The Padahuthurai bombing or Illuppaikadavai bombing happened on January 02, 2007 when the Sri Lanka Air Force bombed what they claimed to be rebel LTTE naval base in Illuppaikadavai in Northern Sri Lanka. Fourteen (14) minority Sri Lankan Tamils died due to the bombing [1]
Incident
According to Transcurrent.com Iluppaikkadavai in the North - Western district of Mannar is a small village along the Mannar – Pooneryn. It is about 25 km to the north of Mannar town. The place along the sea shore where fisherfolk beach and launch their boats and rafts is generally known as Padahuthurai in Tamil. The padaguthurai in Iluppaikkadavai had become a dwelling place over the years due to the settlement of internally displaced people from Jaffna. 231 persons from 46 families were living in 35 huts heds) in the Padaguhurai hamlet. These dwellings were within 100 yards from the sea.
Jan 1st of 2007 all families in Padaguthurai remained at home to celebrate the new year. The following day of Jan 2nd four Israeli Kfir jet bombers swooped down from the skies at 9. 35 am. Three planes dropped four bombs each. The fourth dropped only two. There were twelve explosions with two bombs failing to explode. The air strike was over in ten minutes. Around 25 of the Padaguthurai dwellings were destroyed and damaged. The thatched cadjan roofs caught fire in many instances. About 50 - 60 people were injured. Some of them succumbed to injuries.[2]
Reaction
UN
While expressing concern over civilian deaths, the UN reiterated the need for both parties to protect civilians and uphold international human rights and humanitarian laws, while calling on both parties to cease hostilities and return to negotiations.
Sri Lankans continue to suffer deeply due to this conflict, while today’s (Tuesday)loss of life is a source of deep concern.
said Margareta Wahlström,United Nations Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Acting Emergency Relief Coordinator.
It is imperative that both sides to the conflict, take all measures to fulfill their obligations under international law, to protect civilians in this conflict; we have too often seen them fall short in this duty.
Mannar Roman Catholic Diocese
According to a local Sri Lankan Tamil Roman Catholic bishop, it was a fishing village and all those fourteen (14) who died were minority Tamil civilians. Reacting to the Sri Lankan government claim that it was a LTTE base he said,
Such an open lie hurts us even further than the gruesome attack itself. There is no hostile military presence [of the Tigers] in this area. These are innocent civilians who have been living here since 1995. These are people who were driven from Navanthurai in Jaffna by the atrocities of Sri Lankan forces. They were leading a simple life barely enough to survive with basic livelihood of small scale fishing on a day to day basis in the shallow waters.
he further said
I have known these people for years. It is high time that the international community realizes the state of affairs here and send a team of observers who can tell the truth to the world. One should realize the objective of an attack of this magnitude in a purely civilian area where there is no Tiger camp or hostile activity.
He termed the bombing a Crime against humanity[4]
Sri Lanka Anglican mission
According to the Colombo Anglican Bishop the government should take responsibility for the murder of civilians in Illuppaikadavai [5]
Sri Lankan Government
The initially claimed that it was a LTTE naval abase and those who died were LTTE cadres.
The government later stated that those who died may have been civilians who the rebel group were using them as human shields and and who were forced to work for the LTTE. [6]
SLTTE Naval Base
Following the attack, the Sri Lankan government stated that detailed surveillance carried out over the past few years had identified Illuppaikadavai as a LTTE Sea Tiger base.
According to them since the mid 90s the LTTE has used a main base located in interior Illuppaikadavai s supported by four satellite bases namely Kiranchi, Sudapiddi, Vedithalthivu and Nachchikuda on the coast which functioned as launching pads for Sea Tiger craft. [7]
Some of the incidents cited to proved this include [7]
- On December 22, 2005, a group of Sea Tigers disguised as fishermen attacked two fibreglass dinghies of the Navy, killing three sailors off Pallimunai, Mannar. The sea tiger craft then withdrew to Vedithalathivu after the attack.
- On January 26, 2006, a naval patrol seized an Indian trawler with six Indians aboard near the Kachchathivu islands, when they were transporting 60,000 electric detonators, believed to be intended for the use of the LTTE. The navy believed the destination of the haul of weapons to be Illuppaikadavai.
- On June 17, 2006, a flotilla of about twelve Sea Tiger boats, which were launched from Vedithalathivu, attacked a routine Naval patrol off Pesalai, killing six sailors. The Navy said thirty sea Tigers were killed and several sea Tiger boats destroyed in the ensuing battle.
- On November 18, 2006 two Inshore Patrol Craft (IPC) of the Navy on a routine sea patrol intercepted a flotilla of sea Tiger boats heading towards Vedithalathivu. When the Navy IPC engaged the sea Tiger flotilla, seven more sea Tiger boats were launched from Vedithalathivu as reinforcement. After the clash, in which two sea Tiger boats were destroyed, the rest returned to Vedithalathivu.
- On November 27, 2006 a Dovra Fast Attack Craft (FAC) on a routine sea patrol intercepted a trawler, 50 nautical miles off Udappu. The Sea Tigers aboard the trawler fired at the Navy patrol when it closed in for an inspection. The trawler which was used as a logistical craft for the LTTE exploded in a ball of fire amidst the subsequent Navy fire, which was a sign that the trawler was carrying explosives. Six sea Tigers were believed to be killed in the explosion. The Navy identified the destination of the craft as Illuppaikadavai.
The military also stated that the nature of injuries of the people who the LTTE stated were victims were not consistent with an air-stike. None of them had burn injuring which normally occur during air strikes.[7]
Another discrepancy was that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was delayed giving permission to visit the site. According to the ICRC spokesman Sukumar Rockwood, when the ICRC visited the site, it was already cleared. "We could not see any casualties. They have been evacuated," he said.[7]
Video of the attack
The Sri Lankan government also released a video of the airstike on the LTTE base. Link to video.
See also
References
- ^ "Rebel base hit, says government". Boston.com. Retrieved 2006-01-07.
- ^ "Tamil civilians victimized". Trancurrent.com. Retrieved 2006-01-11.
- ^ "Controversy over Mannar aerial bombing" (PDF). Humanitarian-Sri Lanka. Retrieved 2006-01-11.
- ^ "Padahuthurai bombing". Tamilnet.org. Retrieved 2006-01-07.
- ^ "Sri Lanka raid 'kills civilians'". Southasiamedia.com. Retrieved 2006-01-09.
- ^ "Sri Lanka raid 'kills civilians'". BBC.com. Retrieved 2006-01-07.
- ^ a b c d "Claims and counter claims over Mannar air attacks". WRITTEN BY. Sunday Observer. 7 January, 2007.
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