The people in Army areas must have military-issued special identity cards (SIC), in addition to National Identity Cards, although human rights agencies say this contravenes constitutional provisions on equality. After discovery that the Tigers were posing as students, all students are now expected to possess SICs. By August, 378,500 of the 525,000 Jaffna population had been issued SICs.
Each household must display a list of occupants in front of the house and workplaces must display lists of employees. Foreign visitors are barred from taking video cassettes or electronic equipment into the peninsula. Jaffna residents complain that all letters from southern Sri Lanka and abroad are again being opened by the authorities before delivery.
Adding to the problems, government dry rations to 90,000 families were not issued in August. This includes 20,000 families which are prohibited from returning to homes in high security areas, and living with friends or relatives.
In August, newspapers reported over 20 arrests in various parts of Jaffna. Five refugee returnees from the Vanni were taken into custody at Gurunagar refugee camp. Five others, including 14 year-old S Thushanthini are reported missing. The Human Rights Commission says the Army issues receipts for arrests and currently 22 people are detained at Kankesanthurai military base.
The police shot dead V Jeyakumar and A Christurajah within the two-kilometre fishing zone off Gurunagar on 11 August. Following discussions with the fishermen’s associations on 13 August, the Army allowed fishers to wear sarongs while fishing. In July, the Army banned sarongs, accusing the fishers of using them as sails.
On 17 August, the Army launched a military operation in Nelliyan and Sembianpatru, in north-eastern Vadamaratchy area. The military say that this zone, currently controlled by the LTTE, is the base for infiltration into other parts of the peninsula. Two policemen were killed in a Tiger grenade attack at Kottady near the Fort in Jaffna town on 31 August.
On the night of 21 August, the office of Tamil newspaper Uthayan was bombed by unidentified persons, causing extensive damage. Uthayan, which is the only newspaper currently published in Jaffna, has been critical of the Tamil groups fighting on the side of the Army against the LTTE.