TERROR UNLEASHED ON TIGER SUPPORTERS IN NORTH – EAST By D.B.S.JEYARAJ


Terror is not the sole monopoly of a single entity.Violence does not continue according to a predictable pattern at all times. In the memorable words uttered by Malcolm X when John F Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 "the chickens have come home to roost".Yet Malcolm X too was killed a short while after. What goes around truly comes around.

It is now the turn of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to learn the bitter lesson about the cycle of violence and terror. For a very long time the tigers instilled fear into the hearts and minds of their opponents and the Tamil people at large through selective violence and systematic terror. They were thus able to impose themselves upon the Tamil people as the self - appointed sole representatives of the Tamil people.

Now the LTTE is at the receiving end of violence and terror, directly in the East and somewhat indirectly in the North. In the east the process began after the Karuna revolt. Initially the LTTE was cruelly arrogant. Despite well - meaning advice to the contrary the mainstream tigers unleashed violence on Karuna cadres and their supporters. Initialy they thought they had won. But things changed.

Members of the Karuna faction began fighting back. The "clandestine" agencies of the state were ever ready to embrace the Karuna cadres. In spite of many denials by former President Chandrika Kumaratunga it was an open secret that the Karuna cadres were receiving patronage, protection, sustenance and support from the state. The violence of the LTTE was challenged by the counter - violence of the renegades.

Today the LTTE movement in the East has been severely curtailed. The tigers are restricted to certain areas in the Western region only. Moreover the hunted have become the hunters. The Karuna faction goes in search of the LTTE and its supporters and kills them. Statements are made proudly about ambushes inflicting losses on the LTTE.

The shadow war of the East has moved to the North too. It was this column which first highlighted this fact when Kopay Christian College Principal Nadaraja Sivakadatcham was shot dead by alleged EPDP cadres. The stealth war had actually started a little earlier in the North when some tiger supporters like a video shop owner in Uduvil were killed.

This violence targeting tiger supporters and sympathisers continued with those involved in Great heroes day celebrations being targeted. When two such persons were killed in Neervely the LTTE retailiated with what it termed the Makkal yutham or peoples war. In a combination of Palestine style Intifada and Iraqi resistance hostile violence against the security forces was stepped up.

Security vehicles were landmined; RPG 's were fired. Bombs and grenades were thrown. Soldiers were shot at. Parallel to these developments hartals, demonstrations, stone throwing etc were also conducted. All these were done in the name of the people. An umbrella front called" Pongiyelum Makkal Padai" or "Resurgent Peoples force" claimed credit in the name of the people.

The LTTE disclaimed responsibility and insisted tongue - in - cheek that the people were rising up in protest. It was an open secret that the LTTE was responsible for instigating and promoting the violence through overt and covert logistical support. It was even known that some acts were perpetrated by tiger cadres themselves. The claymore mine attacks being good examples. Yet the tigers persisted with the flimsy explanation that it was the people and not themselves engaging in violence.

The tigers had extensively publicised the arms training given by them to Tamil civilians. The actual extent of the training is not known. But now the tigers projected the viewpoint that the people so trained were revolting against the army presence in Jaffna. It was the people who were demanding that the security forces should quit or would be made to quit Jaffna. (Velieru allathu velietruvom".)

What the tigers were doing was unbelievable in the annals of guerilla warfare. According to Mao the guerillas are among the people like fish in the ocean. But the here the fish was taking nipping the "enemy" and blaming the ocean for it.The so called liberation fighters were blaming the people for whose sake they were claiming to fight as being responsible.

It has been the practice in the past for the security forces to kill civilians and then say they were tigers. This in turn was hotly disputed.It has also been the practice to inflict collective punishment upon the people in retaliation for tiger violence. The people were asked very unjustly to bear vicarious responsibility. Draconian legislation like the PTA reversed the presumption of innocence until proven guilty dictum and held that all arrested Tamils were guilty unless proven innocent.

All these unjust acts of omission and commission by the state were resisted strongly by Tamils and sympathetic human rights activists.But now the LTTE was handing over the Tamil people of Jaffna to the security forces on a platter. The claim that the people were responsible for the violence and the declaration that the "people were the tigers and the tigers were the people" made every civilian vulnerable. The distinction between combatant and civilian was being blurred not by the "enemy " but by the so called protectors of the Tamil nation.It was now open season on Tamil civilians.

The LTTE may have thought that raising the level of violence against the security forces in Jaffna and elsewhere would have pressurised the state to bend but the tigers were mistaken. The head of state was not Chandrika Kumaratunga or Ranil Wickremasinghe but Mahinda Rajapakse. The people around him were hawkish hardliners like Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, Sarath Fonseka, Gorhabaya Rajapakse, HMG Kotakadeniya etc. The attitude was in the Mosaic tradition. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.

With the "guerilla fish" stating the "ocean" was responsible for the violence the logical option was to drain the ocean out. Besides there was another angle. The LTTE by pre- maturely escalating violence in the name of the people had revealed what could have been their trump card - the presence of a fifth column. The "peoples force" behind enemy lines in Jaffna could have easily commenced a coordinated campaign against security forces if and when open war began. They could have conducted many ambushes wreaking havoc in the rear.

But now the security forces were alerted to the potential danger. The fifth column threat had to be eliminated or minimised. It was going to be a case of fighting fire with fire. Terror was to be met with terror. If the tigers had the civilian militia the state too had an ace up its sleeve - the non - tiger groups derisively called paramilitary by the LTTE. An insidious yet effective politico - military counter - strategy was devised.

The Rajapakse regime was not going to play into the hands of the LTTE by declaring open war. Overtly the government was going to publicise the tiger - inspired violence and solicit international sympathy. Rajapakse would repeatedly request the LTTE to come for talks in statesmanlike fashion. But covertly the stealth war against the LTTE was to be intensified and accelerated. Since "known" tiger cadres had retreated from Government controlled areas those suspected of being tiger intelligence or pistol groups along with supporters and suspected supporters were to be targeted.

The actual "dirty work" was to be done by members of Tamil groups but with support rendered by security forces. Members of five groups have been enlisted for the purpose. Cadres of the EPDP, ENDLF, remnants of the PLOTE MOhan group, members of the EPRLF "Razeek" group and also members of the Eastern Karuna faction have been deployed on this campaign of violence. It is alleged that cabinet minister Douglas Devananda bears "unofficial" responsibility for those involved in the operation.All financial dealings are through the EPDP it is alleged.

Apart from regular payment an incentive scheme based on the quality and quantity of operations carried out has also been introduced. The assassins work according to instructions given by military intelligence handlers. The goon squads are housed in military camps on a rotational basis. Lists of suspected tigers or tiger supporters are being targeted. It is a case of "crying Havoc" and "let slip the dogs of war".


December 2005 and Jan 2006 has seen a massive rise in the violence against those perceived to be tiger or pro - tiger in the peninsula. At the same time tiger violence also continues in Jaffna. But while LTTE inspired violence has been progressively decreasing levels of anti - tiger violence has been rapidly increasing. Unfortunately for the tigers all violence committed in their name gets ample publicity but the terror unleashed against tiger supporters does not get adequate publicity. Ironically sections of the media portray such violence as being committed by the tigers themselves. The EPDP media play a big role in distorting reality in this respect.

Members of the security forces are also involved as accomplices in many of the abductions, disappearances and killings. A striking feature in the attire of some soldiers in the north is the wearing of black cloth or "balaclavas" covering their faces. The reason given is thatr they are wearing these to get "protection from dust".It is funny that after being in Jaffna for decades the soldiers have only now discovered the need to seek protection from the dust. Whatever the excuses the reality is that balaclavas help disguise identities of soldiers. This balaclava phenomenon adds to Tamil fears in Jaffna.

There is clear evidence in many cases of security force complicity in the killings and abductions. Tamil goondas are able to move about freely through areas saturated with security force personnel and carry out their operations. Soldiers are very often present at scenes of violence to see that no one intereferes with the perpetrators. In some instances a collaborative effort where Tamil goons do the actual shooting while Sinhala soldiers look on approvingly also takes place.

Unaware perhaps that state terror is being unleashed on perceived "tiger" targets in Jaffna the International community showers praise on President Rajapakse and the armed forces. Mahinda is being commended for his restraint and patience.While Rajapakse basks in this undeserved glory the killings and disappearances continue in the North.As is usual in situations of this sort many of those victimised are totally innocent without any tiger links. Some are related to tigers or tiger martyrs. Others have some connection flimsy at the most with the LTTE.

The notorious "vellai van" or white van spectre rides the streets of Jaffna. These vehicles are with tinted wndows an unmarked number plates. People are abducted and pushed into these vehicles. The vehicles have no problems with the Police or Army when going on roads.People who are taken in this way are not heard of thereafter. When relatives go to the Police or Army they are told that there is no record of their arrests. At least 23 complaints of disappearances have been registered with authorities so far in Jaffna. There are more cases not reported yet.

One example of people being taken away in this manner was the incident at Point Pedro.30 year old Narayanamoorthy Kandeepan and 28 year old Thambiah Tharmasiri are employees of the Danish de - mining agency . Tharmasiri is married to Kandeepans sister and both stayed together at Power house road in Odaikkarai, Point Pedro. They left on Jan 11th for work on Kandeepan's motor cycle at 5. 30 am as usual.

After some time people of the area came to the family home and said the two were seen being bundled into a white van manned by youths speaking Tamil. The motor cycle was put into an army truck. The incident happened near the Odakkarai - VB road junction. The residents also discovered ID cards at the scene. The Police and Army deny any record of arrest and are unable to give out any details. Apparently the abduction was a security force - Tamil group joint operation.

In another instance 21 year old Balakrishnan Rajeevmohan of Ilavalai was abducted on Jan 9th. The youth had been working for 20 months at Doha and returned home four weeks ago after losing his job. He was worried about that and the future.Some Tamil youths jumped over the padlocked gate at night and banged on the door asking it be opened . When the mother hesitantly opened they barged in and soon dragged Rajeevmohan out.

They ordered the padlocked gate be opened and assaulted the father for fumbling with the key. The abducted youth was pushed into a white van. Fan which sped off. Family members saw about 25 soldiers wearing balaclava crouched against the outer compound wall. They cheered loudly in Sinhala and got into two parked vehicles and took off. There is an army camp only 100 metres away from the house. When family members complained the security forces feigned ignorance of the incident and suggested that the youth may have joined the LTTE.

A gruesome incident was the shooting of five family members at an incident in ManipayOn Jan 14th Thai Pongal dau in which three women died.56 year old Nagendran Bhojan with his family had been living at 17 Kanagasabai mudali street at Manipay. The family was originally from Kollankaladdy but had moved to Manipay after they were evicted from the ancestral home because of the High security zone extension. One of the Bhojan children was a tiger martyr.

Bhojan was a Scout Commissioner in the district and had worked many years for St. Johns Ambulance prior to retirement.His wife Arthanareeswary 51 as well as daughters Renuka (30) and Shannuka (23) were all old students of Mahajana College at Thellipalai.Renuka a B Com graduate was teaching at Thivyabharathi Vidyalayam school in Manipay.She had been registered in marriage three weeks ago before the shooting.

Shannuka was an undergraduate. She had also acted in films and plays produced by the LTTE films and drama division. Her brother Ullasan (26) was a maths teacher at Jaffna Central College. The Bhojan family was English educated and regarded as being sympathisers of the LTTE.

The family from the upper floor of their two - storeyed house had seen many soldiers standing in front of their gate for nearly two hours in the night. Naturally they were worried.The soldiers left at about 10 pm. The relieved family knocked lights off and were just settling in for slumber when around nine or ten armed Tamil youths jumped over the gate and banged on the door. When the father and son opened the door they were asked at gun point to sit down . The younger daughter Shanukka then came to the door and was shot dead. The assassins then entered the house and sprayed bullets at Renuka and her mother Arthanareeswary. The new son in law crouched under the bed in darkness and was saved.

While leaving the assassins fired at the father and son. Bhojan received bullets in his thigh and knee and slumped. Ullasan shot in the waist yried to get up and run. He was fired upon and brought down. After the assassins left few neighbours were brave enough to venture out. Besides there were army checkposts at both ends of the road. No one was prepared to take the shot people to the hospital. All three women were dead while the bleeding males were alive still. Finally Bhojan used his St. Johns Ambulance contacts to get an ambulance down after two hours.

Word began spreading in Jaffna that the Bhojans were killed by the EPDP. LTTE political chief for Jaffna Ilamparithy issued a statement to that effect. The EPDP denied responsibility and accused the LTTE of killing them. The EPDP charged first that the Bhojans due to their English proficiency had aroused tiger suspicion. They then changed the story and said that the Bhojans being a Great hero family was asked to relocate to the Wanni by the LTTE but had refused and so were killed.The EPDP also discovered that the Bhojans were related to former EPDP Parliamentarian and Palmyra board chairman Sivathasan and highlighted the fact. Few believed the EPDP denial.

In another incident at Katkovalam in Point Pedro on Jan 6th 27 year old Aiyathurai Bhaskaran was shot dead at his house. The 27 year old fisherman cum mason had been arrested twice in 1997 and 1999 as a tiger suspect . He had been released after interogation with torture. He had married in 1999 and had two children. He was from Kudathanai but had moved here after the tsunami.

His home was searched from 5 to 9. 30 pm and Bhaskaran too was intensely grilled. The security forces left and the family went to sleep with the idea of moving to the Wanni for safety. At 11 pm someone called out to Baskaran. He went out to see gun toting Tamil goondas at the door. Realising what lay in store Baskaran began pleading. His wife too begged the killer squad. The interlopers asked Baskaran to state his last wish. He said he wanted to see his children. The killers asked the weeping wife to go and bring the children. Even as she went in there were shots and her husband lay in a pool of blood.

When people of the area tried to go to the house they found their way blocked by security forces. Vehicle drivers were prohibited to take Bhaskaran to the hospital. He died in a few hours. The family and neighbours were threatened with death if the truth was told about the killing. So the frightened wife told the magistrate at the inquest that she only heard the shots and saw her husband lying dead.

The list of Tamil victims having or suspected of having LTTE connections is long. There are the two barbers Ganesharatnam and Krishnan of Kaithady. Both were related to SP Thamilselvan and had often boasted of their LTTE connections. They were killed by assassins in a three - wheeler as they were cycling home from work. There is the case of a 15 year old student in Kodikamam who resisted the killers aiming to assassinate his ex - tiger brother in law. There is the case of another 17 year old student at Chuttipuram who stayed behind to continue his studies though his family had left for Kilinochchi in fear because another son was a tiger martyr. The boy was shot dead on the road as he cycled home from class.

Another set of targets are Tamil businessmen with LTTE sympathies or connections. Many such persons have been killed in Kayts, Chavakachcheri , Kopay etc. Targeted Tamil businessmen are first asked for money by EPDP members. Those who pay up are spared but those who refuse to pay up are killed. In one incident a businessman was killed at the Chavakachcheri market. Though there are checkpoints all around the area and a base camp is only about 200 metres way there was a "mysterious" absence of security personnel in the vicinity when the goondas opened fire.

So terror spreads in Jaffna as the EPDP led assassins go about killing tiger supporters with vengeful glee. The wheel has turned full cycle. The very same EPDP that spoke about human rights when the LTTE was killing them is now violating the rights of perceived LTTE supporters mercilessly. The very same LTTE which arrogantly dismissed remonstration from human rights activists when they were dishing out death are now extremely concerned about human rights after being at the receiving end.

The cumulative effect of all these has been the mass relocation - through fear - of tiger or tiger martyr families to the Wanni. At least 3500 families have fled in the last two weeks. Another 1200 families in Trincomalee and 200 families from Mannar have also siught refuge in Kilinochchi. The violence though deplorable has taught the LTTE a bitter lesson that the state can inflict terror too.

LTTE ideologue Anton Balasingham has announced in Kilinochchi that the leader "climbed down" and provided Mahinda Rajapakse with another chance for peace only to end the violence against the Tamil people.Bala said the violence against the Tamil people must stop if the talks are to start in Geneva. This assertion shows that the state must restrain its "running dogs" and curtail the state terror if a dialogue is to be resumed. Unless this is done the talks wont get off the ground. Even if talks do start they are doomed to fail unless the violence ends.


(ENDS)

CONCLUDED

DBS Jeyaraj................... Jan 20th 2006