN Lt. Colonel A.P.Thorandeniya of the Military Police divulged that Security forces in Batticaloa AERIAL BOMBING District have decreed that plans have been drawn up to arrest harvested paddy could be Twenty seven civilians at a at least four hundred army deserters transported only on the basis of cultural event at Mathalan village every month. He disclosed that seventy five bushels per acre. This in were hilled eighteen officers and 2,923 soldiers arbitrary ceiling is unrealistic and on 18 September when Air Force had been apprehended from results in difficulty for the planes targeted them. Government January 93 to date. claimed that eight, of those killed in this incident were LTTE Those apprehended had been members. handed over to their regiments and Thereisalreadyabanonpaddy commanding officers of the cultivation west of the Sandana Further, on 28 September, regiments have the right to decide and Muhundan rivers in this Twenty civilians in an air raid District and the new measure is shelter at Sangathanai in expected to further reduce the Chavakacheri were buried when paddy production in the region. air force planes bombed this ETHNIC PROBLEM village to assist ground troops advancing west, fourteen ARRESTS AND kilometres away. A similar State Minister U.L.M.Farooq DETENTIONS bombing at Kokkuvil further north speakingatafunctiontomarkthe claimed four civilian lives ( all opening of a UNP office at aged over 50 yrs ) when Nandavil Anguruwella in the Kegalle Secretary to the Ministry of temple was hit. Seventeen children District spoke of the urgent need to Defence has written to the at a play school adjoining the resolve the ethnic problem by all Inspector General of Police and temple were also injured. concerned including political Attorney General that “the parties. incidence of unjustified arrests and detentions continue at police stations and it was time that the Inspector General of Police took steps to arrest this trend.

Tamil Information No. 26 Sepember 1993 A dramatic entertainment lasting through war torn areas of and instigated by the Jayawardene almost 90 minutes was staged by Vavuniya and Kilinochchi. Some regime followed by the late the undergraduates of the Faculty never return as they are shot dead Premadasa’s administration. The of Medicine, University of Jaffna and disposed of by the Sri Lankan situation has not changed as it depicting the realities of Sri army. Some others do return appears to be still continuing under Lanka’s ongoing ethnic conflict, having been tortured and carry the present Wijetunge government. that has affected many thousands, permanent mental and physical if not every Tamil family in the scars: A young girl in her teens With maximum limitations and semi destroyed and war tom Tamil witness&d her friend being caught basic necessities that are available Eelam. The drama staged at the and raped by an army officer:’ The in the Tamil Eelam the production Kailasapathy auditorium in the poor victim could not bear her team has to be given full credit for Jaffna campus had a powerful shame and took her life by having made a video for posterity, impact on the local audience and jumping into a nearby well: The of this amateur dramatics. The sought to increase the social teenager who witnessed this sad sound effect was overpowering at awareness amongst our people. episode has now become times and as a result one was The local media published a psychologically disturbed: Every unable to grasp the dialogue. The number of appreciative reviews time she tries to get to the well she lighting and costumes needed and some with constructive returns indoors screaming and has improvement to suit the different criticism. This play has been to be comforted by her widowed moods. The Government Agent captured on video tape and mother and sister. The sister too showed a lot of professionalism as includes a panel discussion at the has-by now realised that her young an actor. The disturbed boy’s end with the participation of Dr. husband had been shot dead by the acting too is much commendable. Suresh Kanagarajah ( Head of army in Vavuniya., when he was English ) Professor K.Sivathamby returning from Colombo. She Review by Dr. K.C.Rajasingham ( Head of Fine Arts ) and chaired suffers in desperate silence as not by Dr. Somasunderam. The to upset her aunt who also happens Dr. Daya Somasunderam, one of playwrite Mr.Shanmugalingam has to be her mother-in-law. The latter the producers of the above play portrayed this piece of art as a an upper class lady who is married has requested donations and psychological drama imparting the to a Government Agent is &ill proceeds from the sale of the social problems that prevail in living in hope for her son’s return. video. The copy of the video in modem Eelam. Many of the sad She indulges in regular prayers and hand at present is not of the best problems confounding the present invites her daughter-in-law to join quality. However, copies are being day Tamil community of Eelam her to go for temple poojas. Half- issued at El0 each. Efforts are has been condensed into a 90 heartedly the young widow being made to obtain a good copy. minute release. It shows in a nut concedes to her aunt’s request. A Please send donations to : shell how cruel regimes began to yoiung son who is preparing for destroy the will and dignity of his examinations becomes very Medical Institute of Tamils three inter related indigenous much disturbed and eventually Tbamil House Tamil families. They are becomes mentally imbalanced due 720 Romford Road compelled to live under the same to the indiscriminate and perpetual London El2 6BT roof, due to the indiscrimenate shelling by the army. The play destruction of a home by the Sri thus revolves round the families For copies of the video tape please Lankan armed forces. These who have really been engulfed by contact Dr. V. Nerminathan on families are living in fear and the atrocities committed on them 0702 553053 desperation day after day from the by the Sri Lankan armed forces perpetual shelling from army camps and strafing by air force helicopters flying around them. They anxiously await the return of TAMIL INFORMATION is published by Tamil Information Centre, a son or husband from Colombo Tamil House, 720 Romford Road, London El2 6BT. Tel: 081514 6390 SUBSCRIPTION: UK - £6.00 All Other Countries - £10.00

8 Tamil Information No. 26 September 1993