Following consultations in Vavuniya on 30 August, the ESC plans to resettle 1,500 families initially, beginning on 2 September. The ESC claims that 800 houses have already been built for the purpose and says that international agencies currently providing assistance, including the FAO, are keen that resettlement should take precedence.
The ESC has warned that refugees who refuse to resettle in Army-controlled areas will not receive food aid after 31 December. The refugees themselves want to be resettled, but have expressed fear to return to conflict areas. Many refugees have been repeatedly displaced.
The LTTE attacked an Army tractor on 20 August at Omanthai, north of Vavuniya town, killing a soldier. Another soldier was killed at Pathaviyakulam two days later. Tamil groups EPRLF and TELO clashed at Vairavapuliyankulam in mid-August. Following the fighting, Vavuniya judge M Ilancheliyan declared that there is no legal basis for the groups to carry or use fire arms and warned them against endangering civilian lives.
In the Vanni, the Tigers launched attacks on Kokkuthoduvai and Janakapura military camps in the contested Veli Oya area of Mullaitivu District on 23 August, killing 13 soldiers and wounding another 24. Ten soldiers are missing. The Army say eight Tigers were killed and 15 injured in a counter attack.
The Vanni region continues to suffer from shortage of essential needs. After the Emergency lapsed, the government imposed a ban on 21 commodities on 3 August under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), including petrol, diesel, cement, electronic devices and urea fertiliser. Restrictions on food and medicines remain.
Diseases continue to spread. Reports say 11,800 people were treated at Mullaitivu’s Mallavi hospital in July, including 875 for malaria. Eighteen month-old Jeyakumar Queenslyn died of diarrhoea in Puthukudyiruppu hospital on 22 August.
In Mannar District, three people were shot dead by the LTTE’s Pistol Group in August. Police say all three had links with the government intelligence services. According to the Human Rights Commission, the police arrested 13 Tiger suspects on 19 and 21 August.
Further south in Puttalam District, 45 Tamils were arrested during a cordon and search operation in Udappu on 30 August and 15 were detained. Over 150 Tamil women working a textile factory were ordered to go home. Two days later, 20 young Tamil men were taken into custody at Thillaiyady.