OPERATIONAL SUMMERY

No air strikes have been reported this week. There was, however, extensive shelling in the Northern Region, north and south of Vanni. The confrontation continues in Thoppigala in the Eastern Region and there has been a significant increase of child abductions reported in the Batticaloa and Ampara districts.

 

Large-scale resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Trincomalee and Batticaloa districts has been initiated by the Government, and during the week it became known to the public that a High Security Zone (HSZ) was to be established in Sampoor and Muttur East.

 

Northern Region

After a relatively calm start on the week in the Jaffna Peninsula, shelling increased during the night to Tuesday 12 June and continued with high intensity throughout the week. Constant shelling in the Jaffna Lagoon and towards LTTE controlled Poonaryn was reported as well as heavy clashes on the Forward Defence Locality (FDL) north of LTTE controlled Vanni. On the FDL north-west of Vavuniya Town there was daily shelling in the Pampaimadu Area, with an increased intensity during the night of Thursday 14 to Friday 15 June.

 

Following a confrontation involving small arms fire on the Island of Kayts (Jaffna Peninsula) on Sunday 10 June, search operation was launched on Monday the 11 June, with curfew imposed and a temporary stop in public transport to the Islands off Jaffna Town. Buss service resumed the day after.

 

The number of assassinations reported to the SLMM Vavuniya Office is the same this week as last week with two civilians reported assassinated in Neryankulam. In the Jaffna Peninsula three civilians were reported assassinated in the area of Kodikamam. This is the same number of assassinations as reported last week to the SLMM Jaffna Office.

 

Two more persons surrendered themselves to Jaffna Prison via the Human Rights Commission (HRC) pursuant the Surrender Act citing that they feared for their life.

 

Eastern Region

The offensive in Thoppigala is still ongoing as attacks have continued almost on a daily basis. The Eastern Region received reports that five LTTE cadres fighting in Thoppigala surrendered to the Security Forces (SF) during the week.

 

In Illuppukulam area, Trincomalee district, a claymore mine exploded on Tuesday 12 June. The same day there was a hand-grenade attack on SLA solders on patrol in Eravur area. On Wednesday 13 June, two factions of the Tamileela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) clashed in Kiran, Valaichenai using small arms-fire. Three cadres were reportedly injured.

 

Thirty-four abductions were reported this week as compared with nine last week. In Trincomalee district, three abductions were reported, in Ampara district fourteen and in Batticaloa district seventeen. Of these sixteen were minors. This is a significant rise compared to the two minors reported as abducted last week. Six civilians were assassinated during the week.

 

On Thursday 14 June resettlement of IDPs commenced in four villages in Eachchilampattu Area. The following day, IDPs resettlement commenced in four villages in Vavunathivu Area. On Saturday 16 June it became known through the media that a Gazette had been signed notifying that a HSZ was to be established in Sampoor and Muttur East, which implies that people who fled these areas because of fighting last year will no be able to return to their places of origin.

 

For the first time in eight months the Tamil daily newspaper 'Thinakkural' was distributed in Batticaloa on Friday 15 June.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES

The Head of Mission left for Norway on Friday 15 June.

 

The Eastern Region is continuing to operate from the Operation Centre in Negombo, while the Northern Region is operating from Vavuniya. All SLMM district offices are open. The Operation Centre in Negombo, the Support Centre in Colombo, and the Liaison Office in Kilinochchi are operational.