The Chencholai Bombing: A Tragic Tale of War and Innocence

On the fateful morning of August 14, 2006, the northern skies of Sri Lanka bore witness to an event that would forever scar the landscape of the Sri Lankan civil war. In the district of Mullaitivu, an airstrike by the Sri Lankan Air Force targeted a compound known as the Chencholai orphanage, resulting in the deaths of 61 Tamil schoolgirls aged between 16 and 18. The incident left more than 155 others injured, casting a long shadow over the region and igniting international condemnation.

A Controversial Strike

The Sri Lankan government defended the airstrike, asserting that it was a calculated attack on what they claimed was a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) training camp. They insisted that the site had been under surveillance since 2004, leaving no room for error or misidentification. The government spokesmen, Keheliya Rambukwela and Brigadier Athula Jayawardene, argued that even if the victims were minors, they were involved in military activities, likening them to soldiers or trainees.

However, this narrative was fiercely contested by multiple international and local bodies. UNICEF, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), and the human rights organization University Teachers for Human Rights all refuted the government's claims. They maintained that the compound was not a military installation but a place of learning and refuge for the girls.

Voices of Dissent

The aftermath of the bombing saw a flurry of reactions. The Tamil Nadu state assembly in India labeled the event as "uncivilized, barbaric, inhumane, and atrocious." The Tamil National Alliance condemned the attack, citing it as an act of genocide and state terrorism. Meanwhile, the University Teachers for Human Rights asserted that while the LTTE did organize activities at the site, these were limited to first-aid training sessions and not military exercises.

On-the-Ground Assessments

UNICEF's immediate response involved a visit to the site to provide much-needed aid and counsel to the affected students and families. Ann M. Veneman, UNICEF's Executive Director, poignantly remarked, "These children are innocent victims of violence." Joanne Van Gerpen of UNICEF added, "At this time, we don't have any evidence that they are LTTE cadres."

Retired Major General Ulf Henricsson, head of the Nordic truce monitors SLMM, confirmed that his team found no evidence of military installations or weapons at the location. This lack of evidence further fueled the argument that the strike was unjustified and indiscriminate.

Arrests and Investigations

In the weeks following the bombing, Sri Lankan police arrested three young women, aged 18, 19, and 20, who were injured in the attack. The police claimed that these young women had been coerced into weapons training after initially being brought to the camp under the guise of receiving first-aid training. A commission of inquiry, led by Justice Udalagama, was established to investigate this and other high-profile human rights cases. However, the commission failed to hold the government accountable, exonerating them based on statements from the arrested girls.

The Human Toll

The North East Secretariat on Human Rights reported that hundreds of female students, aged 17 to 20, had gathered at the Chencholai complex for a week-long leadership and first-aid training. The bombing, which occurred at approximately 7:30 AM, claimed the lives of 52 students and two staff members, leaving 130 students with serious injuries. The devastation extended beyond physical injuries, as families and communities grappled with the loss and trauma inflicted by the attack.

Three of the injured girls were transferred to Kandy for further treatment, where they were subsequently detained by the Sri Lankan Terrorism Investigation Department. One of these girls, Thambimuttu Thayalini, later died, while the fate of the other two, Kasthuri Sripathy and Sumithra Balasingham, remained shrouded in mystery. Despite being allowed sporadic visits with their parents, the two girls remained in detention without charges for nearly two years.

Conclusion

The Chencholai bombing remains a contentious and tragic chapter in the ongoing saga of the Sri Lankan civil war. It stands as a stark reminder of the innocent lives caught in the crossfire of conflict and the enduring struggle for truth and justice in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Sources

• Maseeh Rahman, The Guardian
• DBS Jeyaraj, Transcurrents
• Ceylon News
• Monsters and Critics
• Tamilnet.com
• Jdslanka.org
• The Independent
• Forbes
• ReliefWeb
• Hindustan Times
• Countercurrents
• Asian Tribune
• Tamil Guardian
• Unicef.org
• BBC News
• Reuters
• Mail and Guardian Online
• International Herald Tribune
• Patrick Peebles, Historical Dictionary of Sri Lanka
• Sunday Times
• NESOHR.org