The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) is a civilian monitoring mission established by the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The Mission’s mandate is to enquire into violations of the terms and conditions of the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement, focusing on major incidents and trends related to Restoration of Normalcy and Military Operations, in order to assist the Parties in their pursuit of a negotiated solution to the conflict.

 

 

SUMMARY

The security situation for civilians in the Eastern Region (ER) continued to be serious. There were reported several Claymore mine explosions in the ER this week, two of which involved casualties. In total nine civilians were reported killed; seven of whom were shot.

 

The SLMM continued to receive reports on abductions, extortions, harassment, and threats by the Tamileela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP)/Karuna group in the ER.

 

In the Northern Region (NR) shelling continued along the Forward Defence Lines (FDL) north and south of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled area. The Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) conducted several air strikes in LTTE controlled area, with three air strikes in three consecutive days along the A35 road. Several casualties were reported.

 

The security situation for civilians in Jaffna remains a concern, with five civilians reported killed and continued disappearances.

 

 

EASTERN REGION

 

Military Operations:

NTR.

 

Restoration of Normalcy:

Two Claymore mine explosions which resulted in casualties were reported in the ER this week. On 21 September a Claymore mine exploded and hit a van, killing one civilian male and wounding another, in Kalmunai, about 20kms northeast of Ampara. On 22 September a Claymore mine exploded close to a civilian bus in Sambalthivu, 6kms north of Trincomalee, resulting in four casualties. The driver was killed and three others injured, two of whom were civilians and one of whom was a naval officer.

 

Seven civilians were reported shot dead in the ER this week. On 18 September two civilian males (50 and 52) were assassinated in Moraweva, Trincomalee, by unknown perpetrators. The same day a civilian (25) was shot dead by unknown gunmen in Vinayagapuram, Valaichenai. On 20 September the Grama Sevaka - village level official - (51) in Mutur was assassinated in his home by two unknown gunmen. On 22 September a civilian boy (16) was shot and killed by an unknown perpetrator in Vellavely, about 20kms southwest of Batticaloa. On 23 September a civilian male was shot dead in Kumburupitty, Kuchchaveli, about 30kms north of Trincomalee.

 

On 22 September a male TMVP/Karuna group administrator (26) was assassinated and two male TVMP/Karuna group administrators (18 and 20) injured in Akkaraipattu by unknown gunmen. The police is investigating the case.

 

On 22 September a civilian male was shot and injured in Nilaveli Lagoon, about 15kms north of Trincomalee.

 

The SLMM received several complaints regarding abductions in the ER this week, most of them involving the TMVP/Karuna group. On 17 September a female civilian (45) was reportedly beaten and abducted by the TMVP/Karuna group in Kalmunai, Ampara, accused of assisting the LTTE. On 20 September a civilian male (22) was reported to be abducted by the TMVP/Karuna group in Kallar, about 20kms south of Batticaloa. A male social worker (40) was reported abducted by unknown gunmen in Alenkerny, 2kms south of Kinniya, on 22 September. On 23 September a former LTTE cadre was reportedly abducted by a group of armed men in police uniforms in Batticaloa town. On 17 September a civilian male (23) went missing between Thambalagamam and Trincomalee.

 

The SLMM furthermore received several complaints regarding abduction of minors in the ER, also involving the TMVP/Karuna group. On patrol in the Valaichchenai area on 18 September, SLMM monitors observed an armed civilian boy on a road block in the village of Kinnayadi. The boy appeared to be about 14 years old. From sources in Batticaloa, the SLMM learned that child recruitment by the TMVP/Karuna group was consistent in the district, with one or two cases reported every week.

 

In addition to the reported involvement in abductions, the TMVP/Karuna group remained visible in the ER. The TMVP/Karuna group reportedly operate a parallel legal system, summoning people to their offices and taking them into custody. Persons in TMVP/Karuna group custody are often severely physically abused and threatened with death. The TMVP/Karuna group continued to extort money from local businesses, and was reportedly involved in general harassment of civilians. The SLMM received several complaints of persons being summoned to TMVP offices, threatened or harassed. The SLMM moreover learned that the TMVP/Karuna group was forcing fishermen to sell them fish at half price. The authorities were aware of the problem and were investigating the matter. All in all, the TMVP/Karuna group activities added to a situation of general insecurity for the civilian population.

 

According to Eelam People’s Democratic Party (EPDP) and Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front Pathmandabah wing (EPRLF-P) members in Batticaloa, neither the EPDP nor the EPRLF-P report cases to the police as no action was generally taken. On 18 September the EPDP distributed pamphlets charging that the Sennan Padai, a clandestine organisation of the TMVP/Karuna group, threatened people of different opinions than the TMVP/Karuna group.

 

Civilians in Vakarai asserted their main problem was to rebuild their lives and earn a livelihood. Many homes were destroyed and looted in the clashes earlier this year, and people lost their fishing equipment. In the Kilivetti Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp, SLMM received reports regarding insufficient amounts of drinking water, shelter problems, and unsatisfactory access to medical facilities for the more than 5000 IDPs residing in the camp.

 

 

NORTHERN REGION

 

Military Operations:

Shelling was recorded in the Pampaimadu area northwest of Vavuniya town and north of Kilinochchi throughout the week. On 19 September there was heavy shelling in the Kiliay area, along the northern FDL.

 

Occasional minor confrontations were reported along the FDL south of LTTE controlled area. On 22 September a confrontation occurred in Thampanai, Vavuniya; no casualties were reported.

The SLAF conducted several air strikes in LTTE controlled area this week, with three strikes in three consecutive days along the A35 road. On 19 September the SLAF carried out air strikes south of Poonaryn; no casualties were reported. On 20 September the SLAF conducted air strikes in the Puthukkudiyiruppu area. On 21 and 22 September the SLAF conducted air strikes in the Visuamadu area. Several civilian casualties and one civilian fatality were reported.

 

Restoration of Normalcy:

The security situation for civilians on the Jaffna peninsula continued to be serious, with five civilians reported killed. On 17 September a civilian male was killed by unknown gunmen in Vadamaradchi North (Point Pedro), Jaffna. On 20 September a civilian male (24) was killed by unknown gunmen in Nallur, Jaffna. On 21 September a civilian male (42) was killed by a soldier in Kayts, Jaffna, as he was reportedly trying to throw a hand grenade at the soldier. On 23 September two civilian males (27 and 31) were killed by unknown gunmen in separate incidents in Vadamaradchi North (Point Pedro), Jaffna.

Civilians continued to disappear in Jaffna. On 20 and 21 September three civilian males went missing in Kottady, Manipay and Thirunagar, Jaffna, respectively.

 

Civilians continued to surrender to the police in Jaffna, fearing for their lives. On 18 September three male civilians (17, 18 and 25) surrendered at the Human Rights Commission (HRC) due to threats to their lives. Six male civilians surrendered to the police in Jaffna through the HRC on 20 September. The next day further two male civilians (25 and 31) surrendered to the police in Jaffna through the HRC.

 

The SLMM received information that approximately 10 000 people recently left Mantai West due to heavy shelling and moved to the Periyamadu area, northeast of Mannar.