The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) is a civilian mission which has been set up in accordance with the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) of 2002 between the Government 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 CFA in order to assist the Parties in the pursuit of a negotiated solution to the conflict.

 

Due to the current level of conflict the SLMM focuses on major incidents and trends related to restoration of normalcy and military operations. The weekly monitoring report contains incidents that have been brought to the SLMM’s attention during the week and does not represent all incidents occurring.

 

 

SUMMARY

The head of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) S.P. Tamilselvan was killed in an air raid by the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) on 2 November.

 

The SLMM has in a separate statement expressed deep concerns for the consequences of this action by the Government of Sri Lanka against the leader of the LTTE negotiating team. This can only contribute to even further escalation of the conflict, unless the parties cease hostilities and return to talks.

 

The security situation in the Northern Region (NR) has further deteriorated in the wake of the air strike that killed the head of the political wing of the LTTE. After the LTTE attack in Anuradhapura on 22 October the situation was still tense, and this incident added to the tension amongst both the military and the civil population in the NR.

 

The security situation for civilians in Vavuniya worsened considerably during the week, and there is a fear of escalation. Eight civilians have been killed in Vavuniya town, some linked to the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam (PLOTE). Five civilians were assassinated at the same time and location on 3 November.

 

Four Tamileela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) members where killed in the Eastern Region (ER) during the week, and eight injured. The general security situation for civilians was volatile in the region, and abductions and harassments continued.

 

 

NORTHERN REGION

 

Military Operations:

On 2 November the SLAF carried out an air strike on a residence 2kms south of Kilinochchi. The air strike killed the head of the LTTE’s political wing S.P. Tamilselvan and four other people attached to the LTTE. In addition, two civilians were killed and two injured from debris.

 

Shelling was heard west of Vavuniya, along the northern Forward Defence Location (FDL) and from Jaffna town throughout the week. Ground confrontations were registered frequently along the northern FDL and in Mannar district during the week.

 

On 29 October the SLAF carried out an air strike on Koampavil in Puthukkudiyiruppu, close to Mullaitivu. Two people were reportedly wounded. The following day SLAF carried out an air strike on Theerthakkarai, Mullaitivu.

 

On 31 October a Claymore explosion injured an SLA soldier in Chekaddipulativu, Vavuniya district.

 

On 4 November a civilian and an SLA soldier were injured by an exploding hand grenade reportedly thrown by the LTTE in Nallur, Jaffna district.

 

Restoration of Normalcy:

On 3 November a boy (17) and four men were assassinated in Thavasikulam, Vavuniya. Three of them were last seen when stopped by the SLA in front of the Veppankulam SLA camp, Vavuniya, and witnesses saw them being escorted into the camp. The three were later found dead together with the other two; the victims had their hands tied, were blindfolded and had multiple gunshot wounds.

 

On 28 October a local staff member of the Danish Demining Group (male, 28) was killed by unidentified gunmen on the Kayts island, Jaffna district.

 

On 31 October two members of the PLOTE were killed in Komarasankulam, Vavuniya. The same day a man was killed and his daughter injured in an incident taking place in Muruhanoor and Sithamparapuram, both located 8kms east of Vavuniya. On 4 November a man (53) was killed in Nallur, Jaffna district.

 

As a result of the killing of the two PLOTE members tension among the political groups increased in Vavuniya. The SLMM learned that the police would not patrol the area in which the two PLOTE members were killed due to security concerns.

 

On 31 October a man (22) was abducted by unidentified gunmen in Valikamam North, Jaffna district. On 4 November a man (22) was abducted by unknown gunmen in Navali, Jaffna district.

 

A complaint regarding a death threat was received at the SLMM office in Vavuniya. The complainant was approached by individuals wearing SLA uniforms threatening his life.

 

Seven persons asked for protective police custody in Jaffna during the week, including a family of six.

 

The SLMM learned that in the area of Usan and Karampaham, Jaffna district, road blocks hamper people from harvesting their paddy fields, accessing shops, workplaces and schools. Waiting time can be between 2 and 3 hrs and there is no fixed time for the road block, making it difficult to make plans for the day.

 

In Jaffna some of the main political parties have closed down their activities and they will most likely not be resumed in the nearest future. The Special Commissioner, appointed by the government, is acting as Mayor.

 

There were regular power cuts all week in Jaffna, and mobile coverage was unstable and at times absent. There are commercial flights from Colombo to Jaffna. Passengers must apply for clearance in order to travel, and the process may take from one week to one month. Expatriates representing INGOs are given priority on flights and do not need clearance.

 

 

EASTERN REGION

 

Military Operations:

Nothing reported to the SLMM.

 

Restoration of Normalcy:

Four members of TMVP were killed this week and eight injured. On 29 October a TMVP member (male, 48) was shot dead by unknown gunmen at a bus stop close to the Batticaloa Technical College, while another (male, 19) was shot and injured in Oaddamaavadi, 30 kms north of Batticaloa, two days later. On 2 November a TMVP member (male, 26) was shot dead in Kattankudy, 5kms south of Batticaloa. On 4 November an explosion killed one TMVP member and injured seven in Oaddamaavadi. On 4 November a TMVP member (male, 38) was killed in an IDP camp in in Savukkady, 15kms north of Batticaloa.

 

On 30 October the police recovered the body of a male (28) with gunshot injures in Vavunativu, 6kms southwest of Batticaloa. On 2 November a male (18) was killed in Eachchilampattu, south of Mutur.

On 29 October a male (33) was abducted from his home in Manchanthoduwa refugee camp, 5kms south of Batticaloa, by armed men on motorbikes. The same day a male (31) was abducted by armed men in a white van close to Eravur.

 

The SLMM received one police report on an abduction south of Batticaloa previous to the period of reporting.

 

On 1 November seven people were arrested in Mutur, suspected of being LTTE members. The following day another woman was arrested in the same area for allegedly being connected with the LTTE.

 

The SLMM received four complaints during the week. On 29 October a man (30) was reported abducted by men in a white van in Thambalagamam, while the same day another man was abducted in the same manner in Redbana, 2kms east of Eravur. On 30 October the widow of a man killed 9 September complained of harassment by men demanding her to hand over her son (26). On 1 November a man was reportedly beaten up by Security Forces (SF) at his house in Kalmunai.

 

The SLMM received a complaint on an abduction in Chenkalady occurring previous to the period of reporting, reportedly carried out by the TMVP.

 

The SLMM received reports of population registration taking place in Trincomalee district. In Trincomalee town, the registration is being implemented on the basis of Article 23 of the Emergency Regulation No. 1 of 2005. In Trincomalee the registration was carried out by the Grama Sevaka (GS) and the police, in other places by the SLA or the SLA and the police together.

 

The SLMM learned that in Chenkalady in Batticaloa district, the population has difficulties making a living as their movements are restricted for security reasons. The majority of the houses in the area are partly or completely damaged due to a combination of looting and shelling since the houses where evicted around eight months ago.