Tides of violence: mapping the Sri Lankan conflict from 1983 to 2009 About the Public Interest Advocacy Centre The Public Interest Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is an independent, non-profit legal centre based in Sydney. Established in 1982, PIAC tackles barriers to justice and fairness experienced by people who are vulnerable or facing disadvantage. We ensure basic rights are enjoyed across the community through legal assistance and strategic litigation, public policy development, communication and training. 2nd edition May 2019 Contact: Public Interest Advocacy Centre Level 5, 175 Liverpool St Sydney NSW 2000 Website: www.piac.asn.au Public Interest Advocacy Centre @PIACnews The Public Interest Advocacy Centre office is located on the land of the Gadigal of the Eora Nation. TIDES OF VIOLENCE: MAPPING THE SRI LANKAN CONFLICT FROM 1983 TO 2009 03 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................................................... 09 Background to CMAP .............................................................................................................................................09 Report overview .......................................................................................................................................................09 Key violation patterns in each time period ......................................................................................................09 24 July 1983 – 28 July 1987 .................................................................................................................................10 29 July 1987 – 9 June 1990 .................................................................................................................................10 10 June 1990 – 18 April 1995 .............................................................................................................................11 19 April 1995 – 1 February 2002 .......................................................................................................................12 2 February 2002 – 20 July 2006 .........................................................................................................................13 20 July 2006 – 19 May 2009 ...............................................................................................................................14 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................................16 ACRONYMS .............................................................................................................................................17 INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................................... 18 Transitional justice and Sri Lanka .......................................................................................................................18 Conflict mapping and CMAP ...............................................................................................................................18 From database to report ........................................................................................................................................19 Sources included: database and report ............................................................................................................19 Incidents included: database ................................................................................................................................20 Incidents included: from database to report...................................................................................................21 Single source violations: report ...........................................................................................................................22 Categories of violations included: from database to report .......................................................................22 Time period ................................................................................................................................................................23 Report structure .......................................................................................................................................................23 Report style ................................................................................................................................................................23 Acknowledgements .................................................................................................................................................24 Background to the conflict ....................................................................................................................................24 24 JULY 1983 – 28 JULY 1987 ................................................................................................................26 Period Overview .......................................................................................................................................26 Western Province ................................................................................................................................... 28 Black July riots ...........................................................................................................................................................28 Welikada Prison massacres ..................................................................................................................................28 Vehicle bombs and other IEDs ............................................................................................................................28 Eastern Province ..................................................................................................................................... 30 Village raids and other group attacks ...............................................................................................................30 Killings ..........................................................................................................................................................................32 Landmines, vehicle bombs and other IEDs .....................................................................................................32 04 TIDES OF VIOLENCE: MAPPING THE SRI LANKAN CONFLICT FROM 1983 TO 2009 Northern Province .................................................................................................................................. 33 Village raids and other group attacks ...............................................................................................................33 Killings ..........................................................................................................................................................................34 Landmines, vehicle bombs and other IEDs .....................................................................................................34 Suicide attack ............................................................................................................................................................35 Aerial attacks and shelling ....................................................................................................................................35 North Central Province .......................................................................................................................... 36 Village raids and other group attacks ...............................................................................................................36 29 JULY 1987 – 9 JUNE 1990 .................................................................................................................37 Period Overview .......................................................................................................................................37 Northern Province .................................................................................................................................. 39 Aerial attacks and civilians killed in crossfire .................................................................................................39 Killings and abductions leading to torture, disappearance or death ......................................................40 Landmine, vehicle bomb, grenade and other IEDs .......................................................................................41 Village raids ................................................................................................................................................................42 Eastern Province ..................................................................................................................................... 43 Village raids ................................................................................................................................................................43 Attacks or killings targeting specific people or groups ...............................................................................44 Disappearances ........................................................................................................................................................46 Attacks on vehicles .................................................................................................................................................46