OPERATIONAL ASSESSMENT

The conflict escalated over the week and took a new turn when the LTTE attacked the air force in the SLAF Airbase at Katunayake, adjacent to the international airport, at 01.00 hrs on 26March. Two light aircraft dropped bombs resulting in the death of three airmen, injuring 16. No damage was reported on the air strip it self or the international airport. SLMM tried to get access to the area to get further information but has not been able so far.

 

Jaffna Peninsula has been quite stable this week. Reported restriction of movement and the fact that curfew hours have now been extended of 3 hours, gives some reasons for concern. Four assassinations were reported this week which is somewhat lower than the week before when 10 assassinations were reported. In addition 3 assassination attempts were made which is similar to the week before. The number of abductions also dropped. One person was abducted this week, as compared with 4 last week, and 8 the week before that. Heavy shelling was reported on Tuesday 27th, but after that shelling was as usual – and even less.

 

The situation in Vavuniya town seems to be calmer than last week. This may be conducive to a calmer situation with fewer incidents involving civilians. The situation in the Vavuniya and Mannar areas on the other hand is still tense. On the 30th of March a claymore bomb was detonated at Parayanalankulam on the Mannar road, killing five soldiers and injuring one. On the 31st of March a landmine was used to target a troop transport in Thavasipuram where two soldiers were seriously injured. A claymore attack was also carried out on the 1st of April, targeting the SLA. The majority of incidents take place on the battlefield, on or along the FDL, where there are attacks by both Parties.

 

The situation in the Trincomalee district has been calm in the past week. One case of abduction was reported and 8 arrests by the security forces of Tamil civilians in the Muttur and Kinniya areas; where the arrested are accused of being supporters of LTTE. In addition to that, cordon searches were conducted in several areas in Trincomalee. No reports of assassinations or killings were reported, compared to three killings last week.

 

In regard of resettlement of IDP’s in the Kiliveddi, it has been established that the IDPs were told by the local authorities before leaving the Batticaloa district that they would be transported to Sampoor. Instead, the IDPs were brought to Kiliveddi where transitional shelters are provided by the various NGOs and the UN. Most of the IDPs came originally from Sampoor.

 

In the beginning of this week the tension in Batticaloa was very high. Heavy and almost non stop shelling was reported from various STF camps in the district. Due to this, schools were closed and the general public was afraid. On 28th of March the shelling reduced from GOSL side after SLA declared they had taken control of the town of Kokkadichcholai and surrounding areas.

 

Nine abductions were reported throughout the week, of which 5 were reported against the GoSL forces. This is a decrease from last week when 14 abductions were reported. On the 26th of March, Chenkalady army camp was attacked by a suicide bomber who entered the check point in a tractor loaded with explosives. In that attack 2 SLA, 1 civilian and 4 EPDP members were killed. Three SLAand 13 civilians were injured. At least 15 civilian houses were damaged. On the 29th of March mortar attacks were conducted in an area close to Morakkottanchenai and Sittandy., leaving 8 civilians killed and 8 injured. Both the SLAand the LTTE blame each other for this incident which was widely reported in media, local and international. Furthermore, LTTE claimed that international media had no means to report accurately from such incidents in the Eastern theatre. In addition to this the conflict claimed 8 other lives in Batticaloa district and 15 were injured.

 

A total of 10 aerial attacks took place in Vanni during last week. There are no reports of any civilian casualties. Targets have been LTTE military installations and predominantly the Iranamadu Air Strip. On the 28th of March at around 2100 hrs the SLAF dropped bombs North East of Kilinochchi, showing for the first time their night time attack capabilities. The LTTE on the other hand reported that none of the bombs hit its target which was the above mentioned air strip.

 

One claymore took place in Vanni allegedly by a SLS Deep Penetration Unit. It detonated on the A9 road only some 8 km’s South of the Kilinochchi city limits, which is the closest to Kilinochchi itself since the signing of the Cease Fire Agreement. Two LTTE members got killed while one was injured.

 

Sporadic shelling has taken place all along the Southern, as well as the Northern FDL, all week and sea clashes have taken place both South of Mulaithivu and further North.

 

 

OPERATIONAL ATIVITIES

A PID team was dispatched to Vavuniya and Mannar during the week and returned on Saturday. In this trip the team made a visit to Madhu church where a number of IDPs still stay, but much fewer apparently than previously reported.