Draft 4

She was a lady 45 years old by then and she as not know how much her aunt felt 35 years ago when uncle left her. It was till then that Bandula experienced the murderous loss of her husband in an unfortunate incident in the arms of inequality. Events that happened to her for the past 40 years recollected in her mind as it was indeed a painful memory as the Sinhalese officials spat at the coffin of her husband on the day of his cremation.

Bandula was an adorable and lovable Tamil girl at the age of 5, born in Sri Lanka; Jaffna soon after it gains it independence together with India. The rich and vibrant state was filled with tobacco plantation up hills creating its beautiful greenery as the departure of the colonial rule too left Jaffna having colonial buildings such as a majestic public library or even its busy harbor port. No one expected the tension in Sri Lanka between the Sinhalese and Tamils to grow into such bloodshed and killing as its inhabitants were looking upon high hopes after independence because of its beautiful costal landforms and its fertile plains for food.

Conflict began 15 years ago when Bandula was living together with her aunt Aabitha and uncle Aadhi which owned one out of the tobacco plantations. Following the independence of Sri Lanka, the Sinhalese government in charge announced the citizenship act in 1948. This left the Tamils living there stateless as they were neither a citizen of Sri Lanka nor India thus losing all its rights as a citizen of Sri Lanka. Following that, Resettlement policy was implemented leading to unhappiness among the community as it announced that the Sinhalese peasants were being resettled into Jaffna together with the Tamil majorities. Uncle Aadhi was one out of the many who opposed the idea of resettlement. This eventually sparked of a deep feud between the Tamils for the Sinhalese government.

Since then, Sinhalese soldiers often conducted raids as the conflicts result more and more violence in Jaffna. Once, they raided uncle's Aadhi's farm searching for the one responsible for the murders of a few Sinhalese peasants near uncle's plantation. Without questioning, uncle Aadhi was pulled out and taken away by the Sinhalese army. Few days later, auntie Aabitha received an unknown phone call which asked whether she wanted to claim uncle Aadhi's body. Uncle Aadhi was shot and murdered by the Sinhalese soldiers. Uncle Aadhi's body was being brought into backyard of their house as Bandula and Aunt Aabitha watched as cries filed the place.

Time past as Bandula grew up and married to an electrical engineer, Awandi, working at a local plant in the heart of Jaffna. The conflict still lasted as matters began worst with the formation of the Tamil United Liberation Front in 1976. Bombing and gunfire could be heard or report almost everyday as there were retaliation between the two ethnic groups.

"Where your thambi?” Bandula asked the oldest daughter of the family curiously.

“Oh, he when out to grab some milk and bread for breakfast with father at the milk bar few district across the camp.” Bandula's daughter, Akash answered.

They were one out of the many families of refuges living in the refuges camp of Jaffna Peninsula. In a period of less then two months, the continuous riots between the two ethnic groups ongoing for 30 years has reached its peak , as it sparked of the civil war between the Sinhalese government officials and Tamils Tiger whom has been fighting for separatist of an independent state in Sri Lanka. Deaths and mass murders were seen every two hours as citizens live in fear and worry as no one knew whom they might lost the next moment. Bandula feared as she has witness how her uncle was taken away from her auntie. Unfortunately, she still could not escape the unfaithful moment.

That glaring Tuesday morning on August 1983, the Sinhalese Army was constantly looking for the ones were responsible their fellow comrades after the car suicide bombing by the Tamil Tigers as the camp which Bandula and her family live in was searched. Noon came as the blazing sun came burning through the bloodshed atmosphere of the camp. Funerals were seen daily at the funeral hall in the middle of the camp to place the bodies of the love ones in which were innocently murdered by the racial killing outside the camp. Half a day was gone and yet, Jegan, Bandula's son and Awandi were not back to the camp. ‘What could have happen to them? God please protect them!’ As negative thoughts when through Bandula's mind.

“Mother! Nothing will happen to them! They will be blessed. Thambi and dad will be back!” Akasha, trying to cheer her mother up with her depressed look in her face.

Just then, one of their refugee mates came running into their tents shouting," You got to know this Bandula! The Sinhalese army killed another few of the innocent Tamils. And., One of them... looks like your husband!"

Bandula expression stunned as she did not know what to react. Hoping that time will freeze at the moment, Bandula prayed hard, as she began to take her heavy footsteps walking to where the troops had placed the bodies.

“He’s....! He’s my husband! Who ... did this to him?” Bandula cried terribly moaning beside husband body.

"Mum, the Sinhalese! Father walked out of a milk bar after buying some milk and bread and as soon as he came outside, he was shot upon by soldiers firing at random on top of a moving Sri Lankan Army truck. He was shot a couple of times around his intestinal area and eventually fell right onto the floor, dead.” Jegan moaned while pulling her mother's sleeve while tearing.

Unknowingly, the fighting by the army on the street left Awandi killed while he was coming back after buying the milk from the milk bar. Bandula was then forced to sign an agreement in which she declared that her husband died of natural causes in order to retrieve his body and cremating his body to leave any evidence behind.

"Madam, can we push his body in for cremation now?” asked the undertaker.

Tears and Sadness filled the sorrow atmosphere as the fire burned glared in the midst of the refugee camp. At the moment, the strong enrage between the Tamils and Sinhalese could be felt by anyone present. Bandula stared into the eyes of her children as the flame of hatred burn within her, “Someday this hatred will be what you will work for. The Tamils' future will be depending on you, the future generation. Revenge for what they have done to your granduncle and father. Fight for freedom and hatred! Join the Tamil Tigers!"