The IPKF, which arrived in the northeast province in 1987 following the signing of Indo-Sri Lanka peace agreement in a bid to resolve the ethnic conflict with a political solution, launched a military operation against the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam and the Eelamtamils.

The Valvettiturai massacre occurred on 2 and 3 August 1989 in the small coastal town of Valvettiturai, on the Yaalppanam Peninsula in Tamileelam. Sixty-four  Eelamtamils were killed by soldiers of the Indian Peace Keeping Force. Indian authorities claimed that the Eelamtamils were caught in crossfire. Journalists such as Rita Sebastian of the Indian Express, David Husego of the Financial Times and local human rights groups such as the University Teachers for Human Rights have reported quoting eyewitness accounts that it was a massacre . George Fernandes, who later served as defense minister of India (1998–2004), called the massacre India’s My Lai.

The local Citizens Committee has identified 52 bodies and says that over 120 houses were burnt – making it by far the worst atrocity alleged against Indian troops in the two years they have been . Most of the killings took place in the hours after the ambush, but the burning and ransacking continued , for another two days while Valvettiturai was under curfew and surrounded by Indian troops.

What is also certain is that the official Indian explanation for the deaths – that Eelamtamils were caught in crossfire – has no credibility. Mr. S. Selvendra, the president of the Citizens Committee and a chartered accountant, is calling for a public inquiry.

Almost a fortnight after the event, a smell of charred remains hangs over Valvettiturai. Of the 15,000 people perhaps half have left in fear or despair. Many who remain are distraught over the loss of relatives or belongings, and uncertain how to begin again or where.

What follows are abbreviated eyewitness:

Mr N Senthivadivel, 50, was in his photographer’s shop overlooking the square when the firing began. He threw himself to the ground. Later he was taken out and made to sit cross legged with about 25 people on the square. From there he saw soldiers set fire to some of the shops and throw kerosene to add to the flames.

At about 2pm a soldier came along and said in broken English that he was going to shoot them. Two jeeps arrived and firing began. The soldier then turned round to those seated and fired on them. Two people, Mrs K Sivapackiyam, a washerwoman, and Mr K Thangarajah were killed and 10 more injured.

S Rajeswary, 52, is the wife of the head of the divisional land survey office. After the firing about 50 people sought shelter in her house well over 200 yards from the square – because it has a concrete roof and thus offers protection against shelling.

About 1.30pm, four soldiers broke into the house. She came out of the kitchen into the hall with her husband; they were holding their hands up. She pleaded with her husband not to step forward but he advanced to speak to the soldiers. They shot him. They then called for the other men and shot four of them.

After that they sprayed bullets killing four more people and injuring nine. Apart from her husband, Mrs. Rajeswary also lost her eldest son, 28, who was trapped in his shop which had been set on fire.

Mr A R Sivaguru., 68, a retired postmaster. With some 70 other people – he took shelter in the house of Mr Sivaganesh which also has a concrete roof. About 4pm, some six soldiers climbed over the back wall of the house and entered the courtyard. Women fell it their feet crying and pleading with them not to shoot but were kicked aside.

A sergeant then separated off the young men ages ranging from 18-35 and told them to sit in front of the cow shed next to the house. The soldiers then fired on them, killing four. When one woman screamed at her husband’s death she was told to be silent otherwise she would be killed.

Mr Nadarajah Anantharaj, principal of a local school and secretary of the Citizen’s Committee, still bears the mark on his face of wounds he received. This account of his treatment at the Udupiddy IPKF camp nearby is taken from his sworn affidavit. “There (at the camp) I saw many people who came along with me bleeding and crying. Four Sikh soldiers then started beating me with heavy wooden rods and with their fists.

“One soldier dashed my head against the wall One soldier pressed a wooden rod on my throat and was standing on the rod which was preventing my breathing. At that time I heard a voice shouting “Kill him, kill him.” I was almost losing consciousness when I managed to push the rod on my throat away, toppling the person who was standing on it .

“The next day, the Commanding Officer of Vadamaradchi (region), Brigadier Shankar Prasad, the Deputy Commander, Col Aujla, and the Udupiddy Commanding Officer, Colonel Sharma, met me and expressed their apologies … The Brigadier told me I had been ill-treated by mistake . . .” …..

Were the killings and the brutality the result of soldiers running amok or did they have the approval of their officers? With substantial reinforcements brought into Valvettiturai in the wake of the ambush, officers were certainly present in the town during the shooting and the burning of homes. Some inhabitants believe that senior officers gave their tacit approval to the reprisals, if not more.

One of my informants claimed that he had heard a senior officer say in anger not long before “I will burn Point Pedro” (a neighbouring town where there has also been trouble). “I will kill everybody.’ This may have been ill chosen words of intimidation not meant literally…”

Source: David Housego reported in the London Financial Times on 17 August 1989.

Eelamtamils who were killed in Valvettithurai:

Mr. V. Subramaniam (60), Mrs. Illayaperumal Umaranee (29), Mr. A. Illayaperumal, (70) R. Pushparani(45), R. Javanaraj (11), Mast. A. Sundereswaran (11), Mr. S. Ganeshalingam (35), Miss. Ganeshalingam Sashi(1.5), Mrs. Airtham Umadevi  (26), Mr. A. Ramachandran (41) Mr. K. Sivanesarajah (36 )Mr. P. Ranjithamumar (25),N. Raveenthiran  (32),  K. Mahenthirarajah (49), Mr. K. Velummylum (42,) Mr. R. Nadarajah (62), Mr. V. Arulsothy (28),Mrs. Kandasamy Sivapackiam (45), Mr. R. Rasaratnam (34), Mr. K. Thangarasa (60), Mr. B. Premraj (22), Mr. S. Umasankar (I9), Mr. T. Ravichandran (28), Mr. S. Mylvaganam (55) Mr. T. Nagadas (28),Mr. B. Mahenthirarasa (16), Mr. R. Navaratnam (29), Mr. S. Thambithurai (62), Mast. Nagalingam Piruntha (I4), Mr. Arulsothy Ravennthiran (17),Mr. Arulpiragasam Swanathas (18), Mrs. Selvaratnam Sivamany (35), Mrs. P.V. Krishnavathana ( 35), Mr. K. Shanmugavadivel (36), Mr. Kuddipavun (30) Mr. S. Amuthan Markandu (29), Mrs. Eswaramoorthy Rajaledchumy (26), Mast. Aathy Arunasalam paramsothy (17), Mrs. Nadarajah Nallamuthu (70), Mr. P. Shamugalingam (43), Mr. Kumaravel Selvanathavel (19), Mr. Pooniah Kalidas (25), Mr. N. Panugopal (23), Mr. Wijeratnam Muraleetharan (20), Mr. Sothilingam Rameshkumar (I8), Mr. Ponnuthurai Rasenthiram (23),Mr. Velummylum Selvachandran (26), Mr. K. Rajasekaran (20), Mr. S. Durairaja (59),Mr. Sakthivel (23), Mr. T. Sivakumar (19), Mr. T. Jeyamohan (16), Mr. A. Parasar (18), Mr. T. Sambasivam (18), Mr. S. Perinbam (18), Mr. C. Yogarajah (18), Mr. P. Sathiyarupan (23), Mr. S. Sivalingam (49), Mr. N. Nagarajah,Mr. N. Sivakumar (18), Mr. A. Mathivanan (17),Mr. S. Balachandramoorthy (31)