Overview
The Mullivaikkal Massacre refers to the mass killing of Tamil civilians during the final phase of the Sri Lankan Civil War in May 2009. It is considered one of the deadliest atrocities of the 21st century and has been described by many as genocide.
Background
By early 2009, the Sri Lankan military had cornered the LTTE and over 300,000 Tamil civilians into a narrow strip of land on the northeastern coast. The government declared “No Fire Zones” (NFZ) where civilians were supposed to be safe.
What Happened
The “No Fire Zones”
Despite their designation, these zones were repeatedly shelled:
- Hospitals were deliberately targeted
- Food distribution points were bombed
- UN and ICRC locations were hit despite coordinates being provided
The Final Days (May 16-18, 2009)
- Civilians were crowded into an area of less than 1 square kilometer
- Continuous artillery and mortar fire rained on the area
- Those trying to flee were shot
- Bodies littered the beaches and lagoon
Casualties
Estimated Death Toll
- UN Panel (2011): Up to 40,000 civilians killed in the final months
- Internal UN estimates: Potentially 70,000+
- Bishop of Mannar: Over 146,000 unaccounted for
Other casualties
- Thousands injured with limited to no medical care
- Over 300,000 civilians trapped and displaced
- Widespread starvation and disease
Evidence of War Crimes
Documented violations include:
- Deliberate targeting of civilians in designated safe zones
- Shelling of hospitals with GPS coordinates provided to military
- Blocking of food and medicine to trapped civilians
- Execution of prisoners as documented in video evidence
- Sexual violence against Tamil women
- Use of banned weapons including cluster munitions
Video Evidence
Channel 4’s documentaries “Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields” (2011) and subsequent investigations revealed:
- Video footage of executions of bound prisoners
- Evidence of sexual violence
- Soldiers posing with bodies
- Systematic nature of atrocities
International Response
UN Report (2011)
The UN Panel of Experts found credible allegations of:
- War crimes
- Crimes against humanity
- Called for an international investigation
UNHRC Actions
- Multiple resolutions passed
- OHCHR investigation conducted (2015)
- Evidence preservation mechanism established (2021)
Denial and Impunity
The Sri Lankan government has:
- Denied the massacre occurred
- Rejected international investigations
- Promoted accused military commanders
- Intimidated witnesses and journalists
Remembrance
May 18 is commemorated as Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day by Tamil communities worldwide. Memorials are held at:
- Mullivaikkal beach (where possible)
- Tamil diaspora communities globally
- Universities and human rights organizations
The Case for Genocide
The systematic nature of the killings, combined with the decades of anti-Tamil violence, has led many scholars and organizations to characterize the events as genocide. Key factors include:
- Intent to destroy the Tamil population
- Systematic nature of violence over decades
- State involvement and planning
- Denial and continuation of structural violence
Sources
- UN Panel of Experts Report (2011)
- OHCHR Investigation on Sri Lanka (2015)
- Channel 4: “Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields” (2011)
- International Crisis Group Reports
- University Teachers for Human Rights (Jaffna) Reports