What liberation is he contemplating?

by Dhaneshi Yatawara

Blast site at Nugegoda on 28th November 2007 Pic: Samantha Weerasiri

The suicide bomb explosion on Sri Dalada Maligawa Kandy 24th Jan 1998

Attack on the Sri Maha Bodhi, Anuradhapura on 14th May 1985- 120 civilians killed

On 02nd June 1987 30 Bhikkus and 4 civilians were shot dead at Arantalawa, Ampara.

1st May 1993 Suicide bomb explosion killing President R.Premadasa at Armour Street, Colombo

Innocent people killed at the Pettah bomb blast in 1987

10/03/2000 - 38 dead and 50 injured, in LTTE terrorist attack at Rajagiriya.

LTTE attacked Punchi Seegiriya, Kalpengala, Bedirekka villages and killed 58 civilians in 1999

Muslims killed in Eravur in two mosques

January 1996 - 89 killed in Central Bank building bomb blast.

68 commuters killed in a bomb attack at the Dehiwala Railway station July 1996

Mortar attack at Siththandy and Morakotanchena Tamil villages in March 2007- Killed eight civilians, including two children

Pix Courtesy of www.defence.lk

By Friday (30) the number of deaths due to the LTTE bomb blast at the heart of Nugegoda shot up to twenty, news reports stated.

Aftermath - Seventeen were pronounced dead and thirty seven injured. The seventeen were near lifeless on admission, the Deputy Director of the Kalubowila Teaching Hospital, Dr. W.J. Gunawardena said.

As per information available by the late hours on that day of devastation, a total of thirty seven people were admitted to both the Colombo South Teaching Hospital and the Colombo National Hospital. The serious cases were admitted to the Colombo National Hospital.

Among the dead, four bodies were burnt beyond recognition and others were seven women and six men.

According to the records of the Colombo South Teaching Hospital and the National Hospital, three of the killed were children while ten of the wounded, between 5-18 - two of them still in critical condition, Ministry of Defence website reported on Friday.

Pointing a finger at the Sinhala nation for destroying the whole country Velupillai Prabhakaran said in his so called 'Heroes' Day' speech on 27th of November, "This beautiful island continues to soak in blood."

Just a day after, he soaked the soil of the motherland with blood - blood of little children, the angels of the nation. Is this his path to liberation? Killing the weak and the innocent? Day by day he becomes a role model of untamed, barbaric animal more than that of a leader bringing in liberation to a community.

Ventilating the distress and the depression, Prabhakaran accuses that the Sinhala nation has always misunderstood and consistently underestimates their 'freedom struggle'. Is he trying to free himself from innocent little kids, unarmed men and women?

"Only after carefully scrutinising the global situation and external conditions; only after accurately estimating the strengths and weaknesses of the adversary; only after gauging the enemy's goals and strategies; only after ensuring that we remain focused on our own strategy; only then did we implement our plans to take our liberation struggle forward," the Tiger chief said in his demoralised speech, just a day before he signalled the massacre.

When the troops make their moves against terrorists and their strategies, Prabhakaran and his gang of desperados target and kill innocent citizens of Sri Lanka - regardless of diversities.

On 26th of November, the day before the so called LTTE Heroes' Day, Tigers shelled heavy artillery and mortar fire towards Mallawarayan Kattaiadmapan Roman Catholic school, situated in the general area of Pulleadi Irrakkam, Mannar.

Two boys, two girls and a teacher with serious injuries were admitted to the hospital at Murunkan, security sources said. Further it stated, another two, a girl and a teacher were also admitted with serious injuries to the Mannar Hospital. More than 10 artillery shells exploded inside the school premises, defence sources said.

The shelling at the Roman Catholic school comes following the brutal killing of four villagers - Lilawathie Podimenike and her husband Hemapala, Ekanayake and Punchibanda at Mahawilachchiya village bordering Wilpaththu Sanctuary, approximately 30 kilometres northwest of Anuradhapura. They were just traditional farmers.

Planning and marching towards a peaceful society, where people live in harmony, Prabhakaran goes on chopping off lives of innocent people whoever come to his visual periphery.

Will he stop at 'any' point? The history recalled, confirms NO.

Glimpse of LTTE brutality during the immediate past

* On 29th March, LTTE terrorists launched an indiscriminate mortar attack at Siththandy and Morakotanchena Tamil villages in Batticaloa Killing eight civilians, including two children and injuring 18 others.

Among the dead were a one and a half year old infant and a seven year old girl, four men and three women. There were two girls aged seven and two and a half year old among the 18 injured. Before the attack the LTTE cadres had distributed leaflets among the Tamil people ordering them to leave their homes or to face serious consequences.

* On 5th April 2007, LTTE terrorists killed four civilians who were in a lorry transporting paddy stock at Nidanwala, 17 kilometres south off Aralaganwila.

* On 12th April 2007, a group of LTTE terrorists stormed Avaranthulawa Sinhalese village in Vavuniya and brutally killed seven civilians. The terrorists dragged out the victims; six women and a man who were shot dead while their relatives looked on.

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Few from the rest of the massacres...

* 22 People died in the bomb blast at Torrington Square in August 1995

*18 civilians killed by a bomb blast at the Galadari Hotel, Colombo in Oct. 1997

*An explosion suspected to be triggered off by a LTTE suicide woman terrorist at the Town Hall, Colombo in Dec. 1999

* A suicide bomber exploded near Prime Minister's office, Flower Road, Colombo killing 5 persons and injuring 24 civilians in Jan. 2000

* A suicide bomber exploded himself whilst Dr. Neelan Thiruchelvam was travelling at the Rosmead Place junction in July 1999

* 15 civilians killed in a suicide attack at Slave Island Nov. 1995

30/11/84 29 Sinhalese Villagers killed at Kent Farm, Oddusudan

30/11/84 33 Sinhalese Villagers killed at Dollar Farm

01/12/84 11 Sinhalese Villagers killed at Kokilai, Vavuniya

13/12/84 27 Tamils killed at Oddusudan

19/01/85 11 civilians killed in 'Yal Devi' explosion

19/07/86 12 Sinhalese shot dead at Medirigiriya, Polonnaruwa.

22/07/86 32 Sinhalese killed in a mine explosion at Mamaduwa, Vavuniya.

24/07/86 12 civilians killed in a bus bomb at Issenbessagala, Medawachchiya.

07/02/87 28 Sinhalese killed at Arantalawa, Ampara.

22/03/87 26 Sinhalese villagers shot dead at Serunewa, Horowpothana.

17/04/87 96 Sinhalese killed at Trincomalee/Habarana Road.

20/04/87 15 Sinhalese villagers shot dead at Jayanthipura, Trincomalee.

11/06/87 13 civilians killed in a pressure mine explosion, Veppankulam.

06/10/87 18 Sinhalese shot dead at Batticaloa.

06/10/87 27 Sinhalese villagers shot dead at Sagarapura, Kuchchaveli, Trincomalee.

06/10/87 22 Sinhalese shot dead at Talawa, Eravur.

07/10/87 30 Sinhalese shot dead at Ampara.

15/10/87 14 Sinhalese passengers shot dead on Allai Kantale, Trincomalee.

16/10/87 11 Sinhalese hostages killed at Pulmoddai, Trincomalee.

06/10/87 27 Sinhalese villagers shot dead at Sagarapura, Kuchchaveli, Trincomalee.

06/10/87 22 Sinhalese shot dead at Talawa, Eravur.

07/10/87 30 Sinhalese shot dead at Ampara.

15/10/87 14 Sinhalese passengers shot dead on Allai Kantale, Trincomalee.

16/10/87 11 Sinhalese hostages killed at Pulmoddai, Trincomalee.

06/10/87 27 Sinhalese villagers shot dead at Sagarapura, Kuchchaveli, Trincomalee.

06/10/87 22 Sinhalese shot dead at Talawa, Eravur.

07/10/87 30 Sinhalese shot dead at Ampara.

15/10/87 14 Sinhalese passengers shot dead on Allai Kantale, Trincomalee.

16/10/87 11 Sinhalese hostages killed at Pulmoddai, Trincomalee.

06/10/87 27 Sinhalese villagers shot dead at Sagarapura, Kuchchaveli, Trincomalee.

06/10/87 22 Sinhalese shot dead at Talawa, Eravur.

07/10/87 30 Sinhalese shot dead at Ampara.

15/10/87 14 Sinhalese passengers shot dead on Allai Kantale, Trincomalee.

16/10/87 11 Sinhalese hostages killed at Pulmoddai, Trincomalee.

25/08/88 11 civilians killed by cutting their necks, Marawila, Polonnaruwa.

09/10/88 44 villagers killed at Mahakongaskada, Medavachchiya.

14/11/88 28 Sinhalese killed at Peniketiyawa, Gomarankadawela.

02/02/89 11 Sinhalese hacked to death, Bogamuyaya, Maha Oya, Ampara.

11/02/89 34 Sinhalese villagers killed at Dutuwewa, Horowpotana.

25/08/88 11 civilians killed by cutting their necks, Marawila, Polonnaruwa.

09/10/88 44 villagers killed at Mahakongaskada, Medavachchiya.

14/11/88 28 Sinhalese killed at Peniketiyawa, Gomarankadawela.

02/02/89 11 Sinhalese hacked to death at Bogamuyaya, Maha Oya, Ampara.

11/02/89 34 Sinhalese villagers killed at Dutuwewa, Horowpotana.

25/08/88 11 civilians killed by cutting their necks at Marawila, Polonnaruwa.

09/10/88 44 villagers killed at Mahakongaskada, Medavachchiya.

14/11/88 28 Sinhalese killed at Peniketiyawa, Gomarankadawela.

02/02/89 11 Sinhalese hacked to death at Bogamuyaya, Maha Oya, Ampara.

11/02/89 34 Sinhalese villagers killed at Dutuwewa, Horowpotana.

19/09/90 23 Sinhalese killed and 11 houses burnt at Vellanmundal, Puttalam.

21/09/90 15 killed at Pudukudiyirippu, Ampara.

23/01/91 25 civilians killed at Bogammuyaya, Maha Oya, Ampara.

02/03/91 13 civilians killed along Havelock Road in a bomb explosion that killed Ranjan Wijeratne.

14/04/91 17 Sinhalese killed, Ethimalai, Moneragala.

20/04/91 21 civilians hacked to death at Niyadela.

27/06/91 16 civilians killed in two claymore explosions at Lahugala, Ampara.

06/07/91 16 Muslims and 2 Sinhalese killed at Pudur, Polonnaruwa.

19/09/91 13 Muslims killed at Palliyagodella, Polonnaruwa.

10/04/92 25 civilians killed in bomb explosion in Ampara.

29/04/92 56 civilians killed at a Muslim village, Alinchipothana, Polonnaruwa.

15/07/92 19 Muslim passengers killed in a bus at Kirankulam, Batticaloa.

01/09/92 22 Muslims killed in an explosion in Saindamaradu, Kalmunai.

01/10/92 15 civilians killed at Konwewa, Welioya.

25/05/95 42 civilians killed at Kallarawa, Trincomalee.

21/10/95 16 villagers killed at Mangalagama, Ampara.

21/10/95 36 civilians killed at Moneratenna, Bowatta, Polonnaruwa.

21/10/95 19 villagers killed north of Padaviya, Galtalawa, Welioya.

25/10/95 11 civilians killed at Athimale, Kotiyagala, Moneragala.

06/02/98 A suicide cadre exploded a bomb at Air Force road block, Slave Island, killing 3 Airmen.

05/03/98 Bomb exploded near Maradana Police Station, killing 38 civilians and injuring 270 civilians.

11/09/98 An explosion inside the Municipal Commissioner's office closer to Nallur Kovil. P. Sivapalan, Mayor of Jaffna and 7 others killed and 15 wounded.

26/09/99 A bomb explodes inside a private bus near the 2nd Mile Post in Badulla along Passara-Moneragala road killing 01 civilian and injuring 28 others.

18/12/99 A explosion at Ja-Ela bus stand where the UNP presidential Election rally was held. 12 civilians killed with Major Gen. C. L. Algama and 45 others wounded. 26/10/95 26 villagers killed in an attack on 03 Kabethigollawa villagers.

18/12/99 24 dead and 150 wounded when LTTE botched an attempt to kill President Chandrika Kumaratunga.

June 2006 - LTTE terrorists murdered 64 passengers and injured at least 80, exploding a claymore mine targeting a bus to the town of Kebithigollewa. Most were children.

May 2006 - Terrorists brutally massacred 12 civilians working at an irrigation canal construction site in eastern Welikanda area. An eye witness told police that 15 armed cardres of LTTE, some in striped uniforms and some in civil cloths, tied the construction workers together and fired at them killing 12 instantaneously.

Sep 2001 - A group of about 140 bus passengers were fired upon killing four. These passengers using their one and only bus service available on the Kanthalai -Verugal road were on their way to a religious ceremony at Sri Kandaswami Hindu Kovil in Kadiraveli.

Sep 1999 - In Ampara LTTE terrorists struck three villages of Punchi Seegiriya. At least 58 villagers, including 17 women, 2 pregnant mothers and 14 children were hacked to death with machetes and knives by LTTE terrorists. The victims were dragged from their sleep and butchered.

March 1998 - A Tiger blew up a mini bus in a suicide attack at a busy intersection in Colombo killing 34 civilians, including two school children. Over 300 were wounded. The bomb was exploded outside a school.