The lucky ones who got away!

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA in Chundikulam

Civilians who managed to get out of t uncleared areas

They were truly blessed to reach the safety shores without a single injury or death within three hours of their risky departure from the then uncleared Chundikulam area. This group of several families was fortunate than many of the other innocent civilians escaping from the iron grip of the Tiger terrorists.

They all were living in the same neighbourhood in Kaddaikadu, the village before Chundikulam - the last village at the end of the Jaffna district. Almost all the families depended on fishing in the deep blue seas in the picturesque Eastern coastal belt of the Jaffna peninsula. Losing this beautiful patch of beaches, of which the beauty is beyond words could explain, is a catastrophe the entire nation faced.

Reality

Wasanthan was a 42-year-old fisherman who was living in Kaddaikadu looking after his elderly mother and only sister. "LTTE chased us away to the Chundikulam area. The entire village had to leave behind their meager earnings and run for dear life," Wasanthan told us explaining the tragic life they spent under the iron clutches of the LTTE. "The LTTE took me forcefully to dig trenches and carry those huge logs to make bunkers.

I couldn't continue fishing for several days because of this and my family was helpless without me," he added. Wasanthan explained all the youth above 15 years of age were forced to go through LTTE training under different categories.

"We secretly left the area simply because our lives will become horrible when LTTE realise they are losing ground," Aneeta (32), Wasanthan's sister said. "We had no idea what would it be like when we reach towards the Army. I felt so happy that the Army took good care of us. They gave us food, water, medicine and specially milk for the little ones," Aneeta said gratefully.

These 29 families including 26 children, 35 women and 30 men reached Vetttalaikerni in three batches using fibreglass motor boats throughout the day, just two days before the Army fully gained control over the Chundikulam area. Six people were above 60.

"Please convey the message to others stranded in those areas under the LTTE. Tell them it is safe to come to the Army. They take care of us nicely," Wasanthan added finally when the group started moving towards the bus that reached there to take them to another safer place to spend the night comfortably.

Philomina (54), a teacher by profession was the only soul capable of conversing in English. She along with her husband (55) reached Vettalaikerni on January 12 evening depressed and exhausted. Hailing from Jaffna Philomina settled down in Udaththurai where her husband lived. After the Tsunami in 2005 she sent her son to her sister in Jaffna to continue his higher studies. "We are hoping to join with our son. He is our only treasure we own at the moment," she said while tears filled her eyes. We met Philomina and her husband Muththurasa Raja at the Welfare Centre put up in Mirusuvil some 50 kilometres northwards to Chundikulam. They are not ready to go back to their home in Udaththurai. They fear for their lives.

For Arulappu Joseph (49) the boat he owned was a blessing in disguise to escape from the LTTE with few other family friends. "We tied a white flag to the boat and started our journey during the wee hours. We had neither water nor meals during our long journey," he said. These innocent people would take any risk to save their lives from brutal terrorism. Until the Sri Lanka Army clear their residential areas from hidden Anti Personnel mines, Anti Tank mines, booby traps and other Improvised Explosive Devices it is not at all safe for the people to resettle in their original places.

Between life and death

These innocent people have crossed lands dotted with AP mines laid by the LTTE. "We received one man injured due to a mine explosion on January 15. He was rushed for necessary medical treatment and now he is recovering. Four days before this a woman came with injuries due to a mortar attack and another man with shot injuries. As the people told us LTTE is trying to forcibly hold back people by attacking civilian escaping paths with mortars and shooting at them," 55 Division Commander Brigadier Prasanna de Silva told us.

With strict instructions from the hierarchy Sri Lanka Army moved cautiously during the operations liberating the 20 odd kilometres towards Elephant Pass and approximately the 42 kilometres from Nagar Kovil to Chundikulam, keeping in mind to secure the civilians. With the fall of Pooneryn to the hands of the troops attached to the 58 Division in the Wanni Front line the number of escapees towards Kilali lagoon area in Jaffna started to increase. With the regain of the entire Jaffna peninsula by the 53 and 55 Divisions the number of escapees started going up.

Another family with their bag and baggage. Pix : Thilak Perera

"Stories we hear from these people are very pathetic. All these people are victims of terrorism who have undergone many untold hardships. Safety is the topmost concern for these people," 53 Division Commander Brigadier Kamal Gunarathne said explaining the civilian factor they had to face during the humanitarian operation.

To save lives

"At certain instances we had to send our infantry troops without the artillery and mortar fire support towards the enemy lines to avoid injuring the civilians. It was a huge risk considering the military strategies," Brigadier de Silva added.

Even today many people reach the Sri Lanka Army seeking refuge. Those soldiers in the Forward Defence Lines, who receive many of these civilians, would even give the limited issue of food ration packets with them to these civilians who reach them without food and water for several meals at times several days.

"Me minissu enne mee peni bothalayak aran eken yanthan ugura themagena (These people come with a small bottle of bee honey and just wet their drying throats)," Corporal Ranawaka, engaged in a forward most battalion, said. They are the troops who first receive these civilians. As these soldiers explain these civil men at times have to dip in 2-3 feet deep water in the lagoon and push the boats with their children, wives, parents and sisters. This is all to save the precious lives of one's self and of their nearest and the dearest.