Some 25,000 families, which have returned from the Vanni on the mainland continue to suffer in poverty. Heads of families are unemployed and many are unable to begin any occupation, particularly those who were earlier involved in fishing or farming, because of lack of capital and other reasons such as landmines and HSZs. According to reports, 12,000 farmers in Valikamam North and southern Thenmaratchy are affected.
Government officers are providing resettlement assistance only to those who received food aid in the Vanni. Poor families which were supported by friends or relatives in Vanni or Colombo are not entitled to assistance. People complain that officers are also rejecting applications of those who had lost their National Identity Cards during displacement.
Shelter remains a major problem. According to Jaffna MP Mavai Senathirajah, no tangible steps have been taken to repair 97,000 houses in Jaffna, damaged or destroyed in the 19-year war or to pay compensation. Reports also say that people have no access to 157 temples in Valikamam North alone.
In mid-January, the military allowed resettlement near Army camps at Meesalai in southern Thenmaratchy, and agreed to open a road to facilitate resettlement. Observers say that in some areas the Army is declaring new HSZs in the vicinity of military bases, in a deliberate attempt to prevent resettlement.
The three-member committee on disappearances headed by Devanesan Nesaiah, appointed by the Human Rights Commission (HRC), began its sessions at Chavakachcheri on 9 January. The HRC has received 232 complaints relating to disappearances between 1996 and 1998, but Mr Nesaiah says that enquiries will be conducted initially only on 59.
Although landmines are being cleared, concerns continue. S Ponnambalam was wounded in early January by a landmine while clearing his garden in Chavakachcheri. In 2001, 79 people were seriously injured in Jaffna by landmines and 63 were wounded in 2002.
Jaffna people expressed fear after the Army began collecting details of all residents above the age of 12, in early January. Army officers have not given reasons for the compilation. The military also imposed new restrictions on those travelling by boat to Neduntivu Island, west of Jaffna. The Navy attacked fishermen in the Palk Strait on 25 January demanding them to hand over their catch. Four fishermen, including A Rajendran, were wounded and admitted to hospital.