While these attacks took place, the disagreement over a new Army camp in the heart of Jaffna town continued in April. Tamil MPs met Jaffna Army commander Sarath Fonseka on 9 April and expressed opposition to any military camp in populated areas. Defence Secretary Austin Fernando has proposed closure of the Army camps currently in Subash and Gnanam hotels, and re-establishment in a four-acre plot close to Jaffna Telecom office. Reports say that the LTTE has rejected the proposal.
Over 153,700 internally displaced people (IDP) belonging to 41,500 families have returned from the Vanni to Jaffna. Reports say only 60% of the families are able to resettle in their own homes. The homes of the others have been destroyed, are in no-go areas of landmines or lie in high security zones.
Muslim organisations have condemned the discrimination against Muslim IDPs resettling in Jaffna. Local officers are said to be delaying payments. It is alleged that those Muslims who came via the A9 Vavuniya-Jaffna road have not received any resettlement payment or other assistance. In addition, Muslim IDPs continue to face LTTE restrictions on their occupations.
In early April, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe appointed Jaffna MP T Maheswaran and North-East Governor Asoka Jayawardena as joint chairmen of the Jaffna District Development Committee, which has been allocated Rs 600 million for development projects.
Mr Maheswaran again urged the Prime Minister to remove the security forces from schools and temples. He points out that Mathagal Murugan temple and Hartley College in Point Pedro are occupied and says that 925 fisher families in Koyilakandy and Karainagar are unable to fish because of the presence of the military. In southern Thenmaratchy, farmers are not able to cultivate 6,000 acres of land. The Army allowed only 100 devotees to the Valliamman temple at Maravanpulavu on 14 April - the Tamil-Sinhala New Year Day.
In early April, Thangarajah Ganojan, 12, was seriously wounded by a landmine in Navatkuli, six miles east of Jaffna town, while playing near his house. Ranjan Sasikumar, 21, suffered serious injuries by a landmine on 29 April at Urumpirai, five miles north of Jaffna. He was involved in the construction of a new building in the area when he was wounded.