The 38-year anniversary of a mass murder, allegedly perpetrated by the Sri Lanka navy, was recently held in the north. The incident involves the brutal torturing and killing of 32 fishermen, including a child.
Regional correspondents said that the memorial was held on 10 June at the monument located in Gurunagar, Jaffna, where floral tributes were paid and lamps were lit in commemoration of the deceased.
The memorial has been attended by relatives of the murdered fishermen, religious leaders, and fishermen in the area.
On 10 June, 1986, a group of fishermen based in Gurunagar had left the Mandaitivu fisheries harbour aboard the Thuya Oli (தூய ஒளி) vessel.
Regional reporters further explained that a group of men covering their faces, who sailed by boat armed with knives, axes and clubs had hacked the fishermen to death aboard the fishing vessel, when the fishermen were gearing to catch fish.
According to Tamil records, despite the fishermen raising their hands to indicate that they were unarmed, the assailants in total disregard, had subjected them to torture and murdered them.
“Certain fishermen’s eyes had been gouged out, while some had their bellies cut open,” the North-East Secretariat on Human Rights (NESoHR) had reported.
The deceased are – Gnanaprakasam Edward Clinson Jayakanthan, Christopher Esthaki, Manuel Payas, Thamian Erumin Rubert Udayakumar, Pankiras Anthony Julius, Panjiras Tarsicius, Pankiras Anton Vimaladas Thawam, Anton Shelton Veen, Manuel Mariyanayagam, John George, Joseph Fernando Anthonypillai Fernando, Arulanandam Boniface, Arulanandam Benedict, Benedict Aliston, Benedict Likori, Benedict Marcilla Mahendran, Patrick Aloysius, Aloysius Likori, Aloysius Duke, Sebadesu Xavior, Emaliyanus Maximus Eswaran, Subramaniam Gopalakrishnan, Muttiah Swaminathan Sebamalai Joseph, Manuel Patrick, Somasundaram Sothinathan, Vishwanath Vimalanathan, Benedict Hubert Resan Ramesh, Ashirwadam Anothnypillai, Kandiah Muttusami, Savariyan Jesudasan Nikson and Mudiyappu Anthonydas Rajkumar from Guru Nagar, and one Mandaitivu-based youth whose name has not been documented.
Villagers directly accuse Sri Lanka navy in connection with the murders of these fishermen.
In addition, allegations have been levelled against Sri Lanka navy in connection with the murders of 36 persons including children who were aboard the ‘Kumudini’ vessel, which occurred a year before the Mandaitivu mass murder.
Vice Admiral Appu Hennadige Asoka de Silva served as the Navy Commander when these mass murders took place, and he retired in October, 1986. The then President J.R. Jayawardena appointed him as the first Sri Lankan ambassador to Cuba in March, 1987.
When he died of natural causes in 2006, he was 75 years old.
