Kilinochchi town massacre

The families of those killed are today living in extreme poverty in the villages of Akkarayan, Mallavi, Jeyapuram and Puthukkidiyiruppu.

In 1996, the Sri Lankan military launched the military operation they code named “Sathjeya-01”. The operation was to move south from its Elephant Pass camp into Kilinochchi. During this movement it set up a military camp in Paranthan. The military intelligence wing from this camp would infiltrate into the civilian areas. There they attacked and killed people in their homes, or displaced people who returned to their homes to collect some items.

In August 1996, the military launched “Sathjeya-02” military operation. This was followed by “Sathjeya-03” military operation. With this the military entered Kilinochchi town. Here they created a militarized zone occupying people’s homes and their farmlands.

While camped here the military carried out numerous attacks on civilians in the surrounding areas. 184 civilians disappeared during this time. Most of them were killed. Later when people moved back to their homes, skeletons were recovered from toilet pits and wells. Based on information collected from many sources, 184 civilians were killed. 72 skeletons of those killed were recovered in Kilinochchi and its surroundings. 12 skeletons were identified by relatives based on the clothes and other items they were wearing when they were killed.

The families of those killed are today living in extreme poverty in the villages of Akkarayan, Mallavi, Jeyapuram and Puthukkidiyiruppu.

22 November 2006

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