COLOMBO: A presidential commission to probe the infamous Kokkadicholai massacre of 67 Tamil civilians on June 1991 has squarely blamed Sri Lankan army soldiers for the killings which had sent shock waves across the nation.
The three-member commission headed by Justice K.D.O.S.M. Senevirante handed over its interim report to President Ranasinghe Premadasa Wednesday.
The commission held that the death of 67 civilians on June 12-1991 and destruction of houses and property was not a result of military action but due to the “unrestrained” behaviors of certain soldiers who were provoked by the death of two of their colleagues who died in a landmine explosion earlier.
The interim findings of the commission were released to the media by cabinet spokesman and. industries minister Ranil Wickremsinghe at the weekly briefing Thursday.
President Premadasa had appointed the three member commission consisting of Justice K.D.0.S.M. Senevirante (chairman) Justice Sivanathan Selliah commissioner and A.M.M Sahabdeen Commisioner a week after the following a public outcry and property following a landmine explosion (which killed two soldiers) in Kokkadicholai village in the eastern Batticaloa district one June 12.
The commission was also required to report as to whether there was any connection between the landmine explosion and the death of the civilians and also whether any persons other than the members of the armed services were responsible for the incident and to provide compensation to the affected and advise what steps were to be taken to prevent recurrence of such incidents.
The commission held there was a connection between the landmine explosion and the death of the 67 civilians “The members of the armed forces who were stationed in Kokkadicholai were responsible for the death of the civilians” it said.
“The commission said it would submit its final report shortly covering the terms of reference which has not been dealt with in the interim report.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 7, 1992
