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Introduction
A
Ceasefire Agreement was signed between the Sri Lanka
Government and the LTTE in February 2002. Consequent to
this Agreement, the Eelam People’s Democratic Party
(EPDP), the Eelam People’s Revolutionary Liberation Front
– Varatharajaperumal Faction (EPRLF), and the People’s
Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), all of
which had been provided with legal weapons by the
governments of the day to protect them from the LTTE were
obliged to return their weapons. In turn, they were
promised protection through the State’s security
machinery.
The EPDP,
EPRLF and PLOTE are former militant movements which joined
the democratic mainstream following the Indo Sri Lanka
Agreement of July 1987.
Although
the Agreement was not an all-embracing Agreement on
Cessation of Hostilities, it did provide specific
prohibitions in respect of assassinations, abductions,
destruction of civilian property, suicide missions,
torture, intimidation, child conscription, extortion and
other forms of hostile acts against civilians. It also
precluded the LTTE from carrying weapons in government
controlled areas.
Despite
these prohibitions, hostile acts by the LTTE against
democratic Tamil parties have systematically increased in
intensity and form. What commenced with intimidation,
threats, assaults, and forced conscription have now
advanced to attacks, abductions and assassinations.
Had those
responsible for keeping the LTTE under check taken
deterrent action when the LTTE was engaged in ‘minor’
crimes such as intimidation and assaults, the LTTE would
not have been emboldened to engage in the current spate of
political assassinations. Further, had the Ceasefire
Agreement not withdrawn the weapons of self-defence from
the EPDP, EPRLF and PLOTE, several valuable lives would
not have been lost.
This
report presents a summary of hostile acts by the LTTE
against democratic Tamil parties, the EPDP, EPRLF and
PLOTE, as well as hostile acts against civilians as
intimated to the EPDP, since the signing of the Ceasefire
Agreement. The report however does not claim to cover all
incidents of hostile acts against civilians.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This
report covers 598 incidents of hostile acts by the LTTE
against civilians, including democratic Tamil parties. The
report has been prepared using information obtained from
several sources, many of them confidential. Yet, the
report is not comprehensive enough, as information from
certain sources was not accessible to the EPDP.
In
respect of the EPDP, members, activists and supporters of
the party, and even their family members have suffered 50
cases of attacks or assaults, and 20 cases of abductions
or attempted abductions. They have suffered 15 deaths. In
addition, there have been 33 cases of intimidation.
In
respect of the EPRLF too, members, activists and
supporters of the party, and their family members have
suffered 26 cases of attacks or assaults, and 18 cases of
abductions or attempted abductions. They have suffered 12
deaths. In addition, there have been 2 cases of
intimidation.
In
respect of the PLOTE also, members, activists and
supporters of the PLOTE, and their family members have
suffered 14 cases of attacks or assaults, and, 1 case of
abduction. They have suffered 4 deaths.
The
records in respect of civilians are in no way complete.
Nevertheless, the information provided in this report is
quite revealing, pointing to not less than 775 cases of
child conscription, 199 cases of adult abductions, 197
cases of attacks or assaults, and, 91 cases of death. For
convenience, the report categorises cadres of Tamil Eelam
Liberation Organisation (TELO) and former cadres of the
LTTE as civilians, but distinct from members of the
democratic Tamil parties.
On a
perusal of the report, one is compelled to arrive at the
conclusion that in Sri Lanka, there is an absence of War,
but no Peace.
PART I
Hostile Acts of
the LTTE against the EPDP
1. Abduction of EPDP Supporter and
Extortion
In Akkaraipattu in Amparai District, on 26th
February 2002 at 10.00 am, armed LTTE men led by one
Pankayan abducted Narayanan Sivaram an employee of the
Post Office, while he was on duty. The victim is a strong
supporter of the EPDP.
Sivaram was released after a week following
a ransom payment of Rs. 100,000 to the LTTE by Sivaram’s
family.
2. Intimidation of EPDP Member
On 27th February 2002 at 3.30
pm, two LTTE men had come to the Maravankulam
Relocation Housing Scheme, in Vavuniya district, and were
in conversation with some residents. Nadarajah
Santhanakumar alias Kumar (age 18 years) an unarmed EPDP
member chanced to pass that way. Kumar’s family lives in
that area. He was summoned by the LTTE men. He was asked
whether he knew who they were. He answered in the
negative. Thereafter, he was told to lift the shirt of one
of them and see for himself. Santhakumar did so. He saw
two grenades and a pistol hidden under the shirt.
Thereafter they told him that their organisation, the LTTE
had already through the radio and newspapers announced
that the EPDP members who do not resign from the EPDP will
have no mercy. Santhakumar was told that he should resign
from the EPDP immediately or face the consequences.
Since then, Kumar had been scared to visit
his family. The SLMM inquired into the incident.
3. Abduction of EPDP Parliamentary
Candidate
In Tirukovil in Amparai district, on 20th
April 2002 at 10.00 pm, four armed LTTE men, namely,
Pankayan, Bawa, Henry and Stalin abducted Balasundaram
Surendran of the EPDP. Surendran was an EPDP candidate at
the last Parliamentary election.
Surendran was released after a few days
following intervention by the SLMM. He had been physically
assaulted in LTTE custody.
4. Abduction of EPDP Member
Dharman Balamurali (23 years) alias Balan
of Saraiyady, Puloly South, Jaffna is a member of the
EPDP. On 07.05.2002, he went by bus from Jaffna to
Puthukudiyiruppu in Mullaitivu district for the purpose of
visiting his sister Ragupathy Dharmalatha.
On 09.05.2002, a group of LTTE members
including one Inbam who was injured in the LTTE’s Elephant
Pass attack, came to the house of Dharmalatha and abducted
Balamurali. Balamurali’s wife Sathyabhavani (22 years)
received information of the abduction from his sister.
Following intervention by the SLMM, Dharman
was released by the LTTE. He however resigned his
membership in the EPDP as he feared for the lives of the
members of his sister’s family living in the LTTE-controlled
area.
5. Threat to kill EPDP Supporters
On 7th June 2002 at 5.00 pm, two
members of the LTTE and Mahadevan Sarangan, a supporter of
the LTTE came in front of the house occupied by
Senthilnathan Radhamani and Yogeswaran Jeevamalar on
Udupitty Road, Tondamanaru, Jaffna. Sarangan pointed out
the two of them to the LTTE members as EPDP supporters.
On the following day, Radhamani and
Jeevamalar complained to Sarangan’s parents about what
Sarangan had done. While they were returning home after
meeting Sarangan’s parents, at about 5.00 pm, in front of
Selvasannithy Temple, Sarangan told both of them that the
LTTE would be meting out the death penalty to both of them
for being supporters of the EPDP.
6. Threat to kill EPDP Member
IN Ward No. 4, Delft, Jaffna on
18th June 2002 at 5.00 pm, four
members of the LTTE, led by Kannan, visited the house of
Mrs. Parameswaran Mohana, wife of a member of the EPDP.
The LTTE members warned her that if her husband does not
resign from the EPDP, she would be made to disappear.
7. Intimidation of EPDP Members
On 19th June 2002 at 2.45 pm, a
group of LTTE cadres, more than 20 in number, led by Paapa,
Chemmananan and Tamilini forced their way into the EPDP
office in Kayts, Jaffna and videoed the office from
outside without obtaining permission. The videoing took
place for about 15 minutes. It was feared that the LTTE
was planning to attack the office in the near future.
8. Physical Attack on EPDP Member
On 21st June 2002 at 5.30 pm, a
group of LTTE members, more than 25 in number, led by
Paapa and Chemmananan came by motorcycles and forced its
way to the EPDP Office in Kayts Pier, and physically
assaulted EPDP member Periyathamby Kulendran (Army IC
0913011350). The EPDP member was warned to resign from the
party and that if he did not comply, he would be shot dead
by the LTTE. Kulendran made a complaint to the Kayts
Police.
9. Threat to kill EPDP Supporter
On 22nd June 2002 at 5.30 pm,
two LTTE members came to the house of Appiah Nagesu (Army
IC 0913010851) on
West Street,
Kayts, Jaffna
and threatened him that he would be killed if he continued
to have any links with the EPDP.
Nagesu who is a supporter of the EPDP
reported the matter to the Kayts Police.
10. Attempt to abduct EPDP Members
On 23rd June 2002 at 12.30 pm,
while members of the EPDP were distributing political
pamphlets in the Bus-stand, opposite Amaica Hotel, in
Akkaraipattu in Amparai district, members of the LTTE
appeared there in two vehicles. They berated the EPDP
members in filthy language and ordered them to get into
their vehicles. The EPDP members refused, and after an
argument boarded the Akkaraipattu- Karaitivu bus, and
escaped from being abducted.
The members of the LTTE who were involved
in this episode are Regan, Kanthan, Mathan and two others.
11.
Abduction of Former Member of EPDP
Navaratnam Subanavendan (20 years) was a
member of the EPDP from 1998 to 2000. He resigned from
the EPDP for personal reasons. He lives in Poonthottam,
Vavuniya and works in the Mini-theatre near the Vavuniya
Campus.
Subanavendan had been in the habit of
making short visits to the LTTE-controlled part of Vanni
in connection with his work. He went to the LTTE-controlled
Vanni between 28th and 30th June
2002. He was abducted by the LTTE and released after a
week.
12. Threat to kill Associate of EPDP
Member
Marimuthu Tharmarajah (age 46) is an EPDP
member of the Kopay Pradeshiya Sabha. He farms on his own
land in Achchuvely North, Jaffna. One Ketheeswaran, a
youth lives on the farm belonging to Tharmarajah.
On 30.06.2002, two members of the LTTE
visited the farm and warned Ketheeswaran that he should
not help Tharmarajah as he belonged to the EPDP.
Ketheeswaran was further warned to break off all
relationship with Tharmarajah, as otherwise his life would
be in danger.
13. Intimidation and Attempt to abduct
Relative of EPDP
Tharmarajah Jeyarajah was EPDP Chairman of
Karavetty Pradeshiya Sabha. His son is Jeyarajah
Suthakaran. Suthakaran’s wife is Suthakaran Jeyamalini (24
years).
On 02.07.2002, at about 7.00 pm, 2 members
of the LTTE had confronted Jeyamalini in Nelliyady and
warned her that she should not travel in the vehicle of
her father-in-law as the latter was a member of the EPDP.
The LTTE members also ordered her to proceed to the LTTE
office in Vathiri for an inquiry.
Jeyamalini, instead of going to LTTE
office, proceeded to the EPDP office and complained to her
father-in-law Jeayarajah. Thereupon, Jeyarajah took her in
safety and left her with his son who was on his way home.
He however kept a close watch from a distance. Suddenly,
the 2 LTTE members reappeared and started an argument with
Suthakaran and attempted to abduct Jeyamalini.
Father-in-law Jeyarajah rushed to the scene and with the
help of his son caught one of the LTTE members
Vaithiyanathan Kirupakaran (Army IC 0909033010) of Ilakady,
Alvai. The other LTTE member escaped. LTTE member
Kirupakaran was handed over to the Nelliyady Police and an
entry made at the Police station.
14. Abduction of EPDP Supporter
Sankaranathan Nimalsankar (27 years) of
43/8, Poomagal Road, Ariyalai West, Jaffna is a
storekeeper in the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation in Jaffna.
Nimalsankar was a student leader in the University of
Jaffna till 2000, and had worked for democratic causes. He
was a supporter of the EPDP.
On 24.06.2002, he travelled by bus from
Jaffna on A9 highway for the purpose of attending a viva
voce for promotion at the head office of the Petroleum
Corporation in Colombo. At Pulliyankulam, in Vavuniya
district, the LTTE took him away and kept him in custody
till 26th. He was released and ordered to
report to Pulliyankulam LTTE camp on his way home to
Jaffna after the viva voce.
Nimalsankar informed his brother
Vimalsankar (24 years) in Jaffna about the incident and
requested Vimalsankar and his cousin Kanagaratnam Krishnan
(23 years) to be present in Pulliyankulam at 10.00 am on
02.07.2002, when he would be returning.. Nimalsankar
completed his viva voce on 27th and 28th
June. He travelled to Omanthai by bus, leaving Colombo the
night of 01.07.2002.
In the morning of 02.07.2002. Nimalsankar
reached Puliyankulam at about 10.00 am. His brother and
cousin could not get in touch with him. Someone informed
his brother that Vimalsankar was taken away by the LTTE
from the bus. Vimalsankar and Krishnan met Pukalendi
Master the person in charge of the LTTE Camp at 10.30 am,
and inquired about Nimalsankar. At 5.30 pm Pukalendi
Master informed the two of them that Nimalsankar had been
taken away by the LTTE for questioning and that he would
be released in a day or two. Vimalsankar and Krishnan
returned to Jaffna and went back to Pulliyankulam on 4th
July. They could not meet Pukalendi till midday on the 5th
July. Pukalendi assured them that Nimalsankar would be
released within the next 2 days and advised them to return
to Jaffna and keep in touch with Senthamil, the person in
charge of the LTTE office in Poonarimaram in Jaffna.
Both of them did as advised and kept visiting the LTTE
Office on 6th, 8th and on 9th
July.
Following the intervention of the SLMM,
Nimalsankar was released by the LTTE after holding him for
about one month.
15. Abduction of former EPDP Member
Kandasamy Sasikumar (20 years) was a member
of the EPDP. He is married. He resigned from the EPDP 6
months ago with the intention of migrating from Sri Lanka.
During the month of June, members of the LTTE had visited
his mother Kandasamy Thangamalar (39 years) and his wife,
both living in Karampon West, Kayts and demanded that
Sasikumar be handed over to the LTTE for questioning.
On 06.07.2002, Sasikumar left for Colombo
by bus from Jaffna. At Yakachchi, Sasikumar was taken out
of the bus and abducted. His mother and wife received
information of the abduction from a close relative who was
a witness to the incident.
Due to intervention by the SLMM, Sasikumar
was released after about a month of custody by the LTTE.
16. Abduction of Former EPDP Member
Navaratnam Sankar (30 years) of 27/1,
Navalar Road, Navanturai, Jaffna was a member of the EPDP
till 1999. Thereafter he worked as a pavement hawker. He
is married and has two children of ages 9 and 4.
Sankar left by bus from Jaffna at 8.30 am
on 08.07.2002 with the intention of visiting his mother in
Tambiluvil, Batticaloa. When the bus reached Mukhamali at
about 9.00 am, LTTE members from the LTTE camp took him
out of the bus and abducted him.
The information about the abduction was
provided to Sankaran’s wife Lukes Rumina (27 years) by a
friend who had seen the incident. Following intervention
by the SLMM, Sankar was released by the LTTE after holding
him in custody for about a month.
17. Abduction of Former EPDP Member
Sivalingam Ramesh (33 years) was a member
of the EPDP till about 1993. He is married to one Jayanthi
Costa, a Sinhalese and has six children. He lives with his
family at 69 Anderson Road, Dehiwela.
Ramesh travelled to Jaffna with some others
by van bearing number 58-7597. He was returning to Colombo
from Jaffna on 12.07.2002 by the same van. When the van
reached Mukhamalai at about 9.30 am, the person in charge
of the LTTE camp in Mukhamalai ordered Ramesh and one
Sanmuganathan Sivanathan (age 35 years), a native
physician of Vattukottai, to get out of the van and
follow him. The LTTE man had two bodyguards who were armed
with pistols. The LTTE man claimed that Ramesh and
Sivanathan were EPDP members. Sivalingam however had no
connection with the EPDP.
There were a total of 14 passengers in the
van. The other passengers pleaded with the TTE man to
release Ramesh and Sivalingam, but he did not relent. He
even threatened o confiscate the van. Ultimately, the van
was allowed to leave Mukhamalai without Ramesh and
Sivalingam at about 1.00 pm.
Following intervention by the LTTE, Ramesh
was released by the LTTE after holding him in custody for
more than one month. It was later discovered that
Sivalingam was a member of the LTTE’s intelligence wing.
18. Threat to kill EPDP Chairmen of
Local Authorities
On 13th July 2002 at
10.45am,Velupillai Mahendran alias Valluvan (49 years),
the Chairman of Chankanai Pradeshiya Sabha,
Velichore Anton Johnson alias Jeeva (36 years), the
Chairman of the Manipay Pradeshiya Sabha and Kailainathan
Kamalasekaran alias Baabu (34 years), the Chairman of the
Chunnakam Pradeshiya Sabha, all members of the EPDP,
having travelled to Bhadrakali Kovil, Sangarathai,
Vattukottai in Jaffna district in two vehicles, were
distributing leaflets to commemorate the 13th
death anniversary of A.Amirthalingam the Tamil national
leader and TULF MP who was brutally murdered in Colombo by
the LTTE on 13th July 1989.
At about 10.45 am, a dark blue Dolphin van,
bearing number 250-7106 appeared on the scene with
darkened window shutters. One window shutter was lowered.
Muthukumaru Sivapalan alias Baby spoke to say that the
LTTE is now in
Jaffna
and that the EPDP would be chopped. Thereafter, he
exhibited a sword through the window of the vehicle, put
the shutter up and disappeared from the scene. None of the
other occupants in the van could be identified.
Muthukumaru Sivapalan was a UNP candidate
at the last Parliamentary election in December 2001 and
had joined the LTTE after the elections.
19.
Threat to Supporter of EPDP
Ponnudurai Deivendran (age 30 years) who is
married to Salya (29 years) has 4 children, aged 11, 7, 3,
1 ½ years. He is a supporter of the EPDP.
On 26th July 2002 at 10.30 pm,
three cadres of the LTTE, riding on bicycles, visited the
house of Deivendran at Adikoviladi, Valvettiturai, Jaffna
and warned him that he should not continue to have any
connections with the EPDP. If he visited the EPDP office
on Stanley Road in Jaffna
in the future, he would be either shot dead or abducted to
Vanni by the LTTE.
20.
Threat to Wife of EPDP Member killed by LTTE
Karampon West, Kayts, Jaffna on 29th
July 2002 at 10.00 am two women cadres of the LTTE who
appeared to be 22 or 23 in age, and dressed in jeans and
shirt and wearing a leather belt over the shirt, and
riding on ladies’ bicycles, visited the house of
Chandrakumar Thavayogarani (age 38 years) wife of Imam, an
EPDP member who was shot dead in 1997 by the LTTE.
Thavayogarani is the mother of Chandralojan (12 years).
The two LTTE women wanted to conscript her son to the LTTE.
Thavayogarani refused to comply.
The LTTE women warned Thavayogarani that as
she was reluctant to give her son to the LTTE and as she
was a supporter of the EPDP, she should leave the village
immediately or face the consequences. Thavayogarani has
complained to the Kayts Police.
21.
Threat to Wife of EPDP Member
In Karampon West, Kayts, Jaffna on 29th
July 2002 at 11.00 am, two women cadres of the LTTE who
appeared to be 22 or 23 in age, and dressed in jeans and
shirt and wearing a leather belt over the shirt, and
riding on ladies’ bicycles, visited the house of Kumar
Katkatharani (age 22 years) wife of Gandhi, an EPDP
member. Katkatharani is the mother of two children, 2
years and 4 months old, respectively. The two LTTE women
made derogatory remarks about the EPDP.
The LTTE women warned Katkatharani that as
her family was supportive of the EPDP, the family should
leave the village immediately or face the consequences.
They suggested that the family leaves for the south along
the A-9 highway. Katkatharani has complained to the Kayts
Police.
22.
Threat to Wife and Mother of EPDP Member
In Karampon West, Kayts, Jaffna on 29th
July 2002 at 12.00 noon, two women cadres of the LTTE who
appeared to be 22 or 23 in age, and dressed in jeans and
shirt and wearing a leather belt over the shirt, and
riding on ladies’ bicycles, visited the house of Kandasamy
Satgunavathy (age 53 years) mother of Divakar, an EPDP
member. In the same house lived Varnan Asokarani (27
years) wife of Divakar. Asokarani is the mother of three
children, aged 7, 4 and 1 ½ years. The two LTTE women
made derogatory remarks about the EPDP. They remarked that
the EPDP was engaged in murder, rape, extortion and
intimidation.
The LTTE women warned Satgunavathy and
Asokarani that as their family was supportive of the EPDP,
the family should leave the village immediately or face
the consequences. They even warned that Divakar would be
killed by the LTTE. They suggested that the family leaves
for the south along the A-9 highway.
Both Satgunavathy and Asokarani have
complained to the Kayts Police.
23.
Threat to Wife of EPDP Member
In Karampon West, Kayts, Jaffna on 29th
July 2002 at 1.00 pm, two women cadres of the LTTE who
appeared to be 22 or 23 in age, and dressed in jeans and
shirt and wearing a leather belt over the shirt, and
riding on ladies’ bicycles, visited the house of
Anthonyrajah Gajenthini (age 21 years) wife of Eesan, an
EPDP member. Gajenthini is the mother of two children, 3
years and 1 ½ years old. The two LTTE women made
derogatory remarks about the EPDP.
The LTTE women warned Gajenthini that as
her family was supportive of the EPDP, the family should
leave the village immediately or face the consequences.
They suggested that the family leaves for the south along
the A-9 highway.
24.
Threat to Wife of EPDP Member killed by LTTE
In Karampon West, Kayts, Jaffna on 29th
July 2002 at 1.30 pm, two women cadres of the LTTE who
appeared to be 22 or 23 in age, and dressed in jeans and
shirt and wearing a leather belt over the shirt, and
riding on ladies’ bicycles, visited the house of Sudesan
Udayakumari (age 30 years) wife of Subash, an EPDP member
who was shot dead by the LTTE in 2000 while praying in a
temple. Udayakumari is the mother of two children, aged 11
and 5 years. The two LTTE women made derogatory remarks
about the EPDP.
The LTTE women warned Udayakumari that as
she was a supporter of the EPDP, she should leave the
village immediately with her children or face the
consequences.
25.
Threat to Wife of EPDP Member abducted by LTTE
In Karampon West, Kayts, Jaffna on 29th
July 2002 at 1.45 pm, two women cadres of the LTTE, who
appeared to be 22 or 23 in age, and dressed in jeans and
shirt and wearing a leather belt over the shirt, and
riding on ladies’ bicycles, visited the house of
Udayakumar Rahumath Beebee (age 32 years) wife of
Udayakumar, a EPDP member who was abducted in 1993 by the
LTTE, and presumed to have been killed by them. Beebee is
the mother of two children, aged 15 and 12 years. The two
LTTE women, wanted to conscript her eldest son to the
LTTE. Beebee refused to comply.
The LTTE women warned Beebee that as she
was reluctant to give her son to the LTTE and as she was a
supporter of the EPDP, she should leave the village
immediately to Vavuniya, which is her native place, or
face the consequences. Beebee has complained to the Kayts
Police.
26.
Intimidation of EPDP Supporter
The Kayts Pradeshiya Sabha had arranged a
function to felicitate N. Mathanarajah MP The function was
scheduled for 9.30 am on 3rd August 2002.
Thurairajah Indrakumar (43 years) was
engaged by the Pradeshiya Sabha to make the necessary the
announcement on the loudspeaker fixed to his three-wheeler
bearing no. 200-6794. On 2nd August 2002,
when Indrakumar was getting ready to carry out his
assignment, two LTTE cadres (aged between 20 and 22 years)
wearing cyanide capsules, summoned him to the LTTE’s
office in Kayts. At the LTTE’s office, one Radhan
threatened Indrakumar and ordered him to get back to his
native Velanai without making the announcements on the
loudspeakers.
While Indrakuamr was being accompanied to
Velanai by the same two LTTE cadres riding motor cycle
bearing no. 500-5847, they came face to face with EPDP
members. The LTTE cadres quickly disappeared from the
scene. Indrakumar made a complaint to the Kayts Police
regarding the intimidation. As a result of the incident,
the Pradeshiya Sabha was compelled to cancel the planned
function.
27.
Intimidation of Wife of EPDP Member
In Achchuvely, Jaffna on 4th
August, 2002 at 12.00 noon, Pavalan and another of the
LTTE visited the house of Marimuthu Tharmarajah, EPDP
member of Valikamam East Pradeshiya Sabha. His wife
Indralekha (45 years) was alone in the house.
The two LTTE cadres questioned Indralekha
as to why she does not take part in meetings convened by
the LTTE in Achchuvely. They also questioned her whether
EPDP member Ravi visits her house. She was also questioned
about the number of members living in the EPDP office in
Jaffna and the number of police personnel stationed in
that office, for the EPDP’s security.
The visit of the LTTE cadres was reported
to the Achchuvely Police. It had been noticed that even
after reporting the matter to the Police, LTTE cadres were
hovering around the residence of Tharmarajah in an
intimidatory manner.
28. Torture of EPDP Supporter
Sivaguru Udayakuamr was abducted by the
LTTE on 07.08.2002. While being abducted his motorbike was
confiscated by Bawa of the LTTE. He was held by the LTTE
for the offence of ‘helping the EPDP at the last
parliamentary election’. He was tortured day and night.
His fingernails and toe nails were pulled out as part of
the torture treatment. He was later released from the
Rufuskulam camp of the LTTE.
29.
Threat of Death to EPDP Members
On 12th August 2002,
Selvanayagam Jeyaruban alias Ruban and Pasupathy
Jeevaratnam alias Keepee, both of the EPDP, left the
Jaffna office of the EPDP at 9.00 am by motorcycle towards
the Islands for political work.
When they reached Chettipulam, Velanai,
Jaffna between 11.30 am and 12.00 noon, the two EPDP
members were stopped by Paapa, Chemmanan, Ilamparithy and
11 others of the LTTE. The LTTE members had come there by
a white Hiace van bearing no number. The window shutters
of the van were covered with tinted paper.
The LTTE members threatened the EPDP
members for about 15 minutes and warned them that unless
they leave the EPDP, their wives would become widows.
30.
Attempt to abduct sons of EPDP Member
Ponniah Ramachandran alias Prathap is a
member of the EPDP. He lives in Tiruchendur Road, Kallady,
Batticaloa. Suthakaran (21 years) and Suneskanth (17
years) are his sons. Suneskanth is a student of
Vipulananda Maha Vidyalayam, Batticaloa. Devaki is the
wife of Ramachandran, and the mother of the two.
On 13th August 2002 at about
10.00 am, a LTTE cadre visited the house of Ramachandran
and wanted to meet Suthakaran and Suneskanth. The two were
away at that time. Between 10.30 am and 11.00 am, when
Suthakaran and Suneskanth were cycling in front of the
LTTE office in Kallady, they were ordered into the
office.
At the LTTE office, one Iniyavan threatened
the two sons of Ramachandran saying that they were
informants to the Army. When news reached their mother,
she rushed to the LTTE office after informing Ramachandran
by telephone. Devaki told the LTTE members that they were
all from an EPDP family and that her husband Ramachandran
was on his way to the LTTE office to retrieve their sons.
Thereupon, at about 11.30 am, Suthakaran and Suneskanth
were released by the LTTE to return home.
31. Attack on Vadamaratchi South West
Pradeshiya Sabha Office
On 1st September
2002, at about 1.00 am, LTTE cadres went in a vehicle to
the new office building of the Vadamaratchi South West (Karavetty)
Pradeshiya Sabha, assaulted the watcher and tied his eyes
and mouth with his clothes, smashed all the glass windows
of the building, defaced the building walls with lubricant
oil, damaged the computers and typewriters and removed the
TV and video deck. They also destroyed the office files
and attempted to set fire to the Chairman’s office room.
The Pradeshiya Sabha is under the administrative control
of the EPDP.
During
the last week in August, LTTE members were carrying on
propaganda in the Karavetty area and Nelliyadi town
requesting the public not to participate in the opening
ceremony of the new office building. On 31st
August 2002, at
about 7.30 pm, 4 ½ hours before the incident,
Daya,
the area political leader of the LTTE had gone to the
residence of Tharmarajah Jeyarajah, Chairman of the
Pradeshiya Sabha and inquired for him in his absence.
32.
Threat to Members of EPDP in Vadamaratchi
On 25.09.2002, posters were put up
all over Vadamaratchi,
Jaffna
in Tamil under the caption “A Plea to Members of the
EPDP”. The content of the poster was as follows:
“All of you should leave the soil of
Vadamaratchi before 1st of October. You would
have to face dire consequences, if you ignore this warning
and continue to move about in this area”
Although the posters were put up in the
name of the People and Students of Vadamaratchi, they were
posters of the LTTE.
33. First Attack on Political Office of
EPDP in Delft
On Saturday, 5th October 2002,
at about 8.00 pm, 5 drunkard men armed with knives and
swords appeared in front of the EPDP Office in Delft and
abused the EPDP in obscene language. The leader of this
group was identified as Carter, a known LTTE
supporter. When the EPDP members who were in the office
attempted to go out, Carter attacked them. Ameen of the
EPDP received cuts from Carter’s sword. As Carter was
drunk, Ameen managed to push him in self-defence. As a
result, Carter fell on a pile of stones and received
injuries.
Members of the EPDP, Sudhan, Kumaran,
Thilakan and Ameen rushed to the nearby building where the
Sri Lanka Police were in the process of setting up a
police- post. Other members, Julie, Mohanadas, Vedha and
Cyril were left behind in the office.
When the police attempted to intervene in
the incident, another group of 5 LTTE members led by
Kannan, the LTTE leader for Delft appeared on the
scene and warned the Police not to intervene. The Police
could therefore not go to the help of the EPDP members
left behind in their office. EPDP members Julie and
Mohanadas managed to leave the office on a motorcycle. The
other two members also managed to hide from the LTTE.
A third group of LTTE members appeared on
the scene. This group included Eelamaran, a
prominent member of the LTTE, Seelan who is a
technical officer in the Delft Pradeshiya Sabha and
Sinnathamby a minor employee of the same Pradeshiya
Sabha.
While Ameen of the EPDP was in conversation
with a police officer, Kannan the LTTE leader for Delft
ordered the abduction of Ameen. He was taken away by
Seelan and Sinnathamby to an undisclosed location. At the
undisclosed location, Ameen was questioned by Kannan about
hidden weapons. Seelan and Sinnathamby also physically
assaulted Ameen. He was also forced to sign a statement to
the effect that the EPDP had hidden weapons in Delft.
The LTTE handed over Ameen, the abducted
member to the EPDP representatives in the presence of the
SLMM members. While the EPDP members were preparing to
leave Delft jetty for Kayts, two EPDP members Eesan and
Gandhi were pushed into the sea by a group of LTTE members
led by Gajan.
34.
Hostile Act against EPDP Member
Arumugam Kanesan (51 years) had been with
the EPDP for 11 years. He is a native of Karainagar in the
Jaffna district. He is attached to the EPDP Office in
Karainagar. In the recent past, members of the LTTE had
been visiting his house and ordering all members of the
household to call over at the LTTE Office in Karainagar.
None of the members heeded the LTTE’s order. One Mathulan
is in charge of the LTTE Office.
On the 17th October 2002,
Kanesan left his home on Allen Road at about 6.30 pm by
bicycle to do some shopping. After attending to the
shopping, he went over to the Karainagar EPDP Office. He
left the EPDP Office by bicycle between 7.00 and 7.15 pm.
When he had gone a short distance from the
EPDP Office and was taking a turn at a junction, 2 LTTE
cadres ordered him to stop. He did not stop, but continued
cycling. The 2 LTTE cadres chased him and caught him. He
was questioned by the two LTTE cadres of his connection
with the EPDP. The LTTE men found fault with him for
members of his family not heeding LTTE’s orders. He was
then ordered to accompany them to the LTTE Office. Kanesan
refused. Immediately, he was beaten with a stick. Kanesan
had no alternative other than to accompany them to the
LTTE Office.
At the LTTE Office, he was intimidated and
harassed. At the LTTE Office, Kanesan recognised one Ravi
who told something secretly to the two of them. After the
harassment, Kanesan’s cycle was confiscated and he was
ordered to walk back home. It was about 8.00 pm when he
left the LTTE Office. Kanesan does not know the names of
the two who assaulted and harassed him, but he could
identify them.
35. Attack on EPDP Member of the
Chavakachcheri Urban Council
Soosaimuthu Alexander alias Charles (age
38) is a member of the EPDP, and is the leader of the
Opposition in the Chavakachcheri Urban Council.
On Friday, 1st November 2002, at
about 10.45 pm, Charles went by his motorcycle to Malu
Junction in Karavetty to visit his fiancée Pavalarani. His
fiancée lives in Karavetty with her mother Pavalamma.
After about 30 minutes in the house,
Charles left the house and walked up to his motorcycle.
Suddenly, 4 members of the LTTE appeared on the scene on
two motorcycles. Charles rushed back into the house and
armed himself with a wooden crossbar of a bed. The 4 LTTE
men came armed with swords and clubs. They knocked out the
lamp that was burning on the table. They attacked Charles
in the dark. Charles fought back single handed with the
wooden crossbar. Charles received several injuries, one of
which was a large cut on his leg.
Pavalarani’s mother, Pavalamma lighted the
lamp once again. As a result, two of the 4 assailants were
identified as Bharathi, the person in charge of the
LTTE office in Valvettiturai, and, Daya the person
in charge of the LTTE office in Nelliady. The 4 men
decided to rush out once their identity was exposed. While
retreating, they took away a torch that belonged to the
household of Pavalamma. They took away Charles’ motorcycle
as well. Charles had to be airlifted to Colombo for
medical treatment.
36. Attack on EPDP Member of the
Batticaloa Office
Erambamoorthy Paraneetharan alias Pradeepan
(age 24) is in charge of the political office of the EPDP
in Batticaloa.
On Tuesday, 5th November 2002,
at about 8.30 pm, Pradeepan was on his way to the Office
in Buntings Lane, Batticaloa from his residence in
Easwara Lane, travelling on a motorcycle.
The electric power had failed in the area for about 15
minutes, and, Pradeepan left for the office after it was
restored. At the intersection of Easwara Lane with
Buntings Lane there was a light blue van, with tinted
shutters. There were 4 men, standing outside the van
and making threatening noises at Pradeepan. All 4 men had
attempted to hide their identity by partly masking their
faces with cloth. It was however, possible to identify one
of them as Ellil, the LTTE member in charge of the
intelligence wing in Batticaloa, and responsible for
abductions. Pradeepan feeling suspicious hurried past the
van and reached the office, which was less than 500 metres
from the spot.
Pradeepan returned to the spot with other
members of the EPDP. The van was missing, but there were
members of the public near the spot. The members of the
public showed a 3 ft long sword and a club lying
nearby on the ground. The 4 LTTE men had dropped them on
the ground when the electric power was restored and the
lights came on. The members of the public also told the
EPDP that they had seen the same van in the same area the
two previous nights as well. This van, which bears
registration no. 57-9463,which is
the only light blue van with tinted shutters in Batticaloa
belongs to the LTTE.
37. Second Attack of the EPDP in Delft
The political office of the EPDP in Delft
was temporarily closed down on 5th October 2002
following an LTTE attack. On Saturday, 16th
November 2002, in the morning, around 30 members of the
EPDP returned to Delft and reopened the office.
Immediately after the reopening of the EPDP
office, Kannan of the LTTE went around Delft Island
in a tractor-trailer collecting thugs and hooligans to
assemble outside the EPDP office. At about 10.30 am,
around 60 persons led by Eelamaran and Dayalan,
both of the LTTE, assembled near the EPDP office. Most of
them were under the influence of liquor. The crowd shouted
abuse at the EPDP and pelted stones at the office. At
about 11.00 am, the LTTE installed loudspeakers to
broadcast the abuse. The pelting of stones continued for
several days thereafter.
38. Attack on EPDP Supporter in
Thondamanaru
On 16th November 2002, 12.30 am
(15th night) The LTTE had for sometime been
demanding Rs. 500,000 from Senthilnathan Radhamani (50
years) who lives on Uduppitty Road, Thondamanaru. He is an
ardent supporter of the EPDP, and is the father of one son
and four daughters. His son works abroad.
On the night of the 15th
November, Bharathi and 5 others of the LTTE arrived
at Radhamani’s house by motorbikes and started attacking
Radhamani and his wife. They damaged the furniture in the
house. Radhamani and his wife fought back using clubs and
chilli powder.
When the neighbours of Radhamani attempted
to come to his assistance, they were chased away by
sword
wielding LTTE cadres
at the gate. The fight went on for nearly one hour.
Finally, the LTTE men robbed gold jewellery of 20
sovereigns and Rs. 25,000 from the house and retreated.
39. Attack on EPDP Office in
Chavakachcheri
In the early hours of Thursday 21st
November 2002, at about 12.15 am, a group of around 20
LTTE cadres attacked the office of the EPDP in
Chavakachcheri. They entered the office from the rear and
attacked the EPDP members who were asleep. They came with
swords and petrol torches. They also used petrol bombs.
The attackers were dispersed by the firing carried out by
the two police officers assigned to provide security to
the EPDP office.
Members of the public later informed the
EPDP that the undermentioned members of the LTTE were
involved in the attack on the EPDP office:
(a)
Senthuran of Kodikamam.
(b)
Seynthan of Point Pedro Road, Kodikamam.
(c)
K. Pradeepan of Thaavalai, Iyakkalai.
(d)
Praba of Point Pedro Road, Kodikamam.
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