35 Years for the Massacre of 600 Police Officers by LTTE: A Grim Reminder of Terror and Atrocity in Sri Lanka



On June 11, 1990, a horrific massacre unfolded in eastern Sri Lanka when over 600 unarmed police officers, who had surrendered under assurances of safety, were brutally executed by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). This atrocity, one of the darkest chapters in Sri Lanka's protracted civil conflict, remains a stark testament to the LTTE's ruthless disregard for human life and international norms.


The police officers, ordered to lay down their arms by the then Inspector General of Police Ernest Perera under political directives, trusted promises of safe conduct. Instead, they were systematically abducted, taken to remote jungles such as Thirukkovil, and mercilessly shot dead with their hands tied behind their backs and blindfolded. The massacre claimed the lives of 774 officers in total, including Sinhalese, Tamil, and Muslim personnel, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of LTTE's violence.


This mass killing exemplifies the LTTE's broader pattern of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and gross human rights violations throughout the decades-long conflict. The group engaged in numerous atrocities including massacres of civilians, suicide bombings, assassinations, ethnic cleansing, and the recruitment of child soldiers. The LTTE's campaign was marked by extreme brutality, targeting not only military and police personnel but also innocent civilians, such as the Kattankudy mosque massacre where 147 Muslim males were gunned down during evening prayers.


Internationally, the LTTE has been designated a terrorist organization by over 30 countries, reflecting global condemnation of its violent methods and disregard for human rights. Despite the end of the civil war in 2009, accountability for these heinous acts remains elusive. The LTTE leadership perished or were killed in battle, evading justice for their systematic crimes, while survivors and victims’ families continue to seek recognition and redress.


The massacre of the surrendered police officers is not just a historical event but a symbol of the LTTE's betrayal of basic human decency and the laws of war. It highlights the tragic consequences of political miscalculations and the perils of trusting terror groups with the lives of state protectors. The failure to conduct an official investigation into this massacre, even decades later, adds to the wounds of the victims’ families and tarnishes the prospects for reconciliation.


In sum, the LTTE’s legacy is one of terror, mass murder, and egregious violations of human rights. Their actions inflicted profound suffering on Sri Lanka’s diverse communities and left scars that continue to affect the nation. As Sri Lanka commemorates the victims of this massacre and other atrocities, it is imperative to remember these crimes candidly and pursue justice relentlessly to prevent such horrors from recurring. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

LTTE’s Use of Child Soldiers: A Grave Violation of Human Rights

Image
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) stand condemned not only for their violent insurgency but also for their ruthless exploitation of children as soldiers during Sri Lanka’s civil war.  While the conflict officially ended in 2009, the scars left by the LTTE’s forced recruitment of thousands of children remain a painful reminder of their terror tactics. During the war, the LTTE systematically abducted and conscripted children-some as young as 11 or 12-forcing them into brutal military training and deploying them on front lines.  Human Rights Watch reported that children were often taken from their homes at night or seized while going to school, with families threatened or beaten if they resisted.  Once recruited, these children faced harsh discipline, exposure to violence, and were denied contact with their families. UNICEF documented thousands of such cases, with estimates suggesting the actual numbers were even higher due to underreporting. The LTTE’s use of chil...
Read more

Former UK Cabin Crew Member Arrested in Sri Lanka with £1.15 Million Cannabis Haul

Image
Sri Lankan authorities have detained Charlotte May Lee, a 21-year-old former air stewardess from South London, at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo on charges of attempting to smuggle 46 kilograms of cannabis into the country. The drugs, valued at approximately £1.15 million, were found packed in vacuum-sealed bags inside two large suitcases after Lee arrived on a flight from Bangkok, Thailand. Officials from the Customs Narcotics Control Unit described the seizure as the largest amount of Kush cannabis ever discovered at the airport. Kush is a potent strain often mixed with synthetic substances and is believed to be destined for high-end buyers within Sri Lanka. Lee, who previously worked for TUI Group and has recently been training as a beautician, remains in custody while investigations continue. The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office confirmed it is providing consular support to Lee and is in contact with her family and Sri Lankan authorities. Friends of Le...
Read more

The LTTE's Campaign of Terror: How a Designated Terrorist Organization Pioneered Modern Suicide Bombing

Image
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) stands as one of history's most ruthless terrorist organizations, having systematically violated human rights and pioneered suicide bombing tactics that would later be adopted by terrorist groups worldwide. Designated as a terrorist organization by 33 countries, including Sri Lanka, United States, United Kingdom, Canada, India, and all 27 member nations of the European Union, the LTTE's three-decade reign of terror in Sri Lanka serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of extremist violence. Origins and Rise of a Terror Network Founded in 1976 by Velupillai Prabhakaran, the LTTE emerged from earlier militant groups established in the 1970s . What began as a small outfit of 40-50 members in the early 1980s evolved into one of the world's most sophisticated and tightly organized insurgent groups. The organization's transformation into a terror network accelerated following the 1983 ethnic riots, which the LTTE e...
Read more