Soldiers Shot at Mannar Bus Passengers after Landmine Attack
May 1st, 2007
By D.B.S Jeyaraj
Disturbing information has come to light that soldiers in civilian attire were responsible for shooting passengers and crew of a private bus going from Mannar to Colombo on Monday April 23rd at Chettikulam.
Seven persons comprising the driver, conductor and five passengers were killed and a further thirty – seven injured in the incident.
The private bus named “Kapilan” had left Mannar for Colombo at about 9.00 pm fully packed with passengers. The bus was going along the Mannar – Medawachiya road when a claymore mine went off .
The incident occurred near Manik farm in the Chettikulam area about 125 metres away from where an army detachment was stationed.
The bus was hit but the driver managed to drive the tottering vehicle several yards forward and then stopped.
Evan as passengers both Tamil and Muslim were shouting in panic a gang of armed men in civilian clothing boarded the vehicle and sprayed it with bullets.
The bus driver, conductor and five passengers including an engineer were killed in the incident. A further thirty – seven were seriously injured.
The assassins had then gone off in the direction of the security forces camp.
While some people were injured in the landmine attack most of the victims received injuries in the shooting. The deaths too were due to shooting.
Though news reports said all victims were a result of the claymore mine explosion there is now information available that the shooting caused most damage.
Given the proximity of the security camp and eye – witness reports that the assassins had walked towards the camp instead of fleeing soldiers in civils are suspected of being responsible for both the landmine and subsequent shooting.
The act was in revenge for a landmine attack by the LTTE on a bus plying between Mannar and Vavuniya on April 7th. Several passengers , Tamil and Muslim, were killed and injured in the attack.
A contingent of soldiers on the bus were also victimised. One died and six were injured.
Meanwhile the Mannar citizens committee has written to President Rajapakse asking him to ensure civilian safety and also initiate an investigation into both incidents on April 7th and 23rd.
The text of the appeal is given below:
“We the members of the Mannar Citizens’ Committee are compelled by circumstances beyond our control to appeal to your Honor in particular and the conscience of the world community in general about the recent brutal killings perpetrated on the helpless and defenseless bus passengers traveling from Mannar to Vavuniya on 7th of April as well as Mannar to Colombo on 23rd April 2007.
It is an accepted axiom among the civilized nations of the world that any government worthy of its name should take all measures to protect the lives and properties of its subjects.
Under such desperate and dangerous circumstances the innocent and defenseless citizens of Sri Lanka are left with no alternative, but to appeal to your Excellency for timely intervention and assistance.
May we take the liberty of spotlighting the two recent merciless attacks on the buses packed with passengers by unknown persons within the fully tight security areas of the Sri Lankan security forces.
The attack was perpetrated at 7.45am on the CTB bus which left for Vavuniya from Mannar at 6.00am on 7th of April 2007 in the broad daylight. The claymore explosive fitted on to a tree was detonated by some unknown persons in the absolutely controlled area along Kannaty – Piramanalankulam road in the broad daylight.
In this dastardly act of brutality, seven innocent civilians including the driver of the bus and an army soldier were killed on the spot. In addition 25 passengers were wounded and taken to Vavuniya and Anuradhapura hospitals for treatment.
On the 23rd of April 2007 at about 11.30 pm a gruesome attack was perpetrated on a private bus named “Kabilan” which left Mannar at 9.00 pm fully packed with passengers. The incident took place along Mannar – Madawachchiya road near Manik-Farm. The bus which was hit by a claymore explosion dragged on for a short distance and came to an abrupt halt. According to some survived passengers some unknown armed persons got in to the bus and immediately started firing at random on the passengers who were pitiably crying for help. In this merciless firing 6 persons inclusive of the driver and the conductor of the bus were killed and 37 passengers were wounded.
Both these gruesome incidents had taken place in the controlled areas of the Security Forces.
The people who undertake long night bus journeys rely on the protection of the security forces.
In the above the circumstances our categorical demands are:-
1.To appoint a commission of inquiry into the killings concerned with the two above attacks. The culprits whoever they may be should be identified and brought before law and meted with due punishment.
2. To bring an immediate end to these types of human rights violations, extra judicial killings and extortions which also have raised their ugly heads in the district in the recent past.
To take action to see that the government in power in Sri Lanka takes adequate measures to safe-guard the lives of the innocent passengers who solely rely on the protection at the government for their safety and security.
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Entry Filed under: News
8 Comments Add your own
1. k.arvind | May 1st, 2007 at 7:46 am
This is only one such incident of multiple killing of Tamils reported in the past few days. The Cbo Press usually does not report these incidents. Meanwhile, the feelings of Sinhalese towards Tamils have hardened in the Post-April 28 period – as per reports we get from those using public transport. The negative response of the Tamil Polity to the SLFP Proposals announced yesterday will further exacerbate events in the immediate weeks.
2. Rohana | May 1st, 2007 at 11:43 am
When the deer eat the field of paddy, the farmer beats up the deer skin in the attick. That is our way.
Mr.Harry Gunatillake says how they can destroy the Koti Air Crafts. Kiyanne mehamai, koranne ehemi. Baila music.
3. T.Douglas | May 1st, 2007 at 1:55 pm
Sri Lanka is next to Dafur. Once Sri Lanka flowed with Milk and Honey now flowing with Tamil Blood and dead bodies of Tamils.
Very soon it will reach 100,000 dead bodies.
4. Gerard | May 1st, 2007 at 9:42 pm
The armed forces are the culprits, they set the claymore & wait , then bord the bus & shoot at random, they are trigger happy, their days are numbered. The way those inocent passengers died, those who shot them will sooner or later come to this fate, or else there is no God.
5. Ran Che | May 1st, 2007 at 11:49 pm
Shameful act by cowards shooting harmeless civilians.
Anyway what is the point of complaining to Mahintha.
Mahintha is the cause if the problam giving extreme rights to the army and Karuna.
Very soon Mahintha will fall to the swards
6. mannar women | May 2nd, 2007 at 12:47 am
Six civilians died and 33 got injured on the 23rd April 2007 attack on a public bus going from Mannar to Colombo. Eight injured persons are in critical condition. This is the third such attack on a passenger bus within this month and the second attack that targeted Mannar public transport service. On April 2nd, 17 civilians died in a bus bomb explosion in Ampara; and on 7th April, passengers of a Mannar -Vavunia bus were victims of a Claymore mine blast and six civilians died instantly. Altogether 29 civilians have been killed and over 100 injured in these attacks on passenger buses.
According to eye witnesses and injured passengers of the attack on the 23rd, the claymore mine exploded just 100 yards away from a military check point in Cheddikulum; and immediately after the explosion the military personnel at the checkpoint opened fire. Four civilians including the driver and the bus conductor died on the spot.
We, Mannar Women for Human Rights and Democracy, condemn any form of attack on civilians and would like to call attention to the recent rapid escalation of incidents of violence against Mannar citizens. Aerial bombardment, displacement, involuntary disappearance and abduction are on the increase. Civilians’ mobility in Mannar is very much restricted and people live in absolute fear. The two important livelihood activities of Mannar citizens: fishing and agriculture are almost becoming impossible due to the activities of both parties to the conflict. This includes restrictions of farmers’ and fishermen’s movements, enforcement of time limits on their livelihood activities, confiscation of their capital assets (boats, engines, tractors and water pumps), forced abductions, killings and the demanding of compulsory military service.
We reiterate that the current situation is the direct result of the ongoing war. Both the Sri Lankan government and LTTE have been using the present climate of impunity and lawlessness as an excuse for their blatant disregard for the safety and well-being of the civilians.
We appeal to the Sri Lankan government and LTTE to stop glorifying the war and immediately get back to the negotiating table to begin a serious and meaningful dialogue aimed at resolving the ethnic conflict. We also demand that the parties to the conflict should adhere to international humanitarian and human rights norms and allow an independent international body to monitor and investigate the abuses by all parties to the conflict.
Mannar Women for Human Rights and Democracy
7. Hela | May 2nd, 2007 at 4:07 am
Anyone committing such atrocities should be punished.
The first incident is suspected to be the work of LTTE.
The second incident is blamed on elements of the security forces.
While all appear to be jumping on to vilify the security forces, none seem to be raising any voice against the Tigers. As if the readers are condoning violence perpetrated by the Tigers.
In such circumstances how can a unified voice be raised to protect civilians.
8. Dingiri | May 14th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Lets face it. We live in a climate where acts are termed Attrocities only when they are commited agains ones own community. This conflict for some has become something like a cricket match where the only desired outcome is one’s own side winning. A draw where neither party wins outright but doesnt lose either that will end the bloodshed doesnt seem to be on anyone’s mind. So with attrocity and counter attrocity, attack and counter attack the conflict continues while the deathtoll and suffering goes on and on..
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