SUMMARY

In the Eastern Region (ER), the Tamileela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP)/Karuna group continued to be very visible, and was reported to be involved in several abductions – including abductions of minors.

 

In the Northern Region (NR) occasional shelling continued along the Forward Defence Lines (FDL) north and south of Vanni. The Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) conducted several air strikes in Vanni, and there were confrontations at sea between the Sri Lankan Navy (SLN) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eeam (LTTE). In addition several incidents involving Claymore mines were reported in the NR.

 

Four assassinations were reported in the NR this week; two of which occurred on the Jaffna peninsula.

 

 

EASTERN REGION

 

Military Operations:

On 12 September a police officer was injured in an explosion which destroyed a bunker in Anbuvalipuram, Trincomalee. Another police officer was injured when a hand grenade was thrown into a police post in Uppuveli, 5kms north of Trincomalee, on 13 September.

 

Restoration of Normalcy:

On 13 September an Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) member (27) was assassinated in Valaichenai, about 25kms north of Batticaloa, while he was distributing news handouts. He was reportedly killed by the TMVP/Karuna group. On 15 September a TMVP/Karuna cadre (26) located at the TMVP office in Palchena, Vakarai, was shot at.

 

The SLMM received three complaints regarding alleged abductions by the TMVP/Karuna group. On 11 September four youths (age 14-20) were reportedly abducted by the TMVP/Karuna group. The complainant claimed they would be held until six missing TMVP/Karuna cadres returned. On 13 September a man was reported abducted by an armed group in a white van and taken to the TMVP office in Trincomalee where the victim was assaulted and threatened with death. He was released, but had reportedly received threats from the TMVP/Karuna group afterwards. On 14 September the TMVP/Karuna group reportedly abducted a boy (16) in Sinnathotam, 40kms south of Ampara; they refused to release him, claiming he had been recruited.

 

In addition to the reported abductions, a boy (14) went missing on 13 September in Dewanagar, Trincomalee.

 

On 13 September, a group of 15-20 armed TMVP/Karuna cadres in civilian clothing was observed inside the compound of the Anaipanthi Pillayar (Hindu) Temple in Batticaloa town. The TMVP/Karuna group continued to extort money from local businesses. The TMVP/Karuna group is reportedly well protected by the authorities and the police is reluctant to pursue them in certain areas.

 

Last week, pamphlets were clandestinely distributed in Batticaloa, threatening punishment to anyone who supported parties such as the Tamil Democratic Alliance (TDA) in the ER. It was generally presumed that the TMVP/Karuna group was behind these pamphlets, although the party had publicly denied it. The TDA, consisting of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE), Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), and Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front Pathmandabah wing (EPRLF-P), and the EPDP launched a counter-propaganda campaign this week, denouncing the TMVP/Karuna group as prone to violence and not to democratic values.

 

The SLMM received complaints regarding Security Forces (SF) occupying private property in certain areas in the ER.

 

 

NORTHERN REGION

 

Military Operations:

Sporadic shelling was recorded northwest of Vavuniya and north of Kilinochchi throughout the week. On 12 September the SLA was shelling along the A14 road over Murunkan, according to SLMM sources.

 

The SLAF conducted several air strikes in the NR during the week, but no casualties were reported. On 11 September SLAF fighter jets carried out an air strike on jungle areas southeast of Kilinochchi. On 13 September SLAF launched an air strike on Alampil, according to the LTTE Peace Secretariat (PS). On 13 September SLAF dropped bombs over a civilian area in Puthukkudiyiruppu, according to the LTTE PS.

 

According to the SLN, three LTTE vessels carrying military hardware were sunk between 10 and 11 September in a confrontation between the SLN and the LTTE in the south-eastern waters of Sri Lanka.

On 14 September two SLA soldiers were killed and seven injured when a Claymore mine exploded close to a SLA bus in Vadamaradchi North (Point Pedro), Jaffna.

 

Confrontations were reported along the FDLs north and south of Vanni; in the Mannar and Kialy areas. There were conflicting numbers of casualties.

 

In addition to the larger operations mentioned above, there were several incidents reported in the NR. Two policemen were injured in a Claymore explosion in Salambakulam on 10 September. On 13 September an operation was launched on a police bunker in Mannar, and the electricity transformer destroyed. No casualties were reported.

 

Restoration of Normalcy:

There were four assassinations reported in the NR this week. A man (34) abducted from his home in Veerapuram on 8 September was found dead two days later. He was beheaded, and a message attached to him said he had given information to SF. On 13 September a civilian male (33) was killed by unknown gunmen in Vadamaradchi North (Point Pedro), Jaffna. On 15 September a civilian male was shot dead in Virakesari, Cheddikulam. The next day a civilian male (28) was killed by unidentified gunmen in Chunnakam Town Centre, Jaffna, according to a complaint.

 

On 10 September seven men (age 20-35) surrendered to the police in Jaffna, with the help of the Human Rights Commission (HRC) due to fear for their lives.

 

The SLMM found there were more goods in the stores in Kilinochchi, as a result of the extended opening of the Omantai E/E point.

 

According to Government sources, there were approximately 3500 IDPs in Nanaddan and Murunkan in the Mannar district. In the Mannar region 232 families arrived as IDPs, due to recent activities in the region. In Vavuniya there were approximately 2000 new IDPs, while the total number of IDPs in the Vavuniya district remained about 15 000.

 

In the Jaffna peninsula there was a Hindu-festival in the beginning of the week, and the SLA thus relaxed the restrictions on public movements.

 

 

ADMINISTRATION

The SLMM Head of Mission was out of the country.

 

Six new SLMM monitors arrived. They will be assigned to the Head Quarter (HQ) and the Northern and Eastern Regions.