Women witnesses give evidence in Mylanthanai massacre case

[TamilNet, Friday, 04 October 2002, 20:21 GMT]
"About 50 Sri Lanka government troops entered our village with arms and started harassing the villagers. On seeing them I started running from my house towards jungle area. I fell on the ground. Some army personnel came to the spot and stabbed my hands with rifle bayonet. When I regained consciousness I saw 10 bodies of our villagers with gunshot and cut injuries," said Ms Sinnathurai Indrakala, 28, giving evidence before Judge Mr.S.Sriskandarajah, Friday, when Mylanthanai massacre case resumed in Colombo High Court.

The case is being heard before a Sinhala speaking Jury.

Attorney general had indicted twenty-one SLA soldiers on 85 counts including unlawful assembly and committing the murder of thirty-five Tamil civilians on August 09, 1992. Of the 21 accused, three had died, according to court sources. Now eighteen SLA soldiers are facing trial. They have been ordered to be held remand till the trial is concluded.

The massacre took place after the death of Major General Densil Hobbekaduwa and other seven high ranking military officials in a landmine blast at Jaffna in 8th August 1992.

On Thursday, Sivamalar whose two daughters aged 1 and 8 were shot dead by the accused soldiers, gave evidence. Later she was able to identify the suspects at an identification parade, she said.

Senior State Counsel Mr. Vijitha Malalgoda with State Counsel Mr.T.Kaumararetnam and Mr.Duleep Jayakoddy appeared for the prosecution. President Counsel Mr.Daya Perera with Attorney Mr.Nuwan Dissanayake appeared for the defence.

Attorney-at-Law Mr.K.S.Ratnavelu with Attorneys Ms Ramani Thottagammuwa and K.Shanmugalingam on behalf of the Centre for Human Rights and Development watched the interests of the victims.

Thirty Tamil civilians including thirteen women of Mylanthanai cited as prosecution witnesses are in Colombo since Monday to give evidence in this case. The Centre for Human Rights and development is providing food and lodging facilities to the outstation witnesses.

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