Stranded in Trinco

HUNDREDS of people demonstrated on 4 November before the Trincomalee regional secretariat demanding resumption of ship services to Jaffna. The protesters say that they have spent all their money and many are unable to feed their children. On the same day, 500 passengers, including foreign nationals, arrived from Jaffna in the ship Lanka Muditha. Reports say that there were no soldiers travelling in the ship. The Tigers have warned that any ship carrying soldiers will be a legitimate target.

On 13 November, a further 1,068 people arrived from Jaffna. According to reports some 8,000 people, including refugees are stranded in Trincomalee and the Tamil parties have urged the government to resume ship services from Mannar. The Lanka Muditha left Trincomalee on 1 December carrying 602 Jaffna passengers.

The Army arrested carpenter A Ravindran on 16 November in Muthur. At the time of arrest he had Rs 8,000, which the military suspect was destined for the Tigers. Four other youths were arrested in the same area the following day. Three women accused of spying for the LTTE were detained in mid-November. The Tigers launched an attack on an Army patrol at Pachchanur in Muthur area on 29 November. Nine soldiers were killed and four other soldiers wounded. Two civilians were also injured during the clash.


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