இது ஒரு சிங்களவரால் எளுதப்பட்ட கட்டுரை. மிகவுன் உருக்கமான கதைகள். வாசிக்கும் போது மனம் குமுறுகிறது எங்கள் மக்களுக்கு இப்படியா ஒரு வாழ்க்கை.

A visit to "Liberated Areas" of South Mannar District

A visit to "Liberated People" of Arippu, Silawaturai, Maruthamadu, Kokkupadayan, Potkerny, and Mullikulam:

After about two weeks of "humanitarian operation" by the SL armed forces, it was announced that the above mentioned villages (within the parish of Arippu), were liberated. On the 14th of September I visited these so called "Liberated People" and returned to Negombo on the 16th. In solidarity with the suffering masses I would like to share with you my observations of the plight of the civilian people in the ‘liberated areas’.

As I entered the Church premises of Murunkan, I could see two long lines of tents built by a UNO refugee service. But, surprisingly I could not see a single person in any of those tents. I thought to myself it could be perhaps that the liberated people cannot be living in temporary refugee huts. Passing through the tents I walked towards the Don Bosco’s Technical School and then I could see hundreds of men, women, young and old, and infants with sad and sorrowful faces, sitting on the floor of Don Bosco's Technical School as its roof at least protected them from the scorching sun.

As usual children were running here and there as if nothing has happened. Rev. Fr. Xavier of Don Bosco told me that those are the people ‘liberated’ from their homes and land through the so called humanitarian operations of SL armed forces.

Here is the true story of the exiled brothers and sisters of parish of Arippu in Mannar. The militants who were living in these areas had withdrawn to some other area as they had received prior information that the army has plans to move towards Silawaturai from Murunkan. After about two weeks, the army began shelling the area which fell in the sea but gradually fell closer and closer to the land. People thinking that next Kaffir bomber may begin its mission, ran for their life leaving behind everything. Subsequently, the army moved towards the area and ordered all the people to vacate their homes within ten minutes. People not knowing what is going to happen ran for refuge. Narrating their story of agony, they said that it took many long hours to cross the Arivi Aru river with the help of two boats and then came to Nanattan and Murunkan areas. From that time onwards their villages were occupied by the army.

According to the govt. information, it was after a massive operation and heavy battle that Silawaturai was rescued from the militants. Contrary to government information, the people and Parish Priest said that not a single bullet had to be fired at the militants; no battle was fought against the militants, as they had already left from the area well ahead of the arrival of the armed forces.

Unfortunately, not all priests were there as some had gone to the National Seminary in Kandy, for a retreat. On their arrival on the following day the Parish Priest of Murunkan Rev. Fr. Stephen and some Holy Family nuns with the permission from army officials have gone to Arippu. They found that the mission house has been forcibly opened; the house in an utter mess and the 50ltr container of petrol missing. After two days, the officer in charge of the area asked the Father, Sisters and three elderly persons to vacate the place saying that at any time there can be a battle with the militants.

But, Fr. has said that he does not want to leave but rather stay and die among his people. But the army has brought a vehicle and transported them to Murunkan by force. Though no militants were present no battle was fought more than sixteen innocent persons, including children were killed while some have disappeared.

Fathers have said that the army officials have assured them that within 72 hours that they would allow people to go back to their villages. It was after ten days that I went there, but still that 72 hour period has not passed.

When two families were traveling in a van on that day, they including two children were killed by a claymore attack. The tragedy was that not a single person was allowed to go to that spot. After three days when permission was given, the priests accompanied by some others brought those decomposed bodies to Mannar hospital and buried them around 11.00 O'clock at night in the presence of Bishop Rayappu Joseph of Mannar.

The people of Mullikulam were not allowed to come out of their village and all communication with them was cut off. No permission was given to priests or NGOs or anybody else to enter in to that area. After a week, those starving people were ordered to walk about 20km up to Silawaturai and then transport was provided only to Murunkan by the army.

A co-op manager sending his wife and children in a vehicle with other people came by his motor cycle with money and jewellery in a bag. But, he has not still reached Murunkan. People are certain that he would never meet him again because he has been seen by others in an army vehicle. The husband of the niece of Fr. Jeyabalan, Parsih Priest of Arippu was another among the many killed.

A missionary nun working in Bangaladesh who had come for her holidays was also displaced with her relations. After two days she went back to bring her documents and found that all those were thrown away and the lap top she brought missing.

On Saturday evening, I noticed that people at Don Bosco’s were not to be seen. The army has decided to send them to other places. Twenty six families with their infants, children, old and sick people were given tents and settled within the premises of the Church under hot sun. Some were asked to find refuge in the houses of their relatives, while the others taken to various camps around. I saw some taken in tractors.

Frs. Jeyabalan, the Parsih Priest of Arippu and Beno accompanied me to the other camps at Nanattan parish. The church compound, school buildings, and paddy stores had given shelter to hundreds of families again. All those people had only one plea to make before the authorities; "allow us to go back to our homes".

There I listened also to a cry of a young mother. "When I was a child I was displaced, chased away from our home, went to India, lived in refugee camps, came back to begin life again, but what a tragedy! Now I am married, have children, now we are in the same plight. How long can we bear this suffering? It is better to die rather than living."

It is important that we in the south ask ourselves, 'Do we hear that cry'.

Again I had the opportunity to listen to some priests who had visited Artkattiveli, Adampan, Kannatti, Sampan, Vidathaltivu, Pallamadu, Kovilkulam, Karukkakulam areas and read the report they had written about the same. Daily shelling by the army had forced people to abandon these areas and settle down in the thick jungles without water but with snakes and poisonous serpents.

This is another story narrated by Fr. Jeyaseelan the Parsih Priest of Nanattan. "Recently, we dug the earth in the Church compound to lay a foundation to erect a statue. We couldn’t dig more than three feet, three human skeletons appeared. Thinking more skeletons would appear we closed the place". I have heard from a previous parish priest that he also found skeletons when they were constructing the mission house. How did this happen? This church had been an army camp before.

This is a little bit of news about the liberated people of Silawaturai area. I am only narrating what I experienced during the two days of my stay there. This is the kind of liberation the leaders of the South going to bring to the Tamil people of this country.

Having observed all these happenings there are some questions pricking my conscience which I would like to place before you. Who has the authority over these people? Who in fact takes decisions on their behalf? What right have they got to do so? Who ordered these innocent people out from their homes?

Don’t those people have a right to live in freedom with human dignity in this country? Don’t we hear the cry of the victims of violence? Can they, as human beings bear this suffering and pain any more?

Aren’t you too disturbed by these questions? Can we just keep silent believing only what the leaders of the South present to us as the TRUTH? Are we to continue to believe the slogans of war mongers that we are winning the battle, war is coming to an end and there will be perfect peace in the country soon?

Certainly, we have come to a decisive moment in the history of our country. God is constantly asking each one of us, ‘Where is your brother? Are we to answer back, am I the keeper of my brother’. In response to the call of God of history, let us join our hands with our suffering brethren.

Fr. Terence Fernando

Convener

Human Rights Action Forum

- transCurrents -

இது போன்று தமிழர் அல்லாதோர் வெளியிடும் அறிக்கைகளை உலகின் பல்வேறு தரப்பினருக்கும் தெரியபடுதுவதில் புலம் பெயர்ந்த்தோர் முக்கிய பங்கு வகிக்க வேண்டும். தமிழர் படும் பாடுகளை உலக சமூகத்தின் கவனத்திற்கு கொண்டுசெல்ல இது போன்ற அறிக்கைகள் பெரிதும் உதவும்.

நண்பர்களே இதை நம் கடமையாக செய்வோம்.