BBC: Tamil Tigers admit leader is dead
Mani Manivannan
Tamil Tigers admit leader is dead | |
Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers rebels have admitted for the first time that their leader Velupillai Prabhakaran is dead. The BBC's Charles Haviland says that a statement issued by the Tigers said their "incomparable leader" had "attained martyrdom". The Sri Lankan army last week released pictures which it said showed the body of Prabhakaran. It said he was killed as he tried to flee a last stand by the rebels in the north-east of the island. The statement was signed by the defeated group's head of international relations, Selvarasa Pathmanathan. It says that the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) had declared a week of mourning for their dead leader, starting on 25 May. The statement calls on Tamils all over the world to "restrain from harmful acts to themselves or anyone else in this hour of extreme grief". In an interview with the BBC, Mr Pathmanathan said Prabhakaran had died on 17 May but did not give details of the circumstances. Mr Pathmanathan said the Tigers would now use non-violent methods to fight for the rights of Tamils. | |
Mani Manivannan
The group led by Soosai was initially successful in breaking out. Prabhakaran, wife Madhivadhani Erambu , daughter Duvaraga (23) and younger son Balachandran (11) were also part of the contingent led by Soosai who remained faithful to his leader until the last.
Duvaraga, an exceptionally beautiful girl and accomplished dancer had for a short time been a student abroad. She had returned after a while to be with her family and people. Duvaraga had been a member of the Malathy women’s brigade and had fought in recent battles.
The Prabhakaran family of four and forty-seven others managed to penetrate Nandhikkadal defence ring and move north to the Puthumaatalan area. A message sent on behalf of Prabhakaran to the remaining cadres in Mullivaaikkal stated “udaithukondu poyitram” (we’ve broken through and gone).
BODYGUARDS
This message in turn was conveyed to KP in Europe who was naturally elated. It was expected that the 51 person group would take cover in shrub jungle during day and then move through the night to safety in the jungles. Once this message was sent Prabhakaran and the rest went silent. This was to be expected. Unfortunately this message gave false hopes to KP about the leader being safe.
Though Prabhakaran had at one time hundreds of cadres as bodyguards only 18 elite fighters accompanied him on the flight from Mullivaaikkaal.It has also been said that one bodyguard had a can of gasoline with him to burn the tiger leader’s body if ever he was killed or committed suicide. This was to prevent the enemy seizing his body.
But all these expectations were belied on that fateful day. Prabhakaran’s body was discovered before dawn on Tuesday May 19th lying on the Nanthikkadal bank. Soldiers of the 4th Vijayabahu infantry regiment led by Lt.Col Rohitha Aluvihare claimed to have found it.
[Charles Anthony, Madhivadhany, Duvaaraga and Prabhakaran-undated file pic]
Prabhakaran had been shot at point blank range. Four of his bodyguards were lying dead in the vicinity. Later on it was claimed that the bodies of Madhivadhany, Duvaaraga and Balachandran were found in a bushy patch about 600 metres way from where Prabhakaran’s body was found. Charles Anthony’s body was found elsewhere earlier. The entire family had been wiped out.
After news of Prabhakaran’s family being killed got media publicity an issue was raised in human rights activist circles about a “war crime” being committed. The killing of Madhivathany Prabhakaran and eleven year old Balachandran could not be justified in any way. So some sections of the defence establishment are trying to hide the truth behind the death of the family.
Also the bodies of many senior leaders and commanders too were discovered in stages. More than 350 bodies were found. The LTTE was virtually demolished.
The army announced that the bodies of people like Soosai, Bhanu, Lawrence, Pappa, Laxmanan, etc were found. There is some doubt as to whether the body of Pottu Amman or those of his family were discovered.
Expectations (shared by this writer too) that the LTTE leader’s body would never be discovered or found intact, were proved wrong. Pictures released by the Army and defence ministry showed him in uniform and later in his underwear. He was wounded in the head and forehead. The Army says he was not carrying the cyanide capsule (I doubt the army in this). In one picture Prabhakaran’s open eyes indicated that he was “startled” at the time of his death.
There is much controversy about the death of Prabhakaran. While some Tamil circles argue that Prabhakaran is not dead others are speculating about how he died. Many have raised doubts about the army version.
Some say the family was surrounded and therefore surrendered to the army and were later executed in cold blood. Others say Prabhakaran himself shot his family and then killed himself after being surrounded. The Army later put a “spin” to this reality, they allege.
Mani Manivannan
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Tamil Tigers confirm leader's death | |||
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have confirmed their leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran, has been killed. "We announce today, with inexpressible sadness and heavy hearts that our incomparable leader and supreme commander ... attained martyrdom fighting the military oppression," Selvarasa Pathmanathan, the LTTE's head of international relations, said in a statement on Sunday. The Tigers said Prabhakaran had been killed on Tuesday during fighting between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan military and declared a week of mourning. The military had previously announced Prabhakaran, 54, was shot on Monday while travelling in a small convoy of vehicles in a bid to escape the final battle between the two sides. 'Final request' The LTTE statement read: "For over three decades, our leader was the heart and soul and the symbol of hope, pride and determination for the whole nation of people of Tamil Eelam,"
"Since the failure of the peace process and the escalation of the war forced upon the Tamil people, the LTTE was faced [sic] to confront the Sri Lankan military that was supported by the world powers. "This deliberate bias and position taken by the international community severely weakened the military position of the LTTE. "Our leader confronted this threat without any hesitation. He would not waver in his desire to be with his people and fight for his people till the end. "His final request was for the struggle to continue until we achieved the freedom for his people. "His legend and the historical status as the Greatest Tamil Leader ever are indestructible," Pathmanathan said in the statement. |
