DISINFORMATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS
The important role of Information either in the
enforcement of human rights
or the abuse of those rights
is not often visible. Effective manipulation of the sources of information
could be achieved through various ways, through misinformation, disinformation
or through censorship. Governments often resort to such practices in their
attempt to cover up their violations of human rights. Sri Lanka is not only no
exception to this, but is an outstanding example of a country that has
succeeded in getting away with violations amounting to genocidal proportions
merely by blocking information or by manipulating it.
On the one hand there is a war going on in parts of the country where no
foreign correspondents are admitted. On the other hand, the Sri Lanka
government is issuing handouts about the war to Sri Lankan (Sinhalese)
correspondents working for international news agencies which the latter
faithfully transmit to the outside world. By characterising the war as one
against terrorism and not against Tamils, and making the world believe in it,
human rights of non-combatant Tamil civilians are being trampled. A London
based Human Rights group 'Peace Brigades International' has already announced
it was pulling out of Sri Lanka because of restrictions placed on its
dissemination of information regarding human rights in the country. The group
has also complained about the way the government was hindering access to the
east which has seen much of the fighting. Such acts constitute a censorhsip of
information.
In trying to project the appointment of the Human Rights Commission as an
expression of genuine concern over human rights the government has been less
than sincere. The record of the Commission until now has been very poor. The
report of the Special Rapporteur Mr. Bacre Waly N’diaye following his
on-the-spot visit to Sri Lanka has set out several goals to the Commission,
none of which is on the face of it, being pursued by the Commission. Among the
goals he suggested are : Give a full public accounting of the scope and extent
of the crimes committed in the name of the State and political and
institutional factors that contributed to the impunity of the authors. Mr.
N’diaye has placed his finger on two vital aspects: the lack of public
accounting and the exemption from punishment of crimes committed. Even the US
State Department in its country report on Sri Lanka for the year 1997 has
commented: “In most cases of extrajudicial killings and disappearances no
progress was made or there was no investigation or prosecution at all”.
While there are enough reports emanating regarding the human rights
situation in Sri Lanka and while enough lip service is being paid to the need
to enforce human rights, there has been no tangible evidence to show any
improvement. Because the State itself is a party to the violations, only a
direct show of concern by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights
could be the anwser. It is to be hoped that Sri Lanka as a country which was
very much in the world's eye in recent times will receive close attention from
the energetic High Commissioner Madame Mary Robinson. (S. S.)
I FEEL SAD ABOUT
SITUATION IN JAFFNA
-- UN Special
Representative Mr. Olara Otunnu
Olara Otunnu, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Children in Armed Conflict who is currently visiting Sri Lanka at the invitation of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, made contact with LTTE representatives in Thunukkai, the periphery of the Tiger stronghold in the Wanni region. The Weekend Express reliably understands that the meeting between the UN special representative and LTTE representatives lasted from 6 am to 2 pm on Thursday.
The UN Special representative who had visited Jaffna last Tuesday (5/5/98), also expressed his deep concern over the situation prevailing in Jaffna. On the way back to Colombo by LionAir on Tuesday morning he told us that permanent peace is an urgent need for the people of Jaffna. “I feel sad about the situation in Jaffna,” he said.
(Extracted from The Weekend Express of 9-10 May, 1998)
ARMY DRIVE TO TAP SCHOOLS FOR 15,000 SOLDIERS
The Sri Lankan
Army will launch a campaign in school countrywide in a national level
recruitment campaign to enlist 15,000 soldiers. Plans for this campaign are now
being formulated by Army Headquarters. In terms of this plan, the Army is to
seek the help of Grama Sevakas.
Army recruitment
teams who will visit schools will, with the help of Audio/Visual aids, explain
to students who plan to leave school, the need for them to enlist.
Attractive terms
and facilities are to be provided to them.
Army sources said the enlistment of 15,000 additional soldiers would
help offset a shortfall in the approved cadres due to desertions. This is in
addition to deaths and also those injured being left out of battle. At present
the number of deserters is estimated to be over 19,000.
(Sunday Times of
May 3, 1998 - Page 1 lead news)
Page 2/3
5561 CIVILIANS IN 56 DETENTION CENTRES
Nearly 5561 Tamil
civilians from Valikamam East and North are held in fifty-six detention centres
in different parts of Jaffna peninsula. They are refused permison to go to
their homes on the pretext that there is lack of security.
Place Total
Detention Total Total
Centres Detainees Families
Kopay 7 734 194
Chankanai 13 833 229
Sandilipay
9 784 221
Tellipalai
3 440 127
Uduvil
8 907 241
Pt. Pedro
7 1081 253
Karavedy
2
70 18
Jaffna
2 366 83
Maruthankerni 4 326 82 (REP)
GIRL STUDENT STRIPPED NAKED AND WHIPPED
A GCE (O.L.)
student of Vincent Girls' High School in Batticaloa was stripped naked and
whipped by the Sri Lankan army on March 17, claimed her partents. The girl 17,
who did not want to be identified lives in the village of Palugamam with her
parents. On March 17, the girl had gone to school around 2 p.m. in the
afternoon to obtain her admission card for a GCE (O.L.) practical exam which
was to be held the next day. And then she had gone to see a friend at Surya
Lane near the Batticaloa hospital. Here, according to her account, she was
picked up by the Sri Lankan army. She says that the soldiers were accompanied
by members of a Tamil para-military group operating in Batticaloa with the
army.
She was taken to
a camp and was stripped naked and beaten with sticks. The girl has several
scars and contusions on her back. She was released around 6 p.m. in the
evening. (Hot Spring, March 1998)
RAPE WITNESS BURNT ALIVE
On April 14,
Selvarasa Vasantha a mother, resident of Alvaar Lane in Point Pedro was raped
by Sri Lankan Army soldiers inside the premises of the Kaarthika restaurant on
Main Street - Point Pedro in the afternoon.
The rape was
witnessed by the female owner of the restaurant. She had lodged a formal
complaint over the rape with the Sri Lankan Police at Point Pedro.
On April 15, the
soldiers who came to know about the complaint had threatened Vijayakumari and
warned her to withdraw her complaint immediately.
However she had
defied the soldiers' threats.
On April 16, two
Sri Lankan army soldiers in civilian clothing had gone to the Kaarthika
restaurant and after ordering tea, had forcibly covered Vijakumari’s head with
a pot.
The soldiers had
then poured petrol on her and had set her alight. When neighbours attempted to
douse the fire the soldiers had forcibly prevented them from going near the
burning woman. It was only forty five minutes later the neighbours were able to
take Vijayakumari to the hospital. She died later.
The government
authorites had claimed that Vijayakumari had committed suicide by setting
herself on fire! (INFO)
FOUR TEEN-AGERS DISAPPEARED IN JAFFNA
Eelam People’s
Democratic Party (EPDP) has once again started abducting youths in Jaffna peninsula.
Four teen-age boys from Santhana Mahavidyalayam at Nallur in Jaffna have been
reported missing from 20 May 1998. According to eye witnesses, the boys had
been arrested by the members of the EPDP.
The missing boys
are : S. Sugirthan (14), L. Parthiban (17), S. Vivekanandan (17) and L.
Sutharshan (17).
It is said that a
volunteer of the St. John's Ambulance, Mr. Sajithkumar Bahvanathan who is also
a member of the EPDP had abducted these boys. (FOM)
ARBITRARY
ARREST CONTINUES
The Sri Lankan
army stationed at Chankanai in Jaffna peninsula has arrested a young woman
Muthuthamby Pratheepa (19). This arrest took place at her home in Chankanai on
22 May 98. Her father was seriouly assaulted by the army on an accusation that their
family had provided meals to the LTTE. The family had denied the
accusation.
Nearly twenty
were arbitrarily arrested in Thenmaradchy and Valikamam during the month of
April 98 : Messieurs. Kidnar Murugupillai of Avarangal, Yokarasa Kokularasa of
Chundikuli, Arumugam Sripalakrishnan of
Chavakachcheri, Sellakandy Jemiluthasan, Nicholaspillai Jeganathan of
Eluthumadduval, Theiventhiran Sujeevan, Amirthalingam Kanagalingam of Kalvayal,
Srikanthan Srikanesan, Kulasekarampilla Sivakaran , Nagarasa Muthurarasam,
Markandu Suventhiran of Kodikamam, Vanniasingam Karthikesu of Kudathanai, Rayman Rajakulanathan of Meesalai, Kandiah
Saurnan, Siattampalam Thankavelu of Mirusuvil, Thavarasan Menakumar, Sinnarasa
Jegan of Nunavil, Selvan Ravinthiran, Sivaganam Savananthan of Puttur and
Kunapalasingam of Thavady.
During the first
week of this month five civlians has been arbitarily arrested in Thenmarachy.
Messieurs Sivakumar Kunapalasingam of Navasikulam, Ravichandran Selvan of
Mirusuvil, Amirthalingam Kalaivanan of Kalvayal, Nadarajah Mohanakumar of
Nunavil, Kanapathipillai and Sivakaran of Kachchai. All of them had been taken
to the nearby army camp in Thenmarachy. (FOM)
PREGNANT WOMEN DEATHS
INCREASES IN JAFFNA
Recent statistics
released by the Jaffna hospital indicates that Pregnant mothers in the Jaffna
peninsula are dying in large numbers. The hospital analysis found that most of
these deaths are due to lack of medicine and army atrocities. (INFO)
8000 WIDOWS IN JAFFNA
An independent
study has revealed that 8000 young women have become widows during the last
eight years in Jaffna district. These widows are the result of military attacks
on Tamil civilians. Also many were reported as mentally affected. (TEL)
AIR STRIKE ON FISHERMEN
On Friday 22 May
98, Sri Lankan Air Force Kfir jets have bombed a fishing boat in the Mullaitivu
sea. Two were killed on the spot and three others were seriously wounded.
The fishermen
killed on the spot are Mr. Ponnuthurai
Karunakaran (22) and Thambiah Rasaratnam (24).
Mr. Chandrasekaram
(33), Mr. R. Yogenthiran (27) of Uduppukkulam and Mr. P. Uthayakumar (32) of
Kallappadu are the injured fishermen who were admitted to Punthukkudiyiruppu
hospital in Mullativu. (INFO)
ABANDONED BOMB INJURED THREE
Three civilians
from Kiran in Batticaloa district were injured when an abandoned bomb exploded.
Mr. Sinnavar (70), Mr. S. Kirupanathan (12), and Mr. Kuganathan (14) are the
victims of this bomb blast. This bomb is believed to have been delibertely
abandoned by the Sri Lankan army to kill the public in Kiran. (TEL)
Hospital Statistics
Statistics for the month of March 98 of the Akkarayan Hospital in Vanni.
Death 23
Patients Warded 1033
Patients treated in the OPD 24800
Malaria 6258
Typhoid 412
Rabies 32
Birth 126 (Source: Hospital authority)
WANNI TROOPS
HIT BY INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Several infectious diseases are on the rise in the Wanni region specially in the areas which are currently being cleared by the army and in the uncleared areas, military sources in the North told ‘The Island’.
According to Health Department officials in Vavuniya malaria, viral flu and hepatitis are on the increase.
Military officials said that during the past six months there was an epidemic of hepatitis among the personnel who were engaged in 'Operation Jayasikurui’. This was mainly due to the dry weather which prevailed in the area since last year.
Because of shortage of personnel the army is forced to use the services of these sick men before they are finally recovered. According to army hospital sources most personnel who come to Colombo for treatment are treated partially and sent back before they are fit enough to return to the front, Sri Lankan hospital sources said.
However they pointed out that if the army was suffering then
the LTTE should be suffering the same way or maybe even worse because they do
not have the facilities and medicine to treat their cadres. (Extracted
from “The Island” of 3/5/98)
REFUGEES WANT
TO GO HOME
Indian returned 142 refugees who were held in Pesalai detention centre for more than five months had been brought to Tincomalee on 29 April 98. Presently, as there is no boat service between Trincomalee and Jaffna, they are once again held up in Trincomalee. Here, while they are held at the Glass factory detention centre, they have staged a protest demanding the authorities to send them back to Jaffna peninsula. Their protest appeal had been handed over to the Divisional Secretary of Trincomalee. (INFO)
SHOOTING AT
JAFFNA HOSPITAL
On 19 May 98, the Sri Lankan soldiers have opend fire into the Jaffna Teaching Hospital without any reason. In this shooting incident, a warded patient Vadivel Sivapalan (35) of Thirunalvelly had been seriously injured. This incident has created panic in the hospital surroundings. The hospital authorities have brought this matter to the notice of the military authority and they were replied that "it was a security exercise"! (TGL)
SINHALA
COLONISATION
The government sponsored Sinhala colonisation in the Tamil hertitage lands in Trincomalee and Pottuvil continues even today. The Sri Lankan security forces are instructed by the government to drive away the Tamils from the border areas of the Eastern province. The Sinhalese people are brought from the Southern part of Sri Lanka and settled in these areas with the help of the security forces. Also several villages in these areas have been renamed into Sinhalese names. (FOM)
SINHALESE HAVE
NOWHERE TO GO
Recently there was a pro-Sinhalese demonstration in London organised by the Sri Lankan government calling the British government to help the Sinhalese to win the present war against the Tamil people! A leaflet distributed in this demonstration says : Sri Lanka, the island in the Indian ocean has been plagued by a bloody war in recent years. The main people responsible for bringing about such a tragic war are the Tamil people. This group of people are fighting for a separate state in the North and East of the country - to any intelligent person the thought of dividing such a small island is absurd! These Tamil people have India (Tamil Nadu state) to call their homeland as they originated from there unlike the Sinhalese the true citizens of Sri Lanka who have nowhere in the world but Sri Lanka to call their own.
INVESTIGATION
SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC
Amnesty
International
Amnesty International urged today that the government of Sri Lanka should promptly make public and disseminate widely the findings of an investigation into more than 700 "disappearances" reported in 1996 in Jaffna, and northeast Sri Lanka, which the investigation panel presented to President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday.
The Government of Sri Lanka should use this opportunity to clarify to the people of Sri Lanka the fate and whereabouts of those who have "disappeared" and to take firm and prompt action to ensure that perpetrators of such serious human rights violations as "disappearances" are not able to enjoy impunity.
(Extract of A/I Press release of 24 April 1998)
SRI LANKA GRANTS ONE DAY AMNESTY TO ARMY
DESERTERS
Colombo, May 21
(Xinhua) - The Sri Lankan government has announced a one day amnesty for army
deserters next Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to midnight. Of the 15,000 deserters 5,892
reported back for duty and subsequently 1,768 were arrested by the police.
Page 4
MILITARY,
POLICE BLAMED FOR MISSING TAMIL CIVILIANS
Colombo, SRI LANKA (AP) - A presidential inquiry has blamed police and the military for the disappearance of 159 Tamil civilians in the war-torn northern Jaffna Peninsula, the president's office said.
The 5-member team, set up by President Chandrika Kumaratuga last year to probe into the cases of hundreds of missing Tamil civilians, submitted its findings Tuesday.
It recommended prosecution of policemen and soldiers in 25 cases. The number of suspects to be tried was not disclosed.
The investigators were three retired military officers, a former police officer and a bureaucrat.
The statement said 134 complaints would be investigated further to identify the soldiers and policemen responsible for the disappearance of Tamil people.
AMNESTY'S
APPEAL ON DISAPPEARED CHILDREN
Amnesty International has sent an Urgent Appeal on disappeared Children of North-east of Sri Lanka. The appeal says that in recent years as a result of considerable pressure from relatives of the "disappeared", and local non-governmental organisations, investigations have been opened into "disappearances". Three presidential commissions set up in late 1994 recently completed investigations of "disappearances" reported since 1988. While some members of the security forces have been prosecuted for their part in "disappearing" children and adults, the proceedings have either not reached their conclusion or no resolution has been passed in a court of law against those suspected to have perpetrated these grave human rights violations. It is hoped that the government will act on its promise to bring to justice those officials against whom there is strong evidence of involvement in "disappearances".
The government must make clear to state officials that they are bound in their duties to safeguard the rights of children, and that past, present and future violations of these rights will not go unpunished.
The AI requested the public to send appeals expressing concern to President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Minister of Defence Anuruddha Ratwatte, Attorney General Justice Sarath Silva, Minister of Youths affairs S. D. Dissanayake and Inspector General of Police W. B. Rajaguru.
GOVERNMENT REPORT
IGNORES TAMILS
Tamil
Centre for Human Rights
The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural rights met in Geneva between 27th of April to 15th May 98. The non-governmental organisations (NGOs) briefed the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this afternoon on limits on those rights allegedly imposed in Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Poland, the Netherlands and Germany.
But this afternoon a representative of Food International Action charged that the Government of Sri Lanka used food as a weapon against the Tamil population and Tamil refugees and that authorities greatly restricted essential supplies such as medicine and fertilisers. A representative of the Tamil Centre for Human Rights said the report presented by the Government of Sri Lanka ignored the condition of Tamils, their subjugation, suffering and starvation.
A representative of the Tamil Centre for Human Rights said the report presented by the Government of Sri Lanka (documents E/1990/5/Add.32) did not cover the true situation of Economic, Social and Cultural rights in the north and east of Sri Lanka, the traditional homeland of the Tamils. For example, the report excluded figures on unemployment in those areas; the report ignored the condition of Tamils, their subjugation, suffering and starvation. Freedom of movement was hindered by the blockade enforced by the army; hospitals in the north and east were neglected and there were insufficient supplies of medicine; the Government restricted the Tamil population from cultivating and fishing, their main vocations, so that the people were almost starving. The cultural rights of the Tamils were breached by the Government, and the process of cultural genocide continued. Tamils were discriminated against and were denied their right to self determination. The representative of the Tamil Centre for human rights said that the armed conflict had started because the economic, social and cultural rights of the Tamils were completely ignored by the Government.
(United Nations -
DPI - Press Release of 27/4/1998)
JAFFNA MAYOR
ASSASSINATED
Mrs. Sarojini Yogeswaran (60), Mayoress of the Jaffna Municipal Council was shot dead at her home in Jaffna on Sunday 17 May 98. According to a Tamil newspaper published in the Jaffna peninsula, a group called "Sangiliyan Force" has claimed responsibility for her killing. (FOM)
GOVERNMENT
DELIBERATELY OBSTRUCTING
-- NGOs
Non governmental organisations (NGOs) working in the Madhu area has told visiting UN special envoy Olara Otunnu that the Sri Lankan military was deliberately obstructing their assistance programme, resulting in widespread malnutrition and slow deaths among people.
DISINFORMATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS
The important role of Information either in the
enforcement of human rights
or the abuse of those rights
is not often visible. Effective manipulation of the sources of information
could be achieved through various ways, through misinformation, disinformation
or through censorship. Governments often resort to such practices in their
attempt to cover up their violations of human rights. Sri Lanka is not only no
exception to this, but is an outstanding example of a country that has
succeeded in getting away with violations amounting to genocidal proportions
merely by blocking information or by manipulating it.
On the one hand there is a war going on in parts of the country where no
foreign correspondents are admitted. On the other hand, the Sri Lanka
government is issuing handouts about the war to Sri Lankan (Sinhalese)
correspondents working for international news agencies which the latter
faithfully transmit to the outside world. By characterising the war as one
against terrorism and not against Tamils, and making the world believe in it,
human rights of non-combatant Tamil civilians are being trampled. A London
based Human Rights group 'Peace Brigades International' has already announced
it was pulling out of Sri Lanka because of restrictions placed on its
dissemination of information regarding human rights in the country. The group
has also complained about the way the government was hindering access to the
east which has seen much of the fighting. Such acts constitute a censorhsip of
information.
In trying to project the appointment of the Human Rights Commission as an
expression of genuine concern over human rights the government has been less
than sincere. The record of the Commission until now has been very poor. The
report of the Special Rapporteur Mr. Bacre Waly N’diaye following his
on-the-spot visit to Sri Lanka has set out several goals to the Commission,
none of which is on the face of it, being pursued by the Commission. Among the
goals he suggested are : Give a full public accounting of the scope and extent
of the crimes committed in the name of the State and political and
institutional factors that contributed to the impunity of the authors. Mr.
N’diaye has placed his finger on two vital aspects: the lack of public
accounting and the exemption from punishment of crimes committed. Even the US
State Department in its country report on Sri Lanka for the year 1997 has
commented: “In most cases of extrajudicial killings and disappearances no
progress was made or there was no investigation or prosecution at all”.
While there are enough reports emanating regarding the human rights
situation in Sri Lanka and while enough lip service is being paid to the need
to enforce human rights, there has been no tangible evidence to show any
improvement. Because the State itself is a party to the violations, only a
direct show of concern by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights
could be the anwser. It is to be hoped that Sri Lanka as a country which was
very much in the world's eye in recent times will receive close attention from
the energetic High Commissioner Madame Mary Robinson. (S. S.)
I FEEL SAD ABOUT
SITUATION IN JAFFNA
-- UN Special
Representative Mr. Olara Otunnu
Olara Otunnu, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General on Children in Armed Conflict who is currently visiting Sri Lanka at the invitation of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, made contact with LTTE representatives in Thunukkai, the periphery of the Tiger stronghold in the Wanni region. The Weekend Express reliably understands that the meeting between the UN special representative and LTTE representatives lasted from 6 am to 2 pm on Thursday.
The UN Special representative who had visited Jaffna last Tuesday (5/5/98), also expressed his deep concern over the situation prevailing in Jaffna. On the way back to Colombo by LionAir on Tuesday morning he told us that permanent peace is an urgent need for the people of Jaffna. “I feel sad about the situation in Jaffna,” he said.
(Extracted from The Weekend Express of 9-10 May, 1998)
ARMY DRIVE TO TAP SCHOOLS FOR 15,000 SOLDIERS
The Sri Lankan
Army will launch a campaign in school countrywide in a national level
recruitment campaign to enlist 15,000 soldiers. Plans for this campaign are now
being formulated by Army Headquarters. In terms of this plan, the Army is to
seek the help of Grama Sevakas.
Army recruitment
teams who will visit schools will, with the help of Audio/Visual aids, explain
to students who plan to leave school, the need for them to enlist.
Attractive terms
and facilities are to be provided to them.
Army sources said the enlistment of 15,000 additional soldiers would
help offset a shortfall in the approved cadres due to desertions. This is in
addition to deaths and also those injured being left out of battle. At present
the number of deserters is estimated to be over 19,000.
(Sunday Times of
May 3, 1998 - Page 1 lead news)
Page 2/3
5561 CIVILIANS IN 56 DETENTION CENTRES
Nearly 5561 Tamil
civilians from Valikamam East and North are held in fifty-six detention centres
in different parts of Jaffna peninsula. They are refused permison to go to
their homes on the pretext that there is lack of security.
Place Total
Detention Total Total
Centres Detainees Families
Kopay 7 734 194
Chankanai 13 833 229
Sandilipay
9 784 221
Tellipalai
3 440 127
Uduvil
8 907 241
Pt. Pedro
7 1081 253
Karavedy
2
70 18
Jaffna
2 366 83
Maruthankerni 4 326 82 (REP)
GIRL STUDENT STRIPPED NAKED AND WHIPPED
A GCE (O.L.)
student of Vincent Girls' High School in Batticaloa was stripped naked and whipped
by the Sri Lankan army on March 17, claimed her partents. The girl 17, who did
not want to be identified lives in the village of Palugamam with her parents.
On March 17, the girl had gone to school around 2 p.m. in the afternoon to
obtain her admission card for a GCE (O.L.) practical exam which was to be held
the next day. And then she had gone to see a friend at Surya Lane near the
Batticaloa hospital. Here, according to her account, she was picked up by the
Sri Lankan army. She says that the soldiers were accompanied by members of a
Tamil para-military group operating in Batticaloa with the army.
She was taken to
a camp and was stripped naked and beaten with sticks. The girl has several
scars and contusions on her back. She was released around 6 p.m. in the
evening. (Hot Spring, March 1998)
RAPE WITNESS BURNT ALIVE
On April 14,
Selvarasa Vasantha a mother, resident of Alvaar Lane in Point Pedro was raped
by Sri Lankan Army soldiers inside the premises of the Kaarthika restaurant on
Main Street - Point Pedro in the afternoon.
The rape was
witnessed by the female owner of the restaurant. She had lodged a formal
complaint over the rape with the Sri Lankan Police at Point Pedro.
On April 15, the
soldiers who came to know about the complaint had threatened Vijayakumari and
warned her to withdraw her complaint immediately.
However she had
defied the soldiers' threats.
On April 16, two
Sri Lankan army soldiers in civilian clothing had gone to the Kaarthika
restaurant and after ordering tea, had forcibly covered Vijakumari’s head with
a pot.
The soldiers had
then poured petrol on her and had set her alight. When neighbours attempted to
douse the fire the soldiers had forcibly prevented them from going near the
burning woman. It was only forty five minutes later the neighbours were able to
take Vijayakumari to the hospital. She died later.
The government
authorites had claimed that Vijayakumari had committed suicide by setting
herself on fire! (INFO)
FOUR TEEN-AGERS DISAPPEARED IN JAFFNA
Eelam People’s
Democratic Party (EPDP) has once again started abducting youths in Jaffna
peninsula. Four teen-age boys from Santhana Mahavidyalayam at Nallur in Jaffna
have been reported missing from 20 May 1998. According to eye witnesses, the
boys had been arrested by the members of the EPDP.
The missing boys
are : S. Sugirthan (14), L. Parthiban (17), S. Vivekanandan (17) and L.
Sutharshan (17).
It is said that a
volunteer of the St. John's Ambulance, Mr. Sajithkumar Bahvanathan who is also
a member of the EPDP had abducted these boys. (FOM)
ARBITRARY
ARREST CONTINUES
The Sri Lankan
army stationed at Chankanai in Jaffna peninsula has arrested a young woman
Muthuthamby Pratheepa (19). This arrest took place at her home in Chankanai on
22 May 98. Her father was seriouly assaulted by the army on an accusation
that their family had provided meals to the LTTE. The family had denied the
accusation.
Nearly twenty
were arbitrarily arrested in Thenmaradchy and Valikamam during the month of
April 98 : Messieurs. Kidnar Murugupillai of Avarangal, Yokarasa Kokularasa of
Chundikuli, Arumugam Sripalakrishnan of
Chavakachcheri, Sellakandy Jemiluthasan, Nicholaspillai Jeganathan of
Eluthumadduval, Theiventhiran Sujeevan, Amirthalingam Kanagalingam of Kalvayal,
Srikanthan Srikanesan, Kulasekarampilla Sivakaran , Nagarasa Muthurarasam,
Markandu Suventhiran of Kodikamam, Vanniasingam Karthikesu of Kudathanai, Rayman Rajakulanathan of Meesalai, Kandiah
Saurnan, Siattampalam Thankavelu of Mirusuvil, Thavarasan Menakumar, Sinnarasa
Jegan of Nunavil, Selvan Ravinthiran, Sivaganam Savananthan of Puttur and
Kunapalasingam of Thavady.
During the first
week of this month five civlians has been arbitarily arrested in Thenmarachy.
Messieurs Sivakumar Kunapalasingam of Navasikulam, Ravichandran Selvan of
Mirusuvil, Amirthalingam Kalaivanan of Kalvayal, Nadarajah Mohanakumar of
Nunavil, Kanapathipillai and Sivakaran of Kachchai. All of them had been taken
to the nearby army camp in Thenmarachy. (FOM)
PREGNANT WOMEN DEATHS
INCREASES IN JAFFNA
Recent statistics
released by the Jaffna hospital indicates that Pregnant mothers in the Jaffna
peninsula are dying in large numbers. The hospital analysis found that most of
these deaths are due to lack of medicine and army atrocities. (INFO)
8000 WIDOWS IN JAFFNA
An independent
study has revealed that 8000 young women have become widows during the last
eight years in Jaffna district. These widows are the result of military attacks
on Tamil civilians. Also many were reported as mentally affected. (TEL)
AIR STRIKE ON FISHERMEN
On Friday 22 May
98, Sri Lankan Air Force Kfir jets have bombed a fishing boat in the Mullaitivu
sea. Two were killed on the spot and three others were seriously wounded.
The fishermen
killed on the spot are Mr. Ponnuthurai
Karunakaran (22) and Thambiah Rasaratnam (24).
Mr.
Chandrasekaram (33), Mr. R. Yogenthiran (27) of Uduppukkulam and Mr. P.
Uthayakumar (32) of Kallappadu are the injured fishermen who were admitted to
Punthukkudiyiruppu hospital in Mullativu. (INFO)
ABANDONED BOMB INJURED THREE
Three civilians
from Kiran in Batticaloa district were injured when an abandoned bomb exploded.
Mr. Sinnavar (70), Mr. S. Kirupanathan (12), and Mr. Kuganathan (14) are the
victims of this bomb blast. This bomb is believed to have been delibertely
abandoned by the Sri Lankan army to kill the public in Kiran. (TEL)
Hospital Statistics
Statistics for the month of March 98 of the Akkarayan Hospital in Vanni.
Death 23
Patients Warded 1033
Patients treated in the OPD 24800
Malaria 6258
Typhoid 412
Rabies 32
Birth 126 (Source: Hospital authority)
WANNI TROOPS
HIT BY INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Several infectious diseases are on the rise in the Wanni region specially in the areas which are currently being cleared by the army and in the uncleared areas, military sources in the North told ‘The Island’.
According to Health Department officials in Vavuniya malaria, viral flu and hepatitis are on the increase.
Military officials said that during the past six months there was an epidemic of hepatitis among the personnel who were engaged in 'Operation Jayasikurui’. This was mainly due to the dry weather which prevailed in the area since last year.
Because of shortage of personnel the army is forced to use the services of these sick men before they are finally recovered. According to army hospital sources most personnel who come to Colombo for treatment are treated partially and sent back before they are fit enough to return to the front, Sri Lankan hospital sources said.
However they pointed out that if the army was suffering then
the LTTE should be suffering the same way or maybe even worse because they do
not have the facilities and medicine to treat their cadres. (Extracted
from “The Island” of 3/5/98)
REFUGEES WANT
TO GO HOME
Indian returned 142 refugees who were held in Pesalai detention centre for more than five months had been brought to Tincomalee on 29 April 98. Presently, as there is no boat service between Trincomalee and Jaffna, they are once again held up in Trincomalee. Here, while they are held at the Glass factory detention centre, they have staged a protest demanding the authorities to send them back to Jaffna peninsula. Their protest appeal had been handed over to the Divisional Secretary of Trincomalee. (INFO)
SHOOTING AT
JAFFNA HOSPITAL
On 19 May 98, the Sri Lankan soldiers have opend fire into the Jaffna Teaching Hospital without any reason. In this shooting incident, a warded patient Vadivel Sivapalan (35) of Thirunalvelly had been seriously injured. This incident has created panic in the hospital surroundings. The hospital authorities have brought this matter to the notice of the military authority and they were replied that "it was a security exercise"! (TGL)
SINHALA
COLONISATION
The government sponsored Sinhala colonisation in the Tamil hertitage lands in Trincomalee and Pottuvil continues even today. The Sri Lankan security forces are instructed by the government to drive away the Tamils from the border areas of the Eastern province. The Sinhalese people are brought from the Southern part of Sri Lanka and settled in these areas with the help of the security forces. Also several villages in these areas have been renamed into Sinhalese names. (FOM)
SINHALESE HAVE
NOWHERE TO GO
Recently there was a pro-Sinhalese demonstration in London organised by the Sri Lankan government calling the British government to help the Sinhalese to win the present war against the Tamil people! A leaflet distributed in this demonstration says : Sri Lanka, the island in the Indian ocean has been plagued by a bloody war in recent years. The main people responsible for bringing about such a tragic war are the Tamil people. This group of people are fighting for a separate state in the North and East of the country - to any intelligent person the thought of dividing such a small island is absurd! These Tamil people have India (Tamil Nadu state) to call their homeland as they originated from there unlike the Sinhalese the true citizens of Sri Lanka who have nowhere in the world but Sri Lanka to call their own.
INVESTIGATION
SHOULD BE MADE PUBLIC
Amnesty
International
Amnesty International urged today that the government of Sri Lanka should promptly make public and disseminate widely the findings of an investigation into more than 700 "disappearances" reported in 1996 in Jaffna, and northeast Sri Lanka, which the investigation panel presented to President Chandrika Kumaratunga yesterday.
The Government of Sri Lanka should use this opportunity to clarify to the people of Sri Lanka the fate and whereabouts of those who have "disappeared" and to take firm and prompt action to ensure that perpetrators of such serious human rights violations as "disappearances" are not able to enjoy impunity.
(Extract of A/I Press release of 24 April 1998)
SRI LANKA GRANTS ONE DAY AMNESTY TO ARMY
DESERTERS
Colombo, May 21
(Xinhua) - The Sri Lankan government has announced a one day amnesty for army
deserters next Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to midnight. Of the 15,000 deserters 5,892
reported back for duty and subsequently 1,768 were arrested by the police.
Page 4
MILITARY,
POLICE BLAMED FOR MISSING TAMIL CIVILIANS
Colombo, SRI LANKA (AP) - A presidential inquiry has blamed police and the military for the disappearance of 159 Tamil civilians in the war-torn northern Jaffna Peninsula, the president's office said.
The 5-member team, set up by President Chandrika Kumaratuga last year to probe into the cases of hundreds of missing Tamil civilians, submitted its findings Tuesday.
It recommended prosecution of policemen and soldiers in 25 cases. The number of suspects to be tried was not disclosed.
The investigators were three retired military officers, a former police officer and a bureaucrat.
The statement said 134 complaints would be investigated further to identify the soldiers and policemen responsible for the disappearance of Tamil people.
AMNESTY'S
APPEAL ON DISAPPEARED CHILDREN
Amnesty International has sent an Urgent Appeal on disappeared Children of North-east of Sri Lanka. The appeal says that in recent years as a result of considerable pressure from relatives of the "disappeared", and local non-governmental organisations, investigations have been opened into "disappearances". Three presidential commissions set up in late 1994 recently completed investigations of "disappearances" reported since 1988. While some members of the security forces have been prosecuted for their part in "disappearing" children and adults, the proceedings have either not reached their conclusion or no resolution has been passed in a court of law against those suspected to have perpetrated these grave human rights violations. It is hoped that the government will act on its promise to bring to justice those officials against whom there is strong evidence of involvement in "disappearances".
The government must make clear to state officials that they are bound in their duties to safeguard the rights of children, and that past, present and future violations of these rights will not go unpunished.
The AI requested the public to send appeals expressing concern to President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Minister of Defence Anuruddha Ratwatte, Attorney General Justice Sarath Silva, Minister of Youths affairs S. D. Dissanayake and Inspector General of Police W. B. Rajaguru.
GOVERNMENT REPORT
IGNORES TAMILS
Tamil
Centre for Human Rights
The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural rights met in Geneva between 27th of April to 15th May 98. The non-governmental organisations (NGOs) briefed the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights this afternoon on limits on those rights allegedly imposed in Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Poland, the Netherlands and Germany.
But this afternoon a representative of Food International Action charged that the Government of Sri Lanka used food as a weapon against the Tamil population and Tamil refugees and that authorities greatly restricted essential supplies such as medicine and fertilisers. A representative of the Tamil Centre for Human Rights said the report presented by the Government of Sri Lanka ignored the condition of Tamils, their subjugation, suffering and starvation.
A representative of the Tamil Centre for Human Rights said the report presented by the Government of Sri Lanka (documents E/1990/5/Add.32) did not cover the true situation of Economic, Social and Cultural rights in the north and east of Sri Lanka, the traditional homeland of the Tamils. For example, the report excluded figures on unemployment in those areas; the report ignored the condition of Tamils, their subjugation, suffering and starvation. Freedom of movement was hindered by the blockade enforced by the army; hospitals in the north and east were neglected and there were insufficient supplies of medicine; the Government restricted the Tamil population from cultivating and fishing, their main vocations, so that the people were almost starving. The cultural rights of the Tamils were breached by the Government, and the process of cultural genocide continued. Tamils were discriminated against and were denied their right to self determination. The representative of the Tamil Centre for human rights said that the armed conflict had started because the economic, social and cultural rights of the Tamils were completely ignored by the Government.
(United Nations -
DPI - Press Release of 27/4/1998)
JAFFNA MAYOR
ASSASSINATED
Mrs. Sarojini Yogeswaran (60), Mayoress of the Jaffna Municipal Council was shot dead at her home in Jaffna on Sunday 17 May 98. According to a Tamil newspaper published in the Jaffna peninsula, a group called "Sangiliyan Force" has claimed responsibility for her killing. (FOM)
GOVERNMENT
DELIBERATELY OBSTRUCTING
-- NGOs
Non governmental organisations (NGOs) working in the Madhu area has told visiting UN special envoy Olara Otunnu that the Sri Lankan military was deliberately obstructing their assistance programme, resulting in widespread malnutrition and slow deaths among people.
* *
* * * * *
UN HUMAN
RIGHTS MECHANISM
FULLY
POLITICIZED
In the on-going 54th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, we were able to see how the UN Human Rights mechanism is fully politicised! The powerful countries were achieving what they wanted and their allies were supporting them. The actual Human Rights violations and people's sufferings are not seriously considered in the Commission.
We would like to give an example to our readers to prove how the UN Human Rights mechanism is politicised : In the on-going Commission on Human Rights, under Item - 24 - election took place for the members of the Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities. According to a UN document, “as at 15 January, the Secretary-General had received nominations of candidates for election to membership of the Sub-Commission from the Governments of : Argentina, Azerbaijan, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, China, France, Gambia, Greece, India, Lebanon, Mauritius, Mexico, Nigeria, Philippines, Russian Federation, Senegal, Sri Lanka, Uganda, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland”. The document clearly says that all the candidates for the election were nominated by the respective governments.
Everyone in the planetarium were able to see how the election took place, the lobbying of candidates and their comments. Only the European region candidates were elected uncontested. All others faced the election and, for certain regions, the election took place several times. All these show how the UN system is politicised.
It is very interesting to note that several countries, including Sri Lanka which has a very bad record on human rights violation, had their own candidates and eventually they won the election as well. Now those who have won the election are going to be Members (Experts) of the Sub-Commission. In other words, these members are going to protect and defend their countries in the Sub-Commission and thus prevent the Sub-Commission from taking any action against their respective countries.
In the last Sub-Commission on Human Rights, there was a resolution against Sri Lanka, but due to technical reasons it had to be withdrawn. The UN Special Rapporteur on extra-judicial killings, Mr. Ndiya Waliya, has released his report on Sri Lanka which is very critical of the government of Sri Lanka. The working group on Disappearances has found that Sri Lanka has the highest number of disappearances for 1997. The on-going Session of the UN Human Rights Commission has witnessed more NGO interventions than before. Amnesty International reports are also against Sri Lanka.
Can the UN mechanism prove to the world that it is not politicised and that government lobbying cannot prevent any action by the UN against a particular country?
TAMILS SEEK
KOFFI ANNAN HELP
TO STOP
GENOCIDE
Tamil people from Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Mannar and Vavuniya districts have forwarded a memorandum to the UN Secretary General Mr. Koffi Annan, seeking his help to stop the Sri Lankan government’s ethnic cleansing in these districts. The memorandum in clear terms states that the Sri Lankan government is engaged in the genocide of Tamils in Vanni by deliberately imposing a medical and economic blockade and unleashing military repression in the region. It says that the government is using its denial of food and medicine as a weapon of war against the Tamil people in Vanni. As a result 80% of these people are living in poverty and 60% of the babies are born under unhealthy conditions and are underweight. According to the memorandum, 50% of the Tamils are pushed into a state of starvation.
INCREASE OF DEFENCE FORCES BY DOUBLE SINCE 1994
PA GOVERNMENT SPEAKS OF
PEACE AND HUMAN RIGHTS!
1986 1988 1993 1995 1996 1997
Army 30,000 40,000 90,000 105,000 118,890 135,000
Navy 3,960 5,500 10,100 10,300 11,831 12,000
Air Force 3,700 3,700 10,700 10,700 12,292 12,500
Police 21,000 21,000 40,000 80,000 80,000 80,000
STP and
Paramilitary 5,000 7,000 8,000 8,000 8,000 8,000
Total 63,000 77,200 158,800 214,000 231,013 247,500
(Source : Air Vice Marshal - Harry
Gunatilleke - Weekend Express of 25-26
April 1998)
81,000 HOUSES DAMAGED
According to the Jaffna Peace and Justice Committee, about
81,000 houses in Valikamam have been damaged due to Army shelling and aerial
bombing.
Page 1/4
CAN THERE BE TWO ARMIES ON PAR?
The recent meeting between the Jaffna Bishop and Dr. Balasingam (with Thamil Chelvan, Sutha, and Vithuran of the LTTE’s political wing) in the Wanni has once again given rise to speculation about the third party mediation to solve the ethnic conflict.
Dr. Anton Balasingam told the
Bishop that peace is possible only when the LTTE and the army are on par
militarily. He said that the LTTE has enough weapons to face the army in the
Wanni. (by Taraki of Sunday Times - April 12,
1998)
Page 2/3
GOVERNMENT COMMISSION FINDS
HUNDREDS OF DISAPPEARANCES
IN JAFFNA
The government appointed Human Rights Commission has reported that hundreds of Tamil civilians have disappeared in Jaffna between January and March this year.
DISAPPEARANCE IN MARCH AND APRIL IN JAFFNA PENINSULA
The following civilians have been been reported to have disappeared after they were arrested by the Sri Lankan army in the Jaffna peninsula. These disappearances have taken place during the months of March and April.
Mr. Sivapatham Jayanthan Erlalai 10/03/98
Miss I. Ithayasivarani Erlalai 10/03/98
Mr. Kandiah Kaithady 07/03/98
Mr. Velaponnakone Kaithady 10/04/98
Mr. M. Balachandran Navatkadu 03/03/98
Mr. S. Sriranjan Kachchai 09/03/98
Miss S. Satkunathevy Nagarkovil 09/03/98
Mr. A.S. Anandakumar Nagarkovil 09/03/98
Miss K. Maheswary Nagarkovil 09/03/98 (INF)
FEMALE SHOP KEEPER SHOT DEAD
On Wednesday the 22nd of April 98, a female shop-keeper, Mrs. Sakunthala Theiventhiran (44) of Thenmarachchi was shot dead by the army. This incident has taken place when she was returning home from her shop. She is the mother of five children. According to eye witnesses, Mrs. Sakunthala had an argument with a soldier who was trying to have a deliberate body check on her. Now a days army harassements have gone beyond any control in the Jaffna peninsula. (FOM)
HINDU STATUES SMUGGLED OVERSEAS
Mr. P. P. Devarajah, M.P. for Colombo District has said in Parliament on 23rd April that the metal statues and religious icons from Hindu Temples in Sri Lanka are smuggled overseas and sold for big sums in Western countries.
He said that this robbery has increased in recent years and
this racket has been going on for the last 15 years. There should be vigilance
to prevent this business, said Mr. Devarajah.
He said that a complete list of archaeological artefacts will be available soon in the same manner that Professor Sittamplam of the University of Jaffna had made a list of artefacts in the temples in Jaffna.
Recently, the head-priest of historic Maviddapuram Kandasamy Hindu temple has identified the statues robbed from the temple during the time the Sri Lankan army occupied this temple. The priest also told courts that many more items have been robbed from the temple. (FOM)
MISSING FISHERMEN
According to sources in Mullaitivu, many fishing boats were attacked by the Sri Lankan Navy on 5th of April. It is believed that the boasts were sunk by the Navy and four fishermen are reported to be missing. The missing fishermen are Mr. M. Thuraisingham, Mr. K. Thambiranthevan, Mr. K. Ragunathan and Mr. V. Vettivelayutham. All are displaced fishermen from Vadamaradchi East in the Jaffna peninsula.
On 7th April Mr. V. Vettivelayutham was found alive at sea and the body of M. Ragunathan was washed ashore. (REP)
YOUTH SHOT DEAD IN BATTICALOA
Sri Lankan soldiers fired at a passenger boat in the Batticaloa lagoon on Friday 17th April 98. A youth from Palukamam Mr. Koneswaran Kathiramalai (24) was killed on the spot and three others were admitted to Batticaloa hospital in a critical condition.
On 14th of April 98, Mr. Anthonypillai Vilvarasa (47) was shot and killed by the Army while he was grazing his cattle at Cheddikulam in Vavuniya. (FOM)
ARBITARY ARREST CONTINUES
A retired Tamil Police officer was arrested in Puloly in
Point Pedro. Mr. Jeyasingam was arrested by a special team of Police officers
who have come from Colombo. He was immediately taken to Colombo for
investigation.
A mother of two children who went in search of her husband was arrested by the Army at Valaiyiravu bridge on 19th April 98. Her husband Mr. Jegaseelan was arrested by the army a few weeks back. As she heard no news of him she went in search of him. Now both, the husband and the wife, are in Army custody. Their