SUMMARY

 

The extensive military operations in the Northern region of Sri Lanka, conducted by both parties to the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) of 2002, comprising land, sea and air forces have over the recent weeks reached proportions that make credible monitoring by the SLMM exceedingly difficult. Subsequently, the weekly report will have no ambition of accurately mirroring the military situation in general.

 

The security situation in the northern region (NR) last week was strongly influenced by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) attack on Anuradhapura Air Base on 22 October. This event has led to an increased alert status among the security forces in general, with the establishment of new checkpoints in addition to imposing more restrictive procedures for movement, including the crossing procedure at Omantai Entry/Exit (E/E) point.

 

Shelling continued throughout the week from Jaffna town and surroundings. There were regular power cuts and lack of mobile coverage several times during the week. The overall situation around the Forward Defense Line (FDL) is getting worse every week and the current security situation in the region has a negative impact on the living condition for the local population.

 

The ICRC is now going to be present at the Omantai E/E point six days a week. New regulations for NGOs at Omantai E/E include giving notice 48 hours in advance to the security forces.

 

Killings, abductions and cases of harassment continued to occur in the eastern region (ER) this week.

 

 

NORTHERN REGION

 

Military Operations:

On 22 October the LTTE carried out an air and ground attack on Anuradhapura Air Force Base.

 

Shelling was registered throughout the week west of Vavuniya, in Jaffna, north of Kilinochchi, in the Pooneryn area, in Muhamalai, north of Uyilankulam, and at Periyamadhu. Additionally the week saw several confrontations between the forces and an increased alert status among the security forces as a consequence of the Anuradhapura Air Base attack.

 

Six Sri Lanka Army (SLA) solders were killed and four wounded in a mine blast at Kalamadu in Vavuniya on 26 October while trying to defuse a land mine.

 

The SLMM learned that on 25 October three civilians were killed and eight injured as a result of shelling directed at Periyamadhu, inside Vanni.

 

In a confrontation close to Kilali on 25 October two LTTE cadres were killed.

 

One LTTE cadre was killed in action on 24 October in a confrontation between forces close to Giant’s Tank, Mannar district.

 

A claymore attack injured two SLA soldiers in Jaffna town on 26 October.

 

An air attack by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) on 24 October in Panikkankulam, north of Mankulam, was reported.

 

On 25 October the SLAF targeted the LTTE positions along the southern FDL in Periyathampanai, with no reported casualties and there were also confrontations between forces in Palamottai, Kaduruvittankulam, and Parappakandal.

 

Restoration of Normalcy:

The SLMM continued to receive reports regarding abductions, killings and surrendees from complaints made directly to the SLMM and the police. During the week it was reported that seven civilians were killed by unidentified gunmen, seven people were reported missing and four people surrendered through the Human Rights Commission (HRC).

 

On 24 October a civilian male (25) was killed by unidentified gun men on Point Pedro road in Nallur. One civilian male (35) was killed by unidentified perpetrators on 25 October in Pommaively in Jaffna. On 26 October a civilian male (27) was killed by unidentified perpetrators when he was on his way to work in Jaffna town. On 26 October a civilian male was killed by unknown gunmen in Nallur in Jaffna.

 

In addition, the SLMM received police reports on two people killed in Jaffna previous to the period of reporting.

 

The SLMM received three complaints in the northern region this week, including two people missing in Jaffna and one case of harassment in Vavuniya.

 

Four men (28, 30, 44, 45) asked for protective police custody in Jaffna district during the week.

The SLMM received four complaints on incidents occurring previous to the period of reporting, including one case of abduction, two persons missing and a case of threat and extortion.

 

The ICRC is now going to be present at the Omantai E/E point six days a week. New regulations for NGOs at Omantai E/E include giving notice 48 hours in advance to the security forces.

 

The bus service from Cheddikulam to Uliykkualm has been resumed after closing in the aftermath of the killing of four home guards in Uliykkualm on 20 August.

 

 

EASTERN REGION

 

Military Operation:

NTR.

 

Restoration of Normalcy:

During the week eastern region (ER) got reports of three men being killed. On 25 October a man (19) connected to the TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) group office in Mavadiavembu, north of Batticaloa, was killed by an unknown gunman. On 27 October a male member of the TMVP, was shot by unidentified armed men in the same area.

 

In the Trincomalee district one man was killed on 22 October when driving over a landmine while collecting firewood in the Velveri jungle.

 

One police was shot and injured, on 28 October, by an unidentified gunman in Batticaloa.

 

Eight abductions were reported to the ER this week. Three of the abductees were children. The TMVP is reportedly the perpetrator in all of the cases.

 

Two of the abductions occurred on 22 October. Eight armed men abducted a man (37) from his home in Sambalativu, Trincomalee district. The same day a mother reported her son (16) being abducted by two unknown armed men in Batticaloa. In the same area, on 23 October, another male (16) was abducted by unknown armed men.

 

The SLMM received a complaint on abduction, reportedly carried out by the TMVP, of a man in Akkaraipatu, Ampara district, on 23 October. On 25 October the SLMM received another abduction complaint from a father of an 18 year old male, occurring in the same area, carried out by the TMVP. The day after the victim escaped and shortly after the father (50) was taken by the TMVP. On 28 October a boy (17) was abducted close to Valaichchenai, Batticaloa district.

 

The SLMM received one complaint on an abduction occurring previous to the period of reporting.

 

On 22 October the SLMM received a complaint from a victim that has been harassed and beaten twice by the TMVP in Ampara.

 

The SLMM has not been able to reach several Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) returnees villages, such as Kayankudah, Koduwamadu and Thambaranveli in Eravur Pattu area, because SLA still claims security reasons. The SLMM learned that 1,112 families had been returned to Pankudaveli and Karadiyanaru in Eravur Pattu, Batticaloa District, by mid-October.

 

The SLMM learned that fishing restrictions were still imposed in Mutur, seriously affecting the economy of the 3,614 families depending on fishing in the area. Many fishermen had to go to Valaichenai, Batticaloa district, to be able to make a livelihood. In general, the population of Mutur is suffering from a lack of organized infrastructure.

 

The SLMM discovered that desecration of the LTTE cemeteries, located partly on state-owned land, has taken place. A police station has been built where the Thandiyaday cemetery was located, west of Batticaloa. In Pattipala, also west of Batticaloa, an LTTE cemetery has been tampered with, and all markings of the graves removed.

 

The SLMM got confirmation that in the Mutur East the government had released five out of 11 areas declared as a high security zone. Many of the IDPs who were allowed to return to their homes have not done so because they are frightened for their security following the murder of a village officer last week ( jf. SLMM Weekly Monitoring Report 15-21 October 2007).