What does it say in Tamil there?

“Maaveeraar Thuyilum Illam, Kanagapuram, Killinochchi”. Kanagapuram is the name of the place. This is the front facade of the Maveeraar Thuyilum Illam where all the LTTE cadres who died in the war, they were buried here. Especially those who are near… in Killinochchi and the surrounding areas. There is one in Puthukkudiyiruppu and there is one in Jaffna. When they were buried, it had a plaque for everyone.

I remember Thuyavan, who was in the economic development sector, who used to take me around the villages to see the economic conditions of the people and advise them on agriculture and small industry development. And Thuyavan died drowning in Neduntheevu. He was buried here. I had seen his plaque. I have also come when Tamilselvan was killed by a Kfir. I think that was piloted by Ukrainian pilots. Kfir or Mig. I was there at the Elanthenthal Hotel and I saw that plane at 6:00 a.m fly just above the piliyar temple. And then within seconds I heard the double…big bang. And I knew that somebody important was a target.

And what happened was they targeted Tamilselvan’s bunker and both went into the bunker. And he and his bodyguards were all killed. There were five of them. But those who are outside were not killed. They knew that whenever Kfirs or migs take off, an alarm is given and everybody goes to their bunkers. And that’s why they were able to target. And he died. And then it was a public funeral. And then he was brought to this Maaveeraar Thuyilum Illam and he was then buried right in the corner…of the right hand corner, between the two walls. And I was there. And I also took part in the burial ceremony.

Now. Yeah, I’m going to walk over there.

If we can just walk over that way and have a look.

It says, “walk softly. Here is buried bodies of the brave Tamil soldiers.”

Students organise themselves and come here, two or three times a year to pull weeds and keep the place clean. And many people joined them during that time.

Thuyavan’s body was just past this, was buried there. So his body is still there. The bodies were still there. They only knocked down the…all of them. He died drowning trying to save two others who were drowning near the Neduntheevu channel. He didn’t die in the war. He was an economic development and political person.

Ah, some of them are here. Let me read their names. I don’t know… [Reading]: “Lieutenant Tharaneer, Lieutenant Nilakeeli. Other two are not there…Lieutenant Kalalnili, Sabaratnam…Sudaranee Thuyaval…,Vijarasa Vijaththa…

They have their numbers.

The numbers are their ID numbers? LTTE…

Yes. And then their date of birth or date they joined. I’m not sure which one.

The date of death?

I think so. At least some of them have left here.

Yeah. So after the army, the Sri Lanka army ploughed it, they bulldozed it, then the people came and collected them and put them back.

Back. I see.

And then…because it’s a war crime to do this. So…

As I remember. Thuyavan is buried someplace here. I should have come with flowers.

Yeah. It’s all full of bodies. They say there, “walk softly”.

Walk softly…Okay?

Yes.

I think is the left of that corner. Left of that corner. I think it’s here.

Yes it’s here. Then they cemented over.

Nice man.

Yeah.

Always helpful, smiling, dedicated.

We could get some flowers.

I think somebody may have.

I’ll lay this here.

Okay…let’s go.