Aranthalawa Massacre

The Aranthalawa Massacre was the of 31 Buddhist monks, most of them young novice monks, and four civilians by cadres of the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam organization (the LTTE, commonly known as the Tamil Tigers) on June 2, 1987 close to the village of Aranthalawa, in the Amparadistrict of Eastern Sri Lanka.The massacre is considered one of the most notorious and devastating atrocities committed by the LTTE during the history of the Sri Lankan Civil War, and continues to be commemorated 20 years on.

The massacre

The Aranthalawa Massacre took place on June 2, 1987, [cite news | title=Arantalawa massacre - June 2nd 1987 | date=2007-06-08 | url =http://www.lankalibrary.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3345 | work =Lanka Library | accessdate = 2007-06-05 ] when a bus carrying Buddhist monks and a few unarmed civilians was ambushed by 20cite news | title=LTTE's gun culture continues | date=2007-06-03 | publisher= | url =http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/06/03/main_Editorial.asp | work =The Sunday Observer | accessdate = 2007-06-06] armed LTTE cadres near the village of Nuwerathanne.cite news | url = http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/05/20/imp07.asp| title = Assassination of Hadungamuwe Nandaratne Thera | work = Jayampathy Jayasinghe |publisher = Sunday Observer |date = May 20, 2007] cite news | first=Iqbal | last=Athas | title=East: a prize catch, thinks LTTE | date=1996-10-15 | url =http://sundaytimes.lk/960915/sitrep.html | work =The Sunday Times | accessdate = 2007-06-05 ] They then ordered the driver of the bus, which was carrying the monks on a pilgrimage from their temple in Mahavapi to the Kelaniya Raja Maha Vihara, to drive into the nearby Aranthalawa jungle. After the bus stopped, the LTTE cadres went on a rampage, attacking the monks with guns and swordscite news | first=Walter | last=Jayawardhana | title=LTTE attempts to arouse religious clash, fades | date=2006-07-10 | publisher=Ministry of Defence, Sri Lanka | url =http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20060710_06 | accessdate = 2007-06-02 ] and also shooting some of them with machine guns.

Among the dead were 30 young novice monks and their mentor, the Chief Priest of the Vidyananda Maha Pirivena, Hegoda Sri Indrasara Thera. Four civilians who were traveling in the bus were also among the dead.cite news | url = http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/02/15/sec15.asp| title = Three LTTEers killed by STF| work = Rafik Jalaldeen |publisher = Daily News |date = February 15, 2007]

Three monks who escaped the massacre sustaining critical injuries continue to require medical assistance. Another monk was permanently disabled.cite news | first= Nadira | last= Gunatilleke | title= Aranthalawa commemoration from May 31 to June 3 | date=2007-05-24 | publisher=Daily News | url = http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/05/24/news14.asp | accessdate = 2007-06-02 ]

Motives

This and similar attacks against Sinhalese civilians are carried out by the LTTE to antagonize the Sinhalese majority against the Tamil populace of the country, thereby creating rivalry between the two main ethnic groups of Sri Lanka. The LTTE hopes such animosity between the two races would result in attacks by Sinhalese against Tamil civilians, which would increase support and funding towards their violent campaign. cite journal | title=The aranthalawa bhikku massacre | journal=Divaina, Editorial | date=June 2, 2000 | accessdate=2007-06-02] Fact|date=April 2008

Reaction

The massacre remains one of the most brutal attacks carried out during the conflict in Sri Lanka and is considered one of the darkest chapters in Sri Lankan history.cite news | url = http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/05/24/news26.asp| title = Aranthalawa massacre, one of the darkest chapters in Lankan history - Ven. Kirindiwela Somarathana Thera | work = Nadira Gunatilleke |publisher = The Daily News |date = May 24, 2007]

Each year Aranthalawa Massacre is commemorated by a series of special programs.cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Marking 20 years anniversary of the Aranthalawa assassination. | date=2007-05-23 | publisher=Government News Portal of Sri Lanka | url =http://www.news.lk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2452&Itemid=44 | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2007-06-02 | language = ] In 2007, to coincide with the 20th anniversary of the massacre, commemorations were held over the course of four days in Colombo and Ampara, with the main ceremony led by Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa taking place in Colombo with the participation of the Mahanayake Theras of all Chapters. An all night Pirith ceremony was held on the same night, and a Sanghika Dana was offered to 200 Buddhist monks on June 3. An exhibition of over 300 photographs of LTTE attacks on Buddhist sites and other acts of destruction was also organized.cite news | first= Nadira | last= Gunatilleke | coauthors= | title= Aranthalawa commemoration from May 31 to June 3 | date=2007-05-24 | publisher=Daily News | url = http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/05/24/news14.asp | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2007-06-02 | language = ]

A plaque has since been constructed close to the site of the incident to commemorate the massacre.cite news | url = http://www.dailynews.lk/2007/02/15/sec15.asp| title = Three LTTEers killed by STF| work = Rafik Jalaldeen |publisher = Daily News |date = February 15, 2007]

imilar attacks

Throughout the course of the conflict in Sri Lanka, the LTTE has carried out a number of similar attacks against Buddhist sites. These include

*an attack on the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi, killing around 146 pilgrims.

*the assassination of the high priest of the famous Dimbulagala Forest monastery, Kitulagama Seelalankara Nayaka Thera, who gave moral support to people living in border villages to fight LTTE intrusions into their villages, eight years after the Aranthalawa Massacre.

*a suicide bombing of the Sri Dalada Maligawa, the sacred Buddhist shrine where the Buddha’s tooth relic is enshrined, which killed 17 worshipers and seriously damaged the temple.

*a suicide bombing of a Buddhist temple in Batticaloa during celebrations of the Vesak holiday, killing 23 people including many children. cite journal|title=Sri Lanka|journal=Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2000|date=February 23, 2001|first=|last=United States Department of State|url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2000/sa/index.cfm?docid=704|accessdate=2007-06-02]

ee also

*List of attacks attributed to the LTTE
*Notable attacks attributed to the LTTE
*Assassinations and murders attributed to the LTTE
*Sri Lankan Civil War
*Gomarankadawala massacre
*Akkaraipattu massacre
*Kokkadichcholai massacres
*1990 Batticaloa massacre
*Kokkadichcholai massacres
*Mylanthanai massacre
*Tampalakamam massacre

References

External links

* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/sinhala/highlights/story/2005/01/050128_elmo_ampara.shtml LTTE massacre site is haven for Tamil victims] , "BBC News"
* [http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20070601_01 20 Years for the Aranthalawa Massacre]
* [http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/06/03/main_Editorial.asp "Editorial" - LTTE's gun culture continues] , "Sunday Observer"