The fishing ban was extended to all other areas of the peninsula on 17 November, in the run-up to LTTE’s annual Maveerar Varam (Great Heroes Week). The ban has worsened the suffering of over 10,000 fishing families in the peninsula. Reports say 90% of the 7,200 fishing boats belonging to these families have been destroyed in the war.
The LTTE continues its pressure on the Jaffna population. Tiger leader V Prabhakaran says that the LTTE will not permit government administration in Army-held areas. Chavakachcheri regional council secretary V Arunanthy resigned in early November after death threats. Principals have received letters urging them to close the schools.
The Presidential Commission on Disappearances postponed its visit to Jaffna scheduled for early November. The secretary to the Commission says that the addresses of the complainants are not ascertainable. The Jaffna-based Guardian Association for Persons Arrested and Disappeared has demanded the Commission to provide a list of people disappeared in Jaffna since 1996. The NGO says it will not participate in the Commission’s enquiries without a list.
Meanwhile, complaint has been made to the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission that S Satchithanantham was arrested by the Army at Kopai on 3 November. K Yoganathan and G Pushpakaran of Thirunelveli were detained the following day.
Two civilians were killed in Kandavalai on 1 November by shells from Elephant Pass military base. Five days later, V Theivanai, 62, was killed by a shell from the same camp. Her husband was seriously wounded. Five naval personnel arrested in connection with two rapes in Vaddukottai are currently held at the Chunnakam police station.
Most shelters of the 5,600 refugee families in Jaffna camps are leaking during rains. Their homes lie within the military high security zones of Kankesanthurai, Palaly and Karainagar where civilians are not permitted. Reports say that almost 60% of the current Jaffna population of 493,800 is dependent on government assistance.
At a meeting of the Jaffna NGO consortium in November, Health Department officials revealed that only 50% of the medicines required for Jaffna District are sent from Colombo. Over 250 posts for doctors and other medical staff in the Jaffna hospital remain vacant.