1974 Tamil conference incident
Encyclopedia
The 1974 Tamil conference incident occurred during the fourth World Tamil Research Conference
, which was held in the city of Jaffna
between January 3 and 9, 1974. Police action resulted in the loss of nine lives, the loss of civilian property and more than 50 civilians sustaining severe injuries.
had requested that the conference be held in the capital Colombo
but the conference organizers held it in the Tamil-dominant city of Jaffna.
On January 10, the organizers decided to hold a public meeting to distribute awards to those who had participated in the cultural program. The audience, more than 10,000 in number, spanned the road and overflowed into open expanses.
commissioned officer, led a truckload of anti-riot police of more than 40 to the scene. Their unheralded arrival ended in the chaotic disruption of the ceremony.
The police had been advancing slowly through the crowd in jeep and truck wearing steel helmets, ordering the crowd to move. At the time Professor Naina Mohamed, a distinguished Tamil scholar from India, was speaking and the crowd was heavily packed, such that the police could proceed no further. Then the policemen who were armed with rifles, tear-gas bombs, batons and wicker shields started attacking those who stood in their way. The result was a stampede to escape the police attack, as policemen fanned out in all directions assaulting all and sundry. Some even jumped into the moat beside the Fort to escape the attack.
The overhead electric wires were brought down by gun-shots. A policeman was seen throwing a tear-gas bomb which did not explode, and then firing at the electric wire, resulting in a burning coil falling on him. The foreign delegates who attended the conference had also confirmed that the Police had fired into the air.
Seven civilians died of electrocution. Several others sustained severe injuries due to the police charging at them.
The report of the Commission of Inquiry on the Tragedy of January Tenth 1974 published on 18th February 1974 said,
This incident was the precursor to the revenge killing of the SLFP mayor of Jaffna, Alfred Duraiappah
by the LTTE which began the era of Tamil militancy amongst the youth leading up to the Sri Lankan civil war
.
World Tamil Conference
The World Tamil Conference is a series of occasional conferences to discuss the social growth of the Tamil language. Each conference is attended by thousands of Tamil enthusiasts around the world. Conferences are hosted in various cities in India, as well as world cities with a significant Tamil...
, which was held in the city of Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
between January 3 and 9, 1974. Police action resulted in the loss of nine lives, the loss of civilian property and more than 50 civilians sustaining severe injuries.
Early conflict
The SLFP-dominated government of Sirimavo BandaranaikeSirimavo Bandaranaike
Sirimavo Ratwatte Dias Bandaranaike was a Sri Lankan politician and the world's first female head of government...
had requested that the conference be held in the capital Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
but the conference organizers held it in the Tamil-dominant city of Jaffna.
On January 10, the organizers decided to hold a public meeting to distribute awards to those who had participated in the cultural program. The audience, more than 10,000 in number, spanned the road and overflowed into open expanses.
The incident
Assistant Superintendent of Police Chandrasekera, a SinhaleseSinhalese people
The Sinhalese are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group,forming the majority of Sri Lanka,constituting 74% of the Sri Lankan population.They number approximately 15 million worldwide.The Sinhalese identity is based on language, heritage and religion. The Sinhalese speak Sinhala, an Indo-Aryan language and the...
commissioned officer, led a truckload of anti-riot police of more than 40 to the scene. Their unheralded arrival ended in the chaotic disruption of the ceremony.
The police had been advancing slowly through the crowd in jeep and truck wearing steel helmets, ordering the crowd to move. At the time Professor Naina Mohamed, a distinguished Tamil scholar from India, was speaking and the crowd was heavily packed, such that the police could proceed no further. Then the policemen who were armed with rifles, tear-gas bombs, batons and wicker shields started attacking those who stood in their way. The result was a stampede to escape the police attack, as policemen fanned out in all directions assaulting all and sundry. Some even jumped into the moat beside the Fort to escape the attack.
The overhead electric wires were brought down by gun-shots. A policeman was seen throwing a tear-gas bomb which did not explode, and then firing at the electric wire, resulting in a burning coil falling on him. The foreign delegates who attended the conference had also confirmed that the Police had fired into the air.
Seven civilians died of electrocution. Several others sustained severe injuries due to the police charging at them.
The government response
The police officers involved were subsequently promoted instead of being reprimanded by the government.The report of the Commission of Inquiry on the Tragedy of January Tenth 1974 published on 18th February 1974 said,
Legacy
Appapillai Amirthalingam statedThis incident was the precursor to the revenge killing of the SLFP mayor of Jaffna, Alfred Duraiappah
Alfred Duraiappah
Alfred Duraiappah was a former MP and mayor of Jaffna, Sri Lanka who was assassinated by the Tamil Tigers.-First political murder:A member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party, Alfred Duraiappah was a former MP and mayor of Jaffna...
by the LTTE which began the era of Tamil militancy amongst the youth leading up to the Sri Lankan civil war
Sri Lankan civil war
The Sri Lankan Civil War was a conflict fought on the island of Sri Lanka. Beginning on July 23, 1983, there was an on-and-off insurgency against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a separatist militant organization which fought to create an independent Tamil state named Tamil...
.
See also
- List of attacks attributed to Sri Lankan government forces
- List of attacks attributed to the LTTE
- List of massacres in Sri Lanka