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Valvettithurai residents seek billions in war reparations over IPKF massacres
View(s):The Valvettithurai Citizens’ Committee has submitted an appeal to the Office for Reparations, claiming compensation for a 1989 massacre allegedly carried out by the Indian Peacekeeping Forces (IPKF) deployed in the area.
The massacre took place in Valvettithurai between August 2 and 4, 1989, where 66 civilians were killed and 34 were injured. In addition, homes, shops, fishing boats, vehicles, and industries were destroyed, resulting in the total collapse of livelihoods for hundreds of families, according to the committee.
The committee claimed that according to verified affidavits and assessments, the damage suffered amounted to about LKR 4.3 billion. (USD 14.6 million).
They have pointed out that although the perpetrators were foreign troops, the atrocities occurred within the sovereign territory of Sri Lanka, and the victims were Sri Lankan citizens. Accordingly, it argues that the Government of Sri Lanka bears full responsibility to recognise, compensate, and restore justice to its own people who suffered during this tragedy.
Valvettithurai Citizens Committee Secretary N. Aanantharaj told the Sunday Times that they had submitted a similar petition to the Indian government demanding compensation for the crimes committed by its forces on Sri Lankan soil, but no response was given.
“IPKF forces who came to uphold peace committed heinous crimes in Sri Lanka. The whole village was turned into a war zone with soldiers going berserk. With justice denied for decades and no formal acknowledgement, we are urging Sri Lanka’s Reparations Office to look into the overdue matter and provide adequate compensation for the relatives of families who are still struggling to cope with the loss of their loved ones and resources,” he said.
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