Execution of 13 civilians, two of them children, by Sri Lankan Navy

The location

Off the coast of Jaffna are many heavily populated islets (see map). Even after the ceasefire agreement (CFA), the controls exercised by the Sri Lankan Navy in these islets were quite distinct from what existed in Jaffna. Every person who enters the islet must pass through a military checkpoint. If the residents are hosting a visitor they must register with the Sri Lankan military. If visitors to Jaffna are taken aback by the excessive Sri Lankan military presence, they will find the prevailing conditions in the islets shocking.

Only a week ago, in Allaipiddy, a 74 year old man was shot, point blank, by Sri Lankan Navy while he begged not to shoot him. His daughter gave evidence to the judge. Terrorized civilians have started to sleep in numbers, vainly hoping that it will give them some protection. The two story home of Sellathurai Amalathas close to the Allaipiddi PhilipNeri’s church was one of these homes where people gathered at night for protection.

The incident

On the night of 13 May, around the area marked in the map, the Sri Lankan Navy ordered all the vehicles to stop and switch off the lights. At the same time paramilitary men went around in motorbikes ordering people in the area to switch off the lights in their homes.

Sri Lankan Navy gunmen entered the home of Sellathurai Amalathas and began their preplanned executions. The bullets had no difficulty in finding targets in the crowded home where people thought they could find safety in numbers. 11 people were hit by bullets. Eight died on the spot including a four month old baby and a four year old child sleeping between their parents. Three more lay bleeding.

The gunmen, the Sri Lankan Navy, refused to allow the injured to be taken to hospital. The catholic priest of PhilipNeri church, Fr Amalathas, rang the area judge and she ordered the Sri Lankan Navy to allow the injured to be taken to hospital. One of the injured died later in the hospital.

While this was going on at the home of Amalathas, other gunmen, other Sri Lankan Navy, entered the home of Shanmugalingam in Puliyankoodal and repeated their execution. Three members of the family are shot dead. Ten shops in Puliyankoodal were also burnt down by the Sri Lankan Navy.

At a third threatre, Vangalady, the gunmen entered the home of Senthuran, a tea shop owner. They shot and killed Senthuran. His parents and brother started running. Gunmen chased after the parents but failed in their aim of shooting them dead. Brother of Senthuran, jumped into the well to escape the gunmen and survived as a result.

News not coming out

Sri Lankan Navy disallowed civilians entering or leaving the islets on 14 May. Mobile phones do not operate from these islets. One of the communication centres was destroyed in the above incident. People are too terrorized to use the remaining two to inform the outside about what has occurred. The judge was not allowed to go to Allaipiddy until midday on 14 May to order the removal of the bodies in Allaipiddi The bodies of Shanmugalingam and family in Velanai is still in the same spot where they were shot. No body has yet been allowed to go there.

Why

Sellathurau Amalathas’s home in Allaipiddy is a two story imposing home. Sri Lankan Navy has been demanding the family to hand over the home to them for their own use.

Shanmugalingam runs a communication centre which is used by the Sri Lankan Navy. The Navy demands special concessions and privileges and this often creates friction between the owner and the Navy.

Senthuran’s tea shop is also frequented by the Sri Lankan Navy. Here too the Navy demands free cigarettes and other privileges.

The slaughter of these civilians is seen by the local people as a punishment and a warning to others for not yielding to the demand of the Sri Lankan Navy. They are executions to cower down the civilians. Terrorized people of the area have taken refuge in the churches. This is not the first time people of these islets have taken refuge in churches fearing the Sri Lankan military’s heavy hands. They have a sense of Deja vu about the present situation.

Killed in Allaipiddy

1. Four months old baby, Ketheeswaran Yathursan
2. Four year old child, Ketheeswaran Thanushkanth
3. Palachamy Ketheeswaran (25),
4. Ketheeswaran Anex Ester (23),
5. Abraham Robinson (28)
6. Sellathurai Amalathas (28)
7. Kanesh Navaratnam (50)
8. Joseph Anthonymuttu (64)
9. Sinnathurai Sivanesan (46).

Injured in Allaipiddy

1. S Mohanambikai (46)
2. T Sellathurai (61)

Killied in Velanai

1. Murugesu Shanmugalingam (72),
2. S Kantharoopan (29)
3. Shanmugalingam Parameswari (65)

Killed in Vangalady

1.Ratnam Senthuran (38)

14 May 2006

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