Soldiers-turned-samaritans killed at the Cross

By Anushka Nanayakkara and Sajitha Prematunge

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Just two days before the Valentine's Day St. Anthony's church at Thalladi was attacked by the LTTE. According to military sources a voluntary campaign to clean the church, manned by 25 soldiers, was held on February 12 when the LTTE attacked the church at 8:30 a.m.

The request for manpower was made by the Rev. Father Devaraja, Rev. Father Arun Raj, Rev. Father Nevin, Rev. Father Kullas, Rev. Brother Lextient to meet the Base Commander of Thalladi camp, as Commander was not available two staff officers in the rank of Colonel came to meet the clergy.

The clergy have requested for manpower from the army to clean the church, to prepare for the feast which was scheduled to be held from February 14 onwards. Six soldiers were killed and ten were critically injured due to the attack and the casualties were rushed to the General hospital Anuradhapura.

The Government Defence Spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella gave his observations on this incident. Further discussions between the Minister and the Parish Priest of St. Anthony's Church, Rev. Father Devaraja, in this regard are still under way. "It was a mortar attack with heavy machinery 152. Moreover he said that under-cover LTTE informants, working from within the church was a definite possibility.

The recent incident of Mabole, where a few clergy are now in custody for the possession of suicide jackets, is the best example. "Terrorists may even come in the form of patients in an ambulance." Although unfortunately the evidence produced by the incidents leading up to this attack point to the involvement of the clergy, the minister said that he does not believe that the clergy is involved, by any means, in this attack. "There is an element of doubt but we do not want to hang on to that."

The minister reiterated the fact that the Tamil population will not suffer discrimination. "Everyone is subject to examination. We have nothing against Tamils. Every Tamil is not a terrorist. We are doing our best to differentiate Tamils from terrorists. Inconveniences are caused, but they are for the benefit of all citizens."

The minister said that the Government has informed all the necessary humanitarian organizations and NGOs concerning this issue, such as Amnesty International and the UN. One salient factor, as pointed out by the minister, is that humanitarian organizations and NGOs have taken even justifiable attacks by the military to an international platform, condemning them as human rights violations. However they have remained silent for so long concerning this issue.

"When a Navy officer killed a devotee in a church accidentally, it went all the way up to the Pope, but the same NGOs and humanitarian organizations reserved their comments concerning this blatant attack on soldiers who 'volunteered' to clean the church on request."

Allen Rock, a representative of the UN, after only a few hours mission in the East, submitted a report claiming that Sri Lankan Forces participated in recruiting child soldiers for Karuna, said to be backed by 'credible' evidence. "But when requested, the said credible evidence had, to this day, failed to turn up. He said that the conduct of 'some' of the so-called humanitarian organisations, have resulted in much scepticism and that the public cannot be blamed for their impressions. "The world across should know that terrorism cannot and should not be pampered."

The minister said that the Government is treating this as just another attack. Religious hallmarks have been attacked before, such as the Temple of the Tooth Relic and the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi.

However all sorts of precautions are being taken. "Being in control is a difficult task.

We are getting ample support from the public, but the best thing is to be as security conscious as possible as most disasters could have been prevented because of the vigilance of the people."

"In future military would still provide manpower for such requirements, but next time while taking into account these experiences, we will also take maximum precautions." According to him this act of terrorism will not prevent the Government from co-operating with social institutions. "This is why Sri Lanka Army is known as one of the highly disciplined establishments. Unfortunately this is a factor the terrorists have taken advantages of, but we will not betray our country or discipline for absurd reasons. All military personnel, starting from the Commander down to the Private are working towards a common goal to preserve sovereignty in Sri Lanka."

The minister finally added that the response from the local media concerning this attack was very slow and nothing significant had surfaced so far. "Terrorism is all about destruction and if we are looking for a way out, the only solution is to kill Prabhakaran," said the minister.