Captured English teacher cum terrorist narrates harrowing tale

Ranil WIJAYAPALA

KILINOCHCHI: Troops engaged in fierce battles West of Kilinochchi once again displayed their humanity towards their enemy.

Capturing three female Tiger cadres alive even at the peak of battle, they were surprised to note that one of these female cadres was an English teacher who is still drawing her salary from the Government, Military Spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told the Daily News.

The troops attached to the 58 Division confronting the LTTE in the South of Pooneryn captured these three female cadres, including the English teacher when they overran an LTTE defence line in Valayakuduyiruppumoddai, six kilo metres East of the 7th Milepost of the A-32 Road on Tuesday.

The female English teacher identified as Nilaveli in a confession to the Security Forces revealed that many Government servants including teachers and agriculture officers have been forced to man LTTE defence lines in the Kilinochchi and Maullaitivu districts as they were not in a position to strengthen their depleting ranks.

She has also revealed that more than 100 of her batch mates, still remain in the LTTE after being conscripted or forced to join the terrorists in fear of terror attacks on their family members.

The other two female cadres captured by the Security Forces have been identified as Kilavedi (18) and Thuruveli (19), the spokesman added.

Troops from the 58 Division earlier also saved the life of an injured LTTE female cadre who had been found along with 13 Tiger bodies,

North East of Madam after fierce battles. She was flown to Colombo after been given basic treatment at the 58 Division by the troops.

“The Tiger cadre turned teacher who is fluent in English has divulged information regarding their hard life in LTTE bunker lines and how she had to join the Tiger ranks to save her teenaged brother and sister from being enlisted in the LTTE,” the Brigadier added.Nilaveli was teaching in the Grade 6 to 10 classes until she joined the LTTE’s ‘Saiver’ Regiment after graduating from the Kopay College of Education (English Faculty).

In her confession she is still drawing her Government salary and all other perks from the Department of Education in Kilinochchi as a trained English teacher,” the Brigadier said.

She also revealed that more than 100 of her batch mates, still remain in the LTTE after they were conscripted or forced to join the terrorists fearing for the lives of their family members.

Nilaveli has also revealed that almost all officials, clerks, minor employees of the Agriculture Department and several other Government agencies as well as officials of Kilinochchi based Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) have been forced to serve on the front lines against their will.

However, she has said that the LTTE’s on the verge of defeat and they will never be able to realise the Eelam dream.