“In contrast, except perhaps for an insignificant number of lunatics among them, the Sinhalese have neither approved nor applauded the conduct of the thugs and hoodlums who perpetrated horrific crimes on Tamils in July 1983, or called them “the boys” or by any term comparable to “freedom fighters”, while a significant number of unarmed and defenceless Sinhalese at great risk to themselves, their wives and children gave refuge to Tamils in their homes and saved them from the mobs.”
by S.L.Gunasekara
(July 28, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The last week saw the 25th anniversary of the unforgivable riots of July 1983 when unruly and inhuman mobs of thugs and hoodlums, most of whom were indisputably Sinhalese, attacked Tamils and their property in Colombo and several cities leaving a death of 471 according to Minister DEW Gunasekera.
It was these inhuman acts that have led to the emergence of the term “Black July”. Strangely, however, other inhuman acts of cruelty of appalling magnitude committed not by unruly gangs of thugs and hoodlums but by trained terrorists of the LTTE who are portrayed by their supporters, acolytes, admirers and lackeys as being disciplined “freedom fighters”, have not led to the months in which they were committed having attached to them the appellation `Black’.
Thus, for example, the month of June is never described as “Black June” though the LTTE murdered about 678 defenceless Sinhalese and Muslim Police Officers in the Eastern Province who had laid down arms and surrendered to them on being ordered to do so by the then Government on 11.6.90; though the LTTE murdered Minister C V Gunaratne, his wife and about 33 civilians at Golumadama Junction, Ratmalana on 7.6.2000; 8 Sinhalese civilians and one soldier in the Temple premises at Godapotta, Medirigiriya on 12.6.87; 13 Sinhalese civilians at Dehiwatte, another 13 at Veppankulam; 20 at Andankulam, 22 civilians of all races in Trincomalee Town and another 6 between Sittaru and Meegasgodella, all in the Trincomalee District on 11.6.85 11.6.87, 4.6.86, 11.6.86 and 18.6.97 respectively; 30 Pupil Buddhist Monks at Arantalawa on 2.6.87, 62 Muslim civilians in Nintavur on 21.6.90, 16 civilians of all races at Lahugala, another 14 at the 209th mile post in Ampara on 2.6.92 and 11 Sinhalese civilians at Inginiyagala on 2.6.99; 10 civilians and 4 soldiers at the Manmunai Ferry, Kokkadicholai on 12.6.91; and the entire Politbureau of the EPRLF except one at Madras on 19.6.90.
The litany of mass murders of civilians committed by the LTTE is long and sickening indeed. If the month of July is called “Black” July because of the horror felt by the humane at the absolute inhumanity displayed by those thugs and hoodlums to Tamils in July 1983, so also must the other months of the year be named `Black’ January, `Black’ February, `Black’ March, `Black’ April, `Black’ May, `Black’ June, `Black’ August, `Black’ September, `Black’ October, `Black’ November and `Black’ December in view of the atrocities of indescribable cruelty committed by the trained terrorists of the LTTE in every one of those months.
Such, however, is not the case; nor is there, to the best of my knowledge, a practice of labeling a month “Black” in view of an atrocity/atrocities, however horrendous, committed in that month and commemorating such atrocity/atrocities worldwide with various ceremonies and articles in newspapers and journals to express horror at the patent inhumanity displayed by the perpetrators of such atrocity/atrocities. Thus, for example, as far as I am aware, India has not labeled the month of April “Black” and do not commemorate the 13th April worldwide because on that day, in the year 1919, a General Officer of the British Army, Brigadier Reginald Dyer, (presumably an alumnus of Sandhurst) and an “Officer” and alleged “Gentleman”, with 50 troops under his command, opened fire on an unarmed, peaceful crowd of over 10,000 attending a meeting at Jallianwalla Bagh in Amritsar, murdering and wounding 1516 of them; and that horrendous crime was wholly approved by the then Governor of the Punjab, Sir Michael O’Dwyer, while the only sanction Brigadier Dyer had to face for his `gallant’ conduct was to be reprimanded and asked to resign his commission, which sanction was more than off-set by the British Public which did not even say “not cricket, old boy” but both applauded his conduct and gifted to him the staggering sum of Sterling Pounds 26,000/-; by the so called “nobility”, namely, the House of Lords, which gave him a commendation, and the Conservatives which gave him a gift of a jeweled sword on which was inscribed the words “Saviour of the Punjab”!!!
In contrast, except perhaps for an insignificant number of lunatics among them, the Sinhalese have neither approved nor applauded the conduct of the thugs and hoodlums who perpetrated horrific crimes on Tamils in July 1983, or called them “the boys” or by any term comparable to “freedom fighters”, while a significant number of unarmed and defenceless Sinhalese at great risk to themselves, their wives and children gave refuge to Tamils in their homes and saved them from the mobs. It is pertinent to note in this connection, that we have yet to hear of any Tamil who gave refuge to a Sinhalese or a Muslim to save him from the marauding LTTE.
These facts lead to but one conclusion. The appellation “Black July” came into being and the unforgivable atrocities of July 1983 are commemorated world-wide with near religious fervour, not because of the horror felt by those behind the creation of that appellation and the organization of such commemorations at the inhumanity displayed by those thugs and hoodlums and their sympathy for the victims, but principally because of their perverse desire to muster support for the LTTE at home, and more so in foreign climes which is where the `money-bags’ are.
There is one set of alleged `human beings’ who were clearly delighted beyond measure by the atrocities committed on Tamils, mainly by Sinhalese in July 1983, and those, indisputably, are the LTTE, their supporters, acolytes and lackeys – for the LTTE could never ever have become as strong as they became but for the support they gained both at home and abroad [and especially in India] because of those atrocities. Thus, one can have little doubt that the LTTE which cares not one whit for the sufferings of the Tamils or any other people, has murdered more Tamils than the Sinhalese thugs and hoodlums and even use Tamil girls of child-bearing age and little children including those who have not yet reached puberty as `cannon fodder’, are full and overflowing with gratitude to the filthy scum [among the Sinhalese in particular] who committed those atrocities.
The month of July has seen not only the atrocities perpetrated on Tamils by mainly Sinhalese mobs, but also several murders of unarmed civilians by the LTTE such as the murders of Amirthalingam MP, Yogeswaran MP and the attempted murder of Sivasithamparam at Bullers Road on 13.7.89; the murders of 63 civilians of all races at the Railway Station Dehiwela on 24.7.1996, Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam MP and two others at Kynsey Road on 27.7.99; 13 civilians of all races at Issanbassegala, Medawachchiya on 24.7.86, 12, Sinhalese civilians at Vadigawewa, Medirigiriya on 19.7.86, 18 Muslim civilians at Puttur on 6.7.91, 9 Sinhalese civilians at Karapola, Manampitiya on 6.7.91, 9 Tamil and 2 Sinhalese civilians at Pavatkulam, Vavuniya on 13.7.86, 32 Sinhalese civilians at Mamaduwa, Vavuniya on 22.7.86, 10 Tamil civilians at Parayanakulam, Vavuniya on 16.7.92, 15 Sinhalese at Monkey Bridge, Trincomalee, on 8.7.86, 7, Sinhalese, 2 Muslims and 1 Tamil at Kantalai on 17.7.86, 2 civilian at Mangalagama/Nuwaragalatenna, Ampara on 18.7.98, 19 Muslim civilians at Kirankulam, Batticaloa on 15.7.92 and 7 Muslims at Parangiyamedu on 21.7.92. However, to those who named July “Black July” and engage in commemorations of the atrocities committed on Tamils by thugs and hoodlums, . these horrific crimes committed by the LTTE were not relevant and did not even deserve a `footnote’ – for to them, the LTTE could do no wrong !!!
Many are the allegations made by various persons including members of the SLFP [to whom, in common with their counterparts in the UNP, talking without knowing what they are talking about has become a habit] that the atrocities committed on Tamils in July 1983 were organized or orchestrated by the UNP Government of the day.
While I hold no brief for the UNP, I cannot accept this contention. If the then UNP Government either organized or was in any way `particeps criminis’ in the commission of the atrocities of July 1983, all the Ministers of that Government who included not only Sinhalese such as JR Jayewardene, Premadasa, Athulathmudali, Gamini Dissanaike, Ronnie De Mel, Dayaratne and Ranil Wickremesinghe, but also Tamils and Muslims such as Thondaman (Snr), Rajadurai, Devanayagam, ACS Hameed, MH Mohammed, Naina Marikkar and Bakeer Markar (Snr) must all have been party to such unspeakable crimes. If that Government either organized or was particeps criminis in the commission of the atrocities of July 1983 those facts must necessarily have been known to the Ministers and if any of them was opposed to such depraved conduct of the Government, he would necessarily have resigned forthwith. If, therefore, that Government was so responsible for those atrocities, any and every Minister who remained within it after July 1983 must equally necessarily be deemed to have been party to or at least approved of those atrocities. It is common knowledge that no Minister resigned. Thus, if any one were to contend that that Government was responsible for or condoned the outrages of July 1983 he necessarily accuses not only Jayawardene, Premadasa, Wickremesinghe, Dayaratne and Ronnie De Mel, but also the Tamils and Muslims of that Government such as Thondaman (Snr), Rajadurai, Devanayagam, ACS Hameed, MH Mohammed, Naina Marikkar and Bakeer Markar (Snr) of having been responsible for promoting or condoning those anti-Tamil riots. To my mind this is unthinkable.
Accusing the UNP Government falsely of complicity in those riots may bring some instant cheap political advantage to the accusers. However, the damage done to the Country thereby is immense. The then Government was undoubtedly constituted by the UNP with the CWC as a minor appendage. However, it was the Government of Sri Lanka. Thus he who accuses the UNP Government of the day of having organized, promoted or condoned the atrocities of July 1983 for cheap political advantage only kicks the ball into Sri Lanka’s goal to the delight of the LTTE and the detriment of the country.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
Post a Comment