Suicide bomber was pregnant woman say investigators
April 29th, 2006
by D.B.S. Jeyaraj
[This is an updated version of an earlier post last week]
Police Investigators probing the assassination attempt on Army chief Sarath Fonseka have in a bizarre twist alleged that the woman suicide bomber was actually oregnant and not pretending to be pregnant as believed earlier. While sleuths are trying to ascertain the truth about the woman political observers feel that if such allegations are proved true it would herald a hitherto unheard new dimension to the phenomenon of suicide attacks by women.
Sri Lankan Army commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka has survived the assassination attempt made on his life.. The tough soldier from Ambalangoda received serious injuries on April 25th when a woman suicide bomber targetted him as he was leaving the Army headquarters in Colombo to go home for lunch. At least nine others were killed and twenty – seven injured in the explosion. Though badly wounded Fonseka’s condition has been pronounced stable following major surgery performed on him by a team of dedicated Doctors.
The assassination attempt had all the hallmarks of a tiger suicide killer operation despite routine denials by spokesperson Daya master that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was not responsible.Initially it was believed that a woman pretending to be pregnant had been responsible. Subsequent reports have contradicted this assumption.
According to Police sleuths reliminary investigations have revealed that the assassin was a 21 year old tamil woman named Anoja Kuganesarajah from Vavuniya. What is shocking however is the information that the woman was not pretending to be pregnant but was actually five months pregnant. With documents obtained from the military hospital indicating that the woman was indeed pregnant laboratory tests are now being conducted of her blood samples to ascertain whether she was really pregnant.
If her pregnancy is confirmed it would then mean that the tigers had resorted to what is perhaps an unbelievably despicable action of strapping an explosive device to a pregnant woman and getting her to self – destruct, target her victims and above all kill her unborn child.The tigers have been guilty of many contemptible acts in the past. But with this act – if proved correct – the LTTE would have hit an all time low.
The assassination attempt demonstrates the extent to which the LTTE could descend in trying to eliminate the Army Commander.The battle – scarred veteran soldier is regarded as a” hawk” advocating a very hard line against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam organization.Fonsekas military past too has been controversial. The role he played in the re- conquest of Amparai district in 1990, the Rivi Resa campaign of 1995 – 96 and the destruction of Thenmaratchy in 2000 etc have come in for severe criticism
In recent times Sarath Fonseka was regarded as a hero in the South. Yet he was perceived in some circles as a disruptive factor in the peace process. It was Fonseka who refused to dismantle the high security zones as stipulated in the ceasefire agreement. It was Fonseka who coerced the Rajapakse regime into going back on the guarantee given in Geneva that the Tamil paramilitaries will be disarmed. There was a widespread impression in the Country that Fonseka, Defence secretary Gothabhaya Rajapakse and Defence adviser Kotakadeniya comprised the triumvirate advocating a return to open war.
The attack on Sarath Fonseka took place in broad daylight outside the army headquarters within a heavily guarded security precinct. Fonseka was in his office at the Army headquarters in Colombo Two or Slave Island during the morning of April 25th At 1. 30 pm he had left office intending to go home for lunch.One report however stated that the army chief intended having lunch at the officers mess on that day because he had to attend a top level defence conference at 2. 30 pm.
The army commanders vehicle had one pilot vehicle in front and a back up vehicle at the rear. Four outriders on motor cycles accompanied him two each on either side. The army chief had just commenced his journey when a seemingly pregnant woman standing nearby ran towards his vehicle. One of Fonseka’s bodyguards Cpl. LACR Yakandawela accompanying the vehicle on a motor cycle saw her and shouted at her to stop. When this failed he tried to stop her by kicking out at her. The woman fell .
An explosion then occurred hitting Fonseka’s and other vehicles in the convoy. The time was 1.35 pm. All four of Fonseka’s motor cycle escort rider cum bodyguards were injured. So too was the army chief’s aide de camp Major. Priyal Wickramasinghe.
“I saw a fireball as I came out of my saloon,” S.A. Weerasinghe, told “the Hindu” newspaper. Weerasinghe works in the military saloon, which is also inside the sprawling complex.
Security forces then cordoned off the area and took some of the affected persons to the nearby military hospital. At least four were pronounced dead upon admission. Simultaneously at least ten ambulances arrived and took all the seriously wounded persons to the National Hospital in Colombo 8 or Borella. Some with minor injuries were treated initially at the military hospital.
Extremely speedy attention was shown in the case of the army commander.Under the direction of National hospital director Dr. Hector Weerasinghe a team of doctors attended to Sarath Fonseka. This included apart from the regular staff , ten additional surgeons. Fonseka had received injuries to his chest and abdomen.His lungs too were pierced by particles of the bomb. Fonseka was suffering from heavy internal haemorrage and was in critical condition. Surgery on him began at 2.00 pm.It was a very delicate situation as bleeding had not stopped fully.
Surgery in two phases was performed within a period of three and a half hours. At one point Fonseka suffered a cardiac arrest and was thought a “goner”. But the tough Southerner from Ambalangoda fought death and clung on to life tenaciously. Two further surgeries were also performed.Hospital authorities said that the army commander’s health improved miraculously and that his condition is now stable. Though not firmly pronounced out of danger Fonseka is recovering and has regained consciousness. He is able to recognize people and has even spoken some words.It will however take a very long time for him to resume active duties.
Thirteen army men including Fonseka were admitted to the national hospital. Of these sgt. WAN Priyantha was found to be dead upon arrival. Sgt. Major Lasanthakumara had serious eye injuries and was later transferred to the eye hospital at 3. 30 pm.
Eleven people received emergency surgery at the national hospital. Of these three including the commander are in the intensive care unit.One has serious head injuries and the other heavy internal bleeding. The other eight are in ward 72. Two of them have serious injuries. Some injured persons are at present in the military hospital.Those receiving treatment at the national hospital include the army commander’s ADC Maj, Wickremasinghe, Lance coroporals Jayasekera and Seneviratne. Woman sgt. Sithara Gunatilleke is also warded.
Among army personnel confirmed to be dead are an army civian employee Ms. Niluka Priyangani from Kurunegala, Sergeant W.A.M. Priyantha- 4th Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, Corporal K. Warusawithana – 2nd (Volunteer) Sri Lanka Army Medical Corps, Lance Corporal O.K.D.P. Viraj – 3rd Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police, Lance Corporal G.M.S.L. Jagath – Gemunu Watch, Lance Corporal D.M.S. Sunil Rajaratne – 1st Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment, Private W.D.S.K. Devasurendra (S/409111) – 7th Gemunu Watch, Private D. Attanayake – Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps and the civilian and Corporal Y.L.A.C.R. Yakandawala – 1st Sri Lanka Corps of Military Police .
The severed , disfigured head of the woman bomber was found many yards away in the branches of a tree after the incident. Her legs were also recovered. The rest of the body was totally shattered.
According to official sources the woman had come to the military hospital on that day for ante – natal tests relating to pregnancy. The military hospital is situated within the same security precincts where the army headquarters is in. It is about 300 metres way from the main entrance. The military hospital caters to the needs of soldiers and their families.
Tuesdays was special maternity clinic day for those with concerns about pregnancy. . According to Police sources the woman believed to be Anoja had come the previous Tuesday (18th) and attended a seminar on pregnancy. She had then registered for tests the following Tuesday (25th) She was accompanied by a man claiming to be her husband and a soldier. Her documents and ID were in order.
Initially it was suspected that the “pregnancy” was bogus. Updated information reveal a different story. Apparently Anoja was really pregnant. She had begun visiting the military hospital three months ago. There was a man claiming to be a soldier who posed off as her husband. Both spoke Sinhala very fluently. Anoja had taken some tests and related documentation says she was pregnant.
The woman had also spoken and joked with soldiers on guard duty on her previous visits and was a familiar figure. On the 25th she had seemed unusually bulky. One soldier had laughed at her saying she looked nine and not five months pregnant. The “bulk” was due to the two kilo explosive strapped around her waist. Anoja was accompanied by the man described as her “husband” and another youth described as her “brother”. Both males were missing when the explosion occurred.
A military bus is made available on special clinic days to take patients from the entrance to the hospital. destinations. The woman was standing outside near the entrance for about 30 minutes seemingly waiting for this bus. The men who had come with her were now missing.
It is said that Fonseka always went home for lunch at 1. 30 pm sharp whenever he was in Colombo.Even as the army commander started out for home to have lunch the woman had rushed towards the vehicle from its left side. Fonseka was in the right side rear seat of the vehicle. The alert Yakandawela on a motor cycle had seen her and kicked out. The woman then detonated herself. It is said that Fonseka survived the attack due to this brave soldier receiving a direct hit. At least five of Fonseka’s bodyguards have been killed.
The national hospital was teeming with people after hearing of the army commander being admitted there. Additional troops were deployed to preserve law and order. Movement of people and staff was restricted. Restive crowds were anxious about Sarath Fonseka’s condition. People began dispersing only after Dr, Hector Weerasinghe announced at 5. 45 pm that the army chief’s condition was now stable.
Apart from the family members and close relatives of the army commander cabinet ministers Nimal Siripala de Silva, AHM Fowzie, Mangala Samaraweera,Rohitha Bogollagama , Defence secretary Gothabhaya Rajapakse, Presidential adviser Ajit Cabraal and former first lady Hema Premadasa etc were also in the hospital. Nimal Siripala who came with his wife gave the slip to waiting journalists by using a side entrance.
The suicide attack is regarded as a tiger operation and has been widely condemned. The USA, India and European Union condemned the attack and expressed support to the Colombo government.
With Indian Premier Manmohan Singh being in Germany and Uzbekistan seniormost minister and Defence minister Pranap Mukerjee telephoned Mahinda Rajapakse personally. The US state department said it was unfortunate that the LTTE had restarted the war instead of restarting the peace process.
The LTTE however denied that they were responsible. Tiger spokesperson Daya Master disclaimed all responsibility but did not comment further. An LTTE website abroad charged that the explosion was due to internal differences within the armed forces and said the explosion had occurred due to a bomb attached to Fonseka’s vehicle. There were few if any takers for the LTTE denial.
President Mahinda Rajapakse in a televised address to the nation appealed for calm and patience. Stating that he could not be frightened away Rajapakse also warned the LTTE that he and the Country would not bend their knees to terrorism. According to newspaper reports he also summoned a defence top brass meeting and wanted tough, retaliatory measures. Rajapakse also visited hospital to see Fonseka and other victims. Army chief of staff Gen Nanda Mallawaaratchi is now acting commander.
A coordinated bombing and shelling operation by the Army. Navy and Airforce was launched as a retaliatory measure in Trincomalee district. The Govt also stopped all transport to and from LTTE controlled areas in the North. The entry – exit points at Muhamalai, Uyilankulam and Omanthai were sealed off.
Rajapakse also met a UNP delegation led by Karu Jayasuriya in the absence of Ranil Wickremasinghe currently in the USA. He asked for full cooperation by the UNP and received such assurance. Meanwhile the JVP wanted Rajapakse to be “tough” against the LTTE. The JHU wanted the Govt to call off the ceasefire and declare war.
Unconfirmed reports say that the woman and the two men suspects were staying at a lodge on Dam street in Pettah.The lodge owner has been arrested.Police have also rounded up more than 300 people in Colombo after the attack. Of these 98 are kept in seven Police stations. Except for five Muslims and three Sinhalese all others are Tamil. Eleven are women.
A Tamil woman medical doctor has also been arrested. The woman was transferred to the national hospital from Jaffna a few days ago. She was not familiar with hospital geography and had wandered accidently to the Intensive care unit where Sarath Fonseka is in. She was arrested on suspicion and is being interrogated.
Six separate Police investigator teams are probing the incident. It is suspected that someone or some people from the “inside” had helped the Woman and her friends. At least 200 military and civilian employees at Army headquarters have been questioned.
Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) is a press release issued from Colombo condemned the “suicide bomb attack that took place at the Sri Lankan Army Head Quarters,” and urged the “Sri Lankan Government to equally refrain from any retaliatory actions at this stage and remain committed to the Peace Process.” .
“This attack is yet another serious blow to the Ceasefire Agreement and the Peace Process. It is likely to have very negative effects on the relationship between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers or Tamil Eelam and could jeopardize any possibility for future talks. ” the SLMM said
. The SLMM further added ” War is not an option for this country as it will only bring human misery and death. There is a desperate need for the two Parties to resume talks at all levels if the situation is not to result in a serious conflict that could escalate out of control and lead to war”.
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