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

In the Northern Region (NR) shelling, skirmishes and confrontations continued along the northern and southern Forward Defence Localities (FDL). In Jaffna killings and disappearances continued, and the situation remained tense. The number of check points has increased in Vavuniya and Jaffna.

 

The week in the Eastern Region (ER) was marked primarily by two issues; the TamilEela Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) internal fighting and the Muslim protest on an abduction taking place on 30 October. In general, personal security remains a concern for the civilian population.

 

 

NORTHERN REGION

 

Military Operations:

Shelling was registered in the proximity of Jaffna town throughout the week as well as around Pampaimadu and from the Joseph Camp in Vavuniya. On 11 November Multi Barrel Rocket Launchers (MBRLs) were fired from Vavuniya town. Sporadic artillery was registered north of Kilinochchi.

 

On 7 November there were heavy clashes between the Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and the LTTE along the northern FDL, from Kilaly to Muhamalai. SLA ground forces were supported by shelling in the Pooneryn area and SLAF helicopter gunships. The LTTE Peace Secretariat (PS) confirmed that one LTTE cadre was killed in the confrontations. The SLA did not confirm how many soldiers were killed. The SLMM was not able to independently verify the number of casualties.

 

During the week there were continuous confrontations north of Mannar and in the Mantai West area. The Security Forces (SF) did not confirm how many soldiers were killed, but stated that there are constant confrontations north of Mannar with daily casualties. The LTTE PS confirmed that six LTTE cadres were killed on 11 November in a confrontation in Periyathampanai, Thampanai area. According to the LTTE PS there are constant confrontations in this area.

 

There were also continuous confrontations between the SLA and the LTTE north of Adampan.

 

Restoration of Normalcy:

On 9 November a male civilian (22) was killed in the Mailankadu area, Alaveddi South, Jaffna. On 11 November another male civilian (31) was shot dead in Nallur, Jaffna.The same day a man (31) was killed by unidentified gunmen in Kalviyankadu, Jaffna. Also on 11 November a man was killed by the SLA in Varany Iyatralai, about 13 km west of Nagarkovil. On 10 November a man (39) was abducted and killed in Veerapuram, about 20 km southwest of Vavuniya. In addition, the SLMM received one report of a male civilian killed in Jaffna previous to the period of reporting.

 

On 7 November a civilian male went missing in Kalviyankadu, Jaffna. In addition, the SLMM received one report of a male civilian who went missing in Jaffna previous to the period of reporting.

 

The SLMM received five complaints regarding intimidation this week. On 9 November two civilian males and two civilian females complained to the SLMM in Vavuniya, fearing for their lives. The next day another female civilian made a similar complaint. The SLMM received one complaint regarding extortion and threats in Vavuniya town which occurred previous to the period of reporting.

 

According to the SF Vanni, the SF has increased its personnel patrolling in Vavuniya town due to security concerns after increased tension in the area. Two new check points are under construction, and more are planned.

 

On 5 and 6 November no internationals or SLMM members were allowed to enter Vanni through the Omantai Entry/Exit (E/E) point without a special approval from the Sri Lanka Ministry of Defence. Civilians were allowed to cross both in and out of Vanni, but due to a mortar explosion on 5 November the Omantai E/E point was closed after 1400 hrs. The E/E point was open for civilians again on 6 November.

 

The situation in Jaffna was tense this week, with an increased number of checkpoints, roadblocks and soldiers present in the streets. On 8 November and onwards curfew hours were relaxed; changed from 1900 hrs - 0430 hrs to 2100 hrs - 0430 hrs.

 

Mobile phone coverage was unstable in Jaffna throughout the week. Jaffna was also experiencing power cuts.

 

Two civilian males (26, 31) surrendered through the Human Rights Commission (HRC) for protective custody in Jaffna this week, fearing for their lives.

 

 

EASTERN REGION

 

Military Operations:

Nothing reported to the SLMM.

 

Restoration of Normalcy:

The SLMM received reports on five people being killed in the ER this week. On 11 November three men aged between 25 and 55, who reportedly fired at the Special Task Force (STF), were killed in retaliatory fire in Pottuvil, about 50 km southeast of Ampara. The same day a civilian woman (22) was killed in a hand grenade explosion in Mavadichchenai, about 30 km north of Batticaloa. A two year old boy was seriously injured in the incident. On 9 November a man (24) was killed in Thanganagar, Kiliveddi, about 15 km south of Muttur, by an unidentified gunman.

 

During the week the Pillayan faction of the TMVP took over several offices of the Karuna faction in Batticaloa town. The SF increased its presence in the town at the beginning of the week, perceivably to prevent direct confrontations between the factions.

 

On 7 November a civilian male (32) was shot and injured by unknown gunmen in Valaichchenai, about 32 km north of Batticaloa town.

 

The SLMM received reports on four civilians being abducted in the ER this week. All were subsequently released. On 6 November a man (26) was abducted by a group of armed men from his home in Dhanayagma, about 8 km from Trincomalee. He was held for three hours, questioned about alleged connections to the LTTE, and physically assaulted. On 9 November a man (62) was abducted by a group of armed men in Batticaloa town. He was held captive, physically assaulted, and was hospitalised after his release. On 11 November a group of armed men abducted a man (49) from his home in Anpuvalipuram, Trincomalee town. He was released after three hours. Furthermore, the SLMM received information that a man (32) living in Akkaripattu, about 30 km south of Ampara, has been abducted several times by the TMVP, starting at the end of October.

 

In addition, the SLMM received reports on two abductions occurring previous to the period of reporting.

 

On 9 November a van reportedly belonging to the TMVP was blown up in a garage in Oddamavadi, 1 km from Valaichchenai.

 

In the Batticaloa district a Muslim organisation distributed a leaflet on 6 November warning of consequences if the communities north of Batticaloa town did not return to the harmony of co-existence. The leaflet was a response to the abduction of a Muslim man on 30 October. The leaflet warned of actions if a solution to the case had not been reached within two days. However, the SLMM has not received reports on incidents related to these threats, even though the situation in Batticaloa remains tense.

 

The same day a hartal was held in the Muslim villages of Kathankudy, south of Batticaloa, and Eravur and Oddamavady, north of Batticaloa, to protest against the abduction. An estimated 2,500 people attended the hartal.

 

Furthermore, on 6 November the Muslim Federations of Kathankudy, Eravur and Kalkudah published a seven-point resolution addressing issues of concern for the Muslim community. The resolution demanded, apart from the identification of the perpetrators of the abduction mentioned above and guarantees that no further abductions would occur, free movement, disarming of illegal armed groups, solving land issues regarding Muslim owned land occupied by armed groups, and a general restoration of normalcy.

 

The SLMM received information from the police that a population registration has been conducted in the Tamil village of Vinayagapuram, about 35 km from Ampara. This was reportedly done to check whether there were any LTTE cadres residing in or visiting the village.

 

The SLMM has received information that the population registration in Trincomalee continued this week, in the areas of Manayaveli, Sivapuri and Thillainagar. The registration was conducted by the police and the Grama Sevaka. The inhabitants of these areas are almost exclusively Tamil.