Rising from the ashes

Fables of the terrorist victims:

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

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Karunanandan was cheerful and yet in an excited mood. This 24 year old youth was already to leave his gloomy past way behind and was wholeheartedly hoping to accomplish a brighter future which he was longing for. His life went through a storm of changes since the day he was forcefully conscripted in to the LTTE seven years ago. Karunanandan is one of those fortunate youths who were brave enough to cross the LTTE barriers and surrender to the Sri Lanka Army, to save their worthy lives.

Waiting at the Palali Airport, when we met him, to go to Colombo as he was scheduled to leave the country in another three days, Karunanandan revealed his life story, mostly the physical and mental pain he went through.

Eldest of a poor family, with three brothers and one elder sister, Karunanandan’s home town is in the uncleared areas of Vannni. From here he was forcibly conscripted by the Tigers when he was just seventeen years old.

“I was the only one they took from our family since all my brothers were quite young by then,” he said. In 2002 his mother pleaded with the LTTE, and took him home saying there is no one to take care of the family. He had been the only hope for the family when the Tigers stole him from them.

Since then, he was unable to live in peace. He was trying to rise from debris but the LTTE cadres were hampering his efforts by taking him away from home for days for very insignificant matters like decorating LTTE’s main events, pasting posters etc. During the Ceasefire period he managed to come to Jaffna and as the LTTE ruthlessness was increasing Karunanandan saught safety under the Government. He surrendered to the Human Rights Commission and from there he was directed through a Court order to the Rehabilitation Centre in Thellippalai.

“Would you have been able to succeed in this way if you were still with the LTTE?” I asked. First he was a bit afraid to answer as the tragic past was still haunting his life. Slowly he came up with several non-related responses and at last said, “No, I don’t think so.”

Ending our conversation since we had to cover much more in our tour he kindly asked me to write one important message into my article. He said: “Please tell the other young people like me, who are sacrificing their valuable lives in vain to the Tigers, somehow come to the Government controlled areas and join this rehabilitation program. These officers including the Army personnel are ready to help us to achieve a brighter and a safer future.”

Healing wounded hearts

The Thellippalai Rehabilitation Centre was brought back to life under the instructions of the Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri, since the number of surrendees was rising. The need for a place to rehabilitate and bring these youth out of their dire situation was getting highlighted as the number of LTTE surrendees in Jaffna prison was getting quite high. Though the Centre existed since early 80’s it was not functional.

Hence, troops deployed in Jaffna renovated and republished it to be used for rehabilitating the ex-LTTE cader. “These youngsters are really helpless. They truly come from very poor families. They are unable to fulfil their responsibilities towards their families and it had so happened not because of their fault. Hence, it is necessary to extend a helping hand to them to turnover a new leaf in life,” Major Gen. Chandrasiri highlighted while explaining their commitment and backing to this worthy cause.

With the assistance of the Army this rehabilitation centre was started on 03 March this year and later came under the purview of the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Suhada Gamlath. The Centre was later handed over to the Sri Lanka Cadet Corps of which the officers are especially trained to rehabilitate persons who were involved in armed struggles and battles. The Cadet Corp took over the Centre on May 16.

Trainees, not surrendees

Major N. C. R. de Silva, Officer-in-Charge of the Rehabilitation Centre explaining its role said, “We do not focus solely on vocational training. Teaching English, Sinhala and Tamil, Yogi exercises and meditation as well as nutrition programs are conducted as well since these help to change the mentality of a person.”

These ex-cadres can select a vocational training course they prefer from five different categories - i.e. plumbing, house-wiring, motor mechanism, masonry and carpentry. Learning Basic English, Sinhala and Tamil is compulsory for all. All are provided with accommodation, food and health facilities. “We are conducting especial nutrition programs as well in association with the Ministry of Health,” Major de Silva added.

The trainers are from the Jaffna Technical College, which finally issues a certificate to these trainees. These persons are not treated as surrendees any more, but trainees undergoing special courses. They are treated well and properly looked after and get a complete training to become professionally skilled workers. Having dropped their weapons these trainees now fight with hammers, screwdrivers, nails and bolts, electrical appliances etc in the battle of becoming skilled workmen badly needed in the country.

Somasundaram, 47, father of two little girls has almost finished his course and looks forward in finding foreign employment. “I’m frightened to go back home. What if the LTTE come back to take me?” he said.

“I must see to the future of my two daughters. For their sake I want to go abroad and earn more money. At least now I must perform the duties cast on me. These officers are helping us when we need their assistance. I’m able to find a foreign job through a reliable friend of mine and the Army and the officers of the Rehabilitation centre are helping me to fulfil my wish,” Somasundaram added.

There have been special instances where the trainees had to return home, depending on the circumstances the families face. As such sixteen people have left the Centre out of which fourteen are married men and one University student and another a ‘Poosari’ of the village kovil, with special permission. As these people have been living in uncleared areas, birth certificates and other important personal documents are not with them.

If they were engaged in combats any more the situation would have been worse.

At such instances the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation has the fullest authority to direct the issuing of passports and visas if the respective trainees wish to migrate for employment.Around five trainees have so far found their way to Doha Qatar, Saudi Arabia and India and several others are in line.

Hope is strength

The newest member of the team is 21 year old Dileepan. He was abducted

by the LTTE in Nachchakuda during a pilgrimage to the Madhu Church with his family in 2006. The house they were staying came under LTTE raids to collect humans to achieve their non-existing separate state. Dileepan is one of the thousands of victims to this illusive mentality.

He has been trained to become a real hardcore militant though this innocent young man never had an intention to kill another human being or at least to use a ‘killing machine’. He tried many a time to escape but succeeded in his eighth attempt. He has been severely beaten, tortured simply because he was trying to find his freedom. “With me there were about 70 girls and boys of similar ages.

Many tried to escape several times. But it was very difficult. Only now I feel free, after surrendering myself to the Army,” Dileepan said. Twenty three year old Sayanadan, from Mannar, Pallimunai must be the bravest of the lot.

He swam 13 kilometres in the deep sea keeping himself 500 metres away from the shore using just a five litre plastic can. He had escaped in the night around ten and till next day morning he didn’t give up his mission impossible.

“Here in the Centre we are all friends and we happily spend the time,” he added. Sayanandan was abducted by the LTTE while fishing in Walapadai in Palativu on March 07 along with seven others and then brought to Nachchikuda. The LTTE men have told them that they are taking them to take photographs of these fishermen.

They were taken into a jungle blindfolded along with another group of five and were given training using mock weapons made of wood for three months on the assurance of issuing real weapons when they are sent to the Forward Defence Lines.

While being deployed in the FDLs, one of the cadres in his group has told him about the rehabilitation centre and had asked Sayanandan to escape to find freedom.

He has told him that if he is taken in for rehab he will be able to get vocational training and the officials help them in any way they can to make their lives happier. With high hopes in finding a shelter one day he slowly moved to the coast around ten in the night and escaped swimming 13km towards north since 10 in the night till early hours next day. He reached an area under the Army control and surrendered, stating he came from Mannar. Now he is training himself as a motor mechanic. “Now I can assemble parts of a broken bike and I’m used to repairing fishing boat motors. So I can find a job even if I return home,” he said. As he said, “I want to go home and take care of my family. They are waiting for me,” Sayanandan seemed to be very touched!

Out of a group of many youths I had the chance of speaking to Neethyaraj (30) who was another significant character.

Hailing from Paranthan he has lost contact with his family since the area lies under Tiger control. He has been recruited by force during June 2007. He was just an innocent fisherman taking care of his aged mother, his young wife and baby girl.

He escaped once before since he just couldn’t bear the harassments at the hands of his captors but again the LTTE had taken him away by force. Somehow, using his skills as a fisherman he crossed the lagoon in a boat and reached the cleared area.

He is longing for his mother’s affection, care and love of his beloved and the sweetness of his daughter!

They have no breadwinner and Neethyaraj’s agony misaplicable.To free such youths from the iron clutches of the Tigers the Army appeals to the LTTE cadres who are willing to surrender. Prospects for a brighter future are awaiting for them under the patronage of the Government. Jaffna Security Forces Headquaters have dropped leaflets in the uncleared areas conveying this message.

How do we know, there can be more Sayanandans, Dileepans and Neethyarajs waiting to escape from the ruthless Tigers in search of their freedom and future?