Written By: Mathusan Mahalingam on behalf of Thazhumbakam Education
On August 14, 2006, 61 innocent young Tamil girls lost their lives. It was not a random act, but rather, a premeditated act, now known as the Sencholai Massacare. Sencholai Orphanage was an orphanage that provided much needed refuge, counsel, belonging and education to girls who were left orphaned in the 2004 Tsunami. Sencholai provided a way out of poverty for these girls through education.
On August 14, 2006, children from Sencholai, and neighboring schools were brought in for a two-day seminar on First Aid. In regions affected by war, the importance of understanding first aid and being able to treat someone using this knowledge becomes much more crucial – the knowledge of first aid determines life or death. Having trained people able to administer first aid can help quickly treat those injured or wounded in attacks of war.
Around 7am in the morning of August 14, 2006, Kfir jet bombers of the Sri Lankan Air Force moved in on Sencholai Orphanage, and in a premeditated attack, engaged in heavy aerial bombing targeted at the Sencholai Orphange. 61 children, all young girls with promising futures ahead of them were killed in the heavy aerial bombing. Over 150 others, all girls, were also seriously injured.
In genocide, education is one of the targets. Undermining a population economically and preventing its growth can be done simply through hindering educational opportunities for the targeted group. This attack was aimed at undermining the progress of Tamil children.
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. Sencholai Orphanage was located in a designated “humanitarian zone,” and therefore “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 schoolgirls.
The Sencholai Massacre was a grave injustice, it must be looked at as part of a larger plan for genocide. . Targeting these girls, who would have proven to be invaluable at providing first aid during other genocidal attacks (May 2009) is not something to be taken lightly. The Sencholai Massacre was part of a larger plan for genocide.
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