KAMALIKA PIERIS

Why did the two JVP uprisings happen precisely in 1971 and 1987, asked Nira Wickremasinghe. The answer is that they were both linked to the Eelam war.

Rohan Gunaratna observed that JVP insurgency and the Eelam Wars both started around the same time.  The first JVP insurgency started in the south in 1971 and violence in the  north started in 1972.   The second JVP insurgency   of 1987-89 ran parallel to Eelam War 2.

The timing of the second JVP insurrection was significant.  1987 was the year of the Vadamarachchi campaign in Jaffna. This campaign, set for May and June, was certain to succeed, but it was called off by President JR Jayawardena. 1987 was also the year when JVP started its  second insurgency in the south.  The 1987-1989 JVP insurgencies forced the army to fight on two fronts, up in the north against the LTTE and down in the south against JVP. This, it was hoped, would enable the far weaker LTTE win the Eelam war.

In  April 1987, JVP attacked Pallekelle Army camp  and took away a quantity of automatic weapons. In June 1987 JVP  attacked Katunayake Air Force base and Kotelawala Defence Academy (KDA) and removed a valuable haul of weapons from each. From KDA  they got eleven T56 and 15 submachine guns.

 In 1988, JVP attacked Katunayake air force base  a  second time and took away weapons and ammunition.  In  the same year,  JVP also attacked Pannala National Air Force training camp and  the army training camp at Kumbukke in Horana . There was also an unsuccessful attack on Panagoda army camp.

Analysts  have shown connections between JVP and LTTE . JVP was the Sinhala twin of the LTTE said Rohan Gunaratna. Gamini Samaranayake said his thesis consisted of a comparison between JVP and LTTE. The JVP insurrection of the 1987-1989 period should also be investigated, not only the Eelam war, said Nalin de Silva.

PLOTE and the LTTE were reported to have sold weapons to the JVP.  The intention was to create a second front against the Sri Lankan armed forces.  EPRLF had provided training for JVP‘s Vikalpa Kandayama in north east Sri Lanka and in   India. Gunaratna was told that they had received the training first and joined JVP after.

An explosive expert from PLOTE had given JVP training in improvised land mines in the jungles between Matale and Batticaloa, reported Chandraprema.  JVP   exploded its first experimental land mine in Kumbiyangoda in Matale.  The first landmine of JVP was the work of a PLOTE operator, said Gunaratna. A Tamil instructor had been present, said Chandraprema.  In 1989 PLOTE was seen in Akuressa training JVP of the Matara district in land mines. JVP  carried out a series of land mine attacks.  Landmines in Weerawila and Hungama killed six policemen.

There may have been  a transfer of explosion technology between the LTTE and JVP, as well, said A.J. Behra.  JVP had used powerful land mines similar to those used in the north by the LITE. Intelligence reports had indicated that JVP was receiving regular supplies of explosives from overseas, he added.

In the early 1970s JVP gave the impression that they were champions of the Sinhala race. This would have been done to capture Sinhala youth for the movement. After 1977 JVP changed its stance. JVP discarded its pro Sinhala attitude. JVP recognized the right of Tamil people for self determination and by 1980 they were supporting the secession of Tamil areas.

During the Eelam wars, there was collusion between LTTE and JVP. No member of the JVP was ever harmed when the LTTE attacked Sinhalese. JVP had   established JVP  cells in the  Sinhala border villages  in the east, by the end of 1987, said Gunaratna. When LTTE swooped down on a Sinhala village they avoided going to the homes of JVP  activists in the village, said Chandraprema.

There were allegations  in 1987  that JVP was in collusion with LTTE  in Trincomalee . This appears to be correct,  said Chandraprema. There was an instance when an  armed JVP contingent had met an LTTE  contingent in the Trincomalee jungles and JVP warned the LTTE not to proceed as the army was in that area.

There was evidence to show that JVP was supporting the separatist Tamils, said Godahewa. There is evidence to show that the JVP was actively collaborating with the LTTE to chase the Sinhalese out, agreed Chandraprema.  

In December 1987, JVP had  entered Sinhala  settlements in Aluth oya where settlers were armed, threatened them and took away 20 shot guns.   Sinhala refugees  from Trincomalee ,escaping after an attack on their village, said they were absolutely certain that their attackers were Sinhala. One had shouted obscenities in perfect Sinhala which showed that he was Sinhala not Tamil.

In October 1987 JVP  attacked Kallar army camp in Trincomalee  and after a 20 minute gun battle,    took away a huge amount of weapons, including  six T56 and  three LMG spare barrels.  This was JVP ‘s largest haul of weapons.  JVP attacked  Kallar camp at the  height of the IPKF sponsored LTTE attacks on Sinhala peasants in Trincomalee

JVP, though armed never tried to defend the Sinhalese in the border villages.. If  JVP had the ability to successfully attack the Kallali army camp,  so why could they not defend the Sinhalese, asked Chandraprema. 

However, there is not a single confirmed account of a JVP attack on the LTTE or IPKF. JVP never killed a single Tamil or Indian soldier, said Chandraprema.   JVP instead, used their arms on the Security forces,  on the JVP’s  Sinhala opponents and on  ‘traitors’. JVP killed more Sinhalese than the LTTE.  ( Continued)