Major Johnny Carried out the work of the movement with a sense of liberation
Major Johnny Carried out the work of the movement with a sense of liberation
When that long fight was over – our Johnny – he did not come. He has not come to this day as he told us on the first day. Those dark days that we will never forget.
The time, they came for looking for peace, the Indian Army, but the reign of the Indian guns that committed atrocities.
Johnny was the headman of a small village called Karupta Murippu in the Vanni.
One day, he was going in a pedal cart, which was our main means of transportation at that time. The road he was taking was at a corner where the Yarlpanam main road met. The pedal cart turned around and was right for the Indian soldiers who were hiding in ambush to attack him.
An unexpected attack. Johnny threw the cart at the soldiers who came to catch him. He threw hand grenades at those who were hiding nearby. Johnny escaped. Two Indians were killed in this incident.
During the days when Johnny worked politically in that town, he often encountered Indian soldiers. Each of them was an incident that made his hair stand on end. He would always escape with the tact that only a tiger could possess.
During that very critical period in that town, he had to carry out his struggle work under difficult circumstances. Doing political work in villages or cities was not an easy task, when Indian soldiers and Indian henchmen were everywhere.
His feet would walk for miles through forests, rivers, ponds and fields. Only with difficulty would he complete the work projects assigned by his superiors.
That town, the supposed breakaway, was one of the main places where important information was exchanged along with the ranks of our fighters, supplies, weapons and documents. For this valuable work of struggle, Johnny has protected and cared for the fighters who come to this village in the midst of great dangers.
There are many incidents where Johnny entered the village while the Indians were surrounded, pasted posters with struggle ideas, distributed pamphlets, and cleverly escaped from their siege.
Johnny entered all levels of society, including students, women, workers, and intellectuals, and sowed the ideas of struggle. Through this, he connected the youth and women to the struggle in large numbers.
When our country celebrated Maveerar Naal for the first time in 1989, he conducted it well in the blackened border area. Even when the Indian guns were pointed at him, the people celebrated the day with emotion. To that extent, Johnny had mixed with them, drawing them into the struggle. People whom Johnny loved stood as a shield for Johnny and his comrades, when danger approached them on many occasions.
Early 1990.
Indians were being expelled from our homeland. Due to Johnny´s skillful work, he was appointed as the Malawi Regional Manager. In those days when the war had stopped, when political programs were rapidly implemented among the people, Johnny did those jobs well.
Johnny´s activities grew in rural development work, providing educational facilities for children, and creating employment opportunities for women. In those days, from small children to elder people, Johnny had developed close relationships with each person. It was to the extent that they could never forget Johnny.
Mid-1990.
The Second Eelam War with the Sri Lankan army began. It became the platform to fulfill Johnny’s desire to go to war.
The first attack on the Mangulam army camp was launched. During that attack Johnny was injured in the leg. The attack failed. Even though he was recovering from his injury and was appointed as the Vattakkachi area officer, the desire to ‘one day destroy this camp’ had taken shape within him.
That day came. Johnny played a major role in the second and final attack on the Mangulam army camp. The success of that attack delighted Johnny.
Shortly after this attack, Johnny´s long-held dream came true. He was transferred from political work and sent to the front line. When you saw him in those days, you could see a sense of satisfaction on his face. He walked around the battlefields with the joy that a small child experiences when he receives something he has been waiting for so long.
As enthusiastically and skillfully as Johnny did political work, he was even more enthusiastically involved in military work. While doing political work, he rose from a small village official to the political office of Kilinochchi district, and his energy never failed to manifest itself during battles.
Having been involved in political work for a long time, those battlefields gave him new enthusiasm. He stood as a front-line fighter on the battlefield. He fought without rest or sleep.
Johnny was born on Monday, August 19, 1969. His father and mother gave him the name Jagatheeswaran. He was born after 7 siblings in the family, 3 boys and 4 girls. After him, he had a younger sister. Johnny, who did not talk much to anyone, was averse to a luxurious lifestyle.
Johnny´s hometown was Meesalai. Educated at Veerasingham Maha Vidyalaya, he had a natural desire to serve the community. He would engage in public work from a young age. His service was widespread in the dusty streets of Meesalai, in the fields, in the gardens. Everywhere.
Johnny was talented not only in academics but also in sports at school. He was the student leader there and received awards for his talented activities.
The time when the Indian army occupied our homeland created a storm within him. Johnny, who naturally had the nature of working for the people, stood as a close companion to our fighters in the village during those critical days. Johnny, who was working for the movement indirectly, unknown to his family and outsiders, fully joined the struggle in the early part of 1989.
After completing his training in the dense forests of the Vanni in Iranamadu, Johnny was like all LTTE fighters, had a desire to go to war.
However, when the movement offered him political work, he began to do it with skill.
That was the outstanding event of 1991 in our country.
The great hero of the Aanayiravu. During those long battles, Johnny fought on the battlefields with great enthusiasm.
One of the last days of that war. One evening. Tt was five o’clock. Johnny came to our garrison and was happily chatting with us. A long, friendly conversation. He did not realize how much time had passed. Since it was getting dark, he got up to go to his garrison.
His strongholds were in the Thattuvankotti area. He was also the one in charge of that area. Johnny said: “If army comes past my wife, he will come over my body.” and left.
None of us took it seriously.
That night passed and the next day dawned. Time flew. As it approached 11 am, planes began to fly and bombs started to fall. The army moved towards Johnny’s garrison. Bombs rained from the sky, shells rang out, the enemy slowly advanced with heavy vehicles and heavy weapons. It was a fierce and brutal fight. Some of them fell like corpses, the enemy moved inch by inch. When that long fight was over. Our Johnny. He did not come. He has not come to this day. Just as he had told us on the first day
But the memories of those happy days spent with him will always live with us. His memories will accompany us on this journey of ideals.
Memory Sharing: Nimal
Published: Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam Magazine
(Translation by Tamilpriya)
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