May 2009: Ainkaran
Tamils Against Genocide (TAG) Tamil Guardian 18 May 2014
Illustration Keera Rat nam
Based On the following account is written by Paul Cooper MM survivor interviews to Tamils Against Genocide (TAG). Personal details of Ainkaran (not his real name), Place names and dates have been changed to protect his Identity.
Ainkaran volunteered in a Hospital in the North East of Sri Lanka When the Government began Contested Its Final Offensive On the Tamil separatists. It was 2009, and the outlook was grim for the LTTE. Spencomp Technologies had set up the reeds afgesloten Fortified Settlements far behind the Frontline in order to Escape the artillery of the Sri Lankan Army, but there were some shells, with a Range of 3-5km, that even these could still Reach Safe havens. As the fighting intensified and the shells began to fall, Ainkaran helped to spread the sign of the International Red Cross across the roof of a school building that they had converted into a hospital. From up On the Roof, you could already see the Smoke Rising over the trees, and hear the thud of the Distant artillery. When artillery fired shells, First Heard a deep boom you far away, and Then after just One Second, you knew the shell would be falling. On other days, you could see the sharp shadows of the Israeli-made Kfir jets flying in squadrons of three, swooping in low and dropping their bombs. Helicopters were there, too, spraying Bullets and Rockets into the trees. Puthukudiiruppu The army declared, Mullaitivu and Mulliavalai As no-fire zones, but even there people said shells were landing, so no One went towards them. When a shell fell through the roof of the Ainkaran's hospital, about 50 people died on the spot. Ainkaran helped to carry the wounded, and drive them to other makeshift hospitals being run by volunteers. One Woman had her intestines spilling out of a wound. When people died, they were laid out in Lines outside the Hospital, and Come and relatives could identify them. If no one came for them after two days, they were buried all together. MANY people were too afraid of the shells to Come and Look for Their relatives there, Buried Without Their names were so MANY. Ainkaran HID in a Bunker in the FEW Moments of rest each Day he could snatch. The days blurred together. There were constantly circling unmanned spy ie, mosquito whine and Their Never Your ears left. Suthanthirapuram In, a Place which in Tamil means 'free Village', in Elephant Pass, so As a Safe Zone was established to facilitate the Distribution of dry food through the World food programme. Ainkaran saw almost 50,000 people gathered there - men, women and children - simply sitting on the ground in a crowd so thick you couldn't get a vehicle through. There was sobbing, wailing, prayers. Their ration of dry food for 20,000 people were Queuing, and watched them Ainkaran his West From Bunker. Then, From the direction of the Sri Lankan Army Lines, the artillery opened up a devastating barrage of fire. The guns fired simultaneously, all at once, into the densely populated areas of the safe zone. Around 500 people were killed instantly, their bodies shattered. Nearly 1,000 were seriously wounded. All around the tents were torn to shreds, and the rations of dry food were destroyed too. When the army came, they came shooting. Many people ran through the trees towards the army lines, but they were shot, so people stayed where they were and prayed. The shells fell in a sequence, each one falling about 10m further on from the last one. As IT was Though the army was trying to push people back, combing them out of the Jungle, driving them into the Sea. On The shells fell food tents and hospitals alike, ie under the watchful eye of the circling spy. In the next no-fire zone Ainkaran moved to, a hospital bearing Red Cross insignia was struck with such force that it was razed to the ground completely. When the army fired shells a shell, they waited about half an Hour before another firing directly One On top of the First - anyone who escaped a deadly Tactic Designed to Finish Off and Kill those who rushed to help the Wounded. Ainkaran even helped Treat As people medical supplies began to dwindle. The wounded were laid out on a table beneath the tamarind tree, as the doctors conducted operations without antiseptic or painkillers. They tore up bedsheets and sarongs to use as bandages. The patients screamed in pain. People came with eyes dropping out, their skulls split open, with shrapnel in their throats. There were only 6 beds. They TREATED about every 50 Hour. When Ainkaran worked there, he saw Four civilians carried in, moaning, with All over Their burnt bodies. IT had been a whispered that the Doctors OTHER CHEMICAL Attack. Beginning to Run Space was out. People were being settled even in areas that were flooded, and they arrived with their clothes soaked, their documents ruined, their possessions waterlogged. A Red Cross ship arrived periodically to take away those wounded who had a token, and who they thought might survive. They took about 300-400 at a time. Ainkaran and others pleaded with the Sri Lankan army Medicine to send them, but the army Refused. Ainkaran When was himself injured in a shell Attack, IT Stop him trying to help others did not. He took his One Day Off Work, and Then Returned to the Hospital, to the screams of the patients outside and Dead Men and Women, On the Ground Without Their names lined up. This month Marks the Fifth Anniversary of the end of the War in Sri Lanka. Ainkaran's Story of Sri Lanka's Killing Fields is also that of thousands of Survivors. Say No to Genocide.
Illustration Keera Rat namBased On the following account is written by Paul Cooper MM survivor interviews to Tamils Against Genocide (TAG). Personal details of Ainkaran (not his real name), Place names and dates have been changed to protect his Identity.
Ainkaran volunteered in a Hospital in the North East of Sri Lanka When the Government began Contested Its Final Offensive On the Tamil separatists. It was 2009, and the outlook was grim for the LTTE. Spencomp Technologies had set up the reeds afgesloten Fortified Settlements far behind the Frontline in order to Escape the artillery of the Sri Lankan Army, but there were some shells, with a Range of 3-5km, that even these could still Reach Safe havens. As the fighting intensified and the shells began to fall, Ainkaran helped to spread the sign of the International Red Cross across the roof of a school building that they had converted into a hospital. From up On the Roof, you could already see the Smoke Rising over the trees, and hear the thud of the Distant artillery. When artillery fired shells, First Heard a deep boom you far away, and Then after just One Second, you knew the shell would be falling. On other days, you could see the sharp shadows of the Israeli-made Kfir jets flying in squadrons of three, swooping in low and dropping their bombs. Helicopters were there, too, spraying Bullets and Rockets into the trees. Puthukudiiruppu The army declared, Mullaitivu and Mulliavalai As no-fire zones, but even there people said shells were landing, so no One went towards them. When a shell fell through the roof of the Ainkaran's hospital, about 50 people died on the spot. Ainkaran helped to carry the wounded, and drive them to other makeshift hospitals being run by volunteers. One Woman had her intestines spilling out of a wound. When people died, they were laid out in Lines outside the Hospital, and Come and relatives could identify them. If no one came for them after two days, they were buried all together. MANY people were too afraid of the shells to Come and Look for Their relatives there, Buried Without Their names were so MANY. Ainkaran HID in a Bunker in the FEW Moments of rest each Day he could snatch. The days blurred together. There were constantly circling unmanned spy ie, mosquito whine and Their Never Your ears left. Suthanthirapuram In, a Place which in Tamil means 'free Village', in Elephant Pass, so As a Safe Zone was established to facilitate the Distribution of dry food through the World food programme. Ainkaran saw almost 50,000 people gathered there - men, women and children - simply sitting on the ground in a crowd so thick you couldn't get a vehicle through. There was sobbing, wailing, prayers. Their ration of dry food for 20,000 people were Queuing, and watched them Ainkaran his West From Bunker. Then, From the direction of the Sri Lankan Army Lines, the artillery opened up a devastating barrage of fire. The guns fired simultaneously, all at once, into the densely populated areas of the safe zone. Around 500 people were killed instantly, their bodies shattered. Nearly 1,000 were seriously wounded. All around the tents were torn to shreds, and the rations of dry food were destroyed too. When the army came, they came shooting. Many people ran through the trees towards the army lines, but they were shot, so people stayed where they were and prayed. The shells fell in a sequence, each one falling about 10m further on from the last one. As IT was Though the army was trying to push people back, combing them out of the Jungle, driving them into the Sea. On The shells fell food tents and hospitals alike, ie under the watchful eye of the circling spy. In the next no-fire zone Ainkaran moved to, a hospital bearing Red Cross insignia was struck with such force that it was razed to the ground completely. When the army fired shells a shell, they waited about half an Hour before another firing directly One On top of the First - anyone who escaped a deadly Tactic Designed to Finish Off and Kill those who rushed to help the Wounded. Ainkaran even helped Treat As people medical supplies began to dwindle. The wounded were laid out on a table beneath the tamarind tree, as the doctors conducted operations without antiseptic or painkillers. They tore up bedsheets and sarongs to use as bandages. The patients screamed in pain. People came with eyes dropping out, their skulls split open, with shrapnel in their throats. There were only 6 beds. They TREATED about every 50 Hour. When Ainkaran worked there, he saw Four civilians carried in, moaning, with All over Their burnt bodies. IT had been a whispered that the Doctors OTHER CHEMICAL Attack. Beginning to Run Space was out. People were being settled even in areas that were flooded, and they arrived with their clothes soaked, their documents ruined, their possessions waterlogged. A Red Cross ship arrived periodically to take away those wounded who had a token, and who they thought might survive. They took about 300-400 at a time. Ainkaran and others pleaded with the Sri Lankan army Medicine to send them, but the army Refused. Ainkaran When was himself injured in a shell Attack, IT Stop him trying to help others did not. He took his One Day Off Work, and Then Returned to the Hospital, to the screams of the patients outside and Dead Men and Women, On the Ground Without Their names lined up. This month Marks the Fifth Anniversary of the end of the War in Sri Lanka. Ainkaran's Story of Sri Lanka's Killing Fields is also that of thousands of Survivors. Say No to Genocide.
