“Y-8: A Historic Record”

“Y-8: A Historic Record”

During Operation Balavegaya II, Sri Lankan Army troops were attempting to advance towards Elephant Pass from the Vettilaikerni–Kattaikadu military camp. On the eighth consecutive day, fierce fighting was continuing between the soldiers involved in the advance and the LTTE. On the evening of 5 July 1992 (Sunday), at around 4:00 p.m., we were travelling from Pallai to Iyakkachchi to check on our vehicle, which had broken down and was stranded there. As we approached the Puthukadu junction, we saw a helicopter circling over the Iyakkachchi area and firing.

While the helicopter was firing from above, we could hear the explosions of artillery shells and the sound of gunfire from the ground. The entire area was shaking. Chinnamani, who was travelling with me, and I continued cycling. There were very few people on the roads. Traffic along the Iyakkachchi–Kompady route had been disrupted by Operation Balavegaya II.

Even before the fighting began, on 25 June 1992, bombing and artillery attacks on residential areas in Iyakkachchi had already begun. As the fighting intensified and the attacks became more severe, the people gradually began leaving the area and moving to places where there was no fighting. Nevertheless, there were still some civilians around. As we travelled from the Puthukadu junction, we saw coconut trees on both sides of the road lying broken and shattered by bombs dropped from aircraft. It was heartbreaking. One could only imagine how much effort the people must have put into growing those trees.

In many places, the destruction caused by the bombing was clearly visible. Suddenly, Chinnamani covered his nose. A foul smell was coming from somewhere. Perhaps someone’s cattle or livestock had been killed by the bombing. There was also the smell of broken coconut trees mixed with explosives. What did the Sinhala military care about Tamil people’s cattle? What did they care about trees? What did they care about houses? Everything belonging to Tamils was treated as an enemy, wasn’t it? As long as they saw the Tamil people themselves as enemies, could anything belonging to Tamils escape that perception?

“To a frightened man, everything appears threatening…” As we crossed Karandai Kulam and approached Iyakkachchi, Chinnamani said:

“The big one is coming.” A Y-8 aircraft was approaching from the direction of Kilinochchi, travelling from south to north. The helicopter that had been circling overhead had now landed at the Elephant Pass military camp.

As soon as the Y-8 arrived, it began dropping bombs.

The “Shiamasetty” bombers would circle in the sky before dropping their bombs. The Avro aircraft operated in much the same way. But the Y-8 was different. While flying steadily through the airspace, it would release its bombs towards the target. We watched carefully to determine where the first bomb landed and took cover accordingly. We assumed that the bombs were falling in the Iyakkachchi–Sangathar Vayal area. There were also several civilians near where we were standing. Fear was clearly visible on their faces and in their anxious expressions.

We encouraged them not to be afraid, telling them that there was nothing to be gained by panicking, while continuing to watch the aircraft. Since the fighting had been going on for eight days, the area showed extensive destruction caused by continuous aerial attacks. Electricity towers, shops, houses, the market, the school, the church, trees and plants—all lay damaged, shattered or destroyed. The scars left behind by what seemed like an apocalyptic dance of destruction tore at our hearts.

Chinnamani said to me sorrowfully:

“Every day these people and these youngsters [fighters] have been suffering so much under these attacks.” Indeed, all of this was deeply distressing. Two teachers were also standing with us. Altogether, there were only about ten of us there. The fighters were engaged in their activities. We could hear gunfire directed at the aircraft. Vehicles and drivers were positioned here and there to transport wounded fighters, while others stood by to provide assistance and care.

Two fighters struggled to carry a container filled with water, hanging it from a pole. Chinnamani and I took the container from them and cycled to deliver it to the place where it was needed. The aircraft continued dropping bombs. The LTTE fighters continued firing at the aircraft from the ground. After delivering the water container, we returned. The aircraft was still carrying out its attack.

By then, we had returned to the place where we had initially been standing. A woman standing nearby was angrily cursing. “Why are they doing such terrible things? How can they be so unjust? What kind of government behaves like this? How many children could be caught up in this?” she said in distress.

The aircraft dropped another bomb and then flew towards the coast at Azhiyavளை, turned around, and dropped another bomb on the original target. It then flew towards Paranthan, turned around again, and returned. It followed a figure-eight flight path running north to south, dropping another bomb. For half an hour, the aircraft continued its terrifying dance of destruction. Whenever the aircraft approached directly over the war zone, the LTTE fighters continued firing from the ground.

We watched every bomb as it was released. The bomb appeared small and black, about the size of a small lump, as it descended from the aircraft. Within approximately a minute of being released, it would explode with an enormous blast. Seven bombs had been dropped in this manner. The aircraft then returned from the north and released its eighth bomb.

We kept our eyes fixed on the aircraft. The LTTE guns continued to roar. As the aircraft was returning, it suddenly caught fire in mid-air. At the same moment that we saw the flames and smoke, the aircraft exploded with an enormous blast.

Was that merely an explosion?

The force of the blast shook the trees, plants and ground for a moment. Our hearts and ears seemed to react beyond their normal limits. People in the area later said that the sound and shockwave could be heard and felt as far away as Pallai and Eluthumadduval. Everything was over within a minute. The demons had been destroyed. Those standing with us shouted with joy. They cheered. It was an indescribable moment of happiness. After the aircraft exploded and broke apart in the sky, a black object could be seen slowly descending.

As the object fell, a trail of smoke could be seen following it from above. When a jet aircraft flies, one can sometimes see a smoke trail behind it. That is usually white. This one appeared as black smoke. Everyone was immensely happy that the aircraft had been destroyed.

Someone nearby was heard saying:

“Those who were far away are gone. Our boys are really clever.” After the wreckage fell to the ground, the smoke could be seen in the distance like the black smoke produced by a raging forest fire. The smoke continued rising for a long time. Even after the evening sun had disappeared and darkness began to spread, the plume of smoke continued to rise into the air. As it became dark, we could not continue travelling and therefore returned to Pallai. As we approached Pallai, there were joyful cheers from the people all along the road. Vehicle drivers were celebrating enthusiastically.

The little children were overwhelmed with joy. Who would not be happy to see the destruction of demons that had descended upon them? The **Y-8 aircraft was not only shot down by the LTTE; the LTTE also recovered the pilot’s body and the wreckage of the aircraft.** When I arrived in Jaffna at around 7:00 a.m. the following morning (Monday), the remains had been placed on public display in the Kondavil area.

I was amazed at the speed and efficiency of the LTTE. While the military operation had been intensifying the previous day, they had managed, during the night, to recover the wreckage of the aircraft that had been shot down in the area, together with the pilot’s body, with extraordinary speed.

The Tigers were truly the Tigers.

This incident provides yet another example of the ability of the “Tigers” to turn the wheel of history.

—Karunakaran Erimalai, December 1992

Compilation: Thamil Arasan Abdul Qader

Translation by Hari