The Muslim people in the east have been complaining of harassment and abductions for ransom by the LTTE for several months. Muslim businessmen have specially been targeted. According to sources, relatives have paid huge sums of money to secure their release. In January, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) leader Rauf Hakeem wrote to Tiger chief V Prabhakaran about the problems faced by the Muslim community and urged his intervention. The abductions have continued despite meetings between LTTE’s deputy leader Karikalan and local religious leaders.
Concerns have also been expressed regarding people disappearing in the district. Samithamby Ganesh of Central camp in Amparai District is missing after he went to work in rice fields in 16th Colony village on 3 February. The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has received complaints that Ibralebbe Rahuman of Nintavur is missing since 21 February. Kathirgamathamby Mathan, 18, a student from Mavadivembu went missing on 25 January.
According to reports, security force harassment of civilians at checkpoints at entrances to LTTE-controlled areas, continued. Farmers say that armed Tamil groups are still present with soldiers at Valayiravu and Karuthapalam checkpoints and are imposing a tax of Rs 10 for each bag of rice. After Batticaloa Government Agent S Shanmugam brought the issue to the notice of the Prime Minister, Economic Reform minister Milinda Moragoda arrived in Batticaloa in late February for discussions with the Army to resolve the issue.
Heavy vehicles arriving in the night to Batticaloa were allowed into the district with effect from 19 February, after checks by the military at Mannampitiya, 42 miles north-west of Batticaloa town. For the past ten years, the military detained heavy vehicles carrying commodities overnight at Mannampitiya.
Although a ceasefire is in force, the problems of the internally displaced people have not been resolved. Dry rations have not been issued to some refugee camps in the east since the first week of December. Reports say that 400 families at Kalmadu camp in Valaichenai, 1,035 families in Thirukovil camp and the refugees in Trincomalee are facing starvation. These refugees remain in camps for more than ten years.
Reports say dengue fever is spreading in the east. It had claimed the lives of five people in Batticaloa District up to the end of February. According to the district hospital authorities 55 people have been admitted with the disease.