OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT  
The humanitarian situation in Jaffna continues to becoming increasingly more difficult. The supplies coming by ships cannot substitute the quantities that used to come along the A9. Access to livelihood has been significantly reduced inflicting even more suffering to the civilian population. The curfew is still in place even though it is only during the hours of darkness. The situation in Jaffna is still tense, assaults, abductions and assassinations are still occurring throughout the district.

 

In Mannar district two bodies were found shot dead in a fishing boat this week.  

 

In Vavuniya killings of civilians continued, with two Sinhalese and one Tamil (Hindu priest) shot dead. SLMM suspects that the killing of Sinhalese civilians could be a retaliation for Tamils civilians killed in Jaffna. Three claymore mines exploded in and around Vavuniya town targeting SLA soldiers, each one resulting in soldiers being injured but not killed. Both the killings of civilians and attacks on SLA continue to create tension in the community and distrust between security forces and civilian population.  

 

In Vanni the tension was less this week, than the week before, and incidents are not expected to take place while peace talks are going on.  

 

Trincomalee town has been calm and quiet during the recent weeks. While there are still some killings taking place in town and in the nearby areas, the daily lives of town residents seem to go on unhindered. There are reports of 50-70 LTTE cadres have come into Trincomalee town from Ralkulli area. Conflict between the Karuna group and the LTTE could be expected.  The recent killing of two young Tamils in Trincomalee, whit a message to "other LTTE supporters", is perhaps a taste of things to come.

 

North of Trincomalee, west of Kuchaveli, SLN claims that the LTTE is building a sizeable camp for future attacks on the Nilavelli SLN camp.  In the last week, one such incident took place where the two sides exchanged mortar fire with no result.  

 

Batticaloa district has been relatively calm. 20 Karuna cadres entered into a fire fight with an unknown entity at Kalkudah. On 25 October, a TNA-called Hartal. On 26 Oct, 3 Karuna cadres were killed and 8 injured in Chenkaladi.

 

The shelling of ZoS areas in the main areas of Batticaloa have decreased. Nevertheless, LTTE (Trincomalee) in the northern part of the Batticaloa district reported that they had been attacked by the SLA several times this week. Some of the incidents have been verified by SLMM monitors. It is expected that exchange of mortar and artillery fire will continue in the north.  

 

In Ampara district, the situation has been mostly calm and quiet. It appears that the LTTE has increased their activities.  

 

On 23 October, two landmines exploded in Bakmitiyawa, injuring one civilian and one STF officer. TNA called for a Hartal.

 

On 28 October, 2 STF personnel were injured by a roadside blast targeting a STF truck.  

 

A total of 33 children and adults have been abducted in Ampara and Batticaloa. One third is believed to have been done by the Karuna group. There are also indications that LTTE has intensified its recruitment.