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LTTE rump drumming-up as UNHRC meeting approaches

February 23, 2013, 7:27 pm


Shamindra Ferdinando
reporting from Palaly


Jaffna Security Forces Commander Maj. Gen. Mahinda Hathurusinghe yesterday alleged that the LTTE rump, some members of the international community and as well as a section of the media had stepped up their campaign in the run-up to the forthcoming United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) sessions in Geneva.


Hathurusinghe said that the presence of troops in the Jaffna peninsula, particularly the deployment in the Palaly-Kankesanthurai sector had now become a rallying point for those wanting to cause communal tensions in the region.


The Jaffna Commander was speaking to The Sunday Island shortly after Indian High Commissioner Ashok K. Kantha unveiled a monument for Indian para commandos killed during an abortive raid on the Jaffna University on the night of Oct 11/12 1987 at the onset of IPKF operations in the Jaffna peninsula.


High Commissioner Kantha was accompanied by his wife. The monument erected within the Palaly air base is the first of its kind built in memory of IPKF personnel attached to a particular unit, in this instance 10th Para Commando. At the conclusion of the formal ceremony, the Indian High Commissioner told the Jaffna press that the monument honored 13 personnel killed during the raid.


The IPKF raid launched from Palaly to capture or kill top LTTE leaders, including Velupillai Prabhakaran and Gopalsamy Mahendraraja a.k.a Mahattaya involved 120 members of the 10th Para Commando and about 360 troops from the 13th Sikh Light Infantry went awry causing some humiliating losses for the raiders. The Sikh Light Infantry lost 30 personnel in action


High Commissioner Kantha is on a two-day visit to the Northern Province over the weekend to attend several functions, including the annual feast if St. Anthony’s church at Kachchativu Island. About 4,000 Indian devotees are expected to attend the feast.


The Annual Feast of St. Anthony’s Church on Kachchativu Island recommenced in 2010 after a lapse of 26 years. Since then, this feast has been conducted every year with the participation of a large number of Indian and Sri Lankan devotees. In 2012, nearly 3,500 Indian devotees participated in this traditional pilgrimage.


Maj. Gen. Hathurusinghe pointed out that the IPKF had no option but to raid the Jaffna University as the LTTE was openly using it. Those trying to sanitize the LTTE had conveniently forgotten what was happening at that time, Maj. Gen. Hathurusinghe said. He highlighted the LTTE use of the premier educational institution in the Northern Province for terrorist activities.


The Jaffna commander said that those who had been mum during the LTTE’s reign of terror today were engaged in a politically motivated campaign targeting the government and the military. There couldn’t be a better example to expose the LTTE than its use of the Jaffna University at the onset of its Eelam project leading to a bloodbath on the campus.


Hathurusinghe said that the IPKF paid a heavy price in terms of men and material during its deployment here (July 1987-May 1990). He estimated the number of IPKF killed at over 1,300.


The major general pointed out that the LTTE ended up turning its guns on those who were initially welcomed as saviors of the Tamil speaking people.


Explaining the circumstances leading to the humanitarian operation, Hathurusinghe said that whatever the critics said that the eradication of terrorism would benefit both Sri Lanka and India. The bottom line was that both countries had experienced the horrors of terrorism hence it would be of pivotal importance to take tangible action against to prevent ingoing attempts to arouse communal feelings.


Responding to a query, he expressed confidence that those who had undergone untold hardships during the conflict would never succumb to scheming political elements.


He reiterated that the army would not deprive people of Jaffna of their land. Explaining the post-war developments, including the release of land for their rightful owners, the Jaffna Commander reminded that had the military failed on the Vanni front Tamil speaking children would still be cannon fodder.


The LTTE rump wouldn’t admit it, but the ordinary people of Jaffna and other predominately Tamil speaking areas appreciated the fact that their children were free to pursue their studies, he said.