Tamils: Anti-Landmine Protestations
By Chandi Sinnathurai
07 December, 2007
Countercurrents.orgThere is a blind spot, as to how Western nation’s approach, when it comes to the Tamil struggle and the Sri Lankan conflict. One takes the view, rightly, I would have thought, against the use of landmines in conflicts. There ought to be an out right condemnation.
In this situation, if the Tamil Tigers are utilising landmines, particularly against innocent civilians, it is a despicable tool, and an appalling crime. All decent human beings, Tamils of all people, will register their protest. The struggle for self-determination is not peculiarly a ‘Tiger affair’ so to speak. It is, one must underscore, a struggle of the Tamil people as a whole. And so, they do have a say in it!
Things get skewed, as a matter of course, when the Sri Lankan State, employs landmines as a choice weapon against the struggling Tamils.
The Western nations cannot ignore this ground reality. In fact, they ought to be disagreeable, in the most vehement manner, with the Sinhala state. When perched on a high moral ground, how on earth can the Western governments keep their voices muffled, when the Sri Lankan state engages in landmine warfare?
This is unadulterated crime. State terror against its own citizens.
Some reports have emerged recently from the battle ground about the claymore landmine attacks by State forces. The following details appeared on TamilNet.
For detailed report and photos please check this link: [http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=23943]
[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 December 2007, 11:50 GMT]
<<More than 700 medical staff in Vanni, including doctors, nurses, technical staff, midwives and minor staff from K'ilinochchi and Mullaiththeevu districts, Thursday morning staged a protest against targeted Claymore attacks by the Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) on ambulances and humanitarian vehicles.
In August last year, a DPU attack on the ambulance of Nedungkea'ni claimed the lives of the doctor of Nedungkea'ni hospital, his wife, two nurses and the driver of the ambulance. On 25 November, the driver of the ambulance of Muzhangkaavil hospital was seriously wounded in a Claymore attack at Mudkompan in Poonakari (Pooneryn)
An ambulance that belongs to Muzhangkaavil hospital, engaged on medical service to the displaced civilians from Poonakari living in Mudkompan area, was targeted by a SLA DPU Claymore attack at Mudkompan. The driver of the ambulance, Thavaseelan, 29, was seriously wounded in the attack.
26 September 2007:The Hiace van with humanitarian supplies by JRS, targeted by SLA DPU unit
Rev. Fr. Nicholaspillai Packiyaranjith, 40, the Mannaar district coordinator of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) was killed when Sri Lanka Army Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) attackers launched a Claymore attack on his Hiace vehicle, at Kalvi'laan on Maangku'lam - Ve'l'laangku'lam road. The JRS vehicle was bringing in baby milk and essential humanitarian supplies for displaced children.09 August 2006:
A medical doctor, his wife, two nurses and the driver of the ambulance belonging to Nedunkea'ni hospital, were killed Tuesday night when Sri Lanka Army (SLA) Deep Penetration Unit (DPU) attacked the ambulance, medical sources in Puthukudiyiruppu hospital said. Three Claymore mines in a row were exploded.
08 June 2006:
Four health officials of Tamileelam Health Service Mobile Medical Service, including a nurse and the driver of the vehicle, were wounded at Akkarayaan, 20 km from Ki'linochchi when an SLA DPU team exploded a Claymore mine together with three explosives. >>
This above report speaks for it self. And the international community must be seen to be upholding their moral mandate.
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