South Asian Outlook : An Independent e-Monthly | South Asia: Sri Lanka - Black July Unforgettable for Sri Lankan Tamils

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Black July: Unforgettable for Sri Lankan Tamils

BY SATHEESAN KUMAARAN (IDN) *

Sri Lankan Tamils throughout the world remember and commemorate the victims of Black July’83. Twenty-five years ago, the state-sponsored pogrom against Tamils in Sri Lanka resulted in the deaths of 3000 people and property damages of over $300 million U.S. The days between July 24 and July 30, 1983, were tragic and unforgettable for the Tamils. For Tamils July is the month to reflect and remember. July to Tamils is like February is to Black people around the world. Tamils the world over observe this occasion with rallies, vigils and prayers to draw international attention.

Many people believe that the root cause for the violence in July 1983 was the death of 13 Sinhalese solders in Jaffna. So the violence of July 1983 was not only against Tamils, although violence against Tamils has been ongoing since 1956. The tragic events of July 1983 drew international attention to the region, and India’s central government directly intervened in support of Sri Lankan Tamils.

Peradeniya Tamil students victims

On May 11, 1983, two months prior to the July 1983 violence, Sinhalese students in Peradeniya University attacked Tamil students. Tamil students experienced the brunt of the Sinhalese community’s hatred for three consecutive days. University authorities, intellectuals, and the country’s ruling authorities did very little to stop the violence against the Tamil students during those three days.

The old students of the university witnessed the university administration and authority’s unprecedented conduct at the time. Tamil students were asked to attend the lecture sessions during these periods even though the Tamil students felt they needed to get away from the University to their homes to reflect on what had happened to them from May 11 to May 13, 1983. The University authority failed to provide the Tamil students with a safe environment to continue their studies.

The motive of the attacks on the Tamils students was to evict them from the university permanently. The unprecedented behaviour of the university administration helped the attackers reach their aims. Almost 95 percent of the Tamil students left the university and returned home. Even after this exodus, the university continued to conduct lectures and exams. The university authority had shown very little if not any sympathy towards the Tamil students during this time of crisis.

Thirteen soldiers set fire to violence

The death of 13 Sri Lankan soldiers in Jaffna on July 23, 1983, ignited the hatred of the Sinhalese general public towards the Tamils. Sri Lankan armed forces retaliated with a non-stop attack from July 24 to July 30 on innocent Tamil civilians who had never committed any crime except having been born Tamil. These attacks included the looting and damaging of Tamil-owned properties. GoSL officials refused to step in to control the riots against Tamils claiming that the Sri Lankan State was failing.

Some of the more notable events of the conflict were:

On July 25, after the midnight lull, mobs led by people with voter registration lists in hand torched Tamil homes, and looted and destroyed Tamil businesses. All traffic was searched, and any Tamils found were killed, maimed, or burned alive. Cyril Matthew, Minister of Industries, witnessed directly the pinpointing of shops to be burned down. The many policemen deployed throughout the city stood by and watched. Witnesses recall lorry loads of armed troops leisurely waving to looters who waved back. Curfew was only declared by the president late in afternoon after the worst was over. However, the violence continued unabated.

Tens of thousands of homeless Tamils sought refuge in schools and places of worship. In Welikade prison, 35 Tamil political prisoners who were awaiting trial under the Prevention of Terrorism Act were massacred by Sinhalese prisoners with the complicity of jail guards using spikes, clubs and iron rods. The violence spread rapidly throughout the country, engulfing towns like Gampaha, Kalutara, Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya and Trincomalee. The Indian Tamil town of Kandapola, near Nuwara Eliya was completely wiped out.

On July 26, the GoSL imposed strict censorship on media reports on the anti-Tamil violence. Word spread of Sri Lanka’s state of disorder as eye witness accounts and photographs taken by returning tourists illustrated the scale of violence. They described how Tamil motorists were dragged out of their vehicles and hacked to pieces while others were drenched with petrol and set alight in full view of security forces. The International Airport in Colombo was closed.

On July 27, 17 more prisoners at Welikade Prison were hacked to death just two days after the first prison massacre. The surviving 36 prisoners were transferred to other prisons. Rioting continued and the curfew was extended. Witnesses to the violence reported that charred corpses of Tamil victims lined the streets of Colombo, some mutilated with X’s.

On July 28, President J.R. Jayewardene addressed the nation for the first time since the anti-Tamil pogroms, only to fan the flames of anti-Tamil sentiments by stating that anyone who advocated for separatism would lose all “civic rights”. He stated, “...the time has now come to accede to the clamour and natural request of the Sinhala people to prevent the country from being divided.” Vigilantes set up make-shift roadblocks in villages across the island, searched cars and buses for Tamil passengers. In one incident, a Sinhalese mob burnt to death 20 Tamils on a minibus as European tourists look on in horror.

On July 29, Tamils in Colombo began evacuating by cargo ship to Jaffna. Hundreds more internally displaced persons waited anxiously for the next cargo ship to transport them to Jaffna.

The Colombo-based National Peace Council said in a statement to mark the 25th anniversary of the pogrom that: “On July 23, 1983, law and order in Sri Lanka virtually collapsed as mobs went on a rampage, inciting anarchy and fear, uprooting Tamil people, looting and burning their property and killing many of them....These mobs backed by sections of the then Government claimed they were motivated by the desire to avenge the killing of 13 Sri Lankan soldiers by the LTTE in the northern city of Jaffna.”

The NPC said further: “July 1983 has testified to the fact that violence knows no territorial delimitations or fundamental concepts of civil society - we are all victims of war, with our human rights and civil liberties threatened.”

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* Satheesan Kumaaran holds B.Sc. (Biology), Honours BA (Political Science) and MA in Integrated Studies with the specialization in International Law and International Relations. This was first published in The Tamil Mirror. E-Mail: satheesan_kumaaran@yahoo.com.

News Briefs

267 LTTE militants and 17 soldiers among 288 persons killed during the week: 267 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) militants, 17 soldiers and four civilians were among 288 persons killed in separate incidents between July 21 and July 27, 2008. 14 LTTE militants were killed by the security forces (SFs) as clashes erupted between the two sides in the areas north of Omanthe, Vedamakilam, Pungantalvamadu, Parappukkal, north of Navvi and Palamoddai in Vavuniya District on July 20. During another clash between the two sides in the Iluppakadaweli area of Mannar District, the troops killed 13 militants. On July 21, 24 militants were killed and 15 others injured as the troops attacked LTTE camps in the Murunkaiyadippudi area of Mannar District. During clashes between the two sides in the Kalawilan, Cheddapiddikulam and Pandiyankulam areas in Mannar and Palamoddai, Madam and north of Navvi in Vavuniya, the SFs killed 10 LTTE militants. One soldier was also killed and five others were wounded in these clashes. 22 Black Tigers [cadres of the suicide wing of the LTTE] were killed when Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) fighter jets carried out an air attack in the Mullaitivu area targeting an LTTE training centre in the Udayarkattikkulam area on July 22. Another 12 militants were killed and about 30 injured as the SFs attacked the outfit’s Murunkaiyadippudi camp in Mannar District. 23 LTTE militants were killed during clashes with the troops in the Eelamaruttankulam, Pungntharumadu and Nauvi areas of Mannar District and north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa in the Vavuniya District on July 23. At least eight of them died when the troops attacked the outfit’s bunkers in the Nauvi and Kiriibbanwewa areas. While four soldiers were also killed during the clashes in Nauvi and south of Kalvilan, 10 others were reported injured in these clashes. The troops advancing towards the Mullaitivu District captured the Vavunikkulam Tank, killing at least 55 LTTE militants on July 24-25. On the same day, 13 militants were killed and 42 others injured during encounters with the troops in the Pandiyankulam, Navakkulam, Navvi, north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya District. Three soldiers were killed while 13 others sustained injuries during these encounters. Further, at least 16 militants were killed during clashes with the troops in the Pandiyankalli, north of Oddankulam, Palamoddai and Navvi areas of Vavuniya District on July 25. Eight soldiers were also reported killed while 10 others sustained injuries during these clashes. Sri Lanka Army; Daily News; Colombo Page, July 22-28, 2008.

LTTE announces unilateral cease-fire during SAARC summit: The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on July 21, 2008, announced that they would observe a unilateral cease-fire during the period of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit from July 26 to August 4. The outfit’s political wing said, in a Press Statement issued from Wanni, that, "As a sign of this goodwill, our movement is glad to inform that it will observe a unilateral cease-fire that is devoid of military actions during the period of the SAARC Conference from 26th July to 4th August and give our cooperation for the success of the Conference. At the same time if the occupying Sinhala Forces, disrespecting our goodwill gesture of our people and our nation, carry out any offensives, our movement will be forced to take defensive actions." However, Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told Parliament on July 22 that the Government would not enter into any agreement with the LTTE, although they have declared a unilateral truce during the SAARC summit. The Minister said the Government will continue with the measures taken against the LTTE so far. Daily News, July 23&22, 2008.

292 LTTE militants and 19 soldiers among 312 persons killed during the week: 292 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) militants, 19 soldiers and one civilian were among 312 persons killed in separate incidents between July 14 and July 20, 2008. At least 27 LTTE militants were killed and 69 others injured during clashes with the troops in the areas north of Janakapura, Kiriibbanwewa, Ampandankulam, Palampiddi, Navvi, Nithyanagar, Parappakandattan and Puthukulam in Vavuniya and Mannar Districts on July 14. Four soldiers were also killed while 15 others sustained injuries. On July 15, approximately 20 militants were killed as Army troops along with the Sri Lanka Air Force launched an attack on a LTTE convoy while it was moving along A-32 Mannar-Pooneryn road. Separately, 28 LTTE cadres were killed and more than 40 injured by the security forces (SFs) in the Navakkulam, Maruthamadu and Nedunkandal areas in Vavuniya and Eachalarakkai in Mannar. The troops on July 16-noon captured the biggest Sea Tiger [sea wing of the LTTE] base in the North Western coastal town of Vedithalthivu in Mannar for the first time after the early 1990’s. More than 70 to 80 militants were killed over the preceding days, the General Officer Commanding of the 58th Division, Brigadier Silva, stated. 12 more LTTE militants were killed and 23 others wounded during clashes in the Periyamaraiillupai, Kattikulam, Pandiyankulam, Palamoddai and north of Navvi areas in Vavuniya District on the same day. One soldier was also killed while another sustained injury in the clashes. On July 20, the troops captured the biggest LTTE base on the Mannar front, consolidating their positions in Illuppukadavai 10 Kilometres north of Vedithalthivu where they captured the biggest Sea Tiger base on the Western coast on July 17. At least 15 militants and a soldier were killed during the clashes in Mannar. Sri Lanka Army; Daily News; Colombo Page, July 15-21, 2008.

LTTE has lost two thirds of manpower and land area, says Army Commander Sarath Fonseka: The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have now lost nearly two thirds of its manpower and land area to the Security Forces (SFs), Army Commander Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka said on July 18, 2008. Quoting intelligence sources, he said the SFs had now totally liberated the East and a small land area in two Northern Districts remained to be liberated from the LTTE at present. Fonseka said the LTTE cadres were restricted to a small area in the two Northern Districts and were fighting with the advancing SFs using nearly 200,000 innocent Tamils as a human shield. He also said that the LTTE, which has been severely weakened, was now engaged in recruiting innocent children and Tamil elders to its ranks. Daily News, July 19, 2008.

138 LTTE militants and 14 soldiers among 160 persons killed during the week: 138 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) militants, 14 soldiers and eight civilians were among 160 persons killed in separate incidents between July 7 and July 13, 2008. At least nine LTTE militants were killed during three clashes with the troops in the Palamoddai and Navvi areas of Vavuniya District on July 7. On July 8, at least eight militants were killed as the troops neutralised one bunker at Periyavalayankadu in the Vavuniya District. Eight LTTE cadres and one soldier were killed during clashes between the two sides in the areas north of Kiriibbanwewa and north of Janakapura in Vavuniya District on July 9. The security forces (SFs) attacked three LTTE bunkers in the area north of Kiriibbanwewa and neutralised one of them, killing nine militants while injuring 10 others. On the same day, the troops clashed with militants in the Palamoddai area of Vavuniya District and killed eight of them. Three civilians from the Wattegama area of Kurunegala District were shot dead by a ‘pistol gang’ militant of the LTTE in the Kalmunai area of Ampara District on July 10. Army troops, after clashes that lasted for days, took full control of the Nedunkandal town, about 16-km north east of Periyamadu in the Mannar District, on July 11. The town was an important tactical and administrative location of the LTTE. Similarly, troops also captured Navvi, another small town about 15-km northwest of Omanthai. Further, four civilians, including two women and a 12-year-old child, were killed and 25 others wounded, when militants shot at a bus plying from Moneragala to Kataragma on the Buttala- Kataragma main road at about 10.15 on the morning of July 11. Sri Lanka Army; Daily News; Colombo Page, July 7-13, 2008.

197 LTTE militants and 12 soldiers among 210 persons killed during the week: 197 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) militants, 12 soldiers and a civilian were among 210 persons killed in separate incidents between June 30 and July 6, 2008. 10 militants were killed and 32 others injured when the troops attacked LTTE camps north of Kiriibbanwewa and Janakapura in the Vavuniya District on June 29. Further, on July 1, at least 25 LTTE militants were killed and more than 39 others injured as the troops clashed with the militants in the Ampandankulam East, Periyamadu North, Palamoddai, Navvi, Andankulam, Yalankulam, Echarakkai, Janakapura North, Kokkutoduvai and Kiriibbanwewa areas of Vavuniya District. Two soldiers were also killed while 25 others were wounded in LTTE-triggered explosions and firing during the clashes. Seven bunkers and a militant camp were also neutralised. On July 2, 12 LTTE militants were killed by the security forces (SFs) in clashes at Kayamodai and Puthukulam in the Mannar District. The troops also killed 12 militants in the Janakapura, Kokkuthuduvai and Palamoddai areas of Vavuniya District. At least 17 militants were killed as the Army’s 59th Division engaged in an offensive on the Welioya front and captured the LTTE’s strategic ‘Michael Base’ on the afternoon of July 4. On the same day, at least 25 LTTE militants were killed and an equal number of them injured by the SFs, as clashes erupted between the two sides in the Parayanakulam, Palamoddai, Vidattaltive, Periyamadu and Nedunkandal areas of the Vavuniya and Mannar Districts. Two soldiers were also killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion in the Palamoddai area. Separately, two soldiers engaged in clashes in the Periyamadu area went missing. Further on July 4, at least 20 LTTE militants were killed during encounters with the troops in the Maruthamadu, Navakkulam, Thunukkai, Nochchimunai and Navvi areas of the Vavuniya District. One soldier was also killed while three others were wounded in the clashes. Further, on July 5, the troops confronted a group of LTTE militants and killed 15 of them while injuring 18 others in the Ampandankulam, Puttakamam, Paranthekulam, Palamoddai and Navvi areas of Vavuniya District. Sri Lanka Army; Daily News; Colombo Page, June 30-July 6, 2008.

[South Asian Intelligence Review]