1989 Valvettiturai massacre

Coordinates: 9°49′N 80°10′E / 9.817°N 80.167°E / 9.817; 80.167
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Not to be confused with the 1985 Valvettiturai massacre.
1989 Valvettiturai massacre
Sri Lankan Tamil civilians
Attack type
Shooting, burning, shelling
WeaponsGuns, cannons, grenades, fire
Deaths64 (52 identified, 12 missing and presumed dead)[1]
Injured43[1]
PerpetratorsIndian Army soldiers of the Indian Peace Keeping Force

The 1989 Valvettiturai massacre occurred on 2 and 3 August 1989 in the small coastal town of

Indian Express,[1] David Husego of the Financial Times and local human rights groups such as the University Teachers for Human Rights have reported quoting eyewitness accounts that it was a massacre of civilians.[2] George Fernandes, who later served as defense minister of India (1998–2004), called the massacre India’s My Lai.[3]

Background information

See also: Origins of the Sri Lankan civil war

During the

civil war began between the government and the rebel groups.[citation needed
]

In 1987 the government of Sri Lanka and India entered into an agreement and invited the Indian Army to be used as peacekeepers. Eventually the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) came into conflict with one of the rebel groups namely the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). During October 1987 the Indian forces trying to wrest control of the Jaffna town stormed the Jaffna hospital resulting in the deaths of a number of staff and patients. By November 1987 the Indian Army was in nominal control of all major towns within the Jaffna Peninsula.[citation needed] But the LTTE after removing most of its fighting cadres south of the peninsula maintained a steady barrage of typical guerilla style attacks throughout 1988 and 1989.[2] This period also saw huge loss of civilian life, claimed rapes and number of instances of mass massacres.[4]

Reactions

According to the Financial Times report, the Indians believe that the incident resulted from a deliberate provocation by the LTTE intended to trigger an overwhelming Indian response; thus tarnishing the IPKF’s image, during sensitive negotiations to leave the island nation. The Indian embassy claimed that 24 civilians were killed in crossfire. A later report on All India Radio claimed that 18 LTTE personnel and 12 civilians were killed. The statement by the Chief Minister of the North East Mr. Varadarajaperumal dismissed the local media reports as exaggerations.[2] According to an affidavit by an eyewitness, very next day, the Commanding Officer of Vadamaradchi (region), Brigadier Shankar Prasad, the Deputy Commander, Col Aujla, and the Udupiddy Commanding Officer, Colonel Sharma met some of the survivors and apologized.[1] George Fernandes who served as India's defence minister from 1998 to 2004 termed the massacres as India’s My Lai.[3]

References

  1. ^
    Indian Express. Archived from the original
    (PDF) on 1 July 2007. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  2. ^ a b c Hoole, Rajan. "Vadamaratchi: April/August 1989". University Teachers for Human Rights. Archived from the original on 29 April 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2008.
  3. ^
    ISBN 978-81-7024-999-3
    . p.211–212
  4. ISBN 1-57181-917-7
    . p.181

Further reading

External links

9°49′N 80°10′E / 9.817°N 80.167°E / 9.817; 80.167

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