Internally displaced people in Vanni

SOME 56,200 people still remain displaced in government-held areas of Vavuniya and Mannar districts, while 197,800 continue as refugees in LTTE-controlled zones of Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar and Vavuniya. The internal refugees receive dry food rations from the government, consisting mainly of rice, wheat flour, lentils, sugar and milk powder. According to Government Agent (GA) K Ganesh, 11,696 persons were in 13 refugee camps at the end of May in Vavuniya District. Since the ceasefire agreement in February 2002, some 12,500 people have been resettled in the district.

Restrictions on some goods to the LTTE-controlled areas remain. Permits from the relevant GA is needed to transport petrol, diesel, iron rods and cement. Vavuniya GA says 136,000 people passed the Army checkpoint at Omanthai into LTTE-controlled Vanni in May and 133,000 entered Vavuniya from the Vanni.

Local NGOs say no investigations have been carried out into the disappearance of 184 people when the Army held Kilinochchi District between 1996 and 1998, and the families have not received any compensation. The remains of 71 people are reported to have been recovered. On 13 May, a member of Tamil group TELO was shot dead in Vavuniya town. The LTTE is suspected to be responsible for the killing.

In Trincomalee District, EPRLF member Kiruban was murdered on 1 June. The LTTE is accused of the shooting which occurred in Trincomalee town. The Army arrested 125 people, but released them after enquiry. The Tigers are also suspected of shooting and injuring two Army intelligence officers in the town, two days earlier.

The LTTE arrested a naval officer near Thambalagamam in late May for entering their area with weapons. The Tigers also took into custody two police officers in Muthur on 29 May for a similar offence. The policemen were released two days later. On 31 May, the Navy arrested six LTTE cadre near Sampur accusing them of smuggling explosives.


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