Those who left included northern students, businessmen, doctors and other professionals. UN agencies, including UNHCR deplored the use of threats and said that violence puts everyone’s future at risk. The agencies called on all parties to respect the rights of people to live without fear or persecution.
The Tamil Eelam Courts in LTTE areas were closed in early March, after the Tiger leadership summoned the judges and court staff to the Vanni. All cases pending before the courts were postponed. On 11 March, Karuna supporters seized and set fire to 5,000 copies of the Colombo Tamil newspapers Thinakkural and Virakesari for publishing articles critical of Karuna’s actions.
The two districts have been racked by election and other violence. UNF candidate S Sundarampillai, 66, was shot and injured at Kathankudy in Batticaloa District on 28 February. He was shot dead on 1 March, while he lay in the Batticaloa hospital, by suspected LTTE gunmen. EPDP’s election campaigner P Yogendran was killed on the same day in Valaichenai. SLMC supporter S Kaldeen’s body was found at Veeramunai in Amparai District on 17 March. Over 25 civilians were injured in clashes involving SLMC and UPFA supporters at Kalkudah on 17 March. SLMC’s Amir Ali says most injuries were caused by the Army. He accused the Army of supporting the UPFA.
Batticaloa Government Agent I Mounagurusamy was shot and injured on 27 March. TNA candidate Rajan Sathiyamoorthy, who openly supported Col. Karuna, was shot dead on 30 March in Batticaloa. TNA candidate Joseph Pararajasingham who had declared his support for the LTTE, was forced to confine himself to his home after receiving death threats from the Karuna faction.
There is concern over pressures on the Eastern University, situated in Vantharumoolai. University Vice Chancellor MS Mookiah resigned his post on 28 January. Observers say this followed continuing attempts by the LTTE to involve the university in political activities. Two unidentified gunmen shot Agriculture Faculty’s Acting Dean T Thiruchelvam at his Kallady home on 23 March. He was seriously wounded.
In February, the Army issued an order prohibiting farmers from transporting more than 50 bags of rice at a time into Batticaloa town from LTTE-controlled areas across Vavunativu Bridge. Farmers must pay a tax to the LTTE at the bridge. As a result of the order, farmers have been forced to make several trips and pay the LTTE tax each time.