Archives

Udatalawinna Mass Murder : 

I don't care whether you vote for me or not, I know how to win election, said Ratwatte

by Kumar Wethasinghe and Shiromi Abeysinghe

Abdul Aziz Mohamed Firdhouse, a survivor of the Udatalawinna mass murder yesterday said that the first accused, former Deputy Defence Minister, Gen. Anuruddha Ratwatte addressing a PA election rally said, "I don't care whether you vote for me or not. I know how to win the election," when he continued the overnight evidence before the Trial-at-Bar.

The Trial-at-Bar comprised High Court Judges, Eric Basnayake (President), Deepali Wijesundara and Sunil Rajapaksa.

Continuing his overnight evidence Abdul Aziz Mohamed Firdhouse, a survivor of the Udatalawinna killings yesterday said that he could identify some of the attackers who came by the Defenders.

The witness was being further cross examined by the Deputy Solicitor General, Palitha Fernando.

Firdhouse said when their van turned from the Nawayalatenna junction, the light blue Dolphin which came with them had turned towards Palle Talawinna. By the time the accident took place the light blue van was not in sight.

When their van crashed into the telephone post, those who came by the Defenders had intensified firing.

For a moment the witness had seen the attackers. Two of them had been attired in STF military kits, some wore white T-shirts and black trousers. While the Defenders were parked near the Polgolla centre too the witness had noted them at the time of the shooting. They had been about 15 feet close to him.

DSG: - Do you find them in court today?

At that stage the witness gazed at the accused in silence and quarries whether anything could go wrong if he did not show them.

DSG - Only show us whom you can remember.

Then the witness reiterated the 4th, 5th and 8th accused as those identified by him at the parade.

DSG - Could you tell court what they did that day?

The 4th accused as he alighted from the Defender shouted shoot at the face. The 5th and 8th accused were engaged in firing at their van.

The witness said he first saw the first accused Anuruddha Ratwatte when he came to attend pocket meetings at Madawala during the 1994 elections between 1994 and 2001 the witness had only seen him on TV.

The witness had also seen Anuruddha Ratwatte addressing some of the propaganda meetings. He had seen him at Madawala and Wattegama. There had been several political supporters on the stage but the meetings were attended by a few people. He could not remember whether they used loud speakers.

However, he was able to hear what the first accused said addressing those meetings. "I don't care whether you vote for me or not but I know how to win the election. Since the witness was a UNP supporter he had thereafter left the meeting premises.

The witness further said that he could identify the bullet riddled Dolphin Van and the other Light Blue Van. The two Defenders which chased them and fired were the ones now parked in the court premises.

Cross examined by R.I. Obeysekera PC: The witness further answered that on the day, the first accused addressed the meetings, he knew that the PA had scheduled to hold one but he was not aware who was due to address it. He could not recollect the venues of the meetings.

The witness said while he was admitted to Suwa Setha (Pvt) Hospital, the Police had came and recorded his statement. Witness was not aware of any lawyer at the time. He made his statement. The witness also could not tell whether a statement from Sifan.

Counsel: In your statement to Police, did you mention what the first accused said at the PA meeting? - I can't recollect.

Counsel - You never mentioned it? - At the time of making my statement, I was injured and it was only two or three days after the shocking experience. When the CID questioned me I was in a better state of mind and health.

Counsel: Because of the injuries you failed to mention? - I can't recollect whether I said or not.

Q: You had told the CID that you heard the first accused's speech in November? - I can't recollect.

I did not go to PA rallies but when I go for their purposes I listen to the speeches occasionally.

Judge Rajapakse: Is it wrong to say that you went for the PA meeting? - It's wrong to say that I purposely attended the meeting.

Counsel: I suggest to you that there was no PA meeting there on 10th November? - I can't tell the date but there was a meeting at Napana Junction.

Q: You had said that all the PA candidates of Kandy District were attending the Wallegama meeting? - Yes.

Q: Was it a big rally? - That depends on the peoples participation.

Justice Basnayake: About how many could present at the meeting you referred to? - Not more than five or six below the stage.

Your statement to implicate the first accused is totally false? - I have not stated any falsehood. My evidence is what I saw.

www.crescat.com

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2003 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager