Chemmmmani; headlines and heartbreaks

Chris Kamalendran reporting from Chemmani

On Friday this marginalised old cemetery became the focus of international attention with local and foreign journalists virtually coming to dig out the truth about the Chemmani grave story.

The Chemmani graveyard had hit the headlines last year when a soldier who was convicted of the rape and murder of a Jaffna schoolgirl alleged that hundreds of civilians who disappeared in Jaffna were buried there. 

Jaffna's Additional Magistrate N. Arulsagaran, especially flown in from Colombo in the absence of the regular Additional Magistrate A.Ekanathan, was the centre of attraction when initial steps were taken to begin the long awaited but long-delayed excavation of the alleged mass grave. 

The first step was to carryout a pre-exhumation survey to determine whether the grave had been tampered with. Besides the scores of press, TV and radio journalists with cameras clicking all over, a small group of civilians from Jaffna were also present at the highly-publicised site. For them, it was not a matter of headlines but of heartbreak. They were the loved ones of the hundreds who had disappeared and whose death might now be confirmed if the mass grave allegation is proved to be correct. 

Amid tight security, we spoke to some of these family members. For them, the outcome will not be good news but bad news though in a sense it is better than no news at all. 

We spoke to Sarjoini Selvaraja, still looking for her son who had disappeared when he went to school at St. John's two and a half years ago. She said finding the truth, meaning confirmation of a son's death, would be small consolation but at least it was better than the anguish of knowing nothing. yet she had doubts whether the investigations would be pursued properly and independently. 

"During these many years of emotional turmoil, I even found my way to Colombo and handed over a petition to President Kumaratunga. But little or nothing happened. I hope at least something will be done now," Ms. Selvaraja said. State Counsel Yasantha Kodagoda, who also flew in from Colombo asked permission for a court order to start excavation. But the judge gave approval only to collect soil samples from the site to determine whether the soil had been tampered with in recent weeks or months after the sensational disclosure.

The Additional Magistrate ordered CID Director K. Gajanayake to submit a soil report to him on March 26.

Under heavy army escort, the Additional Magistrate along with forensic medicine expert Chandrasiri Niriella, an additional government analyst and a battery of media personnel moved into the Chemmani graveyard on a day when surrounding areas were still under water due to the recent monsoon showers. 

Soldiers had first checked the area to ensure there were no landmines. 

If the visitors had to tread carefully, it was a thornier path for the family members.

S. Pathmini, 28, from Chavakachcheri, had lost her teacher husband in 1996. She was two months pregnant when he disappeared. Now she has a son of three years. the child has not seen the father. He probably never will.

Pathmini could only hope that justice would be done. 

P. Savithri, 42 has lost two of her school-going sons. She said she believed UN or ICRC experts should be brought into the probe to ensure justice. 

Others also while welcoming the government's action say independent observers need to be brought in. 

Many feel the grave site might have bee tampered with by some one who was trying to cover up something.

Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Lohan Gunawardana told the visiting journalists that the army was emphasising the importance of protecting human rights while trying to improve the relationship between the military and the civilian population. 

"We want to find out the truth about what happened at Chemmani. We will give all support to the investigations," he assured.

Homecoming horror

In this tragedy, the mother and daughter who had bought a house and settled down in what they thought was a good neighbourhood in the outskirts of Colombo were held at gun point for two hours by a gang, demanding money and jewellery.

It began soon after midnight on Thursday, when the mother and the daughter were sound asleep. 

According to the mother, who was not even prepared to give her name because she is still terrified by the ordeal, the gang had broken in through the half built gate. 

"On that fateful night, Just like on any other night, we had dinner together, listened to some music and went to bed. Around 1.30 a.m I heard a noise and a little later a powerful torchlight was directed at my face, and a man held a gun to my head, with another man holding a weapon," the mother said recalling the nightmare.

"They told me they were not ordinary robbers but wanted money and jewellery to buy arms. They were aware we had just returned from Australia.

"I told them I had sold all my jewellery and had only Rs 7,000 in cash. They then started to ransack the wardrobes and within minutes had turned the house upside down. My daughter resisted and screamed when they broke open her wardrobe. "They threw a plaque at her, hit her and pulled her hair while she was still in her night dress. I feared the unthinkable," the mother said.

As in Hokandara recently, there was no help as the trauma continued. 

"They said there were five other gang members around the house and we would be killed if we did not follow orders. They said if we gave them the cash and jewellery and did not tell the police, no more harm would be caused to us. They said our house would be burnt and our daughter would be kidnapped," the mother said.

After nearly two hours of torture, the two men left but the night of horror for the two women did not end there. 

Fifteen minutes later, there was another knock. The terrified mother opened the door and one of the terror gang members repeated the warning that if she called the police her daughter would be killed. 

Dawn brought little relief to the mother and daughter. They did not know what to do or where to turn to. Since the daughter was new in her job, the mother persuaded her to go to work, saying they could only hope for the best. 

But in office, the daughter had another shattering experience. 

She got a telephone call from a gang member, saying they were watching her and she would be safe so long as she did not tell the police. 

This was too much for the daughter. Quietly but quickly they made travel arrangements and the daughter flew back to Australia, leaving behind a home-coming that had turned to horror. The mother also is going back to Australia soon.

"I am leaving as soon as I sell the house. I have had enough. What is really sad is that I waited for so many years, saving to finally come home. It was hell," the mother said. 

Thalangama police are investigating whether workmen who carried out renovation on the house were involved in the two-hour trauma.

2001 it is, says Sir Arthur 

In a statement issued on Thursday he said, "I am astonished that the people are still denying the simple fact that the next millennium begins on 1st January, 2001".

Recalling that no objection was raised when this century was begun on the 1st of January, 1901, he asked, "does this mean that the standards of intelligence have declined over the last hundred years?"

Standing strongly by his statement, Sir Arthur Clarke quoted Secretary of State and Chairman of the UK Millennium Commission Rt. Hon. Virginie Bottomley.

"To save more people writing, let me make it clear that the Govt is fully aware that the third millennium will not begin until 1st of January 2001," says Rt. Hon Bottomley.

SAARC FMs meet here next week

The sessions of the Council of Ministers will be inaugurated by President Chandrika Kumaratunga on March 18. Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, the incumbent Chairman of the SAARC Council of Ministers, will hold a media conference on March 19.Meanwhile, the Information Department has decided to set up a fully equipped media centre at the Grand Hotel for the convenience all local and foreign media personnel.

Hanky panky going in bungalow bookings

"The queues forming outside the Wild Life Conservation Department in readiness to obtain bookings for the month of April show the extent of the interest vacationers have in visiting wild life parks," wild life enthusaist Ranjit De Alwis said. "They will camp days and nights at the Wild Life Conservation office just to ensure a booking. But finally they are turned away saying official bookings have already been made, and therefore the bungalows are unavailable."

Although at other times this queue begins to form about two days in advance, for the school holidays, April, August and December the queue begins about 10 days before the date when bookings can be made, said Mr. de Alwis, who on Saturday was already well in place in the queue at the Gregory's Road office to make his booking. Bookings for bungalows within the national parks are done a month in advance, said Mr. de Alwis, explaining the difficulty involved in procuring a place. "What we suspect is happening is that some officials are doing these bookings and selling them to various people, even tourists," he charged..

"The permit issued to a person is not transferable. They even note down the I.D. no. of the person who came to make the booking and at the Park entrance this is checked. But records kept at the bungalows show that in many cases the names under which bookings are made are not those of the people who finally arrive at the bungalows," Mr. de Alwis claimed. Lakdas Mettananda of Nugegoda, a member in the queue for bookings, stressed that although bungalows are said to be booked for official purposes, every VIP does not have a purpose to go for official work to a national park. And if officials want to go, there are official quarters, he added.

Mr. de Alwis said that once, when planning a trip in April during the New Year period to a national park, he had been told that he couldn't have his booking for a bungalow as there was a booking by the Prime Minister. Upon investigation, he found out that the PM had not been away from Colombo on New Year's Day for a long time and a minister's son had made the booking on the pretext that it was for the P.M.

Wild Life Conservation Department director Berty Jayasekera was not available for comment.

Flights to Madras hit by plane crash

An AirLanka duty manager told The Sunday Times until they received all-clear signals from Madras, flights would not be operated. 

He said he hoped the Airport would be reopened by midnight yesterday.

The Air France Boeing 747 freighter with faulty landing ploughed into the runway and soon burst into flames, reports from Madras said.

An Air India official in Colombo said the situation was expected to return to normal soon as moves were underway to allow the smaller aircrafts to take off from and land at the airport.

Point of view Like father like son

I do not know of another father raising a Boswell at home. Mervyn is the lucky exception. Dayan's tour-de-force, however, makes me feel the son shines better than the father. No offence meant, Mervyn, You're still the best in your field. Yep H.L.D.Mahindapala Melbourne

Blue Jeans Vedda falls into a legal trap, claims attorney

By Ayesha R. Rafiq

Uruwarige Punchibanda, now paralysed in one leg and needing physiotherapy for the other, had been released on Rs.1000 bail on February 26 after he was charged with tresspass in a protected area.

He was treated at the National Hospital in Colombo but has now been transferred to the Welikada prison hospital.

The Vedda was shot in a case of alleged mistaken identity while hunting in the Maduru Oya National Park. The warden reportedly initially claimed he mistook the Vedda for a terrorist 'as he was wearing blue jeans'.

He was charged with trespass under the Fauna and Flora Act, of the Wildlife Conservation Department. Punchibanda appeared before the Dehiyatakanda Magistrates Court and was released on bail. He has now been rearrested, as the warden claims that he shot the Vedda in self defence when he attempted to shoot at him.

A volunteer lawyer for the Vedda has pointed out that 20 Veddas in the area have already been granted identity cards issued by the Government and the Wildlife Conservation Department, permitting them to carry out their traditional way of life in the reserve. Although the government promised to issue more in August last year, the Veddas are still waiting. About 50 veddas have still not got identity cards.

Attorney Arun Tampoe said that although Punchibanda did not have such an identity card, he was hunting in the mistaken belief that he had a traditional right to do so, and that the warden should not have shot at him without first ascertaining whether he had the identity card. Mr. Tampoe said wardens were required by law to shoot below the legs if they had suspicion about any person, but Punchibanda had been shot in the back.

Prisons Commissioner P. Baskarasingham said Punchibanda was scheduled to appear in court on Friday to sign a document, and until such date could be kept in prison custody. The Attorney General's Department has called for a report from the police on the new turn of events while Wildlife Conservation Department officials were not available for comment.

Swiss paedophile flees country

Pfaffhauser was arrested in March 1995 on charges of child abuse and after a two year trial, and was sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment, the maximum sentence that can be given on such a charge. He was however released by June 1998 only to be rearrested again on a simmilar charge.

Controversial Bishop here tomorrow

Bishop Bernard Tissier de Mallerais will meet the followers of the Lefebvre group and the media at the St. Francic Xavier Mission at Kurana in Negombo, the organisers said.

Archbishop Lefebvre was excommunicated from the Catholic Church some years ago after he consecrated Bishops to continue the Catholic orthodox tradition of the Tridentine Mass (Latin Mass), going against the Church reform flowing from the 2nd Vatican Council.

The visit is organized by a body calling itself the Society of St. Pius X, known mainly for its attachment to the traditional Latin rite of the Mass in an era when the Churches in different countries have switched to their own national language and culture.

Good response to Mulberry proposals 

By Dilrukshi Handunnetti

Describing the move by the MPs of the Mulberry group as a foundation to build on major electoral reforms, the President said their proposal had been referred to the Cabinet sub committee on Electoral Reforms, the sources said.

In the wake of renewed interest in electoral reforms and public outcry for free and fair polls, the Mulberry Group proposal released last week calls for the introduction of a system combining the first-past-the post and proportional representation methods of voting and the elimination of the preference system. 

According to Dallas Alahapperuma, the proposal would remove many evil aspects in the present electoral system, which have contributed to the deterioration in law and order.

He said their proposal envisaged that 160 members be elected on the division basis while the balance 65 seats be filled among contesting parties according to the aggregates of votes polled by their defeated candidates.

It is also proposed that party secretaries submit an unalterable list of fifty nominees to be picked on a national basis. There will be five persons nominated from each province. As a result of this proposal, the Mulberry Group maintains, it would not be possible to bring in defeated or party henchmen through the backdoor to fill the quota for national list MPs.

The Mulberry Group also met Elections Commissioner Dayananda Dissanayake and Constitutional Affairs Minister G. L Peiris last week to discuss the draft. "We are delighted by the response. Opposition parties, especially the main opposition UNP has responded positively. The draft is yet to be discussed among parliamentarians. The Elections Commissioner has hailed this as one of the most concrete and credible efforts to genuinely wipe out the corrupt system. By developing this concept we can have a simple mechanism and results could be released possibly within 20 hours of polling," Mr.Alahapperuma said. The group will meet Opposition UNP Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe next week. Other political parties, academics, legal experts and media personnel are also to be consulted.

Bank officers demand apology

By M. Ismeth

The federation in a statement said the BOC chairperson had at a discussion, presided over by President Kumaratunga by her silence accepted the condemnation of the BOC's profit and loss account. According to the statement when the audited profit and loss accounts and the balance sheet published in the annual report of the BOC were discussed, a statement was made by one of those present that the profits reflected in the statements were false. When incorrect statements were made the chairperson had maintained silence thereby giving credence to those allegations, the federation said.

Situation in Jaffna grim, says MP

By S.S.Selvanayagam

Parliamentarian N. R. Rameswaran who returned to Colombo after a tour of the peninsula told The Sunday Times the hardships and problems faced by people in Jaffna showed the situation was not conducive for more resettlement."The opportunity for employ ment is slim. Even after the resettlement began, more than 5,000 families have not yet gone back to their own places. The fisherfolk are not in a position to engage in fishing and farmers in cultivation," he said.

Mr. Rameswaran alleged that many people were being arbitrarily arrested, causing immense hardship to family members.

He said the suspects were first sent to Kalutara for detention and their cases were taken up in Anuradhapura. Thus the family had to undergo untold hardships to meet these suspects and look after the legal interests. "The cases are conducted in Sinhala. Even after spending more than Rs 50,000 to get a suspect released, that suspect cannot live in peace," he said.

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