FOR 30 YEARS WE SAW THE TRUE FACE OF TERRORISM,

HAVE YOU?
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The Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) between the then Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam of February 2002 was the last attempt made to solve the conflict that prevailed in the country. And so, yes the CFA generated hopes, especially among those who were optimistic that the LTTE would change their ways, subvert the familiar script and genuinely take steps on the pathway to democracy and democratic ways of conflict resolution. However, it is noteworthy to state there was a significant change in the political environment when the CFA was concluded. The Government of the day was a co-habitation Government where the President and the Prime Minister were from different political parties. The Lessons Learnt Reconciliation Commission was also drawn to what was referred to as a significant lacuna in the provisions of the CFA namely the absence of a Human Rights component, resulting in a failure to bind the LTTE to the observance of Human Rights norms. Most importantly the critical issue of conscription of child combatants by the LTTE could not be dealt with in any manner under the agreement.

HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES ARISING FROM THE CONFLICT IN SRI LANKA

Since the conflict in the North and East of Sri Lanka broke out into large scale hostilities and eventually full-scale armed confrontation between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the security forces of the Sri Lankan government, there have been many attempts at negotiating a political settlement.

The first talks were held in 1985 in Bhutan. The The Commission in its final report inter alia had statThimpu Talks was the first attempt at a negotiated ed that an international Human Rights expert, Mr. Ian Martin, former Secretary General of Amnesty Intersettlement to the conflict. national who had made a study of the incorporation 2

of the Human Rights dimension into the CFA, had made certain recommendations in that regard. However this initiative was rejected by Mr. Anton Balasingham who objected to an international scrutiny of the human rights situation in the North and the East. It was contended that this strategy was adopted by the LTTE to dominate areas in the North and the East and to prevent any violations of human rights in these areas from being scrutinized, with regard to the LTTEs compliance with accepted human rights norms and standards. Further representations were also made to the LLRC on behalf of thousands of innocent civilians who lived outside the conflict affected areas and who fell victim to indiscriminate bomb attacks and other violent killings carried out by the LTTE over three decades.

affected by the conflict. The Commission also heard a substantial number of allegations of abductions and disappearances by the LTTE. A large number of representations were made with regard to those whose whereabouts are unknown, sometimes for years, as a result of abductions, unlawful arrests, arbitrary detention, and involuntary disappearances. According to the representations made a substantial number of cases of abductions involving the LTTE were reported during the Commissions visits to Batticaloa, Jaffna The Commission heard representations concerning and Muttur allegations pertaining to a range of human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, abductions, arbitrary arrests and detentions, and disappearances committed by the LTTE, There are also IDPs and other vulnerable groups, such as women and children, who have suffered human rights violations due to the conflict. During the public sittings and its field visits to conflict affected areas, the Commission was alarmed by a large number of representations made alleging the violations of fundamental rights and freedoms of people

Extract from the final report of the Lesson Learnt Reconciliation Commission appointed by the President of Sri Lanka

KALARAVA 25th May 1995

KALYANAPURA 8th September 1997

KARAMETIYA 21st February 2009

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KATHANKUDY 03rd August 1990

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PALLIYAGODELLA 15th October 1992

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VANKALAI-MANNA 08th June 2006

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BUTTALA-OKKAMPITIY 16th January 2008

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KABITHIGOLLEWA 15th June 2006

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PILIYANDALA 25th April 2008

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THADCHANA-MADU 29th January 2008

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SRI LANKA LIVED WITH THIS RUTHLESS TERRORISM FOR 30 YEARS

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Several countries listed the LTTE as a terrorist organization and proscribed in their respective countries based on allegations that LTTE does The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam commonly not respect human rights and that it does not known as the LTTE or the Tamil Tigers was adhere to the standards of conduct expected of a separatist terrorist organization formerly a Resistance Movement. The FBI has described based in northern Sri Lanka which waged a the LTTE as amongst the most dangerous and violent secessionist campaign to carve out an deadly extremist outfits in the world. Numerous independent state in the north and east of Sri countries and international organizations have Lanka. This campaign evolved into the Sri Lankan accused the LTTE of attacking civilians and reCivil War, which ran from 1983 until it was cruiting child soldiers completely crushed in May 2009, under the able political leadership of the President of Sri Lanka Attacks on Civilians His Excellency Mahinda Rajapaksa. The LTTE has launched attacks on civilian tarAt the height of their power, the LTTE possessed gets several times. Notable attacks include: a well-developed militia and carried out many The Anuradhapura Massacre - the first major high-profile attacks, including the assassinations attack carried out by the LTTE outside a Tamil of several high-ranking Sri Lankan and Indian majority area occurred in 1985. More than 146 politicians. Civilian massacres, suicide bombings, unarmed civilian devotees including monks, attacks on military targets and acts of ethnic nuns and ordinary people were brutally gunned cleansing were integral parts of its pursuit to down as they worshipped at a most venerated create a monoethnic Tamil Eelam. Buddhist shrine, the Sri Maha Bodhi. Consequent to their brutality and cruelty, the Later in the day, LTTE cadres also shot dead 18 LTTE is currently proscribed as a terrorist Sinhalese civilians in the Wilpattu National Park organization by 32 countries. The LTTE is noted while they were fleeing from the massacre of 146 for assassinating at least 8000 fellow Tamils, for civilians. whose liberation they claimed fighting for.

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

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The Aranthalawa Massacre - 31 Buddhist Monks most of them young novices were brutally murdered at Aranthalawa in the Ampara district of Eastern Sri Lanka on June 2 1987. This is considered one of the notorious and devastating atrocities committed by the LTTE during the history of the Sri Lankan civil war and continues to be commemorated to-date. The Kattankudy Mosque Massacre - On August 3, 1990, LTTE cadres killed in cold blood 300 people participating in a prostrate position in Isha prayers in four mosques in the town of Kattankudy. It is believed that around 30 Tamil rebels were responsible for these attacks. The Kebithigollewa Massacre 60 people travelling in a bus were killed by a claymore attack. The date 15th June 2006. The Dehiwala Train Bombing was carried out by the LTTE on July 24, 1996, resulting in 64 civilian deaths and wounding 400 others. The LTTE operatives placed suitcase bombs in four carriages on a commuter train causing a simultaneous explosion. This is the first time this method of simultaneous bombing was carried out.

The Central Bank Bombing - was one of the deadliest attacks the terrorists launched during their reign of terror. The target was the Central Bank located in Colombo, the financial business hub of Sri Lanka and the date 31st January 1996. A lorry containing 440 pounds of high explosives crashed through the main gate of the Central Bank. The lorry was followed by a three wheeler carrying two LTTE cadres armed with automatic rifles and an RPG launcher. The gunmen exchanged fire with the security guards in the bank while the suicide bomber in the lorry detonated the massive bomb. The bomb tore through the bank which was a multi storeyed building and damaged 8 other buildings nearby. The blast killed at least 91 people and injured 1,400 others. At least 100 people lost their eyesight. Among the wounded were two US citizens, six Japanese, and one Dutch national. Dollar Farm massacre - 33 civilians which included women and children were killed in Dollar Farm village in the night by armed LTTE cadres. Kent Farm massacre - Following the attack on the Dollar Farm village, a second night raid was launched by the LTTE cadres which targeted the Kent Farm village. 29 civilians including women 25

and children were massacred. They also looted and set fire to victims houses. Kokilai massacre - LTTE cadres killed eleven Sinhalese civilians in the fishing village of Kokilai.

it would stop conscripting child soldiers, but both UNICEF and Human Rights Watch have accused it of reneging on its promises, and of conscripting Tamil children orphaned by the tsunami In 2009 a Special Representative of the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations said the Tamil Tigers continue to recruit children to fight on the frontlines, and use force to keep many civilians, including children, in harms way

Women Soldiers of the LTTE

The participation of women soldiers in the LTTE has given rise to arguments whether women enjoy equal rights in society during the post-conflict period. It is observed that the LTTE has been unsuccessful in creating gender equality within the movement and that women have the right to achieve their emancipation and empowerment without linking nationalist and ethnic struggle interests.

Ethnic Cleansing

Child Soldiers

The LTTE has been accused of recruiting and using child soldiers to fight against Sri Lankan government forces violating all international norms despite its numerous promises to the international community inclusive of UNICEF. The LTTE was accused of having up to 5,794 child soldiers in its ranks since 2001. Amidst international pressure, the LTTE announced in July 2003 that

The LTTE is responsible for forcibly removing or ethnic cleansing, of Sinhalese and Muslim inhabitants from areas under its control in the northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka, and using violence against those who refuse to leave. The eviction of Muslim residents happened in the north in 1990 and the east in 1992. The main reason behind the expulsion of Muslims was the fact that local Muslim community did not support the Tamil Eelam struggle of LTTE. Beginning in 1985, the LTTE forcibly occupied 35,000 acres (140 km2) of Muslim-owned farmland in the north of Sri Lanka, before systematically evicting the Muslims from areas under LTTE control. Although anti-Muslim pogroms had occurred in the north and east of Sri Lanka

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since 1985, the LTTE embarked on a campaign to expel Muslims from the North in 1989. The first eviction notice was sent to the Muslims of Chavakacheri on 15 October 1989, after the LTTE entered the local mosque and threatened Muslims a few weeks earlier. Afterward, the houses of evicted Muslims were ransacked and looted. On 28 October 1989, the Muslims of Mannar were ordered to leave, by the LTTE. Before leaving, they had to seek permission and clearance at the LTTE office. LTTE was to decide their exit route. Ethnic cleansing culminated on 30 October 1990 when the LTTE forcibly expelled the entire Muslim population of Jaffna. LTTE commanders from the east announced at 7:30 am that all Muslims in Jaffna were to report to Osmania stadium, where they were to be addressed by two LTTE leaders, Karikalana and Anjaneyar. After listening to the leaders denigrate Muslims for allegedly attacking Tamils in the east, the leaders explained to the community that they had two hours to evacuate the city. The community was released from the stadium at 10 am, and by noon, and were only allowed to carry 500 rupees, while the rest of their possessions were seized by the LTTE.

Execution of Prisoners of War

LTTE had executed prisoners of war on a number of occasions, in spite of the declaration in 1988, that it would abide by the Geneva Conventions. The most important incident was the mass murder of unarmed 600 Sri Lankan Police officers in 1990, in the Eastern Province, after they surrendered to the LTTE upon the request of President Ranasinghe Premadasa. Police officers were promised safe conduct and subsequent release. But they were taken to the jungles, blindfolded, tied hands behind, made to lie down on the ground and shot. In 1993, LTTE executed 200 Sri Lanka Army soldiers, captured from the naval base at Pooneryn, during the Battle of Pooneryn.

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DURING THOSE DREADFUL 30 YEARS, LTTE VIOLATED HUMAN RIGHTS IN MOST BRUTAL WAY, BEYOND IMAGINATION

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