What Happened
Tiraikerny was originally a coconut estate of about 300 acres in the idyllic region of Amparai. The ownership sympathized with the hardships of the landless peasantry, both Muslims and Tamils, and the estate was given to the people at a very nominal price. Various community figures worked hard in developing the village and making it into a successful agricultural area.
On the 06.08.1990, the peace and hard work of the villagers was destroyed. Hundreds of Muslims stormed into the village and set ablaze the homes of the Tamils and attacked the villagers and threw their mutilated bodies into the nearby Hindu Temple. There was no provocation for such an attack.
Eyewitness: "Around 6 o'clock in the morning, I heard the cries of women from my Muslim neighbour's house. They said their men who went to the paddy field had been cut to pieces and slain.
A few minutes later, I heard people shouting. Men, women and children were moving away from their homes. They said an angry mob composed of Muslims had vowed to destroy Thiraikerny.
Riotous gangsters numbering more than 150 men, armed with knives, swords, sickles and clubs shouted slogans against the Tamils. We saw clouds of smoke rising from burning houses. An armored car drove into the temple premises with six soldiers in uniform. They did not themselves take part in the attack.
The soldiers waved their hands, telling the Tamil youths to go away, and that waving of hands was taken as a signal for the attackers to begin their assault. Some went to damage the temple wall, others broke the door. Some took away tools from the Temple. The Tamils were later attacked with the Trident, the spear, and the tools taken from the Temple.
The attackers first assaulted with knives the men seated on the ground. My husband was attacked with knife and he died there."
**According to a sworn statement, a little girl was seized and raped, and thrown into the fire. Rescuers recovered the half-burnt body and buried it.
Perpetrators
Sri Lankan Army
Sources & References
- NESOHR - Lest We Forget Volume I