Topic started by Pon Kulendiren (@ cpe006067779087-cm00109515b817.cpe.net.cable.rogers.com) on Wed Jan 28 22:19:51 EST 2004.
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The Prisoner of War
By Pon
During the Poonahari battle in the north the Sri Lankan army was defeated by the Tamil Eelam fighters and the army camp was demolished. Many soldiers were taken away as Prisoners of War (POW) by the Tamil eelam Freedom fighters. Twenty nine year old year old Sumanatissa (Sumana), a poor village youth from Pothuhera, a suburban area in Kurunegala was one of the many POWs. He lost his right leg in the battle. Sumanatissa’s father was a farmer and had two acres of paddy field. When Sumana’s mother died during child birth his father worked hard to bring up his two children Sumana and Mallika. Sumana could not complete his studies and was forced to join the army by the local Buddhist monk and the politician. When he joined the army his only sister was 18 years and was attending advance level classes in a local school. She was a brilliant student. Sumana had many dreams about his sister’s future. He wanted her to become a doctor and serve the poor people in the villages. When Sumana was in the battlefront he heard the bad news that his sister was suffering from breast cancer. He was in tears when he thought about his beloved sister narrated his story and about his sister’s sickness to a woman freedom fighter who was guarding him.
“Thank you thangachi (sister) for listening to my story about my sister. Whenever I see you, I remember my sister Mallika because you closely resemble her” Sumana spoke to the women freedom fighter in a low voice.
“I am not permitted to show my feelings and talk too much with you. If my group leader sees me I will be in trouble”
“I understand the strict discipline maintained in your organization. Sister we are all humans. My government did not worry about my family and me. I was forced to join the army by the Buddhist monk in my village and by the local Member of Parliament. He promised that he would find a job for my sister. But I heard that he did not keep up to his promise. My father took a loan for 5000 rupees to give dhana when my sister fell sick. The Buddhist monk said that the sickness would disappear if dhana is given and a lamp is provided to the temple. After joining the army I have gone home only once. For the last 3 years I am as prisoner.”
“In your case you fought a battle against the Tamils. You are a prisoner of war. We gave you treatment to your leg and cured you. We are not rich like your government. Your government misuses whatever medicine provided by foreign countries to treat the suffering people in the affected areas. We have no big hospital like your government. We know that you joined the army because of poverty. We don’t ill treat the prisoners or carry out massacres and tortures on the detainees. We are fighting for a cause. We Tamils want to live with respect with Sinhalese. It is the politicians who want the war to make money”
“True thangachi. I am ashamed at the Terrorizing acts of the government. I know that the Politicians want the war to continue to become rich. My friend told me that our MP is supplying Eggs and meat to the army from his farm in Ambanpola. He has big bungalow in Colombo and a Coconut estate in Kurenegala. All these properties he bought because of the war”.
“Why did you then join the army knowing that the Politicians are corrupt and selfish?”
“I have to look after my aged parents and my sister and younger brother. I love my sister. Whenever I see you she comes into my mind. I don’t know whether she is still alive. When I was taken prisoner 3 years ago, during cross examination, your Major Kannan asked me about my family. I told your major about my sister's case. I told him that she was suffering from breast cancer.”
“What did he say?”
“He listened to my story but did not make any comment. He smiled and went away. My parents had no money to treat her. I did not receive any news about her after I was captured”.
“Do you know how many girls like your sister are suffering from various diseases in Vanni? Your government is not allowing medicine to come to Vanni. Do you know how many girls the soldiers raped? Did you think about those women? You are only thinking about your sister”.
“Thangachchi, to be true I am fully against those soldiers who misbehaved with women. The guys did with the support of their senior officers. Many of them are away from their families for long time. They could not control themselves when they see a pretty girl. They have no discipline like in your organization.”
“So if they are away from their wives is that the way to behave? Will they rape their own sister or daughter?”
“Thangachchi I totally agree with you. I am ashamed to call my self a soldier of an indiscipline army. I know the government is running a colony of Prostitutes in Anuradhapura to satisfy these types of soldiers. No fees charged. I was even scared to touch them or share their plate of food.
“Why? They were your friends no.”
“True. But regular medical examination shows that some of they have AIDS and VD’s”
“Oh god. It is a punishment from god”
“I will tell you something. Two of our officers too had AIDS. They were regular visitors to Anuradhapura.”
“I heard that Anuradhapura is a sacred city.
“The politicians have turned it into a sin City. They do all these immoral activities in a place where the sacred Bo tree is. “
“Have you seen the disciplined maintained in our organization between men and women fighters?”
“It is amazing. You all respect each other like brothers and sisters.”
“Do you know that your soldiers in Urimpirai raped my two younger sisters and mother in front of my father? Luckily I escaped because I was at aunt's place. My father was later killed. My two sisters and mother committed suicide. That incident forced me and my friend to join this movement “
“I have heard many such stories. I know that each and every one of you joined because you were affected by the atrocities of the army. You are all fighting not for money but against atrocities of the government for a cause. If I am released I will tell each and every people in my village about it. Government does not want to tell the truth.”
“I came to give you a message from your home, but you started asking questions.
“A message from my home?
“Yes. Your sister was operated in India for cancer and given chemotherapy. Her breast cancer is only at its initial stage. Doctors have said that the survival chance is very good.”
“Oh god. How did my family get the money to go to India? It would have been expensive”
“I don’t know the details. Your story about your family and sister to our Major would have had some effect. It would have reached our leader. He is a very considerate man in such cases. Only your government has painted a bad picture about him in sinhala people’s mind through false propaganda He would have given the orders to do the needful to save your sister. Do you know that our leader too has a sister?
Tears started rolling from Sumana’s cheeks. He became highly emotional and words could not come out from him.
He murmured in Singhalese “May god give a long life for Prabaharan aiya”. The gratitude reflected in his eyes.
(Note: This story was written by the author in 2000 based on a true story)
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