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Aranthalawa massacre

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The Aranthalawa Massacre was the massacre of 31 Buddhist monks, most of them young novice monks, and four civilians by cadres of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam organization (the LTTE, commonly known as the Tamil Tigers) on June 2, 1987 close to the village of Aranthalawa, in the Amparadistrict of Eastern Sri Lanka. The massacre is considered one of the most notorious and devastating atrocities committed by the LTTE during the history of the Sri Lankan Civil War, and continues to be commemorated 20 years on.

The massacre

The Aranthalawa Massacre took place on June 2, 1987,[1] when a bus carrying Buddhist monks and a few unarmed civilians was ambushed by 20[2] armed LTTE cadres near the village of Nuwerathanne.[3][4] They then ordered the driver of the bus, which was carrying the monks on a pilgrimage from their temple in Mahavapi to the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara,[2] to drive into the nearby Aranthalawa jungle. After the bus stopped, the LTTE cadres went on a rampage, attacking the monks with knives and swords[5] and also shooting some of them with machine guns.


Among the dead were 30 young novice monks and their mentor, the Chief Priest of the Vidyananda Maha Pirivena, Hegoda Sri Indrasara Thera.[5] Four civilians who were traveling in the bus were also among the dead.[6]

Three monks who escaped the massacre sustaining critical injuries continue to require medical assistance. Another monk was permanently disabled.[7]

Background

The LTTE is a separatist group which has been fighting the government of Sri Lanka since 1975 with aims to create a separate Tamil state in the north and east of the island. The methods it has used in its campaign, including numerous suicide bombings, massacres of civilians, political assassinations and the use of child soldiers, have been widely criticized, and led to it been banned as a terrorist organization throughout the world, including in the United States, Canada, India and in the 27 member European Union.

Motives

This and similar attacks against Sinhalese civilians are carried out by the LTTE to antagonize the Sinhalese majority against the Tamil populace of the country, thereby creating rivalry between the two main ethnic groups of Sri Lanka. The LTTE hopes such animosity between the two races would result in attacks by Sinhalese against Tamil civilians, which would increase support and funding towards their violent campaign.[8]

See also: Terrorist attacks attributed to the LTTE

Reaction

The massacre remains one of the most brutal attacks carried out during the conflict in Sri Lanka and is considered one of the darkest chapters in Sri Lankan history.[9] However many experts have expressed sorrow that even 20 years after the incident, the LTTE continues to carry out similar massacres of unarmed civilians and religious figures.[9] They also express concern that the international community has failed to take significant measures to help Sri Lanka prevent similar attacks.[9]

Each year Aranthalawa Massacre is commemorated by a series of special programs.[10] In 2007, to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the massacre, commemorations were held over the course of four days in Colombo and Ampara, with the main ceremony led by Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa taking place in Colombo with the participation of the Mahanayake Theras of all Chapters. An all night Pirith ceremony was held on the same night, and a Sanghika Dana was offered to 200 Buddhist monks on June 3. An exhibition of over 300 photographs of LTTE attacks on Buddhist sites and other acts of destruction was also organized.[7]

A plaque has since been constructed close to the site of the incident to commemorate the massacre.[11]

Similar attacks

Main article: Terrorist attacks attributed to the LTTE

Throughout the course of the conflict in Sri Lanka, the LTTE has carried out a number of similar attacks against Buddhist sites. These include

  • the assassination of the high priest of the famous Dimbulagala Forest monastery, Kitulagama Seelalankara Nayaka Thera, who gave moral support to people living in border villages to fight LTTE intrusions into their villages, eight years after the Aranthalawa Massacre.[3][5]
  • a suicide bombing of a Buddhist temple in Batticaloa during celebrations of the Vesak holiday, killing 23 people including many children.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Arantalawa massacre - June 2nd 1987". Lanka Library. 2007-06-08. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  2. ^ a b "LTTE's gun culture continues". The Sunday Observer. June 3, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-06.
  3. ^ a b "Assassination of Hadungamuwe Nandaratne Thera". Jayampathy Jayasinghe. Sunday Observer. May 20, 2007. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ Athas, Iqbal (1996-10-15). "East: a prize catch, thinks LTTE". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
  5. ^ a b c d e Jayawardhana, Walter (July 10, 2006). "LTTE attempts to arouse religious clash, fades". Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2007-06-02.
  6. ^ "Three LTTEers killed by STF". Rafik Jalaldeen. Daily News. February 15, 2007. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ a b Gunatilleke, Nadira (May 24, 2007). "Aranthalawa commemoration from May 31 to June 3". Daily News. Retrieved 2007-06-02. Cite error: The named reference "DN-5/24/07-atw" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ "The aranthalawa bhikku massacre". Divaina, Editorial. June 2, 2000. {{cite journal}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ^ a b c "Aranthalawa massacre, one of the darkest chapters in Lankan history - Ven. Kirindiwela Somarathana Thera". Nadira Gunatilleke. The Daily News. May 24, 2007. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  10. ^ "Marking 20 years anniversary of the Aranthalawa assassination". Government News Portal of Sri Lanka. May 23, 2007. Retrieved 2007-06-02. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  11. ^ "Three LTTEers killed by STF". Rafik Jalaldeen. Daily News. February 15, 2007. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  12. ^ United States Department of State (February 23, 2001). "Sri Lanka". Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2000. Retrieved 2007-06-02.
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