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Why is Jaffna on a noose and cut off

• In 1974,an international Tamil research conference held in Jaffna was violently disrupted when Sri Lankan police opened fire into the crowd attending the open air finale. Nine people were killed. There were no armed groups or any disturbances from the crowd.
  

• In 1981, the largest and the rarest collection of books in South Asia held in the Jaffna library was burnt down by the Sri Lankan military supervised by a Cabinet Minister.
  

• In 1985 the Kumuthini boat massacre, in which Sri Lankan Navy killed 32 passengers in a ferry service, took place. Survivors have recounted the event with clarity.
  

• In 1986 Kurunagar fishermen at sea were massacred by the Sri Lankan Navy. 32 died.
  

• In 1990 at least 92 people were either killed or disappeared in Mandaithivu.
  

• In 1995, the Navaly church was bombed, killing 155 people who took refuge there.
  

• In 1996, the Krishanthi family rape and murder and the Chemmani mass graves revealed. Deaths estimated to be nearly 700.
  

These are just a drop in the ocean in comparison to the number of massacres carried out by the military on the Jaffna people.

As the massacres piled on, the people’s resolve to struggle for self determination strengthened. A noose was put around Jaffna (see map) and it was turned tighter and tighter. The red areas are the militarized zones and military camps. Inside this noose the military is occupying the area at the ratio of 1 military person for every 10 civilians.

This is the Jaffna whose link with the rest of the world was severed on August 11th. The result,

• Farms are uncultivated for lack of seeds and fertilizer

• Fishing jetties closed and fishermen loose the already restricted,

• Food shortages are pushing people into starvation,

• Death squads have had a freehand to kill and disappear

• One courageous judge was given restraint order.

• Fear stalks as families gather to sleep for protection.

This is the comment made by the wife of one man who was killed by the death squads:

“The invaders then asked what my husband wanted as a last request. He said that he wanted to see his children. I turned to go inside to collect the children when I heard the gunshots. My husband was lying on the ground and was in pain. I was afraid to go near him. Our neighbours who attempted to come to our aid after hearing my screams discovered that armed Sri Lankan military were guarding their doors preventing them from leaving their homes…..”

This is the four decade long human rights history of Jaffna. It is a human rights riddle because the world is not outraged by it.

29 September 2006

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