The Sunday Leader Online

As Colombo, Sri Lanka's economic capital once more begins to make headlines with its plummeting human rights record with abductions and extortions on the rise, the temporary lull that prevailed is proved false. That it was nothing but a pregnant silence, ominous and waiting to bare its ugly face has now come true.

The horrid stories that unfold in Colombo, recorded here are also supplemented by gory stories from the northeast with multiple players having a field day committing abductions and killings.

Year 2007, according to abduction records in Colombo maintained by the Civil Monitoring Commission (CMC) tables 115 incidents. The majority of them were Tamils and have not returned home. Many of them have duly paid ransom money to secure their release only to lose both the person and the money so paid.

Colombo's tragic stories are taking the same turn, with the mystery, suspension and fear all woven into each incident.

Standstill

The life of 34-year-old Anton Kumar is now at a standstill. He awaits the return of his younger sibling. It is Surya, Anton Kumar's much loved thambi (younger brother) who washed him and helped him wear his clothes.

Arthritis confined young Anton Kumar to a wheelchair in 1993. He needs his younger brother, Sooryakumar (22) or Surya, to help him with his most basic functions.

Surya who left his house in Grandpass around 11.30 a.m. on February 16 has not returned home since then. Nobody has heard from him either, since that fateful day.

The youngest of eight, Sooryakumar was a video cameraman. "He is a good person. He minds his own business. He is the one who looked after us and attended to his brother," notes A. Amalavutpavam, his grieving mother.

Sole breadwinner

Young Surya had to look after his ailing parents and his brother. The whole family depended on his income and with his disappearance, the home fires no longer burn.

"He washed me and put me to bed that morning and said he was going on some work. I fell asleep. I woke up when my mother began to anxiously say that Surya has not returned home," said Anton Kumar.

When the family called his mobile telephone, it rang for a while before getting disconnected. Subsequent attempts to contact him proved futile.

"I felt it in my gut that something was wrong. I felt uneasy considering the state of the country. However, we waited till around 11 p.m. and then lodged a complaint with the Grandpass police," Anton Kumar added.

Surya had not only maintained good relationships with his neighbours, but also with the police. The police had frequently visited his house and had taken him with them to film many of their activities.

"We were never worried that he would be taken by the police. Even when we went to lodge a complaint, they were very cooperative," Anton Kumar said.

However, the family does not know whom to suspect. Though the family hails from Vattakkachchi, Kilinochchi, all the children grew up in Colombo.

Accused

Surya's father, Philip Asirwatham had lived in Colombo for nearly 60 years. "I did face problems 10-15 years ago and was accused of being a LTTE informant, just because I hailed from Kilinochchi. That's how they accused most of us from the north. My son is innocent, he knows no other home but Colombo. I can vouch for the fact that my son was innocent, he had no reason to be treated like a suspect. He never touched alcohol or a cigarette," he said.

Surya's motorbike was discovered by one of the neighbours on the roadside who informed the family.

"We went to the police and identified his bicycle. It was in a bad condition as the army had checked it, suspecting there was a bomb fixed to it," Anton Kumar added.

"They also said that some person who had come in a white van had forcibly taken him." The family said no ransom demands were received.

"Why are they keeping my son for such a long time? He didn't even have a proper breakfast when he left," said his mother, weakened by her weeping and unable to grapple with the unfolding tragedy.

They had complained to every possible local human rights organisation, with no success. "We have not received any new information," they chorused.

Adding to their loss is the economic implications of losing the sole breadwinner who has been abducted. The associated grief and anxiety cause them more misery as authorities fail to bring their loved one home.

"I don't know how I'm going to survive if he does not come back. I'd rather be dead than alive without the support of my brother. I owe my existence to him," moans a grief stricken Anton Kumar. His eyes misted though he sat still.

Saga begun?

"Has the abduction saga begun? Why haven't the kidnappers contacted the family? Why was Surya kidnapped in the first place?" ask Surya's family in unison. To these questions, the Grandpass police have no answers.

When this newspaper contacted the police, the authorities remained tight lipped stating that they were not in a position to divulge the details of the investigation.

Surya's story is only one such tale of woe. There are others who suffer similar heartache.

The family of Chinnaiah Chelliah is happy to have him back. The owner of the popular Mysore Caf‚ in Wellawatte was abducted on February 12, by armed uniformed men travelling in a white van bearing registration number 254-7854. He was released on February 16.

But the family fears to express their joy of having him return, a rare plight for an abducted in a lawless land. Chelliah had been assaulted and interrogated, and released in Wattala, blind folded. The last thing the family wants is to comment on the incident lest they unleash further violence upon themselves.

Likewise, Vellaisamy Jegan who hails from Puwakpitiya in Avissawella was picked up in Dehiwela and released on February 15. Uniformed personnel interrogated him.

Ragul Chandrasekaran, a youth from Jampettah Street and Muttiah Arasaratnam of Grandpass too went mysteriously missing on February 10, but were mercifully released on the 16th.

Identical pattern

The pattern of abductions and even the releases are almost identical.

On September 11, 2007 Kandasamy Kamaladas boarded a bus to travel from Trincomalee to Colombo with his mother. Just prior to departure, they were arrested at the Trincomalee bus stand and released three hours later at the Trincomalee police station.

They later travelled to Colombo by the night train. When the train approached the Ragama railway station at 5 a.m. men who travelled in the train abducted Kamaladas.ÿ He was taken out of the station and put into a waiting van and taken while his ailing mother cried herself sick and was abandoned on the street.

When pressure was exerted both locally and internationally about the indiscriminate harassment of the minority community people and treating them as suspects simply based on ethnicity, Kamaladas was released, blind-folded closer to Polonnaruwa. Kamaldas never spoke about his detention or the ordeal suffered. All he said was that there were so many captives like him where he was taken.

There is another twist to the abduction tale. When pressure piled up compelling government action, a former SLAF Officer Nishantha Gajanayake was taken into CID custody on June 21, 2007 for allegedly masterminding an abduction for extortion racket. The government did not do this willingly.

Having denied any abductions or extortions with state patronage, Gajanayake proved an embarrassment when some of his alleged connections were revealed in parliament by UNP legislator Lakshman Seneviratne.

Following the arrest, government ministers boasted that the spate of abductions had ceased and that the government did not hesitate to mete out justice. In more ways than one, Gajanayake was a convenient escape route for a government that could not or did not wish to crackdown on the increasing human rights violations, particularly in Colombo.

Last month, Gajanayake was released due to lack of 'material evidence' and his detention order had been mysteriously withdrawn. Ever since, rather coincidentally, the abductions have also resumed.

As Colombo grapples once more with threats to human liberty, there are multiple dramas in the northeast with many warlords, breakaway factions of militant outfits, security forces, police, political groups and armed individuals observing the law in the breach, with scant respect for human dignity or liberty.

Tamils being caught like stray dogs - Ganesan

Convener, Civil Monitoring Commission (CMC) and Colombo District Parliamentarian, Mano Ganesan alleged Tamils were not being arrested in Colombo but 'caught' at street corners, work places and homes in the most degrading manner like 'catching stray dogs' to be sent to dog pounds.

Calling for immediate intervention by the IGP to halt the lawlessness that prevails, he demanded those in authority to explain to the public as to why uniformed men were often cited as abductors.

Referring to the recent most incident, Ganesan claimed that the CMC has verified information that Subramaniyam Gajendradas (36) and Vinayagasakthi Vijendran (35) of Dehiwela were 'caught and taken away' forcefully by armed men in a white van on February 12, night, in the 'usual style.'

"I personally enquired from the Dehiwela police on the 17th about the two disappearances. The Dehiwala police later informed me that both the missing were detained at the CID branch of the Fort Police Station. The CID had reportedly informed Dehiwala police by fax that two Tamils were being questioned with regard to an alleged fraud," he said.

"It took five days for the Dehiwala police to find out that the CID had arrested those reported missing. The CID men that had arrested the two were in civilian clothes but carried firearms. They had arrived in a white van and not an official police vehicle. They have neither identified themselves to the householders nor provided information where they intended taking those under arrest," alleged Ganesan.

Referring to the abduction of Chinnaiah Chelliah, the owner of the popular Mysore Caf‚, Wellawatte, on February 12 by armed men, again travelling in a white van, the CMC Convener said the complaint was clear about the abductors being in uniform. An assaulted Chelliah was released four days later.

Similarly, Ellaisamy Jegan of Avissawella was picked up in Dehiwela and released on the 15th. Ragul Chandrakaran of Jampettah Street and Muttiah Arasaratnam of Grandpass went missing on February 10 and 'reappeared' on the 16th.

"Who can explain whether these were legal arrests or abductions by police or 'others,' given the lawlessness that prevails?" questioned Ganesan. He added that Chinnathamby Subesan of Maligawatte, abducted on February 14 was still missing. In like manner, Asirwatham Sooryakumar (22) of 134/295, Stace Road, Colombo 14 was abducted by armed men travelling in a white van in broad daylight, and near the Grandpass Police. "I want some answers from the authorities," he insisted.

Abductions and killings in the northeast - June '07 to February '08

Batticaloa District

January 12, 2007: Shop owner Kanapathipillai Yogarajah (48) from Kathankudy was shot dead at close range while returning home. Soon after the incident, Shanthan of the Pillayan Group reportedly opened fire on Muslim worshippers emerging from a mosque injuring Moulawi Mohamed Fareed (38), Faizer (36), and M. Alavudeen (44).

June 22, 2007: Anandaraj (49) a labourer from Ootruchchenai, Vadamunai and a refugee in Thamaraikkulam, Peththalai, Valaichchenai since 1996. Anandaraj was taken away around 9.30 on June 22, 2007 by a group of about 25-30 armed men in military uniform with masks. The reason provided was to conduct an inquiry.

His body was found with injuries to the forehead and chest near the Tsunami Housing Scheme at Karunkalichcholai. His wife Rukmanidevi suspects the Karuna Group.

August 11, 2007: Rayath Mohamed Latif (50), alias Colonel was a popular supporter of the SLMC. A group of eight armed Muslims arrived on motorcycles and shot him dead inside the mosque premises.

September 24, 2007: Pathmarajah Ranjan, a one-time LTTE combatant. Ranjan who hails from Pethuchenai, Mandur lost a hand in battle and later surrendered to the Karuna Group who discharged him with a letter of clemency. Locals allege he was abducted by the STF when he went to the Batticaloa Hospital.

October 30, 2007: A Muslim trader, Mohamed Cassim Mohamed Riyal of Valaichchenai was abducted in the Eravur Division. Muslims suspect the Karuna Group.

November 11, 2007: In a grenade attack in Valaichchenai, a SLMC activist's cousin Rismiya's husband Mustapha Lebbe was injured. Also injured seriously was their infant son Siam Sharaf.

November 14, 2007: Armed men arrived at a house in Oddamavady and abducted five young Muslim men. The Karuna Group was initially suspected but locals allege an army hand. The abducted were identified as Issadeen Sabras (21), earlier military intelligence and later a Muslim militant under Kaleel and a home guard, Aboobucker Illyas (30), earlier military intelligence and subsequently a home guard, Aboobucker Naufer, brother of Illyas, Mohamed Aliyar Mohamed Riyas (22) and Illiyas Abdul Cader (18).

November 28, 2007: Sinnathamby Sathananthan (28). The World Vision employee was abducted on the main road in Navatkuda in board daylight.

November 30, 2007: Pakiarajah (48) of Santhiveli, a railway employee, was abducted by Ranjan and Illankeeran of the Karuna Group. The reason was that his son, a conscript in the Karuna Group and run away and the father could not produce him.

December 1, 2007: Thambimuttu Nadarajah (39) of Vinayagapuram, Valaichchenai was manager of the local co-operative shop. He left for work November 26, 2007.

On December 1, an officer from the Kumburumoolai army camp informed local police of a corpse lying on the road close to the army camp. The body had torture marks and signs of being strangled and stabbed.

December 1, 2007: Sivarajah Kaliyagan (20) of Seelan Store St., Ward 4, Pudur, was conscripted by the Pillayan Group. His wife went looking for him to the TMVP (Pillayan) office in Covington Rd, Batticaloa. Kaliyagan had been sent for armed training.

December 4, 2007: Subramaniam Sothivadivel - a teacher from Vavunathivu. It is believed he was abducted by the STF personnel travelling in a white van in Urani.

December 9, 2007: Two persons were shot dead inside a refugee camp in Kokkuvil. Victims were Ahilesapillai Sivapragasam (40) from Vallikerny and Vijikanthan (19) from Kadatkaraichenai, who was suspected of being a Sea Tiger.

December 11, 2007: Santhirasegaran Yogarajah (24) of the recently liberated Munaikkadu north was reportedly abducted by the Pillayan Group, trained and sent to the Araiampathy office.

January 7, 2008: President, Volunteer Teachers Union, Parasuraman Nanthakumar (31) was shot dead near his house in Morakkottanchenai reportedly by the Karuna Group.

January 10, 2008: Marimuththu Arumugam (58) from Commathurai, Eravur was a retired laboratory technician. Refused to contest the election as a TMVP candidate.

January 12, 2008: Poopalapillai Uthayakumar (49) of Ganeshapuram, Mandur was shot dead in Vilavedduvan while returning home from Batticaloa town. The body showed injuries to the head, face and chest.

January 20, 2008: Ehambaram Nadesamoorthy (35), was in his shop which forms part of his residence when two men arrived on a motorcycle and shot him.

January 31, 2008: Chitravel Kalaichelvan, was the Sitthandy area leader of the Karuna Group. His wife who was away returned home to find her husband shot dead and his body lying on the road.

February 10, 2008: Illayathamby Thevathas and his two children were abducted by armed men travelling in a white van. Thevathas' dead body was recovered with gunshot wounds.

Ampara District

January 28, 2008: Thuraiappah Thayaparan (29) of Komary had quit the LTTE years ago. He was shot dead on the 28th.

February 1, 2008: Murugesan Parameswary (40) of Komary, a mother of three children was threatened in the night by Karuna's men carrying automatic weapons demanding her husband's whereabouts. When she said he was overseas, she was taken out for an 'inquiry' and shot was dead.

February 11, 2007: Singarajah Suhithakumar (14) from Akkaraipattu, a young student was assaulted and shot dead reportedly by the STF. In a round up, the STF took away 50 persons including five children.

Jaffna District

December 26, 2007: Preman (21) of Irupalai was shot dead near his house. His father, Kailanathan, an employee of the Mannar courts and a pastor, said that Preman was not involved in any political activity and alleged mistaken identity.

January 11, 2008: Kavitha Shanmuganathan (20) of Alvai North, Karaveddy was riding her bicycle when two gunmen, on a motorcycle, allegedly EPDP members followed her and shot her dead.

January 24, 2008: S. Nadesapillai (61) of Navatkadu, Varani and former chairman of the Kodikamam Multi Purpose Co-operative Society was called out of his house by gunmen and shot dead. He is the fourth Co-operative chairman to be killed since mid-September 2006.

January 31, 2008: Balasundaram Baskaran (30) and Dushyanthan Baleswary (21) and Balasundaram Parthipan (19) were three siblings living near Cholaiamman Temple in Manthuvil. The Army Field Bike Squad reportedly surrounded the house and sprayed bullets killing two. Parthipan succumbed to injuries later.

February 1, 2008: Sivarasa Suki, a 24 year old was shot and killed at her house in Jaffna and 26-year-old Uthayan, was gunned down just half a mile away on the Allarai-Kachchaay road in Kodikaamam.

Trincomalee District

October 1, 2007: Poopalapillai (26) from Muttur East went missing.

December 2, 2007: Kaalirasa Suveekaran (27) of Bharathipuram, Muttur South went missing.

January 1, 2008: Nagappan Sureshkumar (15) from Kantale was reported missing.

January 2, 2008: Jeganathan Jeyakanthan (29) from Pallathoddam, Trincomalee was abducted from his home.

January 4, 2008: Yogesweran Latchumanan (27) from Peraru, Kantale missing at Sooriyapura, Kantale.

January 5, 2008: Thiagarajah Vadivelkarasan (24) of Murugan Kovilady Paalaiootru was abducted down Ganesh Lane.

January 11, 2008: Sivananthan Sivachandran (24) of 126/3, Varodhyanagar, Trincomalee was abducted from home.

January 12, 2008: Paranjothy Janakan (21) of Pattimedu, Thampalakamam, was abducted in Trincomalee town.

January 23, 2008: Walter Bans (34) from Palmyra Grove, Trincomalee was reported missing. Last seen in Trincomalee town.

January 23, 2008: Edward Bans (34), twin brother of Walter Bans went missing in the same incident.

January 28, 2008: Ehambaram Kohilavaradharajan (29) of Thirumalpuram, Trincomalee was abducted from his home.

January 28, 2008: Martin Gerard Justin (26) of Periyakulam, Trincomalee, was abducted from his home.

January 30, 2008: Sivaraja Sivaranjani (19) from Chinabay has gone missing.

February 4, 2008: Thiyoda Christopher (20), of Veluvelipuram was abducted from his home.

February 4, 2008: Ramakrishnan Prathaban (25), from Anbuvelipuram was abducted from his home.

February 4, 2008: Ramakrishnan Jegaruban (21), brother of Ramakrishnan Prathaban was also abducted from his home.

February 4, 2008: Chandrasekaram Thevananthan (17) from Paalaiyootru was abducted from his home.

February 5, 2008: Sivananthan Prabhakaran (24) of Kanniya went missing.

February 7, 2008: Iruthayanathan George Sekar (30) from Ananthapuri reported missing.

February 8, 2008: Christian Gnanasekaram (35) of Uppuveli went missing.

February 10, 2008: Gunasekaram Sritharan (26) of Kinniya was reported missing.

February 13, 2008: Kaaliyappu Nagalingam (26) of Ganeshapuri missing at Sambalthivu. (Source - UTHR, Jaffna)

©Leader Publications (Pvt) Ltd.
24, Katukurunduwatte Road, Ratmalana Sri Lanka
Tel : +94-75-365891,2 Fax : +94-75-365891
email : editor@thesundayleader.lk