Batticaloa Tamils to observe Black September day

[TamilNet, Sunday, 31 August 2003, 19:45 GMT]
Batticaloa District Peoples Forum, a civil and social organization based in Batticaloa has requested the Tamils in Batticaloa district to observe Friday (05.09.2003) as a day of mourning to remember and a mark of respect to the hundreds of Tamil civilians- men, women and children - killed by Sri Lankan government troops and Muslim home guards since 1990, sources said.

On September 5th morning a foundation stone will be laid for a new memorial tomb to remember the Tamil civilians killed since 1990. This will be followed by a public meeting at the Batticaloa East University grounds, Peoples Forum stated in a memorandum issued yesterday announcing the day of mourning, sources said.

The Peoples Forum further said in its statement: -

"It is our duty to remember those Tamil civilians killed by Sinhala army and Muslim home guards for more than two decades. Since June in 1990 Tamil civilians were abducted and killed in large numbers. The Tamils in the Batticaloa district consider the month of September as Black September.

On September 5, 1990 158 Tamil civilians were massacred at the refugee camp located in the East University buildings. On 9th September of the same year, 284 Tamil civilians were killed in the villages of Sathurukondan, Pillaiayradi, Kokuvil and Panichchaiyady. Fourteen days later, on September 23 another 16 Tamil civilians were killed in the East University refugee camp,

We declare September 5 as mourning day to remember more than ten thousand Tamil civilians killed since 1990 in the Batticaloa district.

We request Tamils in the Batticaloa district to observe the following on Friday:

• Ringing of bells will take place at all Hindu temples and Christian churches on Friday morning at about 6.30 a.m. Special poojahs should be held at seven in the morning.
• People should avoid organizing any events of entertainment on September 5
• Black flags should be hoisted on all houses, business establishments, offices and vehicles.
• Government servants, teachers, students and public should wear black bands
• Principals should organize remembrance meetings in schools on September 5 morning

   

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