OPERATIONAL SUMMARY

After relatively calm beginning of the week, the conflict turned into serious escalation on various grounds towards the weekend. Two areas were particularly turbulent with heavy fighting taking place; the area northwest of Vavuniya, along the southern Forward Defence Localities (FDL), and the Thoppigala area west of Batticaloa.

 

The single most high profile incident this week was the abduction and assassination of two workers of the Sri Lankan Red Cross, which caused wide condemnation, including a condemnation from the Secretary-General of the United Nations. On June 1 ^st, the two victims, both Tamils from Batticaloa, had just finished a workshop in Colombo. While waiting for a train at the Fort railway station, they were abducted by men who presented themselves as Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Policemen. Their Muslim colleagues were left behind, even though one of them volunteered to join them to an unidentified police station. The incident happened in the presence of many policemen, who did not interfere. On June 2 ^nd The following morning, the dead bodies of the Red Cross Workers were found in Kirielle in Ratnapura area, south-east of Colombo.

 

After a claymore mine attack on an STF truck, which killed 8 people and wounded more than forty on the 28 ^th of May, media reported that restrictions have been put on Tamil Citizens without permanent residence in the capital. On 1 ^st of June Tamil citizens living in 68 lodges were asked to return to their registered residents in the North, East or Upcountry within 24 hours if they could not prove connections to Colombo. Hotels in Colombo and other parts of the country have been told to be cautious about Tamil businessmen. These new restrictions, conveyed through the media, have caused fear and confusion among Tamil Citizens as they portray an image that all Tamil citizens are a security threat because of their ethnic origin.

 

 

Northern Region

Heavy shelling continued in the area around the Northern FDL throughout the week, with at least one reported loss of civilian life. Two air strikes took place in the Vanni, where the LTTE claimed civilian casualties.

 

The main event of the week in the North was however the heavy fighting between the LTTE and the Government (GoSL) forces along the southern FDL northwest of Vavuniya, after the LTTE launched an attack in Pampaimadu area on Saturday 2 ^nd of June. The fighting was focused in villages Parasankulam, Vilathikulam and Mullikulam. Relatively large losses were reported from both sides. The number of casualties is unclear, but is expected to be high. The claims vary between 20 and 50 on each side. Both sides have also reported heavy damaging to the other. LTTE claims to have destroyed a Security Force ammunition warehouse, while the GoSL denies this. At the time of writing the fighting is still ongoing, although not as intense as in the first days.

 

On 1 ^st of June there were reports that a lorry was stopped by the police at a check point in Kotaweheranikaweratiya, in Kurunegala Area, with a large amount of explosives inside. The SSP of Vavnuiya stated on Sunday 2 ^nd of June that no heavy vehicle would be allowed to go from Vavuniya unless permission is obtained

 

In the rest of the Northern region, the week was relatively calm, with a low number of incidents. However the situation in Jaffna was again put under scrutiny, as essential supplies were reported to getting low and the transports of these are not coming through quickly enough.

 

 

Eastern Region

The jungles of Thoppigala once again became the focus of attention in the East, with an air attack followed by constant shelling and small arms fire from the government against the Red Bridge on June 2 ^nd. According to the government this attack was one in a series in order to clear the area of the last LTTE pockets. Even though LTTE seems to be weakened in Batticaloa and Ampara, they are still present in the East. According to reports their remaining cadres still have some pieces of heavy weaponry, including MBRL.

 

The IDP situation in the East continued to be precarious, with the ongoing fighting in the Thoppigala area making it impossible for the IDPs to return.

 

Abductions are still taking place in Batticaloa and Ampara districts. Perpetrators are most often suspected to be members of TMVP or LTTE, although some times it is the Army or police who are accused of abductions.   Assassinations by unknown armed men are still a fact in Batticaloa and Ampara districts as well. The number of those cases has though reduced in the past few weeks.

 

The rest of the East saw an upsurge in search operations in the Trincomalee district.

 

 

ADMINISTRATIVE ACTIVITIES

SLMM has opened a fully staffed Northern Region Office in Vavuniya, which will be, together with the Eastern Region Office in Trincomalee, one of the two main operational offices in the field. All district offices remain open as point of contact.

 

The Eastern Region completed its Presence in District (PID) patrol through the Batticaloa and Ampara districts. The trip was very useful and successful.