To Vavuniya,
Vanni, Mullaitivu and Jaffna
Website : www.tchr.net
Tamil Centre for Human Rights
- TCHR
Centre Tamoul pour les droits de l'Homme - CTDH
Centro Tamil para los Derechos Humanos
(Established in 1990)
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To Vavuniya,
Vanni, Mullaitivu and Jaffna
by representatives of TCHR
in April - May
2003
9, rue des
Peupliers
95140 - Garges
les Gonesse
FRANCE
Email :
tchrgs@tchr.net
tchrdip@tchr.net
Fax : + 33 - 1
- 40 38 28 74
Website : www.tchr.net
Tamil Centre for Human Rights
- TCHR
Centre Tamoul pour les droits de l'Homme - CTDH
Centro Tamil para los Derechos Humanos
(Established in 1990)
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Contents
Page
Background 01
Ceasefire agreement
Fact finding / Study mission
Visit by TCHR 02
Crossing into the Vanni 03
Visit to Jaffna
Vanni situation 05
War victims
Disability
Kurukulam Children’s
home
Vettimanai / Victory
House 06
Senthalir Children’
Home 07
Kandaruban Arevucholai 08
Chencholai Children’s
Home
Iniya
Vazhvu Illam
Lt. Col. Navam Academy
Law and order in Vanni 09
Tamil
Eelam Police
Tamil Eelam Police chief Mr. Nadesan
Three cheers for the Tamil Eelam Police 11
Tamil Eelam Judiciary 13
Meeting with Judges
Meeting with Mr. Para
in charge of Tamil Eelam Judiciary
Education in the Northeast 15
Health in the Vanni and surroundings 16
Tamil Rehabilitation
Organisation – TRO 19
Land mine victims and mines clearance 20
Estimation
Removed and destroyed
Villages where land
mines are suspected
Venpura / White Pigeon 21
Tamil Eelam Economic Development Organisation – TEEDOR
Jaffna situation
The most disturbing
stories 22
High Security Zones in
the Jaffna peninsula 23
Fishing
LTTE Political office in Jaffna 24
Meeting with Mr. Para in charge of Tamil Eelam Judiciary
Meeting with Father Bernard 25
Judicial system
High Security Zones
IDPs 27
Disappearances
Peace Talks
Meeting with Prof. Mohanadas – Vice Chancellor of Jaffna University 28
HSZs and effect on
students 29
Armed forces
UTHR (J?)
Gender
Disappearances and Chemmani mass graves 30
Board of Investigation
(BOI)
Number of names in the
complaints 31
UN Working Group on
Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances
Some factors
established by the BOI
Missing Persons Guardian Association – MGPA 32
Personal experiences of relatives of three of the disappeared
Mr. Satkunam
Mrs. Seharaja
Kanagampigah 33
Mrs. Shanthamalar
Kumareswaran
Meeting with Father Jeyakumar 34
Disappearances
HSZs
Meeting with Consortium of Humanitarian Agencies 35
Internally Displaced People – IDPs 36
Visit to refugee camps / welfare centre of the IDPs 37
Registered IDP in 2002
Aladdy welfare centre 38
Maruthanamadam welfare
centre
Rottialaddy Camp
Mallakam Magistrate
camp
Konapuram welfare
centre 39
Concluding Comments 40
Thanks and acknowldgements 41
List of abreviations 42
Map of Locations of High Security Zones (HSZ) in Jaffna Peninsula
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Tamil Centre for Human Rights - TCHR
The Tamil Centre for Human Rights - TCHR is an international human rights organisation established in 1990 in France and has branches in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Switzerland, other European countries and also in Australia and Canada. TCHR is concerned with human rights violations in countries all over the world, but it specialises on Sri Lanka in its reporting.
On 23 February 2002, a ceasefire agreement came into
force between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil
Eelam (LTTE). It was signed by the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Mr. Ranil
Wickremesinghe and the LTTE leader, Mr. Velupillai Prabhakaran.
The agreement was welcomed by all, including the
international community, as an historic achievement which laid a strong
foundation for the peace process and for a
negotiated political settlement. The Norwegian Government has played a
major part in facilitating the peace process. It has made sincere and untiring
efforts to bring peace to the island. The SLMM - Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission,
comprising Norwegian and other Scandinavian officers, alongside representatives
of both the government and the LTTE, maintain a vigilant eye on whether the
agreement is being adhered to.
Fact-finding /
Study Mission
TCHR made its first fact-finding
mission to Sri Lanka in 1995, the period during which the Navaly massacre took
place. The TCHR representative was refused permission to visit the Northern war
zone in 1995, therefore the visit was limited to the Eastern province. TCHR was
able to obtain first hand information from the victims of the Mylanthanai
massacre, as well as from other civilians in the East.
Two representatives of TCHR Mr. S.
V. Kirubaharan – General Secretary, Ms. Deirdre McConnell – Director
International Programme and three other local representatives of the TCHR
participated in the recent study mission to the Northern province. The visit
was three weeks long and covered Vavuniya, Vanni, Mullaitivu and Jaffna.
The representatives also met many
civilians from the Eastern province on various occasions in Vanni, Jaffna and
Colombo.
The TCHR delegation was able to meet
members of Civil society – religious leaders, journalists, NGO representatives,
academics and civilians including victims of war.
Most of the people whom we met and spoke to in Jaffna requested us to withhold their name and address in our reporting for obvious reasons.
Terminology used in this reporting is as it is to be found displayed in every nook and corner of the Northern province and expressed verbally by the people whom we met.
Fact finding missions are not only important during
war time, they are also important during cease-fires and periods of negotiations between parties to the conflict.
The TCHR delegation went from Colombo by bus to Vanni via Vavuniya.
Before reaching Vavuniya, the bus passed through several towns and villages which
were well developed and people appeared to be living happily with a reasonable
standard of living. These towns and villagers have good buildings, Schools,
Buddhist Temples, Community centres, play grounds, government buildings and
statues of war heroes who were Police, Army, Navy and Airforce soldiers killed
in the war. Farming and small industries appeared to be flourishing. Coconut
and pineapple farms were seen in
abundance. Elephants are used in these areas to do hard work and transport
heavy items. Transport is good. The state-run public bus service, private bus
services, small cars in good condition, heavy vehicles and the latest model
motorbikes can be seen on the well-maintained roads.
After passing areas with many Army and Navy camps and sentry points, the
condition of the road changed abruptly to that of a badly maintained road. We
were told that we had just passed the town of Mathavachchy and had approached
the outskirts of Vavuniya which is the border area of the Northern province, a
Tamil dominated area. When passing Army camps and sentry points, we were able
to observe many under-age government soldiers in the Sri Lankan army! Also we
saw many home guards on duty at various check and sentry points.
By the time we arrived in Dambulla, it was 3.00 p.m. and our driver
advised us not to proceed on our journey to Omanthai because there would be a
long queue of vehicles waiting for clearances and we would not have been able
to be cleared before 5.00pm! In such circumstances, we would be compelled to
return back to Vavuniya town and stay there overnight. Our driver did not
consider this a wise move! When we enquired from the driver about the problem
in staying in Vavuniya, he told us that there are members of Tamil quisling
groups who rob people coming from abroad! So we decided to stay overnight at
Dambulla guest house.
The following morning we went to Omanthai via Vavuniya and Thandikulam,
from where our representative was sent back in 1995. It took us 30-40 minutes
to reach the first check point at Omanthai. Vavuniya town is very busy with all
sorts of shops, eating house and banks.
At Omanthai check point, there were many transport lorries and trucks
waiting for clearance.
This check point is manned by the Sri Lankan army and the Police and of
course all of them were armed. As our vehicle arrived at Omanthai in the
morning, we avoided waiting in the big queue of vehicles waiting for clearance.
First our driver was screened and the vehicle was driven on to a raised platform
which enabled the soldiers to check the chassis of the vehicle, to see whether
anything was smuggled underneath. Our documents and baggage were then checked
thoroughly. None of the Army and Police officials at these points were able to
converse in English. They spoke in Sinhalese and a few words of Tamil. Soon
after the checking at the government point was over, our vehicle passed
no-man’s land and reached the LTTE checking point.
In the North, the Sri Lankan government administrates only Jaffna, Manal
Aru which is in Mullaitivu district and
part of Mannar. Almost 80% of the Northern province is under the administration
of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam – LTTE : Vanni, Mullaitivu, part of Mannar and up to Muhamalai in Jaffna
peninsula.
At this point, uniformed Tamil Eelam Police, well dressed Tamil Eelam
volunteers (considered as immigration officers) and uniformed Tamil Eelam
customs officers were on duty but none of them were armed. They were very
polite and helpful. First we were received by one of the volunteers and we were
asked to fill out a form. This form had questions such as full name, address
abroad, locally and period of stay. When we produced this form, our documents
were checked and we were asked to pay a sum of one thousand rupees (Rs.
1000/=). They then issued us a slip of paper with our details. One could
presume that this was a visiting visa to Tamil Eelam! That was the beginning of
our three weeks long journey into the North. At the beginning we stayed in
Vanni for twelve days and then continued our journey to Jaffna.
The LTTE check-point naturally gave us an idea about the expenditures
incurred in order to maintain this point. Salary for the police, customs and
voluntary officials, uniforms, fuel for vehicles, food and drinking water,
maintenance of the tents and marquees, etc.
When the TCHR delegation went to Jaffna, it passed the LTTE check points
and reached Muhamalai. This is the beginning of the government controlled area
of Jaffna. As soon as we reached Muhamalai, the first thing that we saw (it was
unavoidable), was a huge cut-out of Eelam People Democratic Party – EPDP’s
leader’s photo and his declaration! We wondered why Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe’s
government which is in negotiation with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam –
LTTE, could not display something about Peace in general, rather than allowing
the EPDP leader’s declaration. According to the people of Jaffna, in the last
election the EPDP won only one seat and that was achieved by vote-rigging! A group
of bypassers in Muhamalai told us, “It’s really annoying! Why is this
government giving such importance to the EPDP?”
At Muhamalai, the Sri Lankan Police and Army were on duty with light and
heavy arms. The identity cards and passports are checked and bags are
thoroughly searched! Also a mirror is
used to check the underneath the vehicle. Here no one speaks in English. They
speak in Sinhalese as well as a few words in Tamil. As soon as our checking was
over, we continued our journey to Jaffna, as usual along the un-maintained
roads.
From Muhamalai until Navatkuli, all the vehicles we saw were Army
conveys. Those who were walking were
soldiers, those riding bicycles were soldiers, those on motorcycles were
soldiers and even those travelling by tractor and other heavy vehicles were
also soldiers.
Our journey from Muhamalai to Jaffna was along Koddikamam,
Chavakachchery, Kaithaddy, Navatkuli, Chemmani, Kalviankaddu, Sankilianthoppu,
Nallur, Whyman road, Navalar road and Point Pedro Rd.
In these areas we saw destroyed houses, temples, churches, shops,
markets, hospitals, rest-houses, etc. The damage to Chavakachcheri is severe.
The people have started their reconstruction work but it will take a long time
to reconstruct these places.
In Jaffna, the people are in a dilemma! The people of Jaffna feel that
they are under army occupation. They
all wonder about their future! The High Security Zone (HSZ) problem remains
unsolved. The Internally Displaced People – IDPs, are very disappointed. There
are thousands of IDPs who have been displaced many times for up to thirteen
years. Most of the IDPs are toddy tappers, fisherman and casual labourers whose
homes are in the present High Security Zones – HSZ, therefore they cannot
return home. They lead a hand to mouth life, seeking whatever work they can
find during the day.
The behaviour of the Sri Lankan army in Jaffna has not changed but due to the cease-fire they continue their notorious work with caution.
The human cost and tragedy of the war in the Northeast is very high. Much higher indeed than the International community is aware of! The whole infrastructure of Vanni, Mullaitivu and most
part of Jaffna is totally demolished. The people of these areas have not only
lost their livelihood but also their morale and their properties. “The damage
caused by the twenty years of war cannot be estimated! It is always several
times higher than figures mentioned by the media and NGOs”, a community worker
told us.
Those who visit Vanni, Mullaitivu and Jaffna question themselves as to
whether the government of Sri Lanka conducted the war on a theory of “if we win
the war we will re-build the infrastructure of the Northeast but if we lose the
war, let those areas remain in ruins”. The damage to Homes, Schools, Churches,
Temples, Farming, Fishing, small industries as well as bigger factories like
Paranthan chemical and Salt co-operation are just a few examples in the
estimation of the costs of the material damage to the Northeast.
Under LTTE administration every sign-board is in
Tamil, English and Sinhalese. In government-controlled areas, especially
Jaffna, certain sign boards are only in Sinhalese. Also there are a few shops
mostly near the sentry points and check points, controlled by the Sri Lanka
army. “Who is financing these shops and
who get these profits?” is the question asked by the passers-by.
The people in the North seem not to have recovered yet from the effects
of twenty years of war and economic embargo. Some are busy with their own
rehabilitation, some are busy rebuilding their houses and getting ready for
farming and fishing. Some do not believe that the present peace talks will
bring a durable solution to the island’s long-standing bloody conflict.
The people praise the challenging work carried out by the Tamil
Rehabilitation Organisation – TRO in
Vanni and Mannar. TRO has various projects for the rehabilitation of people and
now TRO projects are extended to the Eastern province as well.
The organisation known as TEEDOR - Tamil Eelam Economic Development
Organisation is busy in building up Economic projects in LTTE administrated
areas.
Also there are several child care centres and a rehabilitation centre
for women severely affected by their traumatic experiences. The children in the
centres and the women victims are well looked after.
In Jaffna, the people consider the Sri Lankan police as corrupt, and
have no confidence either in the Police or the Sri Lankan judicial system.
In Vanni and other parts of the LTTE administrated areas, the Tamil
Eelam police is running a smooth and uncorrupted system to maintain law and
order and the Tamil Eelam judicial system is fully accepted by the people.
In the North, the whole of the Vanni, the major part of Mullaithivu and
Mannar district and half of Jaffna peninsula are under the LTTE administration.
This covers a huge area of the Northern province, including Omanthai,
Pulliyamkulam, Mamkulam, Killinochi, Karadianpokku, Paranthan and Elephant Pass
of the A9 high way, Murasumoddai, Kandavalai, Visuvamadhu, Muthainkaddu,
Mullaithivu, Mallavi, Skanthapuram, Thunukai, Akkarain and part of Mannar.
The number of the casualties of the twenty years of war in the
North-eastern province is many times higher than the actual number of people
killed. Every family is a victim of this war and every civilian has a
heart-rending story to relate.
We met a worker from the East Mr. Selvam who had come to Vanni. His
whole family apart from three brothers had been killed, but he knew many worse
off than him, he said. Nine members of a neighbour’s family had been hacked to
death. The sister of one of the slain men, was insulted by the Muslim Home
Guard who killed her brother. The Home Guard lied, saying to her that her
brother had said to him that he should take her as his wife.
Another case he told us about was that of a woman who had just had a
stomach operation who was raped by Sri Lankan soldiers who had forcibly entered
her home. She committed suicide soon afterwards. On the 31st day after
her death, the army came and killed her husband. These are just some of the
many tragic and horrendous life experiences people told us about the East.
In the Vanni, there are many Centres and institutions looking after the
war victims, including parentless infants and children, widows, women affected
by trauma, people with disabilities and so on. All these children and adults
are additional to the figure of over 70,000 civilians killed in the twenty-year
war.
TCHR representatives visited many of the Centres and institutions in the
Vanni. Below we give a brief account of some of the Centres and their
activities.
District Vision Hearing/ Leg/hand Other Mental
defects speaking defects physical defects
defects defects
Jaffna 8,943 2,917 2,794 5,465 1,602
Mullaitivu 5,023 1,117 2,105 3,001 754
Killinochchi 3,444 923 1,369 1,905 438
Vavuniya 1,749 534 786 1,268 392
Mannar 1,206 414 600 942 190
Batticaloa 248 99 200 213 65
Trincomalee 151 74 101 163 27
Ampara 70 40 45 10 28
A children’s home known as “Kurukulam” is in Jayanthinagar near Killinochchi. This centre is funded by Malaysian and Australian branches of the TRO. According to one of its officials, this Centre was originally founded in 1957 with a difference name by Kathiravelu Appu who was killed by IPKF shelling in 1988.
There are about 500 children in this home in three groups: (1) 45 Children from the age of 1 to 8 years, (2) 240 children from the age of 8 to 12 years, (3) 215 children from the age of 12 and up.
In this home seventy percent of the children are parentless. The children are looked after very well with the means available.
There are 22 staff managed by one director. Out of 22 staff, 15 are part time employees and three are full time teachers.
Some of the children have emotional and behavioural difficulties. Discipline is achieved by talking together, providing activities and creating a family atmosphere, where children can talk to significant adults about their feelings.
When we arrived at this home the older children were all sitting under a tree, having a meeting. We were told that they would be discussing, progress made by the children during the week and areas where improvements could be made.
The children below the age of two sleep in cradles in their special room. They are excited when visitors arrive to see them. Here we saw a baby boy who had been abandoned and found in the bushes.
According to Kamala - the office accountant, the Teachers have staff meetings on Tuesdays. The Children above the age of five or six go to mainstream schools, government schools. School starts at 8.30am, ends at 2.30pm. Children take packed lunch with them. The teachers help with homework.
The Home has been resettled in Kilinochchi since January 2002. The whole community of this childrens’ home had been displaced for six years. They had had to move several times, including to Mannar. We also met Sherin, Selvarani and Shiva.
Vettimanai / Victory Home
From Kilinochchi, we drove through the villages of Kanagapura and Akrayan, to reach “Vettimanai” in the village of Skandapuram. As there is a lack of modern transport in Vanni, we saw many types of traditional transporting systems in use. We saw a bullock cart transporting cadjan leaves and a man carrying a massive amount of bunches of bananas on his bicycle. As this bicycle was over-loaded, it tipped over and we went and helped him. Along the way to Skanthapuram, we saw many manually built bridges, goats, cattle in the middle of the road, many birds and beautiful lotus ponds.
This home was first started in 1991, in Udduvil, Jaffna. It was relocated to Vanni in 1998. “Vettimanai” or Victory Home is a Counselling Aid Centre for mentally ill women
At the entrance of Vettimanai or Victory home, we saw a sign board which read: “Action is more important than words”.
Ms. Mithira, the Director of this home, told us there are 50 women in this home. The youngest is 16 years old. Most of the women were found on the streets, having been separated from their families by the war. It has not been possible to trace all of their families. The women are accepted here and cared for in a positive and nurturing environment. The respect and dignity given them by the staff is clear from the moment one arrives at the home. There were two victims of rape in this home.
According to Mithira, another home in Kilinochchi admits residents from Vettimani who are transferred when their health has improved. Here the residents can learn computing and typing. However it is short-staffed.
Mithira further said, 15 women have been transferred to the Centre in Kilinochchi, eight of whom were helped to return back to their homes. Two women had to return to the Kilinochchi centre, as they had became unwell again. However the fact that six women were successfully helped to return home to live with their families is a great achievement. It is to the credit of the dedicated teams of the staff at Vettimanai and at the centre in Kilinochchi.
At Vettimanai, there are many activities taking place to keep the residents occupied. For instance, poultry and dairy farming, weaving coconut leaves for roofing (Cadjan) and brick making.
Files are maintained for all the residents. The women are grouped and live in several different multi-functional buildings which are like dormitories. Each group has its own dormitory. Twice a month the women are taken to hospital for check-ups and medication and if necessary they see the psychiatrist consultant, Dr Daya Somarasunderam.
Originally there were six staff but the number was increased to three shifts of six staff, as burnout was occurring and the staff themselves were becoming affected. When working so closely with people who are traumatised and mentally ill, it was recognised that the staff can themselves suffer from vicarious trauma. The staff working in this home are not specially trained but they are doing a really marvellous job.
As this is the only centre of its kind in the Northeast, some of the residents have come from the East.
Mithira said that there are two psychiatric hospitals in Jaffna but these are mainly for out-patients. They sometimes admit patients, but only for a few days and then discharge them.
According to Mithira, some of the women have serious episodes and even with ten members of staff, it is not always possible to restrain them. When the women become aggressive towards each other, the staff try to separate them. The staff have a policy of not using physical force on the residents.
Some families of the residents provide money for food, for instance on birthdays, so a party can be organised. We saw photos of some parties. However this can lead to increased emotional arousal and increased distress. For example, Rajeswary, aged 52, had a birthday party recently. Her family came and afterwards she seemed more distressed. It took a few days for her to become calmer.
The centre celebrates all religious functions as well as social functions.
The centre held an event on “World Day for the Disabled”. In the celebrations trees were planted, poems were read and speeches made by residents. A play was performed in this function. A Sports meet was held and games were played: Musical chairs, Scraping-coconut competition and weaving coconut leaves for roofing (Cadjan) competition were some of the contests they held.
The only assistance this home has received from other organisations has been the provision of bedsheets!
Vettimanai is under the “Women’s Human Development WDU”. There are five projects which are taken care of by the WHD. (1) Vettimanai or Victory home - Counselling Aid Centre for mentally ill women (2) Niraimadieelam - home for children with severe learning disabilities from birth. (3) Senthaliar, Mullaitivu - home for children without parents, or who were abandoned or extremely poor children (4) Malarcholai - home for pregnant women where they can also bring their other children (5) Mary illam - home for children over 15 years-old without traceable parents.
Senthalir Children’s Home
The Senthalir childrens’ home is in Selvapuram in Mullaitivu district. Here there were several small babies being looked after, including the baby of a 14 year young girl and another baby who was left by a mother after giving birth. She had simply handed her new-born to the mother in the next bed in the hospital.
Ms. Selvi who is in charge of this centre is a land mine victim. She manages her day to day work with an artificial limb. She said that there are 80 children in this Home. Some have neither parents, others have parents who cannot look after them. The youngest is 9 months old, the eldest is 16. After this age some get jobs as typists or continue to study. There are ten staff all permanent and full-time. There are 6 part-time teachers. There is a nursery for pre-school children. All school-aged children attend local mainstream schools. Sometimes parents visit them.
Children are referred to this centre in several different ways. They may be referred via the courts or via hospitals, because they were abandoned.
This centre faces huge financial problems. As in the other centres, here also the children are very well looked after.
Kantharuban Arevucholai
In Puttukudiruppu in Mullaitivu district, we went to Kandaruben Arevuchencholai. This is a home where parentless boys from all ages are looked after, like the other centres. As we went there without prior arrangement, they had all gone out for swimming at the time we went to see them.
Then we visited Chencholai and met staff and a few children.
Chencholai Children’s home
We passed through Kaivelli village in Mullaitivu to visit Chencholai children’s home. This is a centre where girls are looked after.
The children’s home was founded in 1991 in Sandilipay, Jaffna. There are 250 children. All the children are parentless. They are divided in groups of about sixteen to make small family units. Eight children and then adults – carers and home parents. The secondary aged children go to nearby school, Mahayavidayalam.
The children receive extra tuition in the Home. There are 20-25 teachers. Some of the young people stay until they reach the age of 26 years for instance until they get married and leave, as two young people have done in the past. One of the girls who was looked after by Chencholai is now studying in her final year at Ramanathan Music College in Jaffna, at degree level in the fine Arts Faculty.
Here, the children have indoor sports and games to play. There is a small clinic for medical needs.
According to one of the officials of the Chencholai, in the centre if a child’s date of birth is unknown, the date of her arrival at Chencholai is chosen as her birthday and this is celebrated every year. Since often it is not known what religion the child’s family was, there is an interfaith approach to prayer. They pray in school, temple and church. When they go on holiday they generally go within Vanni. Recently, in an exchange trip organised by TRO, 76 students went to Colombo. There were a total of 350 children involved in this, which was called “Santa’s Peace Mission”.
Iniya Vazhvu Illam
After visiting Chencholai we went through Vallipunam area in Mullaitivu. Finally we went past Iniya Vazhvu Illam, a home and school for disabled children, (Vision, hearing and physically disabled). We wanted to visit this home but we were told by the officials that most of the children were visiting relatives.
When we were returning to Killinochchi, we passed through Manthuvil Junction and we saw the market place where Kfir jets had bombed and killed many people in 15 September 1999.
This is an adult education centre for disabled war veterans. The Academy
was founded in 1983 in Suthumalai in Jaffna. 160 students currently follow a
variety of courses, both practical and theoretical. There are sports facilities
such as volley ball and football for recreation.
Here there are courses held over a period of four months and are offered
in: Motor mechanics, science, video skills, electronics, computing, cultural
studies, language, Braille, English, politics and Music.
LAW AND ORDER IN VANNI
Tamil Eelam
Police
On the very first day of our visit, when entering Kilinochchi, we had a very good experience of the Tamil Eelam Police. As we entered the town, we were busy looking either side of the road to see the extensive damage to the town due to aerial bombings and shellings. The Kilinochchi water tank, the General Hospital, Kilinochchi Central College and other buildings were razed to ground. While we were watching from the window, our van was stopped by the Tamil Eelam police!
One of the Police came to the driver’s side of the van and asked him to descend! We were wondering what was happening. The driver went and did not return for about seven minutes. Later he came back with a piece of paper in his hand. When we enquired, the driver explained us that he was charged for over-speeding. According to the Tamil Eelam police, the speed limit for Kilinochchi town is only 30km per hour and it is very well indicated along the roads in Killinochchi town, whereas our driver was driving at the speed of 39km per hour. The speed was indicated on a hand-held speed-gun used by the Tamil Eelam police.
Tamil Eelam
Police chief Mr. Nadesan
We managed to meet the Tamil Eelam police chief, Mr Nadesan in Killinochi, outside the Tamil Eelam police headquarters which is under construction. It is adjacent to the site of the old Sri Lankan police buildings which had been destroyed in an aerial bombing.
The Tamileelam police force was founded in November 1990. Training of the Police started on June 1st 1991, in Old Park, near St. John’s College in Jaffna.
According to Mr. Nadesan, Tamil National Leader Mr. Pirabaharan, holds the view that once National Liberation has been achieved there should be social independence, and a system of law and order should be maintained. If there is no social order in public life there would be chaos and disorder. Therefore it was through discussing with the public that the police force was founded and started with the full support of the public.
Adverts were put in public newspapers for recruitment for training of the Tamil Eelam police officers. Those who are recruited as Tamil Eelam police, firstly learn how the Police in foreign countries treat their citizens and then learn of the particular difficulties their specific public has faced in the past. This has to be understood by police in training, as they must understand the difficulties of the public, and the effects that past oppression has had on the people.
Mr. Nadesan further said, the struggle against oppression started because of the human rights violations committed against the people. It is very important to have a police force which does not violate human rights.
In the Tamil Eelam Police system, records and papers are kept of all processes.
What we gathered from Mr. Nadesan is as follows:
On November 19th 1991 the first policemen and policewomen completed their training. Tamileelam police officers do not drink or smoke. This is not a pre-condition for recruitment but it is practised strictly. The Tamil Eelam police force is free of corruption.
The first police station was established in Jaffna itself, the second in Chunnakam, third in Chankanai, fourth in Chaverkecheri, fifth in Point Pedro, sixth in Nagerkoil, seventh in Palai and eighth in Valvettiturai.
In the Tamil Eelam police system, the traffic department was the first one which was established, to control traffic in Jaffna city. Then the Criminal Investigation Department was set up and finally the Crime Prevention Department was established.
Since the police force was formed there have been many displacements of the population, during which recruitment continued. The police also helped the displaced people to get those injured to hospital. In the meantime if there was aerial bombing it was usual for the police to help victims, whether they were on or off duty.
Before 1995 police stations were established in Kilinochchi and Mankulam and Puttukudiruppu. Some police were injured by bombing when they were helping displaced people who were crossing Kilali lagoon. One policeman was killed by supersonic bombing as he was helping children cross the busy road traffic near Old Park in Jaffna in 1993.
The police workforce increased and training continued throughout the Sri lanka army Jayasukuru Military operation in Vanni.
After the LTTE re-gained control of the whole Vanni, a new police force department was created known as the Special Task Force - STF. The personnel was recruited from the public.
Currently there is a focus on Crime Prevention. The police hold meetings with the public to explain the procedures, the consequences of robbery, theft etc. They conduct public information and awareness sessions and lectures.
The Police force has developed a community-police approach, based on fostering good relationships between the police and the public. Officers are assigned to particular villages and one police officer and five villagers form a friendly rapport and meet once or twice a week.
Some police are now training in counselling with a view to helping solve family disputes. There are now plans to offer medical assistance to rural areas, and dental assistance. The public often approach members of the police force for advice. Traffic safety classes are given to children in schools by traffic wardens.
Facilities are lacking significantly, however the police force is trying to meet as many needs as possible.
According to Mr. Nadesan, in the Vanni
the crime rate is very low. Mr. Pirabaharan always encourages the Police to
develop a good relationship with the public. Tamil Eelam Police are not
permitted to hit or assault anyone and are given intensive human rights
training. The police trainers use the UN police training manual and the British
police training manual.
There is a complaint procedure for the public to make their complaints against the Police. The Officer-In-Charge OIC replies to the member of the public. If the public is not satisfied with the OIC reply, they can write to Mr. Nadesan. Always, there is an emphasis on Freedom of expression. They can also write to Tamil National Leader, Mr. Pirabaharan.
The Tamil Eelam police is planning to start an Alcoholics Anonymous programme for selected persons. They are waiting to get help from NGOs to train their counsellors. The Tamil Eelam Police are very serious about every complaint. Violence against women is one of the issues which has high priority.
Prosecuting officers include women too. In the Tamil Eelam Police force 40% of the officers are women.
When someone is sentenced for their offences, the Tamil Eelam Police and the courts take the living situation of that individual into account.
There is counselling available for offenders. Young offenders go home or sometimes to a children’s home.
Recently a Sinhala policeman was in custody. An instruction from Mr. Pirabaharan secured him telephone facility so he could speak with his wife and children every day.
Amnesty International has visited the Tamil Eelam police stations and has been impressed with the work and the procedures. Many other international NGOs have visited the Tamil Eelam police and praised their work. One international human rights expert said that they have never seen such good records in any part of Asia.
“No children are allowed to beg within our administrated territories”, said Mr. Nadesan! “If there are any children found begging, immediately that child is taken to their parents. If the poverty in the home is such that the children cannot be cared for, they go to children’s homes”. Parents can of course visit the children.