Notable assassinations of the Sri Lankan Civil War

Since the onset of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 1983, militant and paramilitary groups have assassinated many public figures on suspicion of being sympathizers or informants, in retaliation for killings and attacks, to eliminate competition from rival groups, or to stifle dissent. [cite paper |author=Philip Alston |title=Civil and Political Rights, Including the Question of Disappearances and Summary Executions |publisher=United Nations Commission on Human Rights |date=2006-03-27 |url=http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/chr/docs/62chr/E_CN4_2006_53_Add5.doc |format=DOC |accessdate=2007-03-27]

The following is a list of notable assassinations of the Sri Lankan Civil War, attributed by various self-admissions, NGOs, United Nations agencies, foreign governments, and the state-owned media of Sri Lanka.

Background

The Sri Lankan Civil War is an ongoing conflict on the island-nation of Sri Lanka. Since the year 1983, there has been an intermittent civil war, predominantly between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a separatist militant organization who fight for the creation of an independent state named Tamil Eelam in the North and East of the island. It is estimated that =68,000 people have been killed in the fighting since 1983cite news | url =http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/RWB.NSF/db900SID/STED-6YNPE7?OpenDocument | title =Sri Lanka says sinks rebel boats on truce anniversary| work =Simon Gardner|publisher = Reuters|date = February 22, 2007] and it has caused significant harm to the population and economy of the country, as well as leading to the ban of the LTTE as a terrorist organization in 32 countries including the United States, Australia, the countries of the European Union and Canada. The possibility of a lasting peace were raised when a cease-fire was declared in December 2001, and a ceasefire agreement was signed with international mediation in 2002.cite news | url =http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,655451,00.html | title =Ceasefire raises Sri Lankan peace hopes| work =|publisher = The Guardian|date = February 22, 2002] However hostilities renewed in late 2005 and the conflict has continued to escalate, resulting in the deaths of over 4,000 people since November 2005.cite news | url =http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Feb23/0,4670,SriLanka,00.html | title =Monitors Say 4,000 Dead in Sri Lanka| work =Dillip Ganguly|publisher = Fox News|date = February 23, 2007] Numerous human rights violations have been committed by both the Sri Lankan military and the LTTE, including the assassination of individuals by both sides.

Assassinations

Heads of state & government

Provincial Councilors

Activists

Police officers

Writers and poets

Militants

References

* [http://www.tamilnation.org/forum/sachisrikantha/vp/vp49.htm List of LTTE assassinations] by Tamilnation.org
* [http://sangam.org/taraki/articles/2006/05-05_LTTE_30th.php?uid=1720 Ref regarding assassinations by LTTE of rival militants]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/ltte.htm Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam – Global security.Org]
* [http://www.ohchr.org/english/bodies/chr/docs/62chr/E_CN4_2006_53_Add5.doc UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON EXTRAJUDICIAL, SUMMARY OR ARBITRARY EXECUTIONS 27 April 2006]
* [http://www.uthr.org/SpecialReports/spreport19ptIIsuppl.htm UTHR special report 19]
* [http://www.uthr.org/Rajan/truth.htm UTHR truth report]
* [http://www.pen.org/freedom/bga.htm List of Pen award winners]
* [http://www.uthr.org/SpecialReports/spreport20.htm#_Toc131645383 UTHR report 20]
* [http://www.uthr.org/SpecialReports/spreport19ptII.htm#Appendix UTHR report 19]
* [http://www.epdpnews.com/Photos/2005-07-Anantharajah/A.rajah.html EPDP news on Anantharajah]
* [http://www.uthr.org/bulletins/bul39.htm UTHR bulletin 39]
* [http://www.uthr.org/Statements/15YearsAfterRajani.htm#_Toc83561181 UTHR Statement – After Rajani]
* [http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=16879&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html UNESCO statement]
* [http://www.uthr.org/bulletins/bul25.htm#_Toc519425451 UTHR bulletin 25]
* [http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/ENGASA370022006?open&of=ENG-384 Amnesty International report on Faleel]
* [http://www.uthr.org/bulletins/bul19.htm#_Toc515621146 UTHR bulletin 19]
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/06/15/stories/2003061505110100.htm Report on Subathiran murder] by The Hindu
* [http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/03/stories/2004120306991200.htm The Hindu report on P.Rajaratnam murder]
* [http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=13471 Rengappa murder] by Tamilnet.com
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1619/16190630.htm The Hindu report on PLOTE Dasan murder]
* [http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=79&artid=12572 Tamilnet report on PLOTE Mohan]
* [http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1613/16130550.htm The Hindu report on Razeek murder]
* [http://www.hindu.com/2005/09/15/stories/2005091504391400.htm The Hindu report on Kanthi murder]
* [http://www.uthr.org/Reports/Report6/chapter2.htm#_Toc515969804 UTHR report 6]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3581225.stm BBC report Rajan Sathiyamoorthy murder]
* [http://www.uthr.org/bulletins/bul28.htm UTHR bulletin 28]
* [http://brcslproject.gn.apc.org/slmonitor/june96/war.html Sri Lanka monitor report about PLOTE Mohan]
* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6122248.stm BBC report on Human Rights violations]

External links

* [http://www.pact.lk/ Peace and Conflict Timeline (PACT) - an interactive timeline of the Sri Lankan conflict]
* [http://www.slmm.lk/ Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcdtF9XIpgw Sri Lanka: Assassination of an activist, youtube.com, June 2008]