The military also has at its disposal, the most hated Tamil paramilitaries and former LTTE combatants who deserted the movement over the years on various grounds that play an important part in the kidnaps and murders in Jaffna.
Lethal of all are the well groomed men of former LTTE military head Mahataya and the unscrupulous paramilitary group of Minister Douglas Devananda.
Gopalasamy Mahendrarajah alias Mahathaya was the second in command of the LTTE and was executed on 28 December 1994 by the LTTE on the charges of collaboration with the Indian intelligence service RAW. Following his arrest, detention and execution a section of his men sought sanctuary with the army.
They are well looked after at the Palaly army camp to the extent of them marrying Sinhala women and managing their lives within the army compound. The quantum of the disgruntled LTTE men is said to be about forty odd men, and is well known to be very ruthless and are prepared to do anything instructed to them by the state.
Since the defeat of the LTTE, the government did not make any effort to disarm or disown these paramilitary groups. They are being used to extent the governments control over the Tamil people.
The Mahathaya group is said to very lethal and are said to be part of the army and at times are uniformed.
Since the defeat of the LTTE, both Mahataya group and Douglas Devananda’s paramilitary groups have kidnapped and executed many Tamils on the grounds of victims opposing the government and having links with the LTTE in the past.
The Deputy Director of Education Markandu Sivalingam’s murder occurred following his opposition to sing the national anthem in Sinhala in Jaffna. The killing confirms the hallmarks of the paramilitary mission of the government. Coming in motorcycles, wearing balaclavas and executing their mission with precision which the military is giving them in abundance have become commonality these days. Knowing the victims backgrounds, one can easily confirm the culprits are these lethal paramilitaries who are aiding and abating with the government forces.
Military’s admission of army/LTTE complicity on the killing of the 56-year-old Hindu priest Niththiyantha Sharma and his two brothers on 11 December 2010 confirms the linkage of the Mahataya group and the army in the murder.
Whilst these murders received widest publicity there are many other murders and kidnaps in the heavy presence of the army, and no progress have been made to arrest the perpetrators so far.
Impunity enjoyed by the killers is unimaginable and is no different to situation faced on the killing of the veteran Sunday Leader founder and editor Lasantha Wickramatunge two years ago.
The government must be made to disown its links with the paramilitaries and efforts must be made to disarm these groups without delay.
When leading government ministers are asked about the disarmament of these paramilitary groups, they will only say privately, they cannot let the paramilitaries down as they have given so much support to the government to defeat the LTTE. If this is what the policy of the government, the government must be held responsible for the crimes and the anti-social activities of these paramilitary groups. These crimes must be treated as extension of war crimes post defeat of the LTTE.
SL forces planned Jaffna education officer’s assassination’
Sri Lankan forces occupying Jaffna planned the assassination of the Deputy Director of Education for Valikaamam, Mr. Markandu Sivalingam, on Sunday night, media sources in Jaffna said. “We cannot keep quiet seeing such murders. If we do so, tomorrow even we will not remain. We have to mobilise ourselves very urgently,” said Rev. Jesudas, the principal of St. Hendry’s College, I’lavaalai, speaking at the funeral of Mr. Sivalingam at Maruthanaamadam, Tuesday. It was attended by large number of students, teachers, principals and the public. But neither SL military officials, nor the officials of the provincial administration attended the funeral. On the day of his assassination there was the ‘disaster management’ gala attended by SL prime minister forcing students to ‘sing’ Sinhala anthem.
Obituary address by Rev. Fr. Jesudas at the funeral
“Whenever academics and intellectuals were assassinated in the past, we were keeping quiet. But we have not achieved anything by that silence. Such assassinations are escalating now. Our continued silence will invite dangerous consequences,” Fr. Jesudas further said in making obituary.
Speaking at the funeral, the Director of Education for Jaffna, Mr. Ratnam Tamilmaran asked all sections to condemn such assassinations of academics. Attack on academics in on the escalation. Stopping that is in the hands of everybody, he said.
The funeral procession started from the house of Mr. Sivalingam at Urumpiraay. Amidst heavy rains there was a big crowd. His colleagues took charge of the body at Maruthanaamadam junction, where the Valikaamam regional education office is located. Principals of all leading schools, teachers, students and education officers paid homage.
The cremation took place at Maruthanaamadam Saiva crematorium.
There was public anger on the absence of any provincial administration officials at the funeral. Just on the previous day these Tamil officials were in the retinue of the colonial governor Maj. Gen. Chandra Sri, when he came to open an education office at Kaarainakar.
As some stunning details of the assassination of Mr. Sivalingam is being circulated in Jaffna, the absence of the SL military and administration officials at his funeral have evoked further suspicions among the public.
In a territory where thousands of military were needed for the security of visiting SL politicians, only three policemen were at the procession and funeral of Mr. Sivalingam.
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