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Veteran Tamil Dravidian political leader K. Rajaram long hailed as a “gentleman in politics” (arasiyalil oru panpaalar) passed away on Feb 8th.
The Former Tamil Nadu Assembly speaker, born in 1926, K Rajaram died at a private hospital in Chennai at the age of 82.
Rajaram, a close associate of DMK founder late C N Annadurai, was a minister in the Karunanidhi ministry from 1971 to 1976 and again in the Jayalalithaa ministry from 1991 for some time.
He was the Assembly Speaker from 1980 to 1984. Rajaram was also an MP from Salem from 1962 to 1970.
He was labour and transport minister in the Karunanidhi cabinet and industries minister in the Jayalalithaa ministry.
Rajaram, along with the late VR Nedunchezhiyan, parted company with the DMK after the dismissal of the Karunanidhi ministry in 1976 and later joined the AIADMK.
He was elected to the state assembly from Panamarathupatti in Salem district in 1980 and became the assembly speaker.
He became the industries minister in Jayalalithaa cabinet in 1991, but was dropped from the ministry after some time.
Rajaram was also a secretary to social reformer Periyar E V Ramasamy for many years
Reacting to Rajaram’s demise Mr. Veerasingham Amandasangaree ,leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front, issued a statement expressing condolences. The text of the statement is given below:
It was with utter dismay that I received the news of the sudden demise of Shree. K. Rajaram a long standing Tamil Nadu Politician and Ex-Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
He was a gentleman politician who made his services available to everyone who needed his help. He was a great patriot as well.
My association with him extends to a period of over 30 years. It was in late 1976 that l took the Late Hon. G. G. Ponnambalam Q.C President of the All Ceylon Tamil Congress and a reputed Criminal Lawyer in Sri Lanka to Madras to defend the Present Chief Minister Hon. Dr. Kalaignar M. Karunanithy after his Government of 1976 was dismissed.
It was the Late Hon. K. Rajaram who took charge of Hon. G. G. Ponnambalam’s programme during his stay in Chennai.
Incidentally Hon. G. G. Pannambalam was to assume office as Joint President of the TULF along with the Late Hon. S. J. V. Chelvanayagam Q.C and the Late Hon. S. Tondaman President of the Ceylon Workers Congress, on his return to Colombo after the case. Little did we realise then that Hon. G. G. Ponnambalam was on his last journey and will not return alive.
He flew to Singapore, from where only his remains arrived for us to receive at the Katunayake Air Port.
In 1980 I once again met Hon. Rajaram at Luzaka in Zambia where both of us attended the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference. He represented Tamil Nadu as its speaker and I represented as a Member of Parliament from Sri Lanka.
During our short stay we participated in the 100th anniversary celebration of Mahakavi Subramania Barathiar, organised by the Tamils there.
On his way back home he visited Sri Lanka and was the chief quest at the Bandaravanniyan Commemoration meeting at Vavunia.
During my long stay in Chennai between October 1983 and December 1989 we used to meet off and on. We had attended many functions and also addressed a number of meetings.
He was very friendly and much helpful to the Leaders of the Tamil United Liberation Front like the Late Mr. A. Amirthalingam, the Late Mr. M. Sivasithamparam and many others like Mr. R. Sampanthan.
I send my deepest sympathies to his kith and kin, his constituents and the People of Tamil Nadu. May his soul rest in Peace.
V. Anandasangaree,
President-TULF.
February 10th, 2008
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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May 1st, 2007
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Two Tamils of Sri Lankan origin currently residing in Australia were arrested and produced in courts on May 1st for allegedly funding the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Two Melbourne residents were produced in courts charged with providing material support and funding to Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers.
Aruran Vinayagamoorthy, 32, of Mt Waverley, and Sivarajah Yathavan, 36, of Vermont South, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on May 1st afternoon after their arrests earlier in the day .
They were each charged with intentionally being a member of a terrorist organisation and providing support and making funds available to a terrorist organisation.
The offences are alleged to have occurred between July 6, 2002, and May 1, 2007.
Commonwealth prosecutor Mark Dean SC said the defendants collected money in Australia that was sent through various channels in Asia to the Sri Lanka-based Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), or Tamil Tigers.
Mr Dean also said the pair supported the organisation by providing electronic and marine equipment.
He said authorities searched the mens’ homes where further evidence was obtained.
However, defence lawyer Rob Stary said more information on the nature of the charges the men faced was needed so they could apply for bail.
The men were remanded in custody until July 24 for a committal mention.
Australians may have been duped into giving money to fund a bloody civil war by two men accused of providing material support and funding to Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers under the pretence of raising money for tsunami relief appeals, police alleged .
Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner Frank Prendergast said prior to the men appearing in court that police would allege that tsunami relief appeals were used as a vehicle for some of the fund-raising for the Tamil Tigers.
Both men arrested Tuesday for raising money for Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels, were not planning an attack in Australia, police said.
“There is no evidence that these two men were planning to carry out a terrorist attack in Australia,” Frank Prendergast, a senior counterterrorism officer with the Australian Federal Police, said in a statement.
“It will be alleged in court that these men are members of an organization engaging in terrorist activity overseas and they have been providing active, material support to that group,” he said.
Australia list the rebels, formally known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, as a terrorist group in accordance with a U.N. charter relating to financing terrorism.
Both men, one aged 32 and the other 36, were arrested in Melbourne on Tuesday in a joint operation by federal police and Victoria state police.
Both men were charged with being a member of a terrorist organization, with providing support to a terrorist organization and with intentionally receiving making funds available to a terrorist organization.
They face a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment if charges are proved.
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May 1st, 2007
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Displaced persons staying at five refugee camps in Batticaloa district were forcibly removed to Trincomalee district in a sudden “operation” masterminded by an Assistant Superintendent of Police around noon on Thursday March 15th. Though exact figures are not known NGO sources said that nearly a thousand people were taken against their will in thirty buses to Trincomalee district.
The Batticaloa district Government Agent or divisional secretaries were not informed of this action by the authorities concerned. An NGO official said that civil administration officials in B’caloa were totally in the dark when informed of the incident.
A Sinhala speaking ASP had come down from Trincomalee to supervise the entire forced re- location. He was acting on authority provided by the Trincomalee Government Agent who is a retired major – general of the Sri Lankan army.
According to informed sources 30 buses were used in the operation. Five camps for Internally displaced persons (IDP’s) staying at refugee camps known as welfare centers were the targets. The five camps were located at Savukkadi,Aiyankerni, Palaacholai, Kirimutti and Kiran in the Eravoorpattru (Chenkalladdy) and Koralaipattru West )Kiran) AGA or Pradeshiya divisions.
Six buses were parked near each IDP camp at five places. Police officers brought from Trincomalee along with Security personnel deployed in B’caloa district swooped down on the five camps suddenly and began forcibly removing people to the buses. While hundreds of people fled the camps to avoid being taken to the buses many others particularly those senior in age were “caught”.
People were forced to bring their meagre belongings along and packed into buses. The belongings were put in one bus while the human cargo was packed into the other five buses parked at each of the five camps. Some people were cooking at the time but had to leave food and utensils behind. Others had to leave their drying clothes which they had washed earlier.
It is also alleged that family units were ruptured as some children were away in temporary “school” and other members were away at the time or had fled.
In an operation conducted with military precision and brute force the roughly 25 – 35 people were hered into the 25 buses with Policemen guarding them. Their belongings “tavelled” separately in five buses. The name of the ASP from Trincomalee who “commanded” the operation is not known.
All peeople forcibly removed were from nine Grama Sevakha or Village Services divisions in Muthur and Eechilampatru in Trinco dist. . The nine GS divisions were Mallikaitheevu,Periyavely, Pattithidal, Kiliveddy, Bharathypuram, Menkaamam, Kanguveli, Iruthayapuram and Paalathadicenai.
The people are being taken to a transit camp in Kiliveddy first. They will be re- settled in their own villages in due course.
With displacement on a massive scale being underway in B’ caloa district due to military action the Govt is now planning to re- locate IDP’s from Trincomalee dist to their own places and fill the “vacancies” with new B’caloa IDP”s.
While the Tamil inhabitants of certain places considered militarily “strategic” like Sampoor, Koonitheevu, Ilankaithuraimuhathuvaaram, Nallur, Pattalipuram etc are not being allowed to return the Govt is applying force to re- settle others from places .
The people however are unwilling to be re- settled as the security situation is fragile and large – scale hostilities could break out at any time. This could result in further displacement.
Another problem is that all infra – structure in Muthur and Eechilampattru divisions are destroyed. Most dwellings too are destroyed. Besides their belongings left behind have been looted. Also the re- located people are being forced to live amidst poor surroundings in makeshift shelters akin to an IDP camp.Most people feel it would be better to remain in B’caloa and re- locate only after a permanent peace is assured.
This is the reason for their reluctance to move out. The UNHCR has emphasised that no one should be forces to return against their will. But the Rajapakse regime well – known for flouting civilised norms is bent on removing this segment of the IDP”s while creating more IDP”s through shelling and bombing.
One reason for the Governments strong show of force in re-locating IDP”s is the incident on March 12th. On that day 2803 people from 771 families from Trincomalee district were officially scheduled to be removed from the IDP camps in B’caloa. But when 35 buses moved in most people ran away and escaped forcible removal. Only 781 people from 228 families were taken away.
Authorities were miffed over this incident and Thursday’s operation was a sequel to the earlier one. Most people taken ere those who avoided re- location on March 12th.
Meanwhile three Ministers from the North – East Riyaz Badiuddeen, Basheer Segu Dawood and Ameer Ali were attending a meeting at the Sithandy camp to discuss matters of IDP re- settlement. They were inaccessible to the media and it is not known whether they were aware of this forcible removal incident or not.
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March 15th, 2007
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
The Catholic Bishop of Mannar most Rev. Joseph Rayappu met Gotabhaya Rajapakse on Thursday March 15th and cautioned the Defence secretary about the need to avoid civilian casualties during military operations.
Bishop Rayappu also pointed out to the defence secretary who is also President Mahinda Rajapakse’s sibling that more than 10, 000 displaced persons had taken refuge at the well – known Madhu Church premises and outlying precincts. As such it was necessary to maintain the area as a “conflict free zone” and avoid military actions that could harm the Church or people the Bishop requested.
Bishop Rayappu was in Colombo on the eve of his departure to Jaffna on a peacebuilding goodwill mission. Three Catholic Bishops from dioceses in the South were scheduled to accompany him on this mission.
“Thousands of people have been gathering at the Church over the past months. They are fearful of escalating military hostilities on both sides. They feel that Madhu Church and its environs would provide them safety and refuge.The number now exceeds 10, 000 ” Bishop Rayappu said.
“The Mannar diocese is looking after them with the help of Catholic agencies like SEDEC and CARITAS” said the Bishop. “We also get some limited assistance from UNHCR, ICRC and WFP” he said.
“The people are mainly from villages in the LTTE controlled areas in Mannar and Vavuniya districts” said the Bishop. ” They worry about bombing and shelling by the armed forces. They can also see that both sides are making military preparations and are concerned that they would be affected in the hostilities.” explained the Bishop .
The Chutch is offering refuge not only to Catholics but to Protestants and to people of all faiths including Hindus” he added.
“It is important for military authorities to adopt caution and be careful in taking military action that may affect innocent civilians”, Bishop Rayappu said. “If Madhu Church gets caught up in the middle of militay action thousands of people could be harmed” he further said.
“That is why I met the defence secretary who listened carefully to what I had to say and stated that my cautionary views will be taken full note of ” the Mannar Bishop said.
Bishop Rayappu said that Church leaders had cautioned the LTTE also of the need to avoid harm to civilians and also to treat Madhu Church and environs as a no – war zone” he said.
“While unarmed LTTE cadres were allowed to visit Madhu precincts no armed persons were allowed in now” The Mannar Bishop said.
The Madhu Church was shelled some years ago and there was much controversy about who was responsible as both the GOSL and LTTE blamed each other.
Bishop Rayappu’s meeting with the Defence secretary comes in the wake of reports that military activities have escalated in Mannar.
LTTE spokesman on military affairs Rasiah Ilanthiraiyan claimed that a military offensive was resisted on THursday )Mar 15th) at Mullikulam village on the Mannar – Vavuniya border. “More than 600 soldiers were involved in the push and were beaten back” he claimed.
The military drive was preceded by intensive shelling of places like Mullikulam, Keerisuddaan and Periyapandivirichaan.Many civilians were injured and dwellings destroyed in the shelling.
Artillery fire from Peyaadikoolaankulam was also directed against the villages of Pandrikkeithakulam, Mariyadichakulam and Puliyankulam. Likewise the villages of Paalamottai and Semamadhu were shelled from Omanthai.
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March 15th, 2007
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Norwegian special peace envoy, Jon Hanssen – Bauer may not go to Kilinochchi to meet the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Tuesday December 5th as originally scheduled.
This is due to a “request” made by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse that Hanssen – Bauer should postpone his meeting with the tigers till the Government of Sri Lanka(GOSL) arrives at some new decisions.
The “request” was conveyed to Hanssen – Bauer through Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera.
The Norwegian special envoy who arrived in Colombo last week has met with Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Nimal Siripala de Silva and Peace secretariat director PTB Kohona.
He was scheduled to be in Kilinochchi to meet tiger representatives and ascertain from them the current status of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) that has been in force from Feb 23rd 2002.
This was necessitated as a result of LTTE chief Velupillai Pirapakaran’s Great Heroes Day speech on November 27th during the course of which he descibed the ceasefire as “defunct”.
The GOSL wanted facilitator Norway to inquire from the LTTE as to what the position was and clarify the contents of the speech.
President Rajapakses decision of asking Hanssen – Bauer to defer his Kilinochchi trip is due to the attack on his brother and Defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapakse on Dec 1st.
The GOSL is seriously examining the pros and cons of abrogating the CFA unilaterally and also proscribing the LTTE formally.
The GOSL also intends introducing further emergency regulations under the Public Security Ordinance (PSO) and re – imposing the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) .The PTA was not enforced under article 2.13 of the CFA.
Though the GOSL will not proscribe the LTTE for the moment a final decision will be made soon on that and the CFA issue.
Rajapakse wants the Norwegian facilitators to meet the LTTE after the GOSL stance on these issues are finalised and new emergency laws prmulgated.
He is also opposed to Hanssen – Bauer meeting the LTTE at this juncture because it may convey a wrong signal to the tigers and the country.
A meeting with the LTTE shortly after the attack in Colombo could be interpreted as a sign of waekness feels Rajapakse. He also needs time to finalise his position.
The response of Hanssen – Bauer to this request is not known but it is expected that he would abide by Rajapakse’s wishes.
In that respect the Norwegian envoy may return to Oslo without visiting Kilinochchi.
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December 3rd, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
The Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) headed by President Mahinda Rajapakse has decided to usher in tough anti – terrorism laws to be used against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) again.
There will however be no proscription of the tigers for now.
The decision was reached after an emergency session of the cabinet held on Dec 1st in the aftermath of the explosive attack on Gotabhaya Rajapakse the Defence secretary and younger brother of President Mahinda Rajapakse.
Thereafter another meeting was chaired by President Rajapakse who is a lawyer himself to finalise new laws and measures. This meeting was attended by senior ministers, top bureaucrats and odfficials of both the Attorney – Generals and Legal Draftsman’s dept
The GOSL has decided to remove the moratorium on the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA)and re – impose it again say Colombo media reports.
“The re-introduction of the PTA in effect will amount to the lifting of a defacto moratorium placed on its enforcement. This was in terms of Article 2.13 of the Ceasefire Agreement of February 2002. The Article states: “The Parties agree that search operations and arrests under the Prevention of Terrorism Act shall not take place. Arrests shall be conducted under due process of law in accordance with Criminal Procedure Code.”
“The Attorney General withdrew several cases filed against PTA suspects shortly after the 2002 Ceasefire came into operation. These related to cases where suspects withheld information on the LTTE. Cases where suspects were charged with attacks on military camps, however, were kept open, and are likely to get re-activated under these new measures”
” Until now the Government has been relying on emergency regulations brought under the Public Security Ordinance to conduct search-and-arrest operations against suspected LTTE cadres, particularly in the City of Colombo and immediate suburbs. These regulations came into effect after then Foreign Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar was assassinated in August last year. These new measures will be in conformity with the United Nations laws on terrorism.” the reports say.
The Public Security Ordinance (PSO) will be amended to bring in new measures adding fresh powers to existing Emergency regulations.
According to media reports the” new emergency regulations under the PSO will make provision for the arrest of anyone for questioning for involvement in terrorist activity or having connections with a terrorist organization. Such regulations, however, will not make any pointed reference to the LTTE except to refer to it indirectly as a terrorist organization”.
“Under the new measures, a Competant Authority is to be appointed and its permission will be required for any organisation to have dealings with a ‘terrorist organisation’. This provision to the new laws is aimed at permitting certain NGOs that are engaged in humanitarian work in the North and East to operate” say news reports.
While re- imposing the PTA and introducing new emergency laws the GOSL will not proscribe the LTTE for the time being it is learnt. This is because the International Community wants Sri Lanka to continue talking to the LTTE as far as possible.
Proscribing the tigers again will prevent possible inter- action between the Government and the tigers.
The LTTE was legally proscribed in 1998 after the attack on “Dalada Maligawa”.
The LT TE was de – proscribed in 2002 to facilitate the peace process.
Though Sinhala hardline organizations and parties are clamouring for re – proscription in 2006 President Rajapakse has ruled against the idea for the moment.
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December 3rd, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Sri Lankan president Mahinda Rajapakse’s younger brother and Secretary to the ministry of Defence, Public Security and Law and Order, Gotabhaya Rajapakse escaped unhurt when a suicide bomber rammed an explosive laden vehicle into the motor convoy in which the retired Lt. Colonel was travelling.
[Gotabaya Rajapakse after the attack - TamilNet Photo]
The incident took place at 10. 39 am on Friday December 1st in Kollupitiya along Dharmapala mawatte (Turret road) near the Greenpath Pithala junction where brassware is sold on the pavement.
Gotabhaya was going from his heavily fortified residence to “Temple Trees” where his brother and President, Mahinda Rajapakse was staying. This was for the National Security Council meeting.
At least four persons including the suicide assassin were killed and fourteen injured seriously in the explosion. Two security personnel were killed and seven injured in the attack.A civilian was also killed.
The suicide killer drove an explosive laden three – wheeler into the middle of the convoy targetting Rajapakse’s vehicle. Though it sustained damage Gotabhaya Rajapakse was unhurt except for slight grazing caused by glass splinters. He was later seen with a few drops of blood on his collar and sleeve.
The mode and manner of the attack pointed the finger at the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
With rumours spreading like wildfire that the Defence secretary was killed Gotabhaya rushed in another vehicle to meet elder brother Mahinda and set his mind at ease. A visibly emotional President hugged his brother closely and expressed relief.
Apart from the suicide killer another civilian was also killed along with two security personnel. Among the injured seven are security personnel and five civilians.The condition of at least three is said to be serious.
Some of the civilians were injured when commandoes in the security escort opened fire to clear the area.. Some vehicles also were damaged as a result of both the explosion and defensive fire.
Gothabhaya Rajapakse served for more than 20 years as an army officer. He was commanding officer of the first Gajaba regiment . He was also engaged in the defence of the Jaffna Fort in 1990 which was subsequently abandoned by the army . The Tiger flag was hoisted on the Fort ramparts by “Col” Bhanu of the LTTE on September 26th.
Rajapakse retired as Lt. Col when his superior officer was Col. Sarath Fonseka the present army commander. Gotabhaya won an American Lottery visa and migrated to the USA. He lived for more than ten years in the US and was among other things an IT director at a law school.
He returned to Sri Lanka during the Presidential election campaign to support his sibling. Thereafter he was appointed Defence Secretary and old army “buddy” Sarath Fonseka was made Army commander. Incumbent Army Chief Lt. Gen Shantha Kottegoda was eased out and sent to Brazil as Ambassador.
Fonseka and Rajapakse have been virtually devising and implementing defence and seurity policies. They are said to be adopting a hard. no nonsense policy against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
A massive security crackdown was ordered in the City after the incident.
[August 14th, Kollupitiya: Picture - indi.ca]
On August 14th another claymore mine attack was directed against outgoing Pakistani envoy about 150 yards away from where the attack on Gothabhaya occurred.
On June 16th Army chief of staff Gen. Parami Kulatunga was killed in a suicide bomber attack on the outskirts of Colombo.
On April 25th Army chief Sarath Fonseka was injured in a suicide operation within the Army headquarters premises.
Many leaders and officials rushed to Temple Trees to congratulate Gotabhaya on his miraculous escape.
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December 1st, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Tranquility in the war ravaged Muthur East region was shattered on Tuesday September 5th as fierce fighting erupted again in three places including Sampoor.
Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL)troops and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres were engaged in artillery and field artillery fire intermittently for several hours.
Although the GOSL announced that it had brought Sampoor under control on Monday Sep 4th about 25% of Sampoor region and much of other areas in the Muthur East division of Trincomalee district were dominated by the LTTE.
Even as the LTTE vacated Sampoor and GOSL soldiers moved in to Sampooor town and outlying areas the tigers fired artillery at the Selvanagar camp and killed two security personnel and injured a few others.
While most of the media accepted GOSL version of Sampoor being conquered and projected an impression that the LTTE was defeated the tiger political commissar for Trincomalee , S. Elilan said that the tigers were present in Sampoor region and that the fighting had not ended.
On Tuesday Sep 6th morning at about 7. am troops from Selvanagar camp moved out but faced intense artillery fire from the LTTE . Soldiers fired back with field artillery and from battle tanks and armoured cars.
After heavy exchanges of fire the soldiers returned to base at about 8.30 am. They had suffered four deaths and thirteen injuries. The amount of LTTE casualties were not known.
After a few hours of lull artillery firing commenced again in the afternoon at Selvanagar. This continued late into the night.
Meanwhile GOSL troops also commenced two ground based drives at about 8 am from Sampoor and Pallikkudiyiruppu. Troops from Pallikkudiyoruppu tried to move into Pattalipuram from one direction.
Troops from Sampoor tried to move forwad in two directions. One formation tried to go around the coastal bend towards Ilakkanthai. The other formation thrust itself through Senaiyoor to Pattalipuram from another direction.
LTTE cadres who had supposedly vacated the region sprung a surprise when they commenced retaliatory artillery fire. Troops also fired back and returned to previous positions after a while. Both sides however engaged in sporadic artillery fire till evening.
The casualty rates of fighting in Sampoor and Pallikkudiyiruppu are not known. Fighting in these areas was restricted to artillery firing. There was no direct fighting.
The GOSL did not reveal any details about the fighting in Sampoor or Pallikkudiyiruppu or the fact that troops had tried to advance on three fronts. Officially it was stated that tigers had fired on the Selvanagar camp killing two and injuring some others.
Interestingly the GOSL troops were engaged in fighting with the tigers on three fronts including Sampoor when cabinet spokesperson on Defence Affairs Keheliya Rambukwella was stating in Colombo that there would be no war in Sampoor. “He said that there would be no more offensives and that the Government was only interested in peace.
Despite taking control of LTTE vacated Sampoor the GOSL seems determined to continue the war until more areas are captured and consolidated. The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) has called for the expulsion of the LTTE from the Eastern Province.
Though President Mahinda Rajapakse assured the four co – chairs that Sampoor was a limited operation intended to remove the security threat to Trincomalee subsequent events are proving that Colombo is on a military push in Muthur East.
The LTTE maintaining a presence in the region are resisting these advances.
Rambukwella however seems to have stated a bitter truth when he said at the press briefing that taking control of Sampoor was not a “Victory”.
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September 6th, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) armed forces from the Kallaru camp in Seruwila division of Trincomalee district commenced Multi – Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) fire at noon on Tuesday September 6th killing three and injuring eleven Tamil civilians.
Kallaru is the premier army installation in the region with Deputy military commander Maj. Gen Nanda Mallawaratchy being stationed at Kallaru to oversee the Sampoor military campaign.
Troops fired MBRL barrages at 12. 30 pm towards the Trincomalee – Batticaloa border areas.Firing continued for about 40 minutes.
Rocket shells hit the Verugal area in Trincomalee district and Kathiraveli, Paalsenai and Vaaharai areas in Batticaloa district.
The region is full of people displaced from other areas in Trincomalee who fled here in search of refuge due to intense bombardment and artillery attacks.
More than 50,000 displaced persons have sought refuge in Batticaloa district and Verugal.
Two women were killed and seven other displaced civilians injured when shells fell on a makeshift refugee camp in Verugal.The names of affected persons were not known.
One person was killed and four injured when MBRL fire hit another makeshift refigee camp in Kathiraweli in Batticaloa district. Fortunately a team of ICRC Red Cross was nearby and provided prompt assistance.
The ICRC took the injured Internally displaced persons to Vaalaichenai hospital in their vehicle. Of these three critically injured people were taken by ICRC officials to Batticaloa hospital.
One person succumbed to his injuries. His name was Subramaniam Mahendrarajah. The 45 year old man had worked as a lorry driver at Eechilampattru cooperative before displacement.
The injured people receiving treatment at Batticaloa are M. Arulchelvam (38) and S. Inthira (32).
The shelling from Kallaru camp came as a shock because the fighting was expected to subside after Sampoor was retaken by the GOSL.
Yet some more military offensives seem to be on the cards as the Government intends clearing the Verugal – Vaaharai region of tigers in the days to come.
As in the case of Maavilaaru where shelling and bombing continued even after the Liberation Tigers of Tamil eelam (LLTE) had opened the sluice gates GOSL attacks on civilian targets are likely to continue despite Sampoor being retaken.
A major humanitarian tragedy is on the cards if the GOSL continues with its genocidal war against the Tamil people under the pretext of combatting the LTTE.
The JVP has called for the exppulsion of tigers from the Eastern Province.
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September 6th, 2006
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