little children" - Mahathma Gandhi (1869 - 1948)
"It is sad the Indian government have the money and the ability to make nuclear
weapons to defend its people but can't afford basic firefighting equipment to
save innocent children at school. It is a shame and this is a lesson for officials
who ignore the rights of the lower level class Indian people".
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S. V. O. Somanader,
conferred D. Lit by
Eastern University
[Sunday Observer]
Samuel Victor Ousmund
Somanader the famed
naturalist was conferred
the degree Doctor of
Literature (Honoris
Causa) posthumously at
the recently held
Convocation of the
Eastern University,
Batticaloa. He received
this well-deserved
honour for his immense
contribution chiefly in the
fields of education and
the study of the fauna
and flora and the folk
culture of the Batticaloa
district.
By Dharisha Bastians In Batticaloa
At the Batticaloa hospital that sultry Tuesday afternoon, all the ironies of war
and this elusive peace came to life. Two armed policemen stationed
themselves beside a seemingly ordinary coffin and stood guard by the doors
of the morgue. A group of heavily armed Sri Lanka Army personnel from
Brigade 233 and their commanding officer stood some distance away.
The LTTE's Batticaloa Political Wing Leader, Ramalingam Padmaseelan a.k.a.
Senathiraja had just succumbed to the injuries he sustained during a shooting
on Black Tiger day, and the Tigers had requested army protection and escort
to transport his body to Kokkadicholai, an area under LTTE control.
The military responded positively almost immediately. Military personnel on
motorbikes were to lead the way, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM)
vehicle would follow the hearse and the army would provide a rear guard as
well. The military escort was to cease at Manmunai, the crossover point, and
Senathiraja's body would be transported across the lagoon to Kokkadicholai
accompanied only by a LTTE guard.
Liaison duties and cooperation
As we watched, SLMM officials perform liaison duties between LTTE
administrative officials, relatives and the security forces regarding security and
transport arrangements, CO, Brigade 233, Major Berty Perera, remarked, "It's
not really the picture the media paints is it - that we could never cooperate?"
Senathiraja was 32 at the time of his death and was the highest ranking Tiger
to be killed in the recent infighting. But the greater loss, as officials and
members of the public pointed out that afternoon, was the political leader's
ability to maintain good relations with the security forces and the people of
Batticaloa.
For an area that has been rocked by violence in the last few months, where
the tension is still palpable, such a loss is monumental.
The LTTE politico's body was to be brought to Chenkaladi, his home town for
burial the next day. Once again, by 7 a.m. on Wednesday, July 13, Major
Perera and his men stood on the Manmunai shore, awaiting the ferry that was
to transport Senathiraja's body back to government controlled area.
"He came to see me on Saturday, July 3," said a Catholic priest who arrived at
Manmunai that morning to cross over to Kokkadicholai. "I told him that day that
he should be more careful, that the situation in this area these days is
dangerous. The next Monday, July 5, he had been shot," he said.
Security was tightened all over Batticaloa in light of Senathiraja's funeral
arrangements. Tension that had been apparent from the onset, had become
even more tangible. Crossing over to Kokkadicholai early that morning, it was
apparent that the Tigers were feeling the pressure as well.
At an LTTE sentry point, two young boys stopped the vehicle we were
travelling in and demanded to see identification. One of them, who looked
barely 15, stood outside while the other climbed into the van and searched it.
Given that we had crossed over just the previous day and had not been
subjected to a single security check by the Tigers, it was obvious that
something had changed.
At Senathiraja's family home down Boundary Road, Chenkaladi, relatives
stood wailing "anna" and fanning the corpse with sheets of newspaper.
Senathiraja was dressed in civil clothing, but a Tiger flag was draped over his
body. While he would not be granted a martyr's funeral rites, he would be
buried at the LTTE's martyrs' resting place in Chenkaladi town.
Again, the irony was overwhelming. Sitting side by side, in the garden of the
house, were Major Perera and Vasu Babu, a high ranking Tiger in
Kokkadicholai. They were accompanied by SLMM Head (Batticaloa Division),
Susanne Ringgaard Pedersen and several other LTTE cadres. Army
personnel stood guard at the entrance to the house, while the Tiger cadres
present walked around unarmed.
Sworn enemies make allowances
The repercussions of Senathiraja's death, for Batticaloa, for Colombo and for
the peace process, only time will tell. But the sequence of events immediately
following his passing brought to light several things that often go unsaid and
unsung in the usual war-peace rhetoric. That things are not always as clear
cut and black and white as it may seem from a distance. That sworn enemies
can make allowances for each other. That soldiers can mourn for the enemy
and vice versa.
In the face of accusations and counter-accusations flung back and forth by
LTTE and army alike, Senathiraja's death proved that hope remains, despite
seemingly unsurpassable obstacles, for a peaceful end to the two decade long
madness. [The Sunday Leader]
The US has apologised to former Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes
after he was body searched during visits to Washington in the last two years.
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Reporters without Borders publishes an investigative report on threats plaguing the press.
Body of Lt.Col.Senathi, LTTE political head of Batticaloa town, who succumbed
to gun shot injuries received on 5 July at Arasady junction in Batticaloa, was
buried in Thandiyadi Heroes Cemetary Wednesday afternoon, reports from
Batticaloa said.
