Reports that 75 Tamil civilians, including women and children, were killed, allegedly by army personnel in and around Valvettiturai, Jaffna.
Quotation
“About 75 civilians, mostly young men but also reportedly including women and children, were reportedly killed by army personnel on 9 May 1985 in and around Valvettiturai, allegedly in retaliation for the alleged killing by Tamil extremists of an army major the same day at Karaveddi. According to reports received by Amnesty International, about 40 people were taken away from Udupiddy, Polikandy and Valvettiturai and killed at two places near Valvettiturai. In one incident, at the Bathing Ghat, 12 young men were reported to have been lined up, their hands tied behind their back and shot at point blank range. In the other incident, twenty five young men allegedly had their arms tied, were taken to the Community Centre Reading Room, and were then subsequently killed in an explosion. The Minister of National Security has reportedly denied these reports. Amnesty International has details of 42 persons who were reportedly killed by the armed forces in the Valvettiturai area on 9 May 1985.” Letter from Amnesty International to President J.R Jayewardene, dated 7 June 1985.
