Massacre anniversary commemorated in Jaffna Hospital

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 October 2005, 11:18 GMT]
Eighteenth death anniversary of twenty-one persons including medical specialists, nurses, attendants, patients and members of public who were massacred inside Jaffna Teaching Hospital (JTH) by Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) troops stationed in Jaffna Fort on 21st October, 1987 was held at the Jaffna Teaching Hospital Friday, sources in Jaffna said. Deputy Director of the Hospital, R Raviraj, presided the event.

Eye surgeon Dr V Sivanthan, Hospital Treasurer Mr Suthanthirapalan, relatives of the victims and Hospital workers lit the common flame.

Workers and relatives garlanded and paid floral tribute to the picture frames of the twenty one victims.

Several doctors at the spoke at the function accusing the Indian army for committing the atrocity violating the human rights of people where sick and the disabled take refuge, and where professionals are engaged in the most humanitarian endeavor of looking after the sick and injured.

The victims of the massacre included three leading medical specialists at that time, Dr.A.Sivapathasuntharam, Dr.K.Parimelalahar and Dr.K.Ganesharatnam, three nurses and fifteen other employees.

The soldiers of the IPKF, advancing from the Jaffna Fort to the Jaffna Teaching Hospital, shot dead the 21 staff inside the hospital even after they identified themselves as members of the medical staff, sources said.



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