OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT
The conflict level continued to be high throughout this week which started with news about an attack on a civilian bus in Ampara on Monday morning. A Rapid Response team (RRT) was sent to the scene and according to its findings 16 civilians died and 23 were injured. This incident resembles the Hikkaduwa and Nittambuwa bus incidents which both have been ruled against the LTTE.

The enquiries by the RRT revealed that the bombing of the bus was carefully planned and executed in a professional manner. The LTTE sent out a statement, however, after this attack distancing themselves from the incident. Another bus was attacked on Saturday in Pyramanalankulam in Mannar district. Another RRT was sent to the scene and according to its findings seven civilians and one soldier were killed in this attack. Furthermore, 16 civilians and seven soldiers were injured. This attack resembles to the ones mentioned above, but again the LTTE denied involvement.

The situation in Jaffna continues to be tense with ongoing shelling close to the FDL. The local population now refers to the ongoing level of shelling as being “normal”. A number of incidents have been reported throughout the week, especially about people going missing. On 4April a grenade was thrown at soldiers on duty resulting in a death of one soldier. In another grenade incident an alleged LTTE cadre was shot dead when he tried to throw a grenade at soldiers in Thenmaradchi. Moreover, SLMM received information about three killings in Jaffna district this week bringing the number of killed in Jaffna district up to five. That is similar to the week before when four people were killed.

As described above, a bus was attacked using a claymore mine in Pyramanalankulam in Mannar / Vavuniya district on Saturday killing eight people and injuring 23. In the beginning of the week SLMM received information about a clash between the GOSL and the LTTE that had taken place in Mannar on 3 April. According to Government sources 12 LTTE cadres were killed in this clash. Confrontations are now taking place close to the FDL in these two districts on regular basis. In addition to this, 11 people were killed in Mannar / Vavuniya districts last week bringing the number of reported casualties in the week up to 31 which is unusually high, indicating an escalation in the conflict.

But clashes were not only happening on dry land and on 6 April, SLMM learned of a sea clash between SLN and Sea Tigers in the sea just north of Mannar. Since SLMM did not go the area it is impossible to determine how many ships were sunk and how many soldiers/cadres died, but both Parties have claimed they sank at least one vessel from the other side.

The situation in Trincomalee district has been somewhat tense in the past week. Although the general assessment is cautiously calm, incidents like assassinations, assaults and abductions have taken place, especially in the areas of Tambalakamam, Palaiyootu and Trincomalee town. According to SLMM findings three killings, two abductions, one assault and two cases of armed confrontations between the SFs and an armed group took place last week in the district. Adding to that, SLMM did receive information about seven cases of arrests of Tamil civilians in the district. Two Tamil None Violent Peace Force employees who were caught with a hand grenade in their NGO’s car are included in this number. As a result, vehicles have to undergo a thorough search at various checkpoints in the districts.

When it comes to the IDPs situation in the Mutur area, the resettlements’ activities in the transition shelters in Kiliveddi is on going. International and national humanitarian organisations are taking part in the process of delivering humanitarian assistance. The government is also taking part in this process, e.g. transporting the IDPs, which appears not to be voluntarily in all cases.

It was yet another bloody week in Batticaloa / Ampara district. As mentioned earlier a bomb that was blasted inside a civil bus in Ampara on Monday 2April claimed the life of 16 civilians and injured 23. Tension in Ampara district was therefore quite high throughout the week but things calmed down as time passed. In another incident involving civilians, four Sinhalese paddy farmers were shot and killed in Polonnaruwa district on Thursday 5April. Furthermore, SLMM received information about 13 killings in the district last week making the over all death toll 33. This is an increase from the week before when 23 were killed in these two districts.

Shelling from GOSL controlled areas towards those controlled by the LTTE in Batticaloa was less this week than the earlier week. A likely explanation for this is the fact that the GOSL forces have now taken control over the town of Kokadichcholai and are settling in there.

This week, and the later part of it in particular, was rather quiet in Vanni compared to the previous week. Four air strikes took place, in which two civilians were reported killed and eight injured. One of these air strikes took place close to Puthukkudiyiruppu town, and has according to the LTTE caused damage to the office and a production facility of the NGO White Pigeon. MOD claims on the other hand that they hit the Sea Tigers HQ in this attack. Additionally two claymore attacks took place inside Vanni by alleged SLA deep penetration units. Four civilians are reported killed in these two attacks.

Moreover, on the night of Monday 2 April extreme shelling at Muhamalai to Lyakkachchi area was reported with a large amount of MBRL salvo’s falling down in LTTE controlled area. Apart from that, shelling has been reduced at both the Southern and Northern FDL.

At the moment SLMM sees no indications that the conflict level will go down in the near future. A significant rise in the number of incidents targeting civilians, especially Sinhalese, is an alarming sign and a cause for serious concern. It has been reported that Sinhalese civilians are now afraid of traveling in buses all over the country after the most recent attacks.

 

OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Two RRTs were sent out to inquire into the two above mentioned bus blasts. The office in Trincomalee remains open as usual. SLMM has two monitors in Kilinochchi ensuring the line of communications with the LTTE. The new operations centre in Seeduwa is now operational, but still needs a little work. Support functions are fully operational in HQ Colombo.