Eastern University massacre

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Background

Origins of the Civil War

• Origins of the Civil War
• Black July • Human Rights Issues • Riots and pogroms
• Attributed State terrorism
• Prison massacres
• Tamil militant groups

LTTE

• LTTE • Attributed Terrorist attacks • Child Soldiers
• Attributed assasinations
• Notable Attacks • Expulsion of Muslims from Jaffna

Major figures

• Mahinda Rajapakse
• Velupillai Prabhakaran
• Karuna Amman
• Sarath Fonseka

Indian Involvement

• Operation Poomalai
• Indo-Sri Lanka Accord
• Indian Peace Keeping Force
• Rajiv Gandhi • RAW

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Location of Sri Lanka

Eastern University massacre also known as Vantharoomulai campus massacre is an infamous massacre of 158^[1] minority Sri Lankan Tamil refugees who had taken refuge in the Eastern University campus close to the city of Batticalao by the majority Sinhalese dominated Sri Lankan Army personnel on September 5, 1990. ^[2]

1 Eye witness acounts
2 Government investigation
3 Massacres and disappearances in the Eastern Province
4 See also
5 See also
6 References

[edit] Eye witness acounts

The Sri Lankan Army personnel from Valaichchenai camp went into the villages of Vantharumoolai, Sungankerny and Karuvakkerny, the people ran into the Campus for protection. The lecturers at the campus provided protection for them and hoisted a white flag in front of the University. According to University Teachers for Human Rights - Jaffna (UTHR-J) a local Human Rights organization, following is the eye witness account of one of the lecturers as to what happened as recorded.^[3]

“

As soon as the army went into the villages of Kondayankerny, Sungankerny and Karuvakkerny they started shooting and hacking the people to death. Wherever they killed people, they lost no time in burying the bodies. The soldiers were equipped with a Bulldozer which made it very easy to bury the bodies. In those three villages – they arrested forty eight (48) people and took them to Valaichchenai main road. There they shot dead all 48 people and buried their bodies in the compound of a private land. In seven days, the (Eastern University) campus was full of fifty-five thousand - 55,000 - refugees. On the eighth day, the army walked into the campus ignoring our white flag. Some Tamil (paramilitary operatives) and Muslims (home guard)s collaborating with the army also came with the army. As soon as they entered the campus they asked us as to who were staying here. We told them the people from Valaichchenai and Arumugathan colony were there. While he was talking to us, two empty buses came to the campus. The soldiers ordered the people to come in a line and with the help of those collaborators - they selected hundred and thirty eighty 138 youths from the camp. All were ordered to get into two buses. All the parents and family members started pleading and screaming. But they were all taken to an unknown destination. We prepared the names and addresses of all 138 people who were taken by the army. Later we went to all the army camps and inquired about the whereabouts of the 138 people. But the army said that they were not aware of those people.

”

Following witnessing the arrest of 138 people, this the witness was arrested on his way home and subsequently released after a 9 day internment in which he further witnessed murders of arrestees in the camp ^[4]

[edit] Government investigation

The President Chandrika Kumaratunge appointed a three member-Presidential Commission of Inquiry into Involuntary Removal or Disappearances of Persons in the Northern and eastern Provinces. The Chairman of the Commissioner was Justice Krishnapillai Palakidner and the President signed the warrant on 30th November 1994. The other two Commissioners were Mr.L.W.R.R.Widyaratne and Dr.W.N.Wilson. The Commission released its final report on September 1997.{Ref|6}}

Regarding the arrest and subsequent disappearances from the Vantharumoolai Eastern University Refugee Camp the final report said:

The arrests from the Vantharumoolai Eastern University refugee camp were the biggest group arrest of the Batticaloa district. The arrests took place on 5th September and 23rd September 1990. 158 persons were arrested on the first day, while 16 were taken into custody on the second day. A list containing the names of 158 persons who were reported to have disappeared was produced before this Commission and 83 witnesses testified to the disappearances of 92 persons, out of the 158 reported above. Also evidence was given regarding 10 of the 16 persons who disappeared on the subsequent arrest.^[5]

According to the evidence, nearly 45,000 people had taken refuge since July 19990, following the outbreak of violence in the vicinity of the said University. Professor Mano Sabaratnam administered the refugee camp. Dr.Thangamuthu Jeyasingham and Mr.Velupody Sivalingam and supported the non-governmental organizastions during this period.^[6]

On 5th September 1990, by about 6 o’clock in the morning Army men from Kommathurai army camp along with personnel from some other camps as well came in a SLTB bus and entered the premises of the Eastern University. This was followed by an announcement by an amplifier fitted to a white colored van asking the refugees to form into three different queues- persons of the age group of 12 to 25 in the first row, persons of the age group of 26 to 40 in the second row and persons over 40 years of age in the third row. People in three queues were asked to pass through a point where five persons in masks clad in army uniform were seated in chairs along with seven Muslims standing those in masks.^[7]

Whenever the persons in masks gave a signal, the people who were in the queues were taken away from the queue to a side. When this operation was completed, 158 persons who were pulled out from the queues were taken away by the Army despite the protests by their kith and kin. There was evidence to show that the arrests were done by the Kommathurai army camp with the assistance of personnel from other army camps as well and that the following army officers were directing the operations; Captain Munas, Captain Palitha, Captain Gunaratna, Major Majeed and Major Monan.^[8]

There was also evidence to show that Gerry de Silva had visited the refugee camp on 8th September, 1990 and had told the officers responsible for the administration of the refugee camp that all the 158 persons who were taken into custody on 5th September were found guilty. However he had declined to say what had happened to them after they found guilty.^[9]

There was further evidence to say that one of the officers who were in charge of refugee camp made a request to the army personnel in charge of the operation, to give a list of persons arrested for which there was no response.^[10]

It also transpired in evidence that Mr.Thalayasingham Arunakirinathan, the Chairman of the Peace Committee had received a letter in October 1990 from Mr.A.W.Fernando, Air Chief Marshall, who was then the Secretary to the Hon Minister of State for Defence wherein it was stated that on 5th September, `990 only 32 persons were taken into custody from the Eastern University refugee camp and that a; had been released within 24 hours of arrest. The letter contained a list of 32 names who were alleged to have been released. However the Commission was informed that none of those who were arrested had returned wither to the said refugee camp or to their homes but still remaining missing,” stated in the final report of the Commission of Inquiry into the involuntary removal or disappearance of persons in the northern and eastern provinces on the arrest and subsequent disappearances from the Vantharumoolai Eastern University Refugee Camp.^[11]

There was no further judicial action taken against army personnel indicated in the Presidential report.^[12]

[edit] Massacres and disappearances in the Eastern Province

Batticaloa district forms part of the Eastern province of Sri Lanka. Within the Batticaloa district, during the late 1980s and early 1990s a total of 1,100 civilians were disappeared and assumed killed. ^[1]