Sordid attack at Holy Abode

By Dhaneshi Yatawara from Yala

As usual, on last Friday soldiers of the Sri Lanka Army deployed at the Warahana Mankada check-point in the Yala National Wildlife Park, while checking all of the Hindu pilgrims coming to Kataragama, were giving all possible support to make a safe journey. Everyday a weak old couple, an ailing woman or families carrying toddlers and infants were given transport to the next camping site.

This happens at every check-point on the route and starting from Okanda, Warahana Mankada is the third check point along the pilgrimage route of the Hindu devotees that stretches along the Western coastal line of the Yala National Park.

On the same day morning around 10.30, on the other side of the Park few killers of the Tiger terrorists shot at a civilian transport bus bound for Kataragama from Moneragala killing three innocent women and a fifth year school boy. Many of the passengers were also devotees seeking blessings of Gods.

The bullets have ripped through the heads of these innocent people killing them in a split second. When we visited the Kataragama Hospital their bodies were lying on the mortuary slabs waiting for the Judicial Medical Officer to carry out the rest of the legal procedures before they are sent back to their beloved families tucked inside a coffin - to bid adieu in their own silent way.

Definitely this is not the way we wanted to end our three-day visit to Kataragama and the Yala. Seeing the two extreme situations within three days it was a shocking revelation of the real human nature.

The difference is vast - How a well-trained educated and disciplined group of soldiers of the Army putting their maximum effort to ensure the security and safety of these innocent civilians and how another group of men and women persist on attacking and killing innocent children, women and men exhibiting their undisciplined, wild nature? I believe there can be no comparison. Comparing is not justifiable.

A cowardly attack on unarmed innocent civilians by a handful hiding in the 945 square kilometres total area of the Yala Park cannot be compared and justified.

Frustrated Terrorists

“When they are witnessing a real defeat in the Vanni Front, obviously they will attempt to sabotage the smooth run of the Southern parts of the country,” Area Commander (Hambantota/Yala) Colonel Devinda Perera explained when we met him at his office during our visit. “We know their motive is to divert part of the strength we have to the Northern theatre.

And that is not going to happen under the present command of the Army,” Colonel Perera asserted.

People from all parts of the country visit Kataragama during the festival days and we clearly know that sabotaging the security system is their modus operendi, he added. “This necessity of the Tigers thus increase the victories of the Army in the Vanni fronts,” Colonel Perera said.

“Tigers have attacked during 1995, 2002 festivals and they set fire to the Kataragama depot. And in October 2007 they attacked Thalgasmankada in the Yala Park. But none of these were able to stop or disrupt the situation in the area, permanently,” he explained further.

The Sri Lankan Army is carrying on a very effective computerized surveillance method to monitor the movements of the people who throng the temple. There was a rumour among the people that some who had come along with the pilgrim groups did not come up to Kataragama but they dropped off half way and their further movements were not confirmed,Colonel Perera said.

To avoid this and ensure the safety of the innocent Tamil people coming to pray the Army has taken this step with an immense support from the Basnayake Nilame of Kataragama Temple, Shashindra Rajapaksa.

The pilgrims were not at all resistant to the presence of the Army. Instead they welcome it. Many of them whom I was able to share a few words at the Warahana Mankada said it was a advantageous for them.

“We like the Army being on the way when we arrive. They assist us a lot, Arulanandan from Karathivu - a retired Government Officer, told us, he was in the company of his friends, Ravi Kumar working at the Batticaloa Building Department and Rudra, the Grama Niladhari of Karativu.

Chandrakumar was from Settipalai Batticaloa and a school Principal have come with his wife and some members of his family. He was talking of good aspects of the presence of the Army in the area. None of them complained about their difficulties.It was extraordinary to meet the Alahakoon family from Panama, a Sinhala family.

The father, Alahakoon said they were going on the pilgrimage for his two grandsons - sons of two of his daughters. There were thirteen members in the group. “There was no problem with the Tamil people. Of course we do not know each other. But all were very friendly and helpful,” he said.

By yesterday, the situation in Kataragama and Yala areas have returned to normal, senior Security Forces officials said. There is no significant downturn in the number of people visiting Kataragama.

According to data available by mid day yesterday, 54 foreigners and 78 locals have visited the Yala National park. On the 10th, 99 visitors were reported and by 11th it was 50 and by yesterday it had increased to 78 and more expected.

“With the attack at Thalgasmankada in October 2007, under instructions from the Army Commander Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka one battalion was deployed in the area,” the area Commander added. Then another battalion was deployed to strengthen security, he said. Then the Commandos and the Special Forces came in. Troops are presently ensuring the safety of the Block One area of the Yala Park.

Yala National Park comprises five blocks - namely I, II, III, IV and V - and SNR, the untouched virgin forest. Block One is towards the Southern part of the park and the pilgrims travel mainly through Blocks II, I and closely to Block III and SNR Block. They start their journey from Okanda, after paying a special pooja to goods.

Then they travel hundreds of miles in the wild as they believe by instilling pain and suffering to their bodies they will receive the blessings of God Kataragama. Unless in an extreme situation that is unavoidable, the devotees would not seek help or assistance to end their journey in Kataragama.

For understanding their belief and respecting it, the Sri Lankan Army needs to be admired more and should be given more credit.Due to intense pressure from the Security Forces the Tigers were compelled to flee to other parts of the Park.

“Some of these Tigers surrendered to Security Forces and they said how dead scared they were when they see the troops were carrying out search operations everywhere in the Park. They have not attempted to attack the soldiers since they were running out of weapon and cadre strength,” Colonel Perera explained.

So, instead of attacking the soldiers these coward Tigers attack unarmed innocent people, with hit and run methods.

He saved their lives

Thirty one-year-old Chandrasiri was the driver of the ill-fated NA-3655 bus of the Moneragala depot that came under attack. When they came under a shower of bullets between the 50th and 51st kilometre posts, Chandrasiri was shocked and terrified. He spoke to me later at the Kataragama Police Station after giving his statement to the Police Officer - a usual procedure.

The bus, which normally plies from Moneragala to Colombo was mobilised for special duty to transport the huge crowd of passengers at the bus stop to go to Kataragama.

He realised he too was bleeding, when he saw drops of blood on the steering wheel, he quickly engaged the gears to the top and drove at maximum speed towards Kataragama Police. While driving he saw people were bleeding and crying.

“Many shouted to head on for the hospital so I drove straight on there,” he said. Did he remember the past incident or just for the sheer spirit he thought of driving without stopping for a second?Whatever the reason is he managed to limit the number of dead to four.

Mahesh, the ten-year-old child died with his mother and father who escaped severely wounded. His elder brother, Kasun, (16) was sitting with his youngest brother (4) in a corner seat after he gave witness to the Police Officer.

The kind Officers did not want the small one to hear the story and slowly took him out promising to buy him a Police toy car and he did come back with one. Kasun was lost. He did not know whether to cry or wait. Obviously he was not in a position even to give a grim smile.

He was trying his best to hold back his tears simply not to frighten his baby brother. When a Woman Constable took them out of the room the little one suddenly said “Ammage bag eka!” (My Mother’s bag!) pointing at a black coloured hand bag the Police have kept as evidence. Another WPC kindly said ‘We will return it to your uncle.”

The Police Officers quickly put all the goods they received, valuable or invaluable, of the victims in safety.

Amidst the hassle, one cannot stop being emotional and helpless seeing the faces of these innocent people - the survivors of the massacre.At the hospital, 29-year-old Nirosha was lying on the bed, her little ones tucked in - Dilan and Chathuranga. Her husband has gone to a nearby shop to buy them something to eat.

They were one of the lucky families who survived. Dilan, the eldest, was able to understand what went wrong and he was scared. He sobs clinging to his mother as if to ease out his tension in his little mind. Well the youngest, he just wants his mother around and is clueless of what happened.

After, transferring all the critical patients to the Hambantota Hospital immediately after they received them, even the patients, doctors and nurses were shocked.

Now, it was time for us to leave Kataragama and head for Colombo since we had our newspaper deadlines to keep. Yet, those few days were days of extreme conditions.

We must keep on questioning ourselves, as to whether to keep on pointing at the Army regardless of their fullest attempt to secure this island nation and directly or indirectly support a ruthless terror organization to split this country.

We, the people are living in peace and harmony. It is those terrorists who misuse people’s naive beliefs, respect and fear, bringing in misery to their lives. Let us pray, in this holy season, those poor souls who have gone blind with a non-existing separate state and power greed, to realize one day the timeless values of life.