Written by: Mathusan Mahalingam
August 14, 2006.
Hope. It is what keeps us going despite the hardest of obstacles. The Sencholai Orphanage provided exactly that, hope for girls who were left orphaned by the war and/or tsunami of 2004. Through Sencholai, these girls were given access to education, which would surely work towards building a better future for themselves, and their communities.
On August 14, 2006, children from Sencholai, and neighboring schools were brought in for a two-day seminar on First Aid. First aid education is important everywhere, however, in regions affected by war, the importance of understanding first aid and being able to treat someone using this knowledge becomes much more crucial.
Around 7am in the morning of August 14, 2006, Kfir jet bombers of the Sri Lankan Air Force moved in the area, and in a premeditated attack, engaged in heavy aerial bombing targeted at the Sencholai Orphange. 61 children, all young promising girls with bright futures ahead of them were killed in the heavy aerial bombing. Over 150 others, all girls, were also seriously injured.
These young girls’ lives were unjustly stripped away from them, in a senseless attack aimed at undermining the progress of Tamil children. Despite being in a “humanitarian zone,” Sencholai Orphanage was attacked. According to the Fourth Geneva Convention of War, which outlines the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, civilians are not to be targeted. They must be treated humanely at all times, and should be protected against acts or threats of violence. However, despite Sri-Lanka being a signatory of this Convention, they intentionally targeted and attacked these young school girls.
Today, we must take time out of our daily lives and remember the injustice that was done to these young beautiful girls and the rest of the Tamils living in Sri-Lanka. Our thoughts and prayers must be with them. The Sencholai Massacre was a grave injustice, and we together, as a unified community, must come together, remember, and work towards ensuring that such atrocities are prevented, and justice is served.
Our young beautiful sisters, may you rest in peace.
Resources:
Signatories of Geneva Conventions and Related Conventions & Treaties: http://www.icrc.org/IHL.nsf/%28SPF%29/party_main_treaties/$File/IHL_and_other_related_Treaties.pdf
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