KANDIAH MYLVAGANAM

Passing of K. Mylvaganam

2009-01-24T23:04:00.000-08:00

Mr. K. Mylwaganam,who had been contributing many articles to Sangam.org during the last few years, with the very latest on August 28, 2008, passed away in his sleep in Puthukudiyirruppu hospital on 24-01-2009 all alone.

He leaves behind his wife, sons and daughters far away from home. Our sympathies to them.

Maybe, his heart could not take it anymore, the sufferings all around him in that hospital and outside.

Myl brought to us, his age group and everyone else, the nearness of our dear soil through his articles in Sangam.org.

Ex-partriating with his family to Europe in the seventies, he returned home to Kilinochchi after fulfilling his duties to his family.

We all love our land. We love it more because of the oppression and suppression. Given the choice and the chance, we would all be there. Myl did not wait for chance and choice, but he was there.

His good wife, too. Sadly, she could not be there at the time of his surreneder to the Almighty and not even to perform the last rites. She could only rush up to Vavuniya and not beyond.

Sufferings in so many different forms, like a tragic single melody being played in all the Tamil hearts.

An extract of his letter to his wife, perhaps the very last, is portrayed below to show the dedication with which he presented his articles to Sangam.org to enable us, too, to be there with our people in our homeland.

"War is blood spilling politics

Politics is war without blood" Mao-Tse-Tung

" and mine is bloodless war with my pen,my prayers and devotional songs" Mylwaganam 19-12-08

Dear Myl, in this, let the dead-bury-the-dead situation in our dear land, we are sure there was someone to perform the last rites and we are sure that you are still lingering there where your dear heart belongs. We thank you for all the detailed descriptive articles which you presented to us via Sangam.org and our deep sympathies once again to your daughters, sons and your dear wife.

Emmanuel Christopher, Editorial Committee.

http://www.sangam.org/2009/02/Passing_K.Mylvaganam.php?uid=3313

Discussion

KC (16 Feb. 2009)

I am deeply saddened to hear this. He could not have shown any more affection and love to our homeland.

Ram Mohan (16 Feb. 2009)

Dear Sir, Your sacrifice is far more than mine. Even in your absence, you will be inspiring me to do more. Nothing is created or destroyed but everything is recycled and we will all meet in the Destination.

Anonymous (16 Feb. 2009)

Thank you, editor, for the anonymity you have provided. I wouldn't have posted this if not. I met Myl when I was there in Vanni a few years ago. At 70+ he had more energy than me, a decade or so younger than him. He drove in in his dilapidated Jeep like vehicle to see me, and incessantly talked about what we Tamils can do and should do, expatriates and locals alike. I couldn't get a word edgewise. Such was his enthusiasm. I have read every one of his articles published at the Sangam web-site, a wealth of information on what was going on there. No one shed more light than he did. Compared to the eighties, when the GoSL committed genocide with the world oblivious to it, not even the Tamil diaspora, the internet era provides a rare window nowadays. Myl's contribution was enormous. The Sangam providing a forum for him is equally laudable. I understand that he is from Vanni, from a landed gentry family, and he reportedly donated all of it for the welfare of the Tamil people. His contribution was ALL ACTION, not mere TALK. i will miss him enormously. May his soul rest in PEACE.

thanabal (17 Feb. 2009)

Great people Never Die. They leave a leagacy to follow. When I read his Articles, I was under the impression t hat he was travelling there and I have more admiration to him than earlier knowing he chose to live there.

Mr.Mylvaganam will be an example for the future Generations to come as we all love out land more than anything else.

Arul (17 Feb. 2009)

My humble tributes to this great son of Tamil Eelam. It is because of people like him, I still have hope in the destiny of Tamil Eelam.

sathya_au (17 Feb. 2009)

I have been a fan of Myl's letters ever since I began to see them in this website. As a Tamil born in Jaffna but raised almost completely outside of Thamil Eelam, his letters written in English represented a rare insight into the plight of our people in the Vanni.

I am really saddened by his demise. He represented everything so good about the Tamil spirit. A man who gave himself freely to share in the pain of our people, when he could have otherwise lived a comfortable life in the West. Like so many others have written on this site, the legacy of great people like Myl never dies.

Rest assured Mr Mylvaganam, though most of us dont know you personally, your legacy will be kept alive in our hearts and through the deeds of thousands of Tamil people like myself.

Nichalus (18 Feb. 2009)

I am a keen reader of Mr. K. Mylwaganam's articles and I was highly impressed by his writings. We lost him in a era that we need him more. The massage he tried to give to the society is immeasurable, and we will not forget it for long time.

Any way now he is not with us. He was a great person.

In this movement I express my deepest sympathy to his wife and two children.

"May his soul rest in PEACE.

Brian Senewiratne (18 Feb. 2009)

Myl was my \\\"Tamil brother\\\", my only contact in Kilinochchi.He sent me email after email, and id this for a long time.

In his last emil he said \\\" If you dont hear from me, it is not that Im dead (tho I may be) but that I have fled since it is no longer safe to stay in Kiklinochchi). I repled \\\"Han Kilinochchi. We can always re-bild buildings when we get Tamil Eelam, of which I I have no doubt, and never have. Just get out of kilinochchi with the others and melt into the jungle.\\\". In a few minutes, as usual, he responded \\\" We will. God bless you Brian, I have no doubt we will meet someday\\\"

I have, in fact, never met my \\\'Tamil brother\\\". However I am sure we will meet again. A finer man you wont find.

I am sure he will go to a better place than the Democratic Socialist Republic. Members of my my ethnic group, have yet to realise what it is to live in a brutal, barbaric fascist dictatorship, with thugs runnung the country.They will, as the guns now being turned on my Tamil people are turned on my Sinhalese people. I hope to live to see that, Im sure I will because it will not be too long from now.

Brian Seneiratne Brisbane, Austral9ia

S.Saravanapavan (19 Feb. 2009)

More than 10 years ago I wrote to him about some suggestions as I have not visited Sri Lanka for over 34 years. for obvious reasons:

1. starting of planting of Palm Oil trees like in Malaysia, Indonesia, Africa etc.

(2) also wrote to him about planting of Psyllium (metamusil) like the way they have planted in Gujarat and exporting to U.S.A, Canada etc for those who suffer from crohn\\\\\\\'s, colitis, chrohnic diarrhoea etc.

(3) Durian trees to as in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia etc. for making Durian Ice cream, popcicles too.

(4) Date Palm trees too.

(5)There are so many other trees, grapes, industries too that can be planted in the North East too to improve our economic potentials to help our people.

(6) U.S.A and Canada imports several millions dollars worth of goat meat from Australia and New Zealand.

North East can do so many useful things to earn foreign currency into the North East.

He said he will do them one day after getting Eelam.

We have lost a great man.

Thank you.

Vel Velauthapillai (19 Feb. 2009)

It is very sad to hear that such a wonderful person passed away.

He not only wrote articles from Tamil Eelam, but also sent several letters to appropriate authority to tell the stories of Tamils.

This is one of his post.. http://www.tamilcanadian.com/page.php?cat=145&id=5508

A great person, great Tamil, and great Human.

Regards,

Vel.

Meikandan (19 Feb. 2009)

Dear Mylvaganam Aiya, I am saddened by your death. You give all of us the energy to do more for our homeland. May your soul rest in peace. We will carry the torch from you.

Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah (19 Feb. 2009)

Our dearest Aiyah,

News of your passing away has left my already disheartened and ‘numb’ self, yet more crippled and unable to function; a feeling of helplessness, a sense of powerlessness a paralysis has overcome me these days; your death at this time has brought home the gruesome reality and the gravity of the deep sense of enormous loss we all feel at this moment, making the pain that much more unbearable, as more and more of our people are slaughtered, maimed, tortured and incarcerated by a brutal regime and our hopes for Tamil Eelam lie shattered.

The voice that inspired us from Vanni is still.

Aiyah, you were the voice of hope, of victory and of good things to come; to an activist and a writer and to numerous others like me, for whom, you were like a mentor, a father figure, a guide, the fact that you too have gone, is like another deathblow.

Aiyah, by choosing to live with and serve the people of our beloved motherland, rather than enjoy the safety and comforts of an easy life in the West, you have by your actions shown to the rest of us, the man that you are.

Aiyah, we salute your dedication to duty and your profound commitment to the cause of Tamil Eelam.

I shall miss your most encouraging e-mails to me where you lovingly insisted on addressing me as Usha Amma.

You will no doubt continue to be a tower of strength to all yearning for a free and independent Tamil Eelam.

Yours affectionately,

Usha

(Usha S Sri-Skanda-Rajah)

ttpian (19 Feb. 2009)

KM's article about Black Tigers has prompted me to contrubute so close to the eelam struggle! infact,15 days ago i wrote an email, asked him to permit me to translate it into tamil.....i even sent an email to the editorial board...but i didn't receive any reply if anyone read his article on black tigers will bring in more interest towards tamileelam freedom struggle!

[This post was modified by the Editor]

http://www.sangam.org/discuss/3313

Bombardment in Thirunagar – Kilinochchi

2008-09-13T09:45:00.000-07:00

This time I did not take the risk of going into the generator room; instead I made straight to the bunker behind my house as I was almost certain that the bomb was going to fall not so far from where I was. Some shrapnel fell on the roof of my bunker as well.

When I came to the office I was told that the bomb had fallen on private residences in Thirunagar, which boarders the Kilinochchi town. All the 05 houses that were hit were completely destroyed. They belonged to private individuals. The pictures will tell the story of the damages done. Many more houses were partly damaged. People’s belongings were also lost due to the bombing. Many trees and arable crops were also destroyed.

The Pachchilapalli Divisional Office was also among the damaged buildings. This office was moved from its original office in Pachchilaipalli to Thirunagar in 2006 due to the eruption of the war. Pachchilaipalli is almost in ruins due the repeated shelling by the army stationed in Mukamalai. There are 10 employees attached to this office now.

The Kilinochchi District Secretariat is only 500 metres from where the bomb fell. Also there is the Non governmental Organisation the Sevalanka and the “Thiru English Way” Private school in the same vicinity. There are 250 students attached to this school. Luckily there were only 60 students at that time the bomb fell. They sought refuge in bunkers nearby on hearing the KFirs approaching. Hence none of them were injured but shaken.

The shrapnel from this bomb fell all over the Kilinochchi town including the other buildings and divisional secretariats of Karachchi . But the vibration emitted by the bomb have affected several other buildings as well.

Mrs.Anitha Arumugam a teacher whose house was completely damaged states:

“I teach at the Kilinochchi Mahavidhiyalaya. At about 6.45 in the morning I was preparing food, when we heard the KFir. All of us – my husband, three children and I - made direct to the bunkers. We were hardly inside the bunkers when the bomb fell. We all felt the terrible vibration. Once the sound of the bombers subsided we peeped out to see the entire area engulfed in smoke. We could hardly see anything. But when we came out we saw our house was totally demolished. All our properties were also destroyed. Altogether there were 05 houses in this area that were completely damaged. Our house alone is worth Rs.2500000.00 (2.5 millions). We have still not valued the properties destroyed. Despite the demolition of our house and the damages done to our properties we are thankful to God that we all are alive.”

When she said this she became very emotional and hugged her children. I saw tears running down her cheeks as she turned her face away. (Ed.)

- Written by Late Mr.K.mylvaganam from vanni -

Pulished on : http://srilankatruth.com/report/newspublish/report.php?news_id=65&start=0&category_id=3&parent_id=3&arcyear=&arcmonth=

More details of daily aerial Vanni bombing by the Sinhalese

2008-09-12T05:58:00.000-07:00

Today the pilots of the KFir bombers were more cordial than yesterday when I was put up at 4.00 a.m. Today (10.09.2008) the planes swerved over my house at low heights at 6.45 a.m. yesterday the bombers circled Kilinochchi at a height of over 35,000 feet. But today they were more daring and flew very low. I was sure that the target was going to be somewhere near the Kilinochchi town if not the town itself. Within minutes the bomb fell close to the town but I couldn’t guess where. This time I did not take the risk of going into the generator room; instead I made straight to the bunker behind my house as I was almost certain that the bomb was going to fall not so far from where I was. Some shrapnel fell on the roof of my bunker as well.

When I came to the office I was told that the bomb had fallen on private residences in Thirunagar, which boarders the Kilinochchi town. All the 05 houses that were hit were completely destroyed. They belonged to private individuals. The pictures will tell the story of the damages done. Many more houses were partly damaged. People’s belongings were also lost due to the bombing. Many trees and arable crops were also destroyed.

The Pachchilapalli Divisional Office was also among the damaged buildings. This office was moved from its original office in Pachchilaipalli to Thirunagar in 2006 due to the eruption of the war. Pachchilaipalli is almost in ruins due the repeated shelling by the army stationed in Mukamalai. There are 10 employees attached to this office now.

The Kilinochchi District Secretariat is only 500 metres from where the bomb fell. Also there is the Non governmental Organisation the Sevalanka and the “Thiru English Way” Private school in the same vicinity. There are 250 students attached to this school. Luckily there were only 60 students at that time the bomb fell. They sought refuge in bunkers nearby on hearing the KFirs approaching. Hence none of them were injured but shaken.

The shrapnel from this bomb fell all over the Kilinochchi town including the other buildings and divisional secretariats of Karachchi . But the vibration emitted by the bomb have affected several other buildings as well.

Mrs.Anitha Arumugam a teacher whose house was completely damaged states:

“I teach at the Kilinochchi Mahavidhiyalaya. At about 6.45 in the morning I was preparing food, when we heard the KFir. All of us – my husband, three children and I - made direct to the bunkers. We were hardly inside the bunkers when the bomb fell. We all felt the terrible vibration. Once the sound of the bombers subsided we peeped out to see the entire area engulfed in smoke. We could hardly see anything. But when we came out we saw our house was totally demolished. All our properties were also destroyed. Altogether there were 05 houses in this area that were completely damaged. Our house alone is worth Rs.2500000.00 (2.5 millions). We have still not valued the properties destroyed. Despite the demolition of our house and the damages done to our properties we are thankful to God that we all are alive.”

When she said this she became very emotional and hugged her children. I saw tears running down her cheeks as she turned her face away. (Ed.)

Mullai Puthukudiyiruppu Town Bombed

2008-09-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

I was awakened from my sleep by the roar of the planes. There were several bombers circling the Kilinochchi town, where I stay. I checked my watch and it was 4.00 a.m. I ran into the room where the water pump and the generator are kept.

Sri subramaniya vidyalayam(GTMS) school in Puthukudiyiruppu

It is comparatively safer than my house as that room has a concrete roof. Luckily the planes vanished without dropping any bombs. I couldn’t believe it, as it is customary for a few bombs to be dropped at random. Hence I went back to bed only to hear the sounds of the planes coming back. So I had to seek refuge again in the said room.

Sri subramaniya vidyalayam(GTMS) school in Puthukudiyiruppu

I have a bunker in the back garden away from my house. But I didn’t dare to go there in the dark fearing the snakes. My torch was not bright enough as batteries are old and in short supply in Kilinochchi. The planes came back a few times and off they went for good. The time was past 5.00 and I did not feel like going to bed after that. I guessed that they must have gone to Puthukudiyiruppu as that is the place that gets bombed quite often.News started trickling in a little later. I heard that it was Puthukudiyiruppu that was bombed and that several bombs had been dropped over Puthukudiyiruppu. One of the bombs has fallen in the premises of the Sivasubramanium Vidhiyalaya damaging parts of its main building, its boundary wall and the play ground. (see pic)

Rest of the bombs fell on the business area and private residences nearby. A grinding mill belonging to the Puthukudiyiruppu M.P.C.S, a sewing shop and book depot were completely demolished.

The office of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was only 200 metres from where the bomb fell. The Puthukudiyiruppu hospital was 800 metres. The Divisional Secretariat, the Divisional Education Office, Banks and more than 150 shops were also in the vicinity.

The GeneralManager of the Puthukudiyiruppu M.P.C.S. stated that the society had incurred a loss of Rs.789,000.00 by the society alone.

The Principal of the Sivasubramnium Vidhiyalaya Mr.R.Selvanayagam stated:

“My house was in the ward 2 of Puthukudiyiruppu. But my family and I had to move out from there due to a recent bombing. We are now in the school hostel. When I woke up at the sound of the bombers I came out to see the entire sky lit with Para-lights. I told my wife and children to run for safety and I ran towards the front part of the school.

As the bombers approached the school I fell prostrate on the ground. When the bomb fell I was tossed up by the explosion and I fell again. Soil clumps fell all over me. There was water and wet mud as well falling on me. First I thought I was bleeding badly. I wanted to get up and run but run where? It was pitch-dark also. I later realized that they came from the pit created by the bomb. The pit was so deep that water has collected in it. The water and the mud came from that pit.

When it dawned I found the boundary wall, school buildings and the play ground were damaged. There are 1300 students attached to our school. Yesterday a further 150 students, who have come as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) also joined our school. Thank God the children were not at school at the time of the bombing.

Our school is now temporarily closed. The reopening of it will be according to the decision taken by the Regional Education Office and the UNICEF.”

Statement from Mrs.Francis Thavam, who was injured:

“I am originally from Chundikuli Jaffna. We came here in 2006 to visit our daughter, who was blessed with a child. Since the war broke out we could not return to Jaffna. The road was blocked at Muhamalai. At the time of the incident we were five – four children and I – in the house and we were fast asleep.

I didn’t realize as to what had happened. House was covered completely by smoke and it was dark as well. Even though I realized that some things were falling on me I could not get up as I was partly buried in it. It took more than half an hour for the neighbours to take me out of the heap I was covered in.

I am now at the hospital. I do not know where my children are. I don’t know what to do.”

- Written by Late Mr.K.Mylvaganam from vanni -

Published On : http://srilankatruth.com/report/newspublish/report.php?news_id=64&start=0&category_id=3&parent_id=3&arcyear=&arcmonth=

The Tragedies Unheard - 5

2008-09-08T05:46:00.000-07:00

People from Pallai had to vacate the area due to the shelling by the army in 1996. Perampalam Nageswaran too had to leave their house and the coconut plantation in their compound. He moved with his wife and the three daughters of theirs to Vaddakachchi. The eldest child was four years old and the youngest was only one year old. They constructed a hut in the compound of a known person and lived there. Nageswaran who was a vegetable vendor while he was in Pallai continued the same profession from Vaddakkachchi also. He did manual work as well whenever he got the chance. They managed to lead a satisfactory life with his earnings. It was in 1996 that the army started moving into Kilinochchi. There was heavy shelling all the time. On one of these days that Nageswaran went missing.

His Wife Ratneswary States:

My husband and my uncle went to see the Village Officer near D-3 at Govinthan Kade junction. But they never returned thereafter. Those who went along with them stated that they saw the two being taken away by the army. I went to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and made a complaint. A few days later they informed me that they were unable to trace my husband and my uncle as they were not kept in the Negombo or E’Pass prisons, which they had checked. They assumed that the two must have been killed.

I was flabbergasted. I did not know what I was going to do with the three girls of ours who were so small. Because of their tender age I could not leave them alone at home and go in search of work. Luckily my father was with us. He went to the Kilinochchi market and worked as coolie at his old age. It hurt me to see him thoroughly exhausted when he returned walking in the late evenings. He walked that ten kilometres daily in order to save the bus fare. But he did not live long. When he expired I had to leave the young ones under the care of the eldest daughter and went for work. There was no permanent work for me either and I couldn’t venture far out in search of new jobs leaving the little ones behind alone at home. Hence the meager earnings of mine kept us starving frequently.

But when peace came into force in 2002 we returned to our house in Pallai and edged a frugal living from the coconuts palms that are in our compound. I sent two of my children to an orphanage as the income from the coconuts are not sufficient to feed all of us.

Now I miss not only my husband but also my two daughters.

S.No	Name	Relationship	Date of Birth	Occupation
1.	Perambalam Nageswaran	Husband	10.02.1967	Vendor
2.	Nageswaran Ratneswary	Wife	25.11.1966	House Wife
3.	Nageswaran Suhanya	Daughter	16.09.1992	Student
4.	NageswaranThanushiya	Daughter	02.08.1994	Student
5.	Nageswaran Tharshana	Daughter	22.03.1996	Student

The Unheard Tragedies 06

2008-09-06T08:53:00.000-07:00

Iyavu Rasu was shot to death by the Sri Lankan army at Uyilakulam in Vavuniya on the 13th November 1998. Actually Rasu is from Paravipanchan, Kilinochchi. When the army invaded Kilinochchi in 1996 Rasu moved with his family to Vaddankandal in Mannar. There they lived with a relation of theirs. They have two sons and three daughters.

His wife Rasu Menamma narrated the difficulties that she and her children undergo from the time

Rasu Menamma

Rasu was killed.

“We are from Kilinochchi. There we did some paddy cultivation and my husband and I used to work as labourers as well. The income we received was sufficient for us to lead a satisfactory life. When the Indian army invaded Kilinochchi, we had to leave our house and go to Mullankavil in Nachchikuda and stayed with a relative. When the Indian army left, we moved back to our house. It was partly damaged but we fixed it. Again in 1990 the Sri Lankan army took over Kilinochchi. Hence we had to move deep into Kilinochchi to D-3. We could not find work nor were we able to send the children to school which was in Kilinochchi. When the army was driven back to Paranthan we were able to get back to our house. The grown up children went to school. But we had to move out again 1996 when the Sri Lankan army moved back. This time it was to Mannar. Since the army moved fast we had to vacate in a hurry leaving whatever belongings we had. The army was shelling heavily and indiscriminately. I saw several bleeding among those who were also moving with us. We were lucky, that none of us was hurt. The youngest child was only two and a half years old. It was a real nightmare when I think about it now. My husband worked as a labourer and made the money to feed all of us and meet the expenses for the three children, who attended school. The youngest stayed at home with me.

After some time with the savings we made he wanted to go across the army check point at Uyilankulam to purchase goods and sell them again in Mannar. On the thirteenth of November 1998 my husband went to purchase goods as usual. Two more people went with him. But for no reason all three of them were shot and killed by the army at the above said checkpoint. I came to know it only when I received a telegram from the hospital regarding his death. His body was brought home in a bullock cart. The body was so decomposed by then, that it was taken direct to the cemetery. It hurts that we did not get a chance even to touch or see his body. The coffin was tightly sealed. My children and I were totally shattered. We did not know what to do and the future looked bleak.

The eldest son was already married. Hence the second son gave up studies and started working as a labourer. The other two children also stopped schooling. After leaving the youngest under their care I too went to work in the farms nearby. It was really a tough period as we could not get work regularly. We considered it lucky if we got work at least for three days in the week. The income from it helped us from starvation. There were days we didn’t have sugar in our tea. Milk was unknown to our children. None of us had an extra set of dress to change. After bathing we washed our clothes and waited for them to dry. Until then we used my late husband’s sarong to cover ourselves.

I had two sisters and both of them went as refugees to India. My husband too had four brothers. Two of them were dead and the other too also left for India as refugees. We felt so lonely without any close relatives nearby.

Our eldest daughter Uthayarany was so angry with the army for having killed her father that she voluntarily joined the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Ealam (LTTE)

When peace was established in 2002 we returned to Kilinochchi. Things improved with my son getting work regularly and I too started working as a cook. I put my two girls in the Kilinochchi Maha Vidhiyalayam. It is my intention to give them a good education so that they do not have to suffer as we do. Our eldest son lives with his family and the second son works far away from home. He comes once in a month. I am left with the last two girls at home. Even though it is ten years since my husband died yet his thoughts lingers around me. He was such a loving and caring person. He wanted to give the children a good education. But it did not work out for the boys. Hence I am striving hard to fulfill his ambition by working hard to the best of my ability to provide the girl the education my husband dreamed of.

Family Details:

No

Name

Relation ship

Occupation

Date of Birth

01
02
03
04
05
06
07

Aiyavu Rasu
Rasu Menamma
Rasu Karunakaran
Rasu Baskaran
Rasu Uthayarani
Rasu Uthayarahini
Rasu Uthayarohini

Husband
Wife
Son
Son
Daughter
Daughter
Daughter

Farmer
Housewife
Married
Labourer
LTTE Cadre
Student
Student

26.06.1949
26.02.1956
17.08.1977
15.02.1982
29.09.1984
11.08.1991
29.11.1993

Source: Mylvaganam. Kilinochchi

The Tide is Turning

2008-09-04T05:07:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back in one of my reports from Vanni I wrote that the war would take a turn, when the fireworks start from the LTTE. I predicted it to commence by the end of September. But I was proved wrong. The game has already started, I guess.
From Kilinochchi, where I live I was able to note in the past months, that the shelling was nearing day by day though slowly. But for the past one week it was getting little more faint indicating that the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) was on the retreat or stagnant. I heard that their advancement was curtailed due to the fierce attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
Apart from it we were getting a few bodies in single digits now and then during the past 10 days or so. But it hit the ceiling today when I saw 29 bodies (see picture) of the SLA laid on the Kilinochchi esplanade. It was nice to see that the bodies were being caringly covered from the scorching sun after the photographing by the press was over. This is in contrast to what the SLA did to the bodies of the LTTE cadre, who died after their attack on the Anuradhapura airbase. The SL army striped them naked, even the fair sex, and put all the bodies in an open trailer and paraded them through the city. It reflects the difference in culture and the humane nature between the two parties. I was told a few more bodies were expected. But to be frank I could not wait there as the bodies were stinking due to decomposition. I saw a representative from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was about to take over the bodies and transport them to Vavuniya to be handed over to the SLA. Out of the 29 bodies I understand that 19 would be transported today (03.09.2008) and the balance 10 tomorrow.
The casualties on the part of the SLA have been on the increase for the past two weeks. These twenty bodies are part of the 86 killed in the past two days. This is because they were getting exposed to the LTTE as the SLA moved towards the north. Earlier they were in a constricted and well fortified area with lots of concrete bunkers and earthen bunds that were 10 metres high. Once they get on to an open terrain they become an easy prey to the well trained cadres of the LTTE.
All these days I understand, that mainly the new recruits and junior members of the LTTE were put in to play a defensive role thus preventing or retarding the SLA from moving too much into the interior part of Vanni. Now I gather the senior and well trained personnel of the LTTE are deployed onto the front. This we are able to see from the results during the past few days.
This reminds me of what the former Air Field Martial from the Air Force Mr. Perera said repeatedly. He said: “It is safe for the army to be behind their Forward Defense Line (FDL), which is well fortified from the enemy. But once you cross the FDL then you are in for attack." He also said that the further you go into enemy territory, the more susceptible you will become to the enemy. One reason is; it is an unknown landscape for the arm, but on the contrary the enemy will know it as much as the back of their hands. The next was that, when you put your feet wider, you tend to loose your balance.” He also said very often “It may be easy to take over the enemy territory but holding it is entirely a different story.”
General Sarath Fonseka is in a real fix now. With such heavy toll of his soldiers there is going to be very high desertions. Already over 27,000 are reported to have deserted in 2007/2008 alone. In the past the number exceeded 50,000. This is going to be accelerated now. It is also reported that those who went on leave are sending medical certificates and staying away and some have absconded already.
Gen. Fonseka has to recruit new personnel or pull out forces from the East and the Peninsula. Fresh recruitment will not prove to be successful under the present circumstances. The Sinhalese village youths know that it will be suicide to join now. Even their parents will not let them go even though they may be poor.
He can ill afford to take soldiers from the East as the soldiers in the East are getting killed, though in small numbers, daily. He cannot pick from Jaffna, as he will fear the LTTE may walk in and take over Jaffna if the forces there are depleted. Already there is a fear in the government sector, that the Tigers may attack Jaffna. Thus he is in a big dilemma right at this moment.
On top of this, unknown persons are said to have exploded a bomb in the heart of the Colombo city recently injuring over 44 people. The government blamed the LTTE for it. Luckily, none of the people were seriously injured as the explosive used was of a less effective type. It appeared that whoever did it wanted to show the government “Don’t you boast a lot of your security arrangements as we can still explode bombs when and where we will.” This bomb hinders Gen. Fonseka to pull out forces from the big cities too. Thank God I am not in Gen. Fonseka’s shoes. Poor chap he has only a few months to go before his retirement. It is a pity he is going to leave with a sorrowful ending. Who said, “One reaps what one sowed.”
This miniature bomb only illustrates that the so called “Terrorists” are more humane than the government, which drops high powered bombs and artillery shells of devastating nature on civilian targets. This reminds me of another incident when a bomb exploded just outside the Dalada Maligawa, where the Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha is kept. The “Terrorists” could have placed the bomb inside the Sanctum Santorum of the Temple. That would have demolished the entire temple and the Relic could not have been traced. Instead the bomb was placed outside the Temple where the Pandal was erected to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Independence in February 1998. Also they selected a Sunday morning to detonate the explosive. This is what our Sinhalese brethren must take into consideration.
Instead some hooligans calling themselves “Patriots” went into the Ganesha Temple that was nearby and demolished the Temple including the Deity Ganesha. This shows the difference between the “Patriots” and the “Terrorists.”
- Written By K.Mylvaganam -
Pulished On : http://www.sangam.org/2008/09/Tide_Turning.php?uid=3071

Shell Blasts Refugee Camp at Puthumurippu

2008-09-03T05:10:00.000-07:00

5 killed, including an infant and a 2 year-old child
The refugee camp of the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) at Puthumurippu was under artillery shelling at 4.30 p.m. on 30.08.2008. A young child, a month old infant, (see pics) two women and a man were killed on the spot. All are innocent civilians. A girl of 17 and two children 06 years and 10 month old were seriously injured. All the three were rushed to the Kilinochchi district hospital.
Those affected in this gruesome attack are originally from Parappukadanthan in Mannar district. Due to the artillery shelling by the SLA they all moved to Kalliyadi. When the shelling followed them, they moved further to Paliyaru, then to Mullankavil and Vanneri before they finally reached Puthumurippu in the Kilinochchi district. Due to military activities Puthumurippu in sparsely populated. Unfortunately the shell fell amidst their houses. That was the cause for this disaster.
All those affected in this tragedy are related to each other. The one month old infant who was killed has still not been named. The bodies of all the people killed were buried in one grave in Konavil on the following day.
The place of this tragedy was photographed by the doctors from the Medisin Sans Frontier (MSF), which is from France.
02 year old Gowtham is besides his father, who also died with him. His devastated mother is weeping by their beds.
The unnamed 01 month old innocent baby is lying lifeless. What crime did the baby do to deserve this?

Those Killed are:
Karuppiah Anantharasa, 28.
Anantharasa Gowtham 02.
Visvanathan Thilakes 35.
Infant (unnamed) 01 month old.
Alakesan Niluka Pathmalatha 28.
Those Injured:
Alakesan Elilvili 10 months old
Visvanathan Thiviyan 06
Balasubramaniyam Rajeswari 17
The injured Miss Rajeswary Balasubramanium states:
We are originally from Parappukadanthan in Mannar. We evacuated from there on 03.09.2007 due to shelling and went to Kalliyadi and stayed there for a short time before we shifted to Paliyaru. Again we moved to Mullankavil before coming to Vanneri. We left Vanneri only on the 21st instant and reached Puthumurippu. Here too we heard the sounds of the shelling intermittently. In our house my mother, cousin, my sister’s child and I were the only occupants at the time, when the shell exploded. I did not know as to what happened thereafter. I woke up in the hospital only. “
This is not a stray event of the government forces bombing or shelling the Tamil refugees. There have been many instances before. I may quote a few of the refugees being shelled or bombed:
15.07.1986 Refugee camp at Peruveli in Trincmalee; 48 were killed and 20 injured.
19.07.1995 St.Peter’s Church at Navali: Pamphlets were dropped from helicopters advising the people of Navali to move into this Church for security reasons. Thereafter several bombs were dropped on the same Church killing 155 people; mostly women and children and injuring 150.
26.09.1996 Mullai - Vavunikulam refugee’s colony was bombed; 04 killed 12 injured.
27.09.1996 Kilinochchi Konavil camp bombed; 05 killed and many injured.
15.09.1999 Manthuvil, Puthukudiyiruppu bombed; 13 killed 40 injured.
20.11.1999 Camps around the Holy Shrine at Madhu was shelled; 31 killed and over 60 injured.
06.08.2006 Muthur - Trinco camp bombed; 20 killed 15 injured
10.08.2006 Vakarai, Kathiraveli, Verukal, Eachchilampattu and Muthur East several camps bombed; 75 killed over 200 injured.
28.08.2006 Camp atPaatalipuram - Trinco shelled; 20 killed 26 injured.
08.11.2006 Vakarai Batticaloa camp shelled; 50 killed 125 injured.
09/10.12.2006 Vakarai Paatchenai and Vammi Vedduvan camps shelled; 20 killed 35 injured.
08/09.03.2007 Paduvankarai, Batticaloa camp shelled; 04 killed 07 injured.
29.03.2007 the refugees who went back to pick up some of the things they left behind were shelled; all the were 09 killed.
01.09.2007 Refugees from Mannar - Silavattai, Mullikulam; 09 killed 04 injured.
18.10.2007 Refugees fleeing to India by boat were shelled; 03 killed and 3 injured on the Mannar sea.
25.10.2007 Periyamadhu, Mannar IDP Camp; 3 killed and 9 injured.
13.11.2007 Holy Shrine at Madhu; one child playing outside the Church was killed one injured.
Madhu Church: This holy shrine has been subject to several bombing episodes quite frequently despite of it being a well known religious and respected shrine both by the Tamils and the Sinhalese.
Shelling indiscriminately is a highly inhuman act. The army or the government for that matter does not care, as to where the shells fall. This only illustrates that their targets are not the LTTE in particular but the Tamils also in general. This is very unbecoming for a so-called “democratic” government, which has an obligation to its citizens.
In fairness to the government I must say that it showed its “humane quality” in the early 1970s and in 1989, when they were confronted by the then “Terrorists” the Jathika Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). No bombs were dropped or shells fired even on the JVP bases; let alone the Sinhalese civilians. It is obvious to everyone as to why the government does not show the same “humane” attitude towards the Tamils. One wonders whether the government considers Tamils as dispensable but not the Sinhalese. Aren’t the Tamils also the citizens of the same government? Isn’t it the profound duty of the government to protect and safeguard all its citizens irrespective of race, religion or creed?
Are we to presume from this that we the Tamils need a government of our own to provide protection for us? Isn’t it logical thinking?
- Written By K.Mylvaganam -
Pulished on : http://www.sangam.org/2008/09/Puthumurippu.php?uid=3070

The Plight of Vanni Refugees

2008-08-28T07:08:00.000-07:00

The Sambur, Muthur and Vaharai tragedies are being repeated in Vanni. The only difference is the Internally Displaced People (IDP) from the above mentioned areas were driven into the army-controlled areas. But those vacated their residences from places like Mannar, Madhu, Vavuniya North, Vavunikulam, Vannerikulam and Akkarayankulam, Manalaru and Oddusuddan have moved towards the heart of Vanni, which is under the control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Even though the refugees, who moved towards the heart of Vanni, have escaped from the indiscriminate shelling from the artillery by vacating from their places of residence and their work places, yet they are subject to vicious aerial bombings around their temporary shelters. Even the circling of the bombers over their heads makes them shiver. There are instances where pregnant mothers have had sudden abortions as well. Small children from among the IDPs, unable to absorb all these displacements, unfamiliar environments and new faces, have difficulties in coping with the changes. Missing their friends and their school has had adverse effects on them. Above all, the roaring noise of the bombers terrifies them very severely. These have caused nervous problems among many of them. While I was in a refugee camp, an ever-silver cup was accidentally dropped on the floor. I noticed how the children got agitated and reacted over that noise. The nervous look of fear on their faces spoke of their mental status. Some even screamed on hearing the fall of the cup. According to the parents, some children have turned unusually aggressive. They refuse to eat and even obey the parents.

I spoke to a few and the experience of one of them is given below. His narration will hold good for most of the IDPs.

Ramasamy Sundaram states:

“We are from Poonakari and have four children, two girls and two boys. They all are between ten and five. I own a two acre paddy field apart from the half an acre of high land, where I had nine goats, three cows and some poultry. I have put all my savings into the paddy field. People living a few kilometres south of our village were moving through our village as their village was subject to shelling. This caused panic among us. We were aware that it won’t be long before the same fate will befall on us as well. The harvest should begin by the end of this month or in the first week of September. Even though there was a wishful thinking in my mind that the enemy will not come closer to us, but common sense was pointing to the opposite. If we are to move, what to do with all what we have, what and what we can take with us and how to transport them, and where to go were the questions that we were confronted with. Questions were aplenty but answers were nil. A trailer will cost around Rs.6, 000.00 to 10,000.00 depending on the distance of our destination. My biggest worry was the paddy field. I have put all our savings into it and if I have to leave before the harvest I will become a pauper. I have been a farmer all my life and if we have to move where shall we move to? What can I do for our living? Since lakhs and lakhs [hundreds of thousands] of people are on the move, everyone like me will also be looking out to work as a labourer. Then the competition will rise and the emolument will sink or unemployment will prevail. I felt awful to see the frightened faces of my wife and children, all of whom are school-going kids. One thing I was certain and it was that the decision had to be taken and taken very soon, as the sounds of the shells were nearing. It is an awful feeling and the trauma I underwent at that time was horrible.

This is a picture of a single mother with four kids in the hot sun, tired of walking. She stopped to pause for this photo. She said that her husband succumbed recently to an artillery shell by the SL army. As one can see, she is empty handed and had no possessions to carry. I dread to think what her future has in store for her and how I wwould feel if I were in her shoes.

When shells started falling in the vicinity of our tank, I knew that the dreaded moment had come. We collected all what we could and left with a heavy heart. Leaving the paddy behind was very hurting. I felt I was deserting the paddy I had nurtured, irrigated, fertilized, invested all my savings in and toiled over so much. It is a feeling one can only realize by experiencing it and not through expressing in words.

We reached Mullankavil, where we were sheltered in temporary sheds. There was no privacy as too many people were put in there.

The Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation gave us cooked food for two days and thereafter some International Organisation provided us with dry rations. Another such organisation gave us some bedding and some cooking utensils.

This picture needs no description. Two days after these pictures were taken there was a down pour of rain on two consecutive days. The school in the background was already filled with refugees, who reached there earlier.

After some time, the shelling started falling closer to Mullankavil as well. Hence, we had to move again and now we are in Mutkomban. The sanitation here is very unsatisfactory. Drinking water is in short supply but for bathing and washing clothes there is a tank close by. After having led a fairly comfortable life in our own house, this is something we never expected to happen overnight; nor do we deserve it, because we did no harm to anyone.

From here whereto next is in the minds of all those in this camp. But no one has the answer.” I took several photos and spoke with many and listened to their heart-rendering and distressing episodes. Unfortunately, everything cannot be included in this article. Some were sick and there were pregnant mothers also.

The statistics obtained from the Government Agents of Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi are appended. These reflect the numbers as on 21.08.2008. But people are still on the move even after the above date. You will note that a total number of 249,527 persons have already become IDPs within a short period. It is almost a quarter million. And how many more to come, nobody knows.

Govt. Agent Mullaitivu			Govt. Agent Kilinochchi
D/S Division	Families	Persons	D/S Division	Families	Persons
Maritimepattu	5562	23783	Karachchi	21898	83439
Puthukudiyiruppu	15736	65980	Kandavalai	4457	17550
Oddusuddan	9026	37267	Poonakari	3422	12374
Thunukkai	207	836	Maruthankerni	1936	7602
Manthai East	170	696
Total	30701	128562		31713	120965


District	Families	Persons
Kilinochchi	30701	128562
Mullaitivu	31713	120965
Grand Total	62414	249527

Some people have moved even to four or five refugees camps in different areas as the artillary shell were following them from behind.

My humble appeal to our Tamil Diaspora is to contact the TRO, SEDOT or any authorised representatives of the Tamils in your areas and impart what ever financial help you can to eliviate the miseries of these IDPs.

Kindly do not wait for them to come to you. You go to them please. These IDPs need your help urgently.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Photos taken in TRO Welfare Centers in Vanni here.

-Written By K.Mylvaganam -

Pulished On : http://www.sangam.org/2008/08/Vanni_Refugees.php?uid=3061

Mullaitivu General Hospital under Artillery Attack

2008-08-22T08:05:00.000-07:00

One child killed and 18 civilians, including the GA, injured

The general hospital in Mullaitivu was subject to heavy artillery shelling at 1.00 a.m. on the 8th August 2008. The shells were fired from Manalaru army camps. The shells fell on the said hospital and on the buildings in the vicinity. This included the residence of the Government Agent (GA) Mullaitivu and those of the government servants. The shells were directed on the adjoining villages as well, which are Manthoddam, Kumarapuram and Neeravippiddy. Eighteen civilians including the GA and a pregnant lady were injured. An 18 month old child was killed with its body severely impaired.
The GA Mrs.Imelda Sukumar, who was injured in this attack states;
“The quarters of the medics personnel are situated around the government hospital. My residence and those of the other government servants are also located in the same premises. The shelling commenced in the early hours at 1.00 a.m. Around 20 shells fell on Kumarapuram and Neeravippiddy, which are 50 metres from the hospital. I was also injured and bleeding profusely. The medical officer took me to the hospital for treatment at about 1.30 a.m. Even the wife of the medical officer was seriously injured. She had a narrow escape from death. An 18 month old child was killed on this incident. Its body was drastically impaired. I saw that pathetic sight with my own eyes. A further 15 people, who were injured in this attack were also brought to the hospital. Out of these, five were very seriously injured. They were hurriedly transferred to the Puthukudiyiruppu hospital. Since my blood pressure was very high at that time the doctors let me rest in a quiet place. I cannot recollect as to what happened after that. But the sounds of the shelling were heard for over 1 1/2 hours.
Since I was in the hospital I could not inform the government. But one month back shells fell only about one kilometer from my residence. This was reported to the government by me. But there were no causalities as it fell on a paddy field. But this attack has caused great fear and anxiety among the people. It has also resulted in several damages to properties besides injured many. This is the prevailing situation.
Due to the artillery attack going on in Manthai East and Thunukkai divisions nearly 11,000 families have evacuated from their residences and moved to this town. They have also gone to Puthukudiyiruppu and Kilinochchi.
Similarly people from Vavuniya north division have moved into Oddisuddan. Humanitarian organizations, Non Government Organisations and the government are providing assistance to them. They are being provided meals under the auspices of the World Food Program.
The AGA of the Thunukkai division was killed under a claymore attack on the first day, when security precautions were being taken care of.
Under these circumstances I am left with only 2 or 3 AGAs to do our work in five divisions. It is because of this my blood pressure got increased. After resting for a while I went and worked in my office till 8:00 p.m. before I returned to my residence.
We have to continue with emergency work. I have to point out that the people do not want to go to the army controlled areas. Instead they prefer to come to Mullaitivu. The district and the divisional offices have many important services to be executed. But the government officers are mortally scared to work due to the lack of security.
The government servants attached to the to the GA’s office in Kilinochchi are conducting a protest demonstration condemning the killing of the government servants in the past and demand that no such killings should be resorted to in the future.
My officers also did the same. This has been reported to all the government institutions by me. We, the government servants, are put in very difficult circumstances to attend to the emergency services. Under these circumstances we understand that there is no guarantee for our lives here. It is under such perilous conditions that we are compelled to execute our duties. Besides we wonder as to how their security situation in going to develop. This is an enormous problem."
The district medical officer (DMO) Dr.Shanmugarajah states;
"I returned from the hospital at 11:00 p.m. after attending to an emergency delivery. I was fast asleep, when I was awakened by the sound of the artillery shelling. One of the shells fell next to the windows of my bedroom. My wife was injured by this. My son also got slightly injured. Our residence was badly damaged.
I took my wife and son to the main hall of the hospital. At that time people who were injured by the shelling were also being brought in. An 18 month old child was brought in dead. Its body was severally devastated by the shells. Altogether there were 18 persons injured. This included a pregnant mother, children and one elderly person, whose arm was severed completely.
Our GA was also one of the injured. Her residence is also inside the hospital compound. Our hospital staff and the patients are in a state of shock. Even though this attack sent shock waves among the people, yet patients are coming for treatment. There are about 75 patients remaining in our hospital wards. Though they seem highly agitated, yet they think that the hospital will provide them security.
The GA too was astounded over this attack. I am sending a report to our regional medical officer about this. The whole world is aware that attacking hospitals is not a humanitarian act. In my opinion among the worst form of human rights violations in the world are to attack hospitals."
Name list of the Victims in this attack

Injured - Name Gender Age Address
Mrs.EmeldaShukumar Female 50 GA (Mullaitivu) Hostel, Mansolai, Mullaitivu
Mrs. Sanmukaraja Renuka Female 36 MHO Hostel General Hospital, Mansolai, Mullaitivu
Mr. Santhiya Male 40 Vadduvkal, Mullaitivu
Mrs. Pettan Santhanavathi Female 50 Neeravippitty, Mulliyavalai
Mrs. Vijayakanth Piremila Female 33 Thanneeruttu, Mulliyavalai
Mrs. S. Thanalaxmy Female 57 Neeravippitty, Mulliyavalai
Mrs. Kanmany Female 50 Neeravippitty, Mulliyavalai
Mrs. Sivarasadevy Femae 64 Thanneeruttu, Mulliyavalai
Mrs. Suppiramaniyam Suventhiralatha Female 23 Uduppukkulam, Alampil
Miss. Vijayakanth Arelil Female 05 Thanneeruttu, Mulliyavalai
Mr. Vijayakanth Pehan Male 2 ½ Thanneeruttu, Mulliyavalai
Mrs. Nadarasa Veeramma Female 52 Kumarapuram, Mulliyavalai
Mrs. Vinasiththambi Rukkumany Female 72 Kumarapuram, Mulliyavalai
Mr. Perumal Nadarasa Male 56 Kumarapuram, Mulliyavalai
Mrs. Iyan Rasakumary Female 36 Neeravippitty, Mulliyavalai
Miss. Iyan Sankeetha Female 10 Neeravippitty, Mulliyavalai
Mr. Velayutham ravichchanthiran Male 40 Kumarapuram, Mulliyavalai
Mr.R.Lokanathan Male 50 Neeravippitty, Mulliyavalai

Killed
* Iyan Sankeerththanan Male 1 ½ Thanneeruttu,

- Written By K.Mylvaganam -
Pulished On :http://www.sangam.org/2008/08/Hospital_Shelling.php?uid=3053

Budhist Chauvinism

2008-08-18T07:50:00.000-07:00

I am certain that most of the readers would have read the following somewhere and sometime.

“When they came on the Jews I didn’t do anything as I was not a Jew. When they came on the Communists I didn’t do anything as I was not a communist. When they came on the Trade Unionists I didn’t do anything as I was not a Trade Unionist. When they came on to Me there was no one left to do anything.”

This is what is exactly happening in Sri Lanka. When the Sinhala Buddhist chauvinists took on the Muslims in 1915 killing several innocent Muslims in the South, the Hindus and the Christians did not go to their assistance, because they were not Muslims.

This is being repeated today. The Tamils are being targeted and the Muslims and the Sinhalese Christians in general are doing nothing about it. If and when the Tamils are annihilated these communal, racial and blood thirsty Buddhist chauvinists are sure to set upon the Muslims; and that would be a piece of cake for the Sinhala regime and its forces. Once they have done away with the Muslims they will turn their guns towards all the Christians even though they may be Sinhalese. The entire ambition of the Buddhist chauvinists is to make Sri Lanka a Sinhala Buddhist state.

If we look back we will see there has been no Christian or a Muslim or a Hindu as a President or as a Prime minister in the history of Sri Lanka. Starting from D.S.Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, S.W.R.D.Banadaranayake, W.Dhahanayake, Sir John Kotalawela, Srimavo Bandaranayake, J.R.Jeyawaradena, R.Premadasa, , Chandrika Bandaranayake Kumaratunga, Ranil Wickremasinghe, Mahinda Rajapaksha and the present prime minister Ratnasri Wickremanayake all are Sinhala Buddhists. Even the party leaders of all the major Sinhala parties are Buddhists.

But it is worth to note that a good number of the above mentioned state heads had been Christians before they entered politics. They converted themselves as Buddhists to reach the top position in Sri Lanka. What does this show? It means that none of them would have attained that position had he or she remained as a Christian. In other words there is no place in Sri Lanka for anyone who is not a Buddhist to become the head of the state. If we were to look over the Palk Straight one will note that races are not discriminated while selecting the heads of the state. The first President of India in 1947 was Rajagopalachariyar who was a Tamil. The present Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is a Panjabi, who is not even a Hindu. Readers may remember that it was a Punjabi who sho and killed one of the most loved and respected Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The last President Abdul Kalam Assad was a Muslim. Will Sri Lanka learn from it neighbours. No; Sri Lanka is not there to learn but will happily teach to the rest of the world on Democracy and Human Rights etc.

A recent incident that took place in Thalahana, Malabe should be an eye opener to the Muslims and Christians. There is a Church on Araliya Place in Thalahana, Malabe called the Calvary Church. Thalahana is a small village. About 75 Christians in and around Thalahana congregated on a Sunday (06 07.2008) morning at 9.00 a.m. They came to attend the services as they usually do on Sundays. It was a peaceful and pleasant morning. People were waiting to listen to the day’s sermon by their priest Pastor Roshan Andriezen. The service commenced at 9.00 and the people were glued to the utterances of the Pastor.

Suddenly there was a big commotion at the front entrance of the Church. They couldn’t believe their eyes, when hell broke loose on the Church premises. A violent mob led by four Buddhist Monks created havoc on the scene. The Monks ordered the service to be stopped immediately and called for the Pastor. Pastor Roshan immediately came forward and went outside the Church to talk to the mischief makers. A few elderly Christians also followed the Pastor. Women and children were crying out of fear. They remained inside the Church on the request of the Pastor. The Buddhist Monks charged that the Pastor was involved in “forced conversion” of the Buddhists in the area. The Pastor denied the charges saying no forced conversion was being done. But the unruly mob didn’t want to hear him out. Instead they set upon him and on those around him. His nose was broken, his right eye was hurt and his back was severely beaten. They brutally manhandled even the Pastor’s father John Andriezen and his brother Rohan Andriezen. They took a heavy wooden piece from the pulpit and started hitting with it. Obscene language was free flow from the mob without paying heed to that it was a religious surrounding that they were in.

The Pastor for all these did not loose his calm. He tried to say that there are laws in the country to protect the rights of the people and they could frame charges if any law has been violated. To this the Monks retorted saying “it is we who make the laws and it is we who will break them.” These were confirmed by the Calvary Church Headquarters in Mirihana.

They broke the furniture, the building, the glasses, the lamps, and the roof. Later went on a rampage destroying all that were there. The vehicles that were there too were vandalized. It was the law of the jungle that prevailed there. The Pastor and a few others were taken to the hospital.

The Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) has begun to form a purely Muslim army in the East. It has several motives behind it. The main motive is to bring up a divide between the Muslims and the Tamils in the East. The other is to have a check on Katuna/Pillaiyan group sp that they do not become too unwieldy and take control of the Eastern province. The other dirty mentality is set the Muslims against the Tamils so that they can kill each other thus both the parties will always remain weak for the Sinhalese army to take on them one by one when the time comes.

But the Tamils and the Muslims have lived sandwiched with each other for several centuries. Therefore the leaders among the Tamils and Muslims should come together and work out the means for both the communities to live side by side quite amicably as they have always done in the past and not fall a prey to the Buddhist Sinhala conspiracy.

What can be done? Nothing. Of course one could go to the police station and make a complain. Then they will be asked to wait. How long? No body knows. The complaint will be written in Sinhalese irrespective of whether the complainant knows Sinhalese or not. But he has to sign that document without knowing what the contents were. Then what happens? Now comes the interesting part. Nothing. Yes nothing happens. But if it becomes such a big issue to attract international attention; then our government will appoint a commission to investigate. Then what happens. The same old stock answer -“NOTHING.”

Therefore now it is up to the Muslim and Christian leaders to come together and find out as to how they are going to meet the inevitable peril that they will have to face in the future.

The Unheard Tragedies - 04

2008-07-28T05:41:00.000-07:00

Kanapathipillay Sureskar was a carpenter from Klinochchi. He had to move with his wife Kamalawathy to Vannerikulam in 1996, when the army moved into Kilinochchi. Kamalawathy’s parents and her siblings also joined them. But neither Sureskar nor her father was able to find any employment in Vannerikulam. Hence they all moved to Vavuniya. They were kept in a refugee camp in Vavuniya. It was while they were there the army took away Sureskar for “questioning” and he never returned.

His wife Kamalawathy states:

“We got married on 23.06.1995 and I was 19 years old. We lived with our parents in Kilinochchi.

Kamalawathy Sureskar

My husband and my father were employed and we lived fairly satisfactorily. I was expecting when we got displaced first to Vannerikulam and then to Vavuniya. I gave birth to our daughter Rishanthi when we were at Vannerikulam. But my father and my husband could not find any work there. Hence we had to leave for Vavuniya. While we were at the refugee camp in Vavuniya the intelligence unit of the army dragged my husband away on 06.06.1997. I fell at their feet and begged them to leave him behind as he was an innocent person. But it proved futile. We thought he would be released soon. But he never turned up. My complaints to the ICRC did not bear any fruits either. I did not dare to go to the army camp fearing that I too may get arrested and my daughter would have then lost both her parents. My younger brother, who was only 15 attended school and went to the nearby building site and carried cement buckets and brought home Rs.50.00 or Rs.100.00. This supplemented what my aged father was able to earn.

We wanted to come back to Kilinochchi as early as possible but we had to wait five years until the peace was made in 2002. When we reached Kilinochchi we went to see our house. It was completely destroyed. We could not find even the pots and pans. Luckily we brought some utensils from Vavuniya. It proved handy. My father borrowed some money and with the help of my brother they put up a temporary shed for us to live in. Until then we cooked and lived under a tree. Since my brother had to go for work, he could not attend school. He sacrificed his future for us.

My father and my brother have opened a carpentry workshop. By the grace of God we get a steady income now. Our younger sister is also married and settled.

Since I did not want to be too much of a burden to my parents I put Rishanthy in an orphanage for girls in Uduvil. But my brother brought her back as he did not want to leave her in an orphanage. Now Rishanthy is grown up. Whenever she inquires about her father it hurts me very deeply. How can I tell her as to what happened? She is too young to understand that such an inhuman atrocity was committed to her father for no fault of his. I think I will have to live with that pain for the rest of my life.”

No	Name	Relationship	Occupation	Date of Birth
01) 02) 03)	Kanapathipillai Sureskar Sureskar Kalamathy Sureskar Rishanthy	Husband Wife Daughter	Dead Housewife Student	--------------- 09.07.1976 06.12.1996

Soaring Fuel Prices

2008-07-21T04:23:00.000-07:00

The soaring prices of fuel are choking the economy of the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL). The people are getting affected on many fronts. First and foremost, the high prices they pay for fuel that affects them directly and, secondly, the indirect ways the consumer has to pay in hidden forms. The high prices the transport firms pay for their fuel are passed on to the consumer. Hence, the prices of all goods transported increase. This includes not only food items but all and sundry items, that are transported from the place where they are produced to the sales outlets.

Bus fares have gone up by 27% and train fares are up from 100% in most cases and are increasing up to 400% on certain selected routes. Since there is a general shortage of fuel, queuing in front of filling stations is a colossal waste of man-hours. Gas stations are packed with vehicles.

The table below illustrates the rapid increase in price of the various fuels during a period of 4 years

Name	July 2004	July 2005	July 2006	July 2007	July 2008	In Vanni 2008

Petrol	65.00	80.00	93.00	117.00	165.00	800.00
Diesel	36.00	50.00	91.00	105.00	120.00	360.00
Kerosene	25.50	30.00	43.50	68.00	84.00	175.00

In Vanni one will consider herself/himself to be lucky if the fuel is available at the filling stations even at these exorbitant prices. The prices in Colombo have gone up by 300% within the past 4 years.

The effects of increasing the prices are very damaging. For example, if a trishaw driver puts up his price for a ride in his vehicle, the consumers will avoid engaging the vehicle. His income thus will drop and he will face problems at home both financially and socially. The plight of the farmers is also the same. He cannot go on increasing the prices of his products as the demand is sure to fall. Hence his profit margin will fall if he cannot increase the price to compensate the high price he pays for the fuel. If he were to resort to intensive cultivation instead of extensive with a view to cut down on the consumption of the fuel, his quantum of production will go down; thus ending up in square one. When the supply is reduced the demand will go up ending in an increase in the prices, which will eventually affect the consumer, as the sales are sure to drop.

A table showing the price increase in Colombo in one year and the present prices prevailing in Vanni is appended for the readers’ observation.

Name	Unit	Price in July.2007	Price in July 2008	Price in Vanni in July 2008
Bread	450 gr	16.00	37.00	40.00
Rice Brown	Kilo	35.00	70.00	40.00
Rice Samba	Kilo	45.00	85.00	50.00
Chilies	Kilo	140.00	203.00	280.00
B-Onions	Kilo	52.00	61.00	160.00
Gas Cylinder	12.5 kg	750.00	1800.00	4000.00
Potatoes	Kilo	80.00	86.00	160.00
Cement	Bag	600.00	700.00	9800.00

The representative of the trade union at the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) blamed the management for its mismanagement of the CPC. He added that there were several options left to the management before they go on a price hike. He points out that the CPC has failed to go into the business of bunkering despite the trade union urging them to do so. He says that bunkering will bring in Rs.500 million a day. And that is half the daily running cost, which is Rs.1,000.00 million. He fears that the Indian oil company the Lanka Indian Oil Company (LIOC) is going take up to bunkering quite soon. He also suggested that the refinery at Sapugaskanda should be expanded.

The United National Party (UNP) member Ravi Karunanayake states t hat the CPC is making a profit of Rs.7 Billion an year. But the finance manager of the CPC contradicts this statement and says that the CPC is running at a loss. One of these two is certainly lying. If the finance manager is telling the truth, why cannot not he present the latest audit report in public and prove his point.

Over to you, finance manager Lalith Karunaratne...

- Written By K.Mylvaganam-

Pulished On : http://www.sangam.org/2008/07/Soaring_Prices.php?uid=3025

Untold Tragedies 3

2008-07-15T05:39:00.000-07:00

This episode is narrated by the wife of Arumugam Sivarasalingam, who who killed while going by boat to Jaffna via Kilaly when the army shelled from Elephant Pass.:

Mrs. Sivarasalingam

We are originally from Theevakam (Islands off Jaffna), but domiciled at Skanthapuram in the Kilinochchi district. We got married in 1978 and we have 5 children – one girl and four boys. My husband was running a small mill and survived with that meager income. Skandapuram is a remote village that is sparsely populated. Since the mill was fairly old, it broke down frequently. He tried to do paddy cultivation but incurred heavy losses. So the mill was repaired and run again. When it broke down again the necessary parts were not available in Vanni. The Elephant Pass route was also closed by the army. Hence, he decided to go to Jaffna via Kilaly and that was very risky as it was subject to shelling by the army from the E’Pass camp. I was against his taking that perilous route as I preferred to starve and stay alive as long as possible. But he wouldn’t listen as he cared for all of us. Finally I agreed.

He, along with three others, hired a boat and left on 06.12.1992. He promised to return on the 09th. But he never did. I reported this to ICRC in Kilinochchi and several others. I didn’t have money for the bus fare either to travel frequently to Kilinochchi. I kept asking all those I met on the road as to whether they had seen my husband. A neighbour told me one day that there was a rumour that a helicopter was heard shooting around the day my husband left. I borrowed some money for the bus fare and went to the ICRC and they confirmed that there was a shooting on the 6th of December. But I hoped my husband was safe in Jaffna searching for the spares for the mill. The friends of my husband went to Kilaly by a tractor after 14 days and found the body of my husband washed ashore. It was in a decomposed state. I felt like committing suicide. There is no life for me without him I thought. But the thought of our five children prevented me from doing anything rash.

Our eldest son was only 11 then, reading in the seventh standard and the youngest was 04 attending a preschool. I rented the mill to a friend of my husband. He gave us something just sufficient enough for us to exist. But I was thankful to him as I was aware that the mill was not a money spinner. When our son completed his O. Level examination, he took over the mill. All our children have completed their O. Level except the youngest, who is still at school. The only consolation is I managed to give my children some education at least. None of them are married.

Dowry System:

The boys do not want to get married before their sister, who is 27, is settled. With no savings to give as dowry, I wonder when I can get her married. The dowry system is a curse in our society. I hate it. I will not allow any of my sons to accept any dowry.

[End]

All the children were unanimous in saying gratefully, that they all are highly indebted to their mother for having strived so hard, undergoing untold miseries in bringing them up.

No.	Name	Relationship	Occupation	Date of Birth
01	Arumugam Rasalingam	Killed	Vendor	27.04.1955
02	S.Ranjithamalar	Wife	Housewife	29.02.1960
03	S.Mohanraj.	Son	Runs Mill	04.02.1980
04	S.Mohana	Daughter	Unemployed	26.09.1981
05	S.Jeyantharaj	Son	Helps Brother	04.01.1984
06	S.Sasitharan	Son	Student	28.07.1986
07	S.Ayanthan	Son	Student	16.06.1988

- Written By K.Mylvaganam -

Pulished On : http://www.sangam.org/2008/07/Tragedies_3.php

Untold Tragedies #2

2008-07-14T05:38:00.000-07:00

This is the pathetic story of Mrs Kunalingam Jeyaruby. She states how her family got devastated, when her parents got killed in a bomb attack.

“We are from Chavakachchceri on the Jaffna Peninsula. With the intention of doing cultivation, our father decided to move to Kandavalai Velikandal in the Vanni in the mid-1980s. My father was doing very well. We are 6 siblings; I am the third in the family. I and the three younger than me were born in Kandavalai. My eldest brother who was in the LTTE became a Martyr and my other elder sister too is in the LTTE cadre.

On 23.03.1998 I went to our aunt’s house while the rest went to school. Our parents were at home. A Sri Lankan Ari Force Kfir jet that came at 7.45 a.m. bombed our house. When I ran home I saw my father’s body on the road and my mother was profusely bleeding and panting for breath. I didn’t know what to do, but cried loudly. My mother opened her eyes and looked at me once and her eyes closed again. I knew that she too had left us. I couldn’t bear it and fainted immediately. I loved her so much. They too loved us immensely. To pay back their love, I toiled very hard all alone to educate and bring up the ones younger than me.

All four of us stayed with aunty for four months. The LTTE gave us a small plot of land, which had a few coconut palms in Vaddakachchi. We survived on the sale of the coconuts and the thatches I wove from the coconut leaves. I was only 16 then. Though I was in the 10th class, yet I gave up schooling to look after the younger ones, earn a living and maintain the house. My brothers studied only up to the O-Level and started working. I got married, but I am keeping my sister Jeyagowri with me. She is now employed as a sales girl in a boutique nearby.

If only our parents had lived, all of us would have got a sound education and led a prosperous life. One cussed bomb destroyed our lives. For the pilot it was only a pressing of a button, but it devastated the lives of all of us.

No.		Name	Relationship	Date of Birth	Occupation

	01	Selliah Thangavelu	Father	04.08.1949	Farmer
	02	T.Sivapakium	Wife	14.12.1955	Housewife
	03	T.Krishnaveni	Daughter	18.12.1975	LTTE Cadre
	04	T.Jeyaruban	Son	30.03.1979	Martyr
	05	T.Jeyaruby	Daughter	03.04.1981	Housewife
	06	T.Jeyaseelan	Son	31.03.1984	??????
	07	T.Jeyagowri	Daughter	10.04.1986	Salesgirl
	08	T.Jeyasinthan	Son	03.11.1988	??????

- Written By K.Mylvaganam -

Pulished On : http://www.sangam.org/2008/07/True_Story.php?uid=3009

Dark Clouds Over SL Government

2008-07-08T11:24:00.000-07:00

Lots of dark clouds are covering over the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL). There are lots of political upheavals both within and outside the alliance. The economy is plunging steeply leading to almost bankruptcy. The departure of the Jathika Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) from its alliance has shaken its stability. The renegades led by Karu Jeyasuriya are sending feelers to rejoin the UNP. The danger of a consolidated United Front against the GoSL is in the offing. The Cost of Living (CoL) has reached a record high figure despite the GoSL trying to soften it by reducing it with a couple points by juggling with a new formula in calculating the Cost of Price Index (CPI). The LTTE is threatening a frontal attack. This has prompted several men to desert the army.

Labour Unrest:

The Trade Unions are agitating for a substantial increase in their salaries. The JVU backed trade union called the National Trade Union Centre (NTUC), which has nearly 400 trade unions affiliated to it has confirmed that trade union action will be put into force on the 10th of July 2008, if their demand for a monthly salary increase of Rs.5,000.00 is not put into effect from the 1st of June 2008. This increase shall be for all the employees in the public, private and the plantations. It has also demanded a sum of Rs.2.50 to each increasing point in the Cost of Living Index (CLI) as pledged by the GoSL. He has sent an open invitation to all other trade unions in the island to join in the struggle. I understand that some trade unions have positively responded to his invitation. Even though it is only a token strike meant for only one day yet it is said that it would be reintroduced if the GoSL does not respond positively.

He has warned that if the GoSL were to declare the 10th of July as a public holiday, as it did with the strike of the teachers on the 11th and 12th of June 2008, then this strike would be launched on the following day. He has further warned that the strike will be launched on an island wide scale continuously if the GoSL fails to meet the demand of the trade unions.

He added that the strike will not affect the war efforts as the war is conducted on Public holidays, Poya days, Saturdays and Sundays without being affected. Quoting the war is an attempt by the GoSL to deny the workers their rights that they are entitled to. The war is shown a s a reason to burry the faults of the government. The people are asked to tighten their belts but the extravagances are galore in government spending by way of foreign trips by the ministers, salary increases and luxury vehicles to the parliamentarians and holding “Tamashas” on government expenses. Even recently 8 super luxury vehicles have been ordered costing billions of rupees.

The Consumer Affairs Minister has said that such salary increases cannot be made as it would wage spiral inflation. But the JVP parliamentarian and the president of the Inter Company Employees Union (ICEU) Wasantha Samarasinghe said that it was due to the government’s wrong economic policies and mismanagements of funds the country is in this perilous state. He quite rightly pointed out Mihin Air as one striking example for mismanagement. The top executives are paid a monthly emolument around Rs.300,000.00 to Rs.400,000.00 each. The loss recorded so far exceeds Rs.3.2 billion. He further pointed out to the number of ministers ( it was 107 last year I have lost count of it now), the corruption from top to bottom and the sheer wastage of funds as causes for the present state of affairs.

The Technological Service Trade Unions Federation (TSTUF), which has no political affiliations but very powerful has declared that they would go all out and support the JVP sponsored strike on the 10th instant. Its president Nimal S.Andradi said that the government says it has no money to meet our just demand. But it wastes money in maintaining over 100 ministers and ignoring all the bribery and corruption going on by the top people.

The War Front:

The war is costing the GoSL billions of rupees. There were only 11,000 men in all the three forces – army, navy and the air force – before the war commenced. Today there are more than 250,000 on regular payroll. Besides for every person killed a compensation of Rs.100,000.00 is paid to the next of kin and the payment of pension also continues. When ships are sunk and planes are destroyed by the rebels it costs millions to replace them. The army deserters who are said to be over 70,000 are causing social problems in the country even though the government is playing it down. Several personnel from the forces are engaged in hunting the deserters.

Paramilitary Forces:

These are another drain and pain on the people and the government. These forces are also in the payroll of the GoSL. Besides paying them, the government has to mediate the infighting among them. Since of late the Pillaian Group and that of Minister Devananda (EPDP) are at daggers drawn and involve in killings. The Pillian group and the Jihad elements have started shooting and killing each other in the Eastern province. A good number of the army personnel who are under constant fear are undergoing psychological problems. Several suicide incidents among them go to prove this point. Many who go on leave do not report back.

When pressure is exerted on the government to disarm the paramilitary forces the GoSL says that the LTTE also must be disarmed. Government seems to be ignorant of the fact that the LTTE is not a paramilitary movement. According to the Oxford dictionary a paramilitary movement is “Ancillary to and similarly organised to military forces.” And ancillary means “subservient, subordinate.” Unlike the EPDP, PLOT, EPRLF and the Pillaian groups, which lick the boots of the government and is paid and protected by it, the LTTE is an independent movement of its own. It doesn’t dance to the tune of the GoSL. But it is a liberation organisation involved in fighting the government for the freedom of the oppressed Tamils.

Cost of Living:

The cost of living is rising in leaps and bounds. Some items have even doubled in price in Colombo. The Cost of Living Index was 4304 in January 2006 but it has shot up to 6527 in April 2008; an increase of 2223 points. For the plantation workers their daily wage of Rs.290.00 is to be increased to Rs.500.00. The President of this Trade Union is the vociferous JVP parliamentarian K.D.Lalkatha, who is fairly popular among the working class. He said that a family of five needs a minimum income of Rs.31,000.00 per month to cover the basic needs. The prices of food items, fuel and textile are soaring. Bus fare has gone up by 27% and the train fare by 100% to 400%. Rice is being sold at Rs.80.00 and more in the south. In Vanni it is Rs.38.00. This speaks of the efficient economic policy management. The GoSL should send their economic policy makers to Vanni for lessons.

To make things worse Mahinda has decided to hold the SAARC meeting in Colombo. This is going to cost nearly Rs.2.9 Billion. Actually it is the turn of the Maldives’ to have this meeting in their country. It cleverly wriggled out of it and Mahinda offered to step in. That speaks of his intelligence.

The International Community (IC)

The IC has begun to express its dissatisfaction in no uncertain terms; especially regarding the violation of Human Rights in Sri Lanka. The recent high powered visit from Delhi was no social call, even though the GoSL is trying to play it down. The IC has also come out strongly against the Paramilitary forces operating under the GoSL army. The removal of GoSL from the Human Rights Committee in the United Nations is only a forerunner of what is in store. Strong warnings are in the air regarding the renewal of the GSP+ by the European Union. The recent visit by the representatives from the EU did not mince their words. They have pointed out several flaws in the Human Rights violations. Dissatisfaction was also shown in not bringing the perpetrators to justice. Special emphasis was made against the unacceptable way the 16 cases that are being inquired at snail speed. The French International Non Governmental Organisation (INGO) the Action Contra de Faime (ACF Action Against Famine) has packed up and left Sri Lanka as they were dissatisfied with the manner the inquiry is being held on the murder of 17 of their employees in broad day light. It is said that they are going to take legal action to put things straight. The French Government also has expressed its support to the ACF and its actions. There is a strong possibility that some of those responsible directly or indirectly will be tried for war crimes as well.

MR is Choking

The JVP has severed connection with the GoSL and threatening to bring it down. A consolidated opposition is in the making. The seventeen renegades led by Karu Jeyasuriya are holding secret meetings with the UNP stalwarts to put a feeler as to whether they would be taken back. The senior members of the SLFP and a good number of the ministers are disgruntled with the way the Rajapaksha & Bros are behaving. The ministers especially feel that Basil Rajapaksha is treating them shabbily. Thus the noose is tightening round the neck of the President. It is a matter of time before MR chokes.

The Unheard Tragedies 01

2008-07-03T05:34:00.000-07:00

We are used to hear almost daily the Human Rights violations such as killings, abductions and rape. They disappear from our minds after a period of time. But for the lives of those directly involved with the victims these remain indelible like a thorn in their flesh. Their whole lives get changed because of what happened to their loved ones. Hence with the view to bring their plights to the open efforts have been made to meet at least a few of those, who are near and dear to the victims and let their voices be heard loud and clear.

There will be a series of such interviews presented to highlight the depths of the atrocities. The following story is the first in this series.

Due to the shelling by the Sri Lankan (SL) military from its camp in Elephant Pass in 1996 several families from Kilinochchi and its suburbs had to move out to safer areas. One of those families was Rasaratnams. He and his brother, who are fishermen by profession, married two sisters and lived side by side in Uruthirapuram. They had several coconut palms in their compounds. They too had to move out to Konavil. We met the wife of Rasaratnam at Uruthirapuram. Her statement is appended for the readers:

"Since there was no fishing possibility in Konavil my husband and his brother went to work as a labourer in the neighbourhood. But work was very scarce in this area. Hence on 26.10.1996 they went to Uruthirapuram to collect the coconuts from our compounds with the intention to make some income out of it. But they never returned. Somehow I did not like their going there. But they had no other alternative to make some money to feed all of us. We have one son and three daughters.

The eldest is our son and he was 13 when my husband went missing. I tried my best to find out as to what happened to my husband but all my efforts proved futile. I started working as a labourer and my son too stopped going to school and joined me to work. The prices were soaring because of the embargo imposed on goods by the government. It was a hand to mouth living. When things cooled down we returned to Uruthirapuram. But our house was gone. We erected a small shed and all six of us live in it.

"My sister got married again and went away leaving five of her children behind. My son is the bread winner for us now. We had to take care of my sister's children as well. My son is working in a vegetable store. The three girls attend school. My sister's children are also with us. Our son's desire is to provide at least education to his sisters, even though he had to stop schooling at an early stage. It hurts to see him bearing the burden of the family on his young shoulders. As days pass the hope of seeing my husband is diminishing."

According to the reports made by the relatives at the Human Rights Commission, 169 people went "missing" during that period – 1996/98. Several skeletons were found later in that area. One could see some of them in the photos. They remind us of the dreaded Pol Pot regime of Cambodia. The question that rises in the mind is whether Sri Lanka is turning into another Cambodia.

skeletons were found Kilinochchi and its suburbs in 1996/98.

Several skeletons were found Kilinochchi and its suburbs, those were missing" during that period – 1996/98

Details of the Family:
No	Name	Relationship	Occupation	Date of Birth
01	Vinasi Rasaratnam	Husband	Fisherman	27.07.1957
02	Rasaratnam Santhanaluxmy	Wife	Housewife	02.07.1962
03	Rasaratnam Ithayakanthan	Son	Labourer	25.08.1982
04	Rasaratnam Ithayasoba	Daughter	Student	19.09.1985
05	Rasaratnam Ithayarohini	Daughter	Unemployed	14.09.1987
06	Rasaratnam Ithayasobana	Daughter	Student	24.05.1990

Written by K.Mylvaganam,
Kilinochchi.

The Ladder

2008-06-25T07:48:00.000-07:00

The prevailing ethnic war has caused immense miseries and social problems to the Tamil people. Apart from the physical discomforts and the monetary losses, the catastrophe in the breakdown of their social life and the psychological effects among the people has led to depressions, delusions, hopelessness and aggressiveness. Serious mental disorders are evident not only among the adults but also among the children. One of the side effects of this situation is the increase in crime. The sudden deaths and disappearances of loved ones also contribute to such disorderly behaviours. The loss of the breadwinners in the families compels some women to resort to prostitution in order to feed the children. Finally some end up in prison.

It is our strong belief that these victims of the environment need reformation and rehabilitation. The lawbreakers go to prison but their families become destitute, especially if the prisoner had been the sole breadwinner of the family. These families also need moral and financial support.

With these concerns in view, a few well wishers in Vanni have formed a Non-Governmental Organisation called The Ladder with the view to do the needful to bring the victims from the prison back into the society as desirable citizens, raise their hopes, impart self-respect, self-confidence in themselves and get them to contribute for the building of the nation and lead a happy and peaceful life. “The Ladder” with a man trying to climb on it is the symbol of the organisation. It symbolizes a down-trodden person trying to climb up in life. We intend to achieve these targets by providing them with job-oriented education, practical training courses and recreational facilities like sports, music and painting. Qualified personnel in psychology will be engaged to conduct classes and provide psychological treatments to those who need it.

I was taken for an inspection tour to the Reform Centre in Kilinochchi by the head of the police department – Inspector General of Police (IGP) Tamil Eelam. The words “Prison & Prisoners” are not used here as it is found to be demeaning. The Tamil Eelam police officers, who have custody over them, move very kindly with the inmates unlike the tough jailors one is used to in other prisons. But I was appalled to see the sad state of affairs under which the inmates are housed. They are packed up in rooms that are too small to accommodate the occupants. The reason is the lack of funds to put up additional buildings and the high cost of building materials. Cement that was sold for around Rs.690.00 a bag is hard to get even for Rs.9,500.00 each. There are no iron bars available here for reinforcement purposes and timber is also in short supply.

The windows are sealed off as some of the inmates have escaped by breaking them. There are no proper toilets. Only open pits are made available for their use. I found it difficult to get too close to them as it was stinking. Yet I had to go to see the true state of affairs.

The inmates have been staying indoors until the practical training programs were started. The initial training is to make Brooms and Broomsticks. To do this the required coir is obtained from the coconut husks that are available in plenty locally. The picture attached show the Trainees at work. The instruments and the equipments are crude and mechanical alright but they do the job. The Trainees are not compelled to follow this training. On the contrary, they love it as it gives them the great opportunity to come out of their cell, be in the open and breathe fresh air.

Now the training is being conducted under the shade of trees and in the open. Hence we have contacted an International Non Governmental Organisation (INGO) for help with a view to put up sheds to shield them from the sun and rain. But their (the INGO’s) resources are also limited, they say, due to government restrictions. However, in a month’s time the sheds would be in place, they said. Another organisation has agreed to construct semi-permanent toilets as well. It is semi-permanent due to the lack of cement. It will be hygienically constructed with septic tanks and tin sheets as cover.

Training in carpentry, masonry and brick making will be taught from next month. Small industries like making Pappadam, Peanut Kalwa, etc., are also in the envisaged plan.

Arable cultivation is also done by them. This brings some income. But the lack of water and space limit extensive cultivation. But we have approached the Government Agent for 10 acres of land suitable for arable cultivation.

I understand that there are two more Reform Centres in Vanni. They, too, are in the same situation, if not worse I was told. I will be visiting them also soon.

We have drawn up a plan where small units are to be constructed to house only 10 inmates in each. And the units will have only half earthen walls and chicken netting on top to prevent snakes entering the huts. For security purposes the boundary fence of the compound is to be secured with double barbed wire fences and Watch Towers. Though this will cost a lot of money, yet it will form part of the Reformation Program. This system when implemented will give the inmates a sense of “freedom” even when they are detained, but not locked up in crowded unventilated cells.

The True Victims: The true victims are the families of the detainees. I happened to talk to the wife of an inmate at the Centre. She has 6 children and all of them were there with her. They have come on their monthly visit. The eldest is only 10. The husband was sentenced for bigamy. He developed an affair with another woman. That woman too has a child by this same guy. When the legal wife complained of this to the police, he was taken to court, which sentenced him to jail. Now she wants him released because he has been providing at least one meal a day for them even though he lived with his second choice – the Chinna Veedu as it is called in Tamil. Since she has too many small kids to care for, she cannot go for work. He cannot be released either. Hence, arrangements are being made to provide some monetary help for her to survive until he is freed.

Finding Employment: The IGP, whom I found to be very kind hearted, said that the only way to solve this problem is to get the detainees employed and pay their wages to the respective families. A form is now being taken round to the families in order to collect all their details. Based on the information we collect, we intend to work out some means to provide a subsistence allowance for them to tide over until their spouses are released. These detainees will be engaged to provide the labour once the erection of the sheds and the construction of the toilets and the work on the boundary fences commence. Their wages will be channeled to their families. The coir industry is also to be widened. There is very good scope for it as supply from Sri Lanka has stopped. The inmates will be employed even after their release.

Women Detainees: I saw about 60 women detainees but they are kept separately, of course, on the opposite side of the road. Most of them are serving for thefts, prostitution and minor crimes. But there was one sentenced for the murder of her husband. I was curious to know her side of the story. With the permission from the IGP I commenced to talk to her. I was able to note a watchful policeman having an eye on us from a distance. I later learnt that it was on the instructions of the IGP for my safety. Once she developed some confidence in me, she said that her husband was a drunkard and that he beat her and her only son practically everyday. The only person who consoled her was her neighbour, with whom she developed an affair as days passed. One day when the husband started assaulting her, the neighbour came to her rescue. During the tussle she tried to hold her husband from behind and the neighbour hit the husband with a club on his head and it proved fatal. That was her story, but the husband was not there to tell his part.

The ladies are trained to make baskets, fans etc from Palmehra leaves. (see pic.) The IGP told me that the training is done with materials that are available in plenty. I was very much taken up when I inspected a Dust Bin woven not only neatly but it was very colourful and sturdy as well. There is a very good demand for it here. I wonder whether they can meet the demand.

I have lived in Europe for 33 years and I am fully aware of the contributions our Tamil Diaspora makes for the liberation of our motherland. Hence, I do not expect any financial help from them. But I will be much obliged if some of the readers could check out in your countries of domicile and let me know, as to whether there are departments or institutions that could help us with expert advice and any other help for us to reach our goal to give these detainees and their families a bright future and to reduce crime in our country.

I could be reached on kmylvaganam1974@gmail.com, orkandiah_mylvaganam@yahoo.com, or to the email of The Ladder, which isth.ladder@gmail.com

Thank you.

- Written by K.Mylvaganam -

Published On : http://www.sangam.org/2008/06/Ladder.php?uid=2979

Barbarous Torture

2008-06-16T07:44:00.000-07:00

I am appending a statement made by a Hindu priest who was in prison for nearly a decade in Sri Lanka.

I would strongly suggest that children under 18, pregnant women, the elderly and those having heart ailments refrain from reading this as the contents are very frightening.

The actual names of those affected are replaced; places and dates are deleted to safeguard their safety. This is only a condensed part of the full statement from the priest in order to avoid undesirable consequences to him.

K.Mylvaganam

Barbarous Tortures

Sri Sankra Iyar Shivaguru Sarma
Jaffna

I have (Deleted) children. My wife is Sankari Sarma Shivaguru Sarma, age (Deleted). Our children are now aged (Deleted).

Since 1992 my wife is mentally affected. Doctor (Name Deleted) treated her. Due to Sooriya Kathir attack, we were displaced from Jaffna loosing all our properties and we moved to Kanthasamy Temple in Kilinochchi. Again we were displaced from Kilinochchi due to the Jeyasikkuru attack to Vavuniya. From there we went to Colombo in search of a job.

I got employed in a temple (name and address of the temple deleted) as a priest and I was getting my wife treated. On (date deleted) people from the TID (6th floor) arrested me on suspicion of having been involved in the suicidal attack on (name deleted). In spite of knowing that I am a Hindu priest, yet they stripped me naked and started whipping me with wires and hit me with iron rods, S-Lon pipe filled with cement and with a broomstick. They cut me with blades, scorched me with burning cigarettes and applied chilly powder and salt on the wounds. This was totally a horrifying and disgraceful experience. (With difficulty he controlled his emotions.)

They hung me topsy-turvy by my toes and put chilly powder and petrol in a shopping bag and pulled it over my head, thus suffocating me. They snapped my holy thread (Poonool) from my body and crushed it under their boots.They crushed my penis by pressing it into a drawer and scorched it with burning cigarette butts. Even though I am a Hindu priest, they forced me to drink alcohol and eat meat. This caused me to vomit blood. Later they forcibly got my signature against my will on a document written in Sinhalese on (Deleted) and I was handed over to the CID on the 4th floor.

The CID kept me there for 07 months and tortured me severely. It was worse here than before. They inserted a piece of barbed wire through my anus and moved it up and down. Lot of flesh and blood came out. They beat me with a baton and I was bleeding from my head. I felt faintish and became unconscious and when I regained my senses,I noted the joint on my left elbow was broken. Here too they tied both my hands behind, hung me upside down by my toes and beat me. I was beaten with 1.044 wires.

ICRC was not permitted to meet me. ICRC was tossed between TID and CID offices. When I said that the ICRC would be reporting to their Head office in Geneva saying that I had been killed, they agreed to allow the ICRC to see me. This was told to me by Ms. Linda from the ICRC. She recorded the details of my wounds.

The temple I worked for threw my wife and children out of the temple and it was her brother, who took care of them and placed them in a lodge. The CID arrested my mentally derailed wife and our children [then aged (Deleted)] from the lodge on (date deleted). I was stripped and tortured in front of my children and wife. My wife was also tortured without considering that she was a mental patient. Both our children screamed on seeing this. Our children were released after three months and since (date deleted) they are staying in an orphanage. (He broke down when he mentioned the word “orphanage.”)

I was again handed over to the TID for inquiry. I was tortured by them. On(date deleted) a representative from the UNO took my confidential statement, which lasted for five hours. They photographed the wounds on my body. It was a doctor from the UNO who took the photos. On their instructions the DMO of the (Deleted)] Hospital recorded the wounds on my body. I was again handed over back to the CID.

My wife and I were taken out with a 72 hours prior permission from the magistrate on (Deleted) and we were tortured. We were taken out on several occasions for “inquiry” which meant more torture. We were then put in our respective prisons. I came to Kaluththurai prison on (date deleted). We were taken out on the following dates (4 dates deleted) and tortured. When we were presented before the magistrate on (date deleted) and on (date deleted), he ordered that protection be provided to us.

Ms. Linda from the ICRC, when she came to see me at the Jail, informed that I should not be tortured. All details of my wounds are with the ICRC.

The details of the torture to my wife:

They inserted a banana pod inside her vagina after applying chilly powder on it.
They inserted barbed wire inside her vagina and the anus.
Women officers stripped her while the males were watching.
They slashed all over her body with blades.
She was whipped with 1.044 wires.
She was beaten with clubs, S-Lon pipe filled with cement, and belts.
Her face was covered with a shopping bag filled with chilly powder and petrol.
Her head was ducked in a water tank thus suffocating her.
She was scorched with cigarettes.
They inserted pins under the nails of the fingers.
They pushed her on the floor and trampled her with their boots while standing on her.

I too got the same treatment except that I was beaten more severely and brutally.

Names of those who tortured me at the TID:

O.I.C – TID Pirasanna D Alvis, Sub Inspector (S.I.) Rasik, S.I.Thulukkoda, S.I.Upali S.I. Wennapuli

Those who tortured me at the CID :

O.I.C. CID Kumarasinga, I.P.Ampawela, S.I.Hareem, S.I.Wikramasingha, S.I.Sathik, S.I.Perero, S.I.Peris, S.I.Hemachchanthira, S.I.Fernando, Director Evan,, S.I.Vijayaratna

Those who tortured my wife at the CID:

O.I.C. CID Kumarasinga , I.P.Ampabala, S.I.Wickramasinga, W.S.I. Dayani Kamage, W.P.C. Santhima , W.P.C. Kumary , S.I. Perera

When the torture on me was established, the crown council was trying to drag the case by bringing in new witness, which is illegal. There are five solicitors conducting the case on behalf of the state. This is the fourth judge conducting my case. In our case the Crown has no proof to establish the allegations against us. They have cross-examined for one and half years. My case number is (deleted). The Human Rights and Development Centre has appointed the solicitor Mr.(deleted) to conduct our case.

I am attaching herewith the following:

Reply from the leader of the opposition.
Reply from him when he was the P.M.
Reply from the head of the Norwegian Peace Community.
Letter from the UN in Geneva.

(The letters are withheld)

“Where can we stay when we are released? Under the present circumstances killings and abductions are going on. Some also die in the prison.

Both of us have become utterly sick of the tortures. We are at a loss to know where to go with our children. Because we were in Jail, no Temple will admit us as priests. No relative will accept us in their fold. My wife who is already mentally ill and our children will be psychologically affected due to this. We do not know if we can live in peace. Only God can help us” said the Priest.

- Written by K.Mylvaganam -

Published on : http://www.sangam.org/2008/06/Torture.php?uid=2967

Untold Tragedies That Follow a Tragedy

2008-06-16T06:53:00.000-07:00

The Tragedies behind the recent tragedy on the claymore attack near Thirumurukandy is little known to the outside world. Some know that sixteen (16) lives were lost in this brutal attack, including five from the same family. But the misery for the living is worse than for those who died in that incident. I append the statement of the Village Officer, who gives the details of those remaining. To them life is a misery for the rest of their lives.

The village officer from this area Mr. A. Simsan Paul states as follows:

“On 23.05.2008 due to the claymore attack on Akkarayan road at Thirumurukandy 12 people from Malayalapuram and 4 people from Bharathipuram were killed. 2 children got injured. All of them were taken to the Kilinochchi district hospital. When one looks at the family relationship it will appear very pathetic and heart rendering.

The family details are:-

Mr. Alakan Subramaniyam and his wife Sarasvathy were killed. They left behind 6 children. The eldest is 14 years old and youngest is one and a half year old.
Mr. Periyasamy Vijayaratnam, his wife and three of their children were killed. Their youngest child was seriously injured in the attack.
Mr.S.Karuppaija and his wife were killed. They left behind 3 children. The eldest is 12 years old.
Mrs S Kalathevi succumbed in the attack. Her husband deserted her some time back. Her five children have become orphans.
Mrs. P. Alakurani died in this incident. Her 4 children are left in the lurch.”

Under these circumstances, one wonders as how these children, who have become orphans, are going to survive. Who is going to help these children? Even if they do get some sort of assistance, it is certain that they will be very severely affected mentally.

Mr. Alakan Keatheswaran, the brother of the diseased Mr. Alakan Subramaniyam, pours out is grief:

“My brother and his wife while returning after visiting a patient at the Mulankavil hospital got killed in a claymore attack. They have 6 children out of whom 3 are girls. The eldest daughter is 14 years old and the youngest 1 1/2 years old. Our parents also were looked after by my brother. Since he was a labourer he did not leave any savings behind for the children. He and his family were displaced in 1996 to Akkarayan and returned to his native place in 2000. When he returned there was no trace of their old house. With the help from the Government he rebuilt this house. But it is still incomplete.

I also work as a labourer. I am married and have 3 children. Now I have to shoulder the responsibility of looking after all his 6 children, our parents and my family totaling 12 in number. Finding labour work here is very difficult. If I were to find work, I have to go through a jungle path. This is very risky and if I were to get killed then the fate of the 12, who are dependent on me, becomes unthinkable.”

Only when we place ourselves in the shoes of those affected we will realize the full impact of the Real Tragedy.

The government pays Rs. one Lakh as compensation to every Sinhalese who dies in claymore or bomb attacks in the South. But the Tamils are not treated equally. Aren’t the Tamils also citizens and enjoy equal rights in the so calledUnitary State of Sri Lanka?

- Written By Late Mr.K.Mylvaganam -

Pulished On : http://www.sangam.org/2008/06/Tragedies.php?uid=2964

The GSP+ Affair

2008-05-21T07:43:00.000-07:00

The talk of the day, particularly in the political, industrial and financial circles, is about the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP+). This is a facility allowed by the European Union (EU) and America to certain developing countries to export some of their products duty free. The EU has exempted 7000 items and the USA 3000 items from Sri Lanka. The only condition on which this facility is extended is that those countries enjoying this facility should fall in line with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). This means that these countries must adopt the 27 protocols of the United Nations (UN).

Sri Lanka has been making use of this facility for the past nearly two years. This is to be reviewed every two years and that dateline is falling on the 31st December 2008 for the EU and by the end of June for the USA. Both the EU and USA have threatened that they may not extend the GSP+ for a further period unless Sri Lanka endorses the 27 protocols of the Covenant. The President and his ministers, spearheaded by G.L. Peris, have been trotting the globe trying to wriggle out of the signing of the protocols. But their attempts seem to have proved futile. Now the tone of the government seems to be changing. Certain ministers have expressed their opinion to the effect that the GSP+ is no big deal; sour grapes attitude. But it is an open secret that over 200,000 jobs will be in jeopardy if the GSP+ is withdrawn by the EU alone and a loss of foreign exchange of Rs.2 billion or more will be lost. Several factories especially in the garment industry will be forced to put down their shutters.

Now the government is in a quandary as to whether it should go ahead and sign the protocols or refrain from it and face the consequences. If it puts its signature on the protocols, then it will have to abide by the conditions mentioned therein. This will mean avoiding the Human Rights violations totally. Is that practically possible after the draconian rule it and its extended arms have been enjoying all these years? It is not a simple task for the government and its forces to protect Human Rights under the existing situation. When we talk of protection of Human Rights it will mean among others the cessation of the following:

Abductions – either for political or economic reasons
Extrajudicial killings
Attacking innocent citizens
Rape
Arbitrary arrests
Torture
House breaking and plundering.
Unduly detaining the detainees without being presented to courts
Obtaining written statement under duress
Denial of legal assistance.
Denying visits by the families of those detained.
Denying food and medical assistance to the detainees.
Locking up detainees in dark rooms.
Hindering Human Right Organisations access to places of detention.
Refraining from informing the families of those arrested.

The interesting part of this GSP drama is that the United National Party (UNP), the deadliest enemy to the ruling party, has promised to give their support to the government when this issue is taken up in the parliament. Earlier the government was able to palm over the Human Rights (HR) violations that happened in the North East on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). But now, after “liberating” the East and having the major part of the Jaffna peninsula under its command, the government cannot simply pass the buck to the LTTE any longer. The HR violations have worsened in the East since the Pillaiyan group – a paramilitary outfit of the army – has been allowed to hold fort in the East.

With the economy of the country going from bad to worse due to the rise in prices of both essential and nonessential items and the increase in the cost if living, the government is in a desperate situation. The trade deficit has shown a drastic increase this year. In 2007 the deficit was US$ 447 Million, but for the same period in 2008 it has doubled, amounting to US$ 937 million. If this trend were to proceed the total deficit for the year will hit an all-time high figure exceeding US$ 5000 million. The trade deficit for 2006 was US$3371 million and for 2007 it was US$ 3560 million. The two main causes for the increase in imports are the increase in prices of wheat, rice, fuel, vehicles and other essential and nonessential items. Also, the import of military equipments has reached an all-time high level.

The increase in oil prices has been a blessing to the rubber exports, as world market prices too has increased considerably. Tea prices also have gone up. There was a striking increase of 72% in agricultural export earnings. The total export earnings of agricultural products amount to 25% of total export income. Yet these were not sufficient to breach the gap as the imports of goods and the prices of imported goods also have soared substantially.

There is a decline in the export earnings of the textiles and garments. This industry contributes to nearly 50% of export earnings. There has been a drop of 2.7% so far this year.

From the above figures one can decipher how dependant the government is on the textile and garment exports. Most of the exports from this industry go to European countries and the USA. Hence, a withdrawal of the GSP+ will have devastating results on the country’s economy, which is already in ruins. Without the GSP+ it will be impossible to compete in the world market.

The government first went on its knees begging for the extension of the GSP facility. When that seemed to fail, it is taking an anti-West attitude in recent times. It is aligning itself more and more with China and Iran, both of whom are a thorn in the flesh of Europe and America. This seems to be bearing fruit.

Who knows! This trick of the government might work and it may even win the GSP+ back for Sri Lanka. After all, the Western countries are only interested in what would be beneficial to them at the end of the day. Hence one should not be surprised if the GSP facility is extended for a further one or two year period with a “warning” in the last moment.

- Written By K.Mylvaganam -

Pulished On : http://www.sangam.org/2008/05/GSP.php?uid=2935

Letter to the Br.State Minister

2008-05-15T21:41:00.000-07:00

The Rt.Hon.Tony McNulty
Minister of State
2 Marsham Street
London SW1P 4DF
England

Honoured Sir,

Terrorism in Sri Lanka

Certain countries have proscribed the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE. We assume that they have their reasons for it. But it is regrettable that the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) is committing worse acts of Terrorism and savagery that has similarity to barbarity. The LTTE I agree have been accused of recruiting under aged children. But according to a recent statement from the State Department of America the LTTE has refrained from recruiting children.

But the atrocities committed by the Sri Lankan State through its forces and its paramilitary groups, who are nurtured, financed and guarded by the army are horrendously inhuman. Some of their acts exceed even barbarism. I may sight a few examples here for your kind perusal:

Indiscriminate bombings: Artillery shells and aerial bombs are dropped indiscriminately killing and/or injuring civilians, animals and destroying properties. Recently 16 bombs were dropped on an orphanage, killing 52 young children at the spot and many more were injured. Several schools, Churches, Temples (over 2000) and even hospitals have been bombed.

Abductions: Abductions are galore everywhere. The youngsters are abducted. A good number of those abducted are either never heard of later or their bodies can be seen strewn on the roads or floating on lakes. The rich are abducted to obtain millions as ransom. The Civil Monitoring Committee functioning in Colombo has reported that as many as 100 cases of abductions are remaining unresolved. This committee which met the German Ambassador recently in Colombo produced documents of 67 cases of disappearances reported within the city of Colombo alone. It has already presented their case personally at the British and the US embassies as well. The question in the minds of the people is, when there are several checkpoints for every few hundred metres, how come these White Vans without number plates that are used to abduct people are operating freely passing these checkpoints unhindered. The answer becomes obvious or to quote Bob Dylan “The Answer is Blowing in the Wind.”

Extrajudicial Killings: Since November 2005 the extrajudicial killings are a highly aggravated phenomenon. Civilians particularly the young ones are shot dead in broad daylight. During the past two years alone a staggering number of 4000 civilians were killed according to Human Rights Organisations. People are living in eternal fear.
Rapes: Women and girls are also forcibly removed from their homes at the point of the gun. Those who refuse to cooperate are shot dead. Some of the abducted return mentally disturbed after the boorish ordeal in the hands of the sex perverts. In one instance Sarathambal the wife of a Hindu Priest was subjected to serial rape in the presence of the husband. When she became unconscious, the perpetrators placed a hand grenade inside her genital and exploded it in order to remove any trace of evidence of rape.
Plundering: Under the cover of the curfew the soldiers and members of the paramilitary groups break into several houses during the nights and at the point of the gun the houses are looted.
Fishing Restrictions: The fishermen who are used to go deep-sea fishing in the nights are prevented from this. Instead they are ordered to limit their fishing to two to five hours during the day and that too within two to three kilometre limits. At times they are prevented from using outboard motor boats but ordered to go rowing only in catamarans and this too only for a few days in a week.
Tortures: Mostly the youngsters of both sexes are severely tortured in the most inhuman way. One of the tortures is to push a barbed wire through the anus and move it to and fro. There are many more including insertions in genital organs but I refrain from quoting them as it will make anyone sick.
Forced Confessions: Confessions so obtained under duress are admissible in courts under the Sri Lankan laws. This is one of the inhuman legislations in Sri Lanka.
Embargoes: Certain trunk routes are closed and the transport of goods and free movement by the people are curtailed. Food, medicine, essential items and fuel are in short supply. People of Jaffna (600,000) are in an open prison.
Discriminations: The Tamils were discriminated since Sri Lanka obtained independence from the British in 1948. Sinhalese language was made official language. Nearly one million Tamils were disenfranchised. The Tamil students are expected to score more marks than the Sinhalese to gain admission in Universities and other secondary institutions. Proficiency in Sinhalese was a must to obtain jobs in government. There are many more such discriminations against the Tamils.
Democracy: Peaceful agitations based on Gandhian principles for nearly three decades were crushed with brutal force by the Sri Lankan Army (SLA). The successive governments too did not pay heed to their justifiable request. Hence when the party held its annual convention in 1976 it was unanimously resolved to form an independent state called the Tamil Eelam.
Communal Riots: These were conducted periodically since 1958 with the connivance of the armed forces against the Tamils living in Sinhala areas. In July 1983, referred to as Black July, the worst riot took place and over 3000 innocent Tamils were brutally murdered, their houses were burnt down and their properties worth billions were looted by the hoodlums under the very eyes of the police and army.
Birth of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE): Since all passive attempts to win the rights of the minority community proved futile and when the youths were denied employment and education through racial discriminations they resorted to take up arms to fight for their rights. This led to the dawn of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The LTTE is now running a de facto state of its own. It has a formidable army, police force, navy and an air force. It has also its own administrative apparatus dealing with agriculture, food distribution, education, medical institutions, television, radio and cultural centres. It is void of corruption and its cadres are much disciplined, teetotalers and nonsmokers and they do not receive any emoluments.
Internally Displaced People (IDPs): Since the eruption of the recent war, several hundred thousand Tamils have become IDPs. The SL government not only does not look after these refugees but also puts hindrances on the International Non Governmental Organisations (INGOs) preventing their help reaching the refugees.

The LTTE has lately informed the Sri Lankan government that they were willing to commence Peace Talks for a peaceful settlement. But the government has not responded to it. Instead it is bent on a military solution and in a Unitary State.

Honourable Minister, basing on the above facts I leave it to your discretion as to whether the ban on the LTTE should be lifted or the Sri Lankan government should also be banned as a terrorist outfit.

To this end I thank you Sir.

Respectfully yours,

K.Mylvaganam

President
Tamil Community Centre

Devastation on the Northern Front

2008-04-25T10:58:00.000-07:00

The picture is self-explanatory of the devastation that has taken place at the northern frontier on Tuesday. The Sri Lankan army tried a multi-throng attack mobilizing two entire divisions with their “well trained” Special Task Force (STF) in the fore front. But things did not work out as expected by General Sarath Fonseka. To give the devil its due, the former General Janaka Perera only a few days back advised the government that multi-throng attacks would be costly both in personnel and expenses. He has been proved right by the Tigers on 23.04.2008. Strangely, this date coincides with the battle over Elephant Pass, which cost the army the lives of several top-ranking officers and thousands of soldiers. They also left behind a large quantity of arms and ammunition, including a 152mm artillery gun. Now Sarath Fonseka, unable to take the heat of the defeat, has ordered that Janaka Perera should not be permitted to enter any army camp.

The government is playing down the actual number of the soldiers killed. Reliable sources put the figure to be 178 killed and over 400 wounded. Almost 600 soldiers have been removed from the field for good. I counted the bodies of 28 soldiers at the esplanade in Kilinochchi at 7.00 a.m. (pic. attached). I was told that they were to be handed over to the International Red Cross (ICRC). A large quantum of arms and ammunitions were also taken over by the Tigers. They are listed below:

T.56-2 Rifles	41
T.56 Rifles	03
AKLMG Rifles	05
PKLMG Rifles	02
R.P.Gs	05
40mm artlllery	03
R.P.G – anti tank	07
R.P.G – anti troop	21
Propellers	26
Headgear	12
Medium Rounds	8,500
A.K. Magazines	104
P.K.Links & Rounds	1,500

On top of these, it is confirmed that four battle tanks were completely destroyed and two were damaged.

All the artificial boosting of moral of the soldiers has been proved wrong by this massacre. This was illustrated according to the Tiger cadres, who said that several hundreds of soldiers were seen running for their lives, leaving all what they had in their possession. The soldiers were made to believe that the Tigers had been beaten, that only a few hundreds of them were left behind and that taking over Vanni would be a piece of cake. I understand that the troops in the peninsula were informed that the Tigers have moved the majority of their cadre to guard the long boarder from Manal Aru to Mannar. Even some of the top ranks believed their own tale.

The army has been waging the war on Vanni for over a year now. Gen. Sarath Fonseka said that Madhu Church would be taken over before the Church feast in July/August in 2007. He moved the deadline to X’Mas 2007. This was again shifted to the Sinhala New Year in April, 2008. Having failed all these targets, Gen. Fonseka decided to move through the Kilaly/Muhamalai/Nagarkovil front. It is surprising that Gen. Fonseka resorted to such a silly and foolhardy attempt in spite of the terrible experiences the army has faced in the past, when they lost hundreds of their soldiers.

The army had only two alternatives. One is to make many attacks on a smaller scale, just as they have been trying in Manal Aru, Vavuniya and Mannar. The other is to conduct a multi-throng attack as they tried on the 22nd instant. Both these tactics have failed miserably. Now one can see that they are bogged down by these avenues and are in a bewildered and puzzled situation.

More than the military defeat, the political repercussions for the President and his government is going to be disastrous. They have been boasting that they were killing 20 to 30 Tigers daily, their troops were advancing and that the Tigers were on the run. The Sinhalese masses, who were asked to tighten their belts until the Tigers are beaten, are not going to swallow that pill any longer. The prices of essential items are on the increase and a severe shortage in rice is very imminent. Now rice is sold for Rs.90.00 kg. One can expect several strikes, agitations, etc., especially with the main JVP block at daggers drawn with the President in particular and the government in general for splitting the JVP through Wimal Weerawansa and providing him perks and special security.

The sight of the bodies of the soldiers was not a pleasant one I must say. They had already started stinking due to the extreme heat. While I was walking out of the area after taking the photos, a journalist approached me with his camera crew and asked how “happy” I was over the “victory” in the fight at the Northern frontier. I paused for a while and said “ We Tamils do not rejoice over the death of anyone, not even if they are our enemies, and killing these soldiers is no victory for us either. But I will consider this as a devastating defeat and a deadly blow to the army and to the Sinhala Buddhist Chauvinist government and its President.”

- Written ByK.Mylvaganam -

Pulished On : http://www.sangam.org/2008/04/Devastation.php?uid=2890

Another Clergy Brutally Murdered

2008-04-24T07:41:00.000-07:00

The demise of Rt.Rev.Fr. Karunaratnam is another example of the inhuman action of the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL). One can understand the government targeting the military and economic targets of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). But to kill a clergy, who dedicated his life to uplift the downtrodden masses and expose to the world the oppression imposed on a minority community by a Sinhala Buddhist chauvinistic regime is beyond anyone’s apprehension. His goal was to redeem the suppressed from despotism. It is a cowardly act to use force from behind the bush to kill a clergy. After all he is an unarmed priest who preaches and practices nonviolence and attributed his life to safeguard the Human Rights of the people.

For over a quarter of a century Fr. Karunaratnam dedicated himself to Human Rights activities. He was the Chairman of the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGO) Consortium. His contributions to Radio Veritas were immeasurable. The North East Secretariat on Human Rights (NESoHR) was founded and chaired by him.

Incidentally, there were three more founder members of NESoHR who were also assassinated by the GoSL. The first was Mr. Chandra Nehru M.P. Amparai. The next was Mr. Joseph Pararajasingam M.P., who was shot and killed on X’Mass Eve while he was praying inside the Church with his wife beside him. The third was Mr. Sivabalan [Sivapalan], an Attorney at Law.Hence, NESoHR has lost four of its founder members.

Kili Father was the champion for the Human Rights in many ways, not only within Sri Lanka but also internationally. He was in the United States of America, Switzerland and Canada, where he met the officials of the foreign ministries and other Human Rights Organisations and briefed them of the atrocities and the Human Rights violations committed by the Sri Lankan army and its paramilitary groups. The messages of condolences that are pouring in from all over the world speak of the enormousness of the service he had rendered internationally.

Today I received an email from a Norwegian, who is a mutual friend of both Kili Father and I. Therein he narrated an incident which I copy below:

“Once I was invited for a meal by Kili Father at his farm in Vannivilankulam. I was surprised when he insisted his driver also to join us at the dinner table. This illustrates the Human Right he practiced in his day-to-day life. This is very unusual in Sri Lanka. The drivers are normally treated as part of the vehicle he drives.”

It is a striking example of how he treated a fellow citizen.

Killing clergies are a well known phenomena to the GoSL. During the past two years the following clergies have succumbed to the brutality of the GoSL.

No	Name	Place	Date	How Killed
1	Rev.Fr.T.N.Jim Brown	Allapitty Jaffna	20.08.2006	Abducted & Killed
2	Rev.Fr.N.Packiyaranjith	Vellankulam, Mullai	26.09.2007	Claymore
3	Rev.Fr.Samsen N.Edrisinghe	Amparai	17.02.2008	Shot & KIlled
4	Rev.Fr.M.X.Karunaratnam	Vavunikulam, Mullai	20.04.2008	Claymore

Several Hindu priests too were killed during the ongoing war. Just to mention the brutality of their modus operandi I may refer to the Hindu priest who was pulled out of his Temple in Kalutura and burnt alive by pouring petrol over his body under the notorious communal riots of July1983. Hundreds of Sinhalese people stood there watching the “Bonfire.”

Very few people knew of Fr. Karunaratnam's affinity to nature. To understand the depth of his involvement with nature one should visit his farm in Vavunikulam, where he lived in. I had the pleasure of spending a couple of weekends with him in those beautiful surroundings. He had converted a piece of jungle land into a blossoming garden filled with fruit trees, flower plants and several types of climbers left to grow in the natural way. With the help of bulldozers he had made a tank and made use of the soil thus dug out to form a graceful-looking hill. He planted the hill with various types of herbal plants. It gave me the feeling of being in the Himalayas. It looked so natural.

He has reserved a very special place for his mother’s graveyard. It appeared to be an open Temple to me. There was a sort of a celestial touch in it. I still remember his taking me there for the first time. We sat there in silence. It was so peaceful that not even the faintest rustle of leaves broke the profound silence of that solemn scene. I almost felt I was listening to the silence that prevailed there. Though I am a Hindu I really loved that serenity of the surroundings.

Both of us have worked together in the same office and I have watched his approach towards the employees. Whenever he wanted to speak to one of them or get any information or a paper he always made it a point to walk up to the room of the person concerned and ask very politely for his needs. If he wanted a report or some statistics by the afternoon he would politely ask, “Do you think it is possible for me to have it in the afternoon?” He conquered the love and admiration of his fellow workers by the love and kindness he poured on them.

Many people say Kili Father can never be replaced. But I know there is one who can replace him and that is none other than Kili Father. To me he will ever be here with us and guide us in his own way. His presence will always be felt around in Vanni and remembered as a living legend.

Dear Father, your sudden demise does hurt but I am beginning to enjoy that suffering by thinking of you. It gives me a sense of your presence around me. Your calling me "Myl Aiyah" will always be ringing in my ears.

- Written By Late Mr.K.Mylvaganam -

Pulished On : http://www.sangam.org/2008/04/Kili_Father.php?uid=2886

Black Tiger : An inside report

2008-04-13T02:59:00.000-07:00

I had a rare opportunity to come to know closely the details of a Black Tiger, Thurairathinam Kalairaj (Ilam Puli), who became a Martyr when the Anuradhapura Air Base was attacked by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

Ilama Puli was born on 13.10.1981 in a fishing village called Myliddy on the Jaffna Peninsula. His father was a prosperous fisherman, who owned a big motor boat. Ten people were employed by him and led a very comfortable life having his own stone built house, a motor cycle and all the other paraphernalia that go with prosperity. He had three children, with Ilam Puli sandwiched between two sisters.

Ilam Puli was very much attached to both the sisters and particularly to the younger one, Kaviarasi. He had his education at the Nadeswara College in Myliddy until the tragedy struck their family through the invasion of the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) in 1995.

This family was among the several lakhs of people, who left the Jaffna peninsula in an exodus at that time. They left behind all their belongings except what they could carry in their bare hands. Since the motorbike was in a garage, they had to leave that also behind. Unfortunately, they had no bank accounts and all their savings were only the jewels the ladies were wearing. They lost everything – the boat, the engine, the motorbike and all what were left behind in the house. Even the house was subsequently washed away by the tsunami. A one time rich family was made as refugees within a matter of hours.

The family reached reached Nagarkovil by foot and lived in a temporary shed; what a contrast from a big stone-built multi-roomed house! Ilam Puli and his sisters continued their education at the Nagarkovil Govt. Tamil Mixed School. Incidentally, this is the school that was bombed by the SL Air Force in 1995. Ilam Puli and his siblings escaped miraculously from that bomb attack. His father, being a good fisherman, got hold of a few logs of wood and made a Catamaran to continue fishing of the coast of Thalayadi.

Their problems cropped up again, when the SLA commenced shelling Vadamaradchchi East, which included Nagarkovil as well. All those from the nearby villages had to be moved out further into the Vanni. The family finally reached Mallavi. Again another shed housed all the five inmates of the family and, with no fishing possibilities in the heartland of Mallavi, they were left at the mercy of the handouts given to them by the International Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs). That was hardly sufficient to feed five mouths. The father had earlier been shot and injured severely by the IPKF and one of his lungs and a kidney were affected. He could not do any hard manual labour. Hence, it was Ilam Puli’s mother who had to find work as a coolie in the neighbourhood. Mallavi is not a very prosperous area either. There were days when none of the members of the family had anything to eat.

Yet they managed somehow and Ilam Puli with his siblings joined the Mallavi Maha Vidhyalayam. He and his younger sisters did exceptionally well at school. He attained such good results at the Advanced Level that admission to the university was open for him. But his love for his family was eating into him. He just could not leave them behind. Besides, he could not even dream of a University Education due to the high costs involved.

I was told that he kept telling his friends that the cause for their present plight was the Sri Lankan Government (GoSL). He felt sorry for the rest of the refugees. Their misery was hurting him. This antagonism made him decide to do what he thought was best and that was to join the LTTE and fight the enemy who was ruining the lives of many thousands of people. Without the knowledge of his parents, he joined the LTTE in 1999.

His exemplary service and meritorious qualities were straight away spotted by the higher-ups in the LTTE. He was swiftly absorbed into the medical division and taught medicine. Within four years he qualified as a medical practitioner and everyone addressed him as Doctor. He exemplified himself in his duties and exhibited his devotion and dedication to that noble profession. I was told that he did several surgical operations under very primitive circumstances and saved so many lives and limbs. Very senior doctors and surgeons admired his skill in surgery. He was a committed doctor and cared for the patients with love and devotion. He saved so many people that he made many friends. One Cholan (fictitious name), whose life was saved by Ilam Puli, became his thickest chum. It is Cholan who now takes good care of the family after the demise of Ilam Puli.

Heart of hearts, Ilam Puli‘s intention was always to become a Black Tiger. So he made his application to the Leader Mr.V. Pirapakaran, but got no response. He made another attempt after one year. He was called in by the Leader after a long wait of another six months and the Leader told him that he could not take him in simply because Ilam Puli was the only son in the family. It touched my heart when I heard of this from Kaviarasi. Mr.V. Pirapakaran who is characterised as a “Ruthless leader” in several quarters has such a soft and tender heart embedded in him.

But Ilam Puli returned with a broken heart. He got a day’s leave from work and visited his parents. I heard that he was unusually moody on that day. They did not know why. Normally when he came home he used to sit beside his mother holding her hand and putting it intermittently onto his eyes. He also did not fail to put Kavi (as Kaviarasi is called by him) on the other side. And before he left he always touched the feet of his parents (Patha Namaskaram). He was so attached and devoted to the family.

His mother told me that Ilam Puli once wrote to them to get him a small radio, which they did when they visited him next. But when they met him after three months he did not have the radio with him. His explanation was that he had given it away to another LTTE cadre from Batticaloa as he had no parents or any relations. This is a symbol for Richness in Poverty.

Ilam Puli never gives up until he attains his goal. He kept applying until one day when he was finally taken as a Black Tiger. He told nobody about this, which is typical of the Black Tigers. Neither his best friend nor any of the members of his family including his mother, whom he loved so much, knew of this development.

Now, looking back, the motherly instinct tells her that it was several months before the attack that her son must have become a Black Tiger. This is because his usual visits that were once quite frequent gradually became rarer and rarer. Even when he visited them, he kept a distance from his mother and his dear little sis Kavi. Apparently he was cutting himself off from the family in the interest of both the parties. Only he knew what was in store.

Kavi told me last week that Ilam Puli once came with her photo, where her picture was decorated with Red Roses. When she asked him for the reason he seems to have said “It is because you are a Rose to me.” She couldn’t control her emotions and was sobbing when she narrated this. I wouldn’t disagree with his statement as she is as pretty as a rose.

It was more than six months since he visited his family last. It was only when the “News” was brought to them by Karikalan that they came to know the whole story. During his visits, Ilam Puli seems to have asked his parents for a few things. One was that in case of his death they should treat those who brought the message of his death lovingly, and give them tea. The other was to decorate his coffin with Red Roses, which I trust, symbolized his sister Kavi. Another day Kavi told me that Ilam Puli used to call her Kavi and not Kaviarasi. When she asked him as why he calls her so, he seems to have said “because you are a poem to me” and of course she broke down after that too.

But I give credit to his mother. I did not see her cry even on the day of the funeral or on the 41st day ceremony. When I met her ten days back to prepare this article I asked her the reason for it. She said that she did cry a lot when the “News” was broken to her. but within a matter of hours she pulled herself together, because she remembered what Ilam Puli had told her once. It was that none of them should cry over his demise.

Kaviarasi, despite the very trying circumstances she was in, yet she got a B and two Cs in the Advanced Level exam. But poverty, the atrocities by the army and the fact that she is a sister to a Black Tiger prevented her from joining the University in Jaffna. What a pity.

Both at the funeral and on the 41st day there were present several from the LTTE cadre who had been treated by Ilam Puli. They were full of praise for the care and dedication he devoted in treating the injured. Their words filled with emotions spoke of the great respect they have for him.

Even though Ilam Puli was a qualified doctor, yet the photo of the hut where his parents live, will portray the poverty of the parents. Their faces are intentionally not shown for obvious reasons. It is in this small hut that his parents live with their daughters. The elder daughter is married and has a child as well. In spite of his being a doctor he was not paid any remuneration, which is the practice with the LTTE, whose cadres are unpaid volunteers sacrificing their lives for the betterment of our community.

When our brothers, sisters, sons and daughters are sacrificing their lives for us, the question that pops in my mind is “what am I doing for them?”

- Written By K.Mylvaganam -

Pulished On : http://www.sangam.org/2008/04/Black_Tiger.php?uid=2869

No	Name	Relation ship	Occupation	Date of Birth
01 02 03 04 05 06 07	Aiyavu Rasu Rasu Menamma Rasu Karunakaran Rasu Baskaran Rasu Uthayarani Rasu Uthayarahini Rasu Uthayarohini	Husband Wife Son Son Daughter Daughter Daughter	Farmer Housewife Married Labourer LTTE Cadre Student Student	26.06.1949 26.02.1956 17.08.1977 15.02.1982 29.09.1984 11.08.1991 29.11.1993