Terror tactics
Human rights agencies fear that over 200 Tamil youths have disappeared in the Jaffna peninsula since Operation Sunray in December last year. Many of them may be held in Army interrogation centres which are springing up all over Jaffna.
A civilian claims that 4,000 people from several villages in Thenmaratchy were rounded up in mid-July and in a scene reminiscent of the Indian Peace Keeping Force days, paraded before thalayattis or masked informers. Over 200 were detained and assaulted. The Tamil thalayattis themselves may become victims if they failed to identify a required number of "Tigers". GCE student Kirupakaran was arrested along with many others on 22 July at Maravanpulavu. His parents were severely assaulted when they went to the Army camp to make enquiries. Soft drink businessman Lingam and his employees have been detained. His chain of shops in Jaffna town has been sealed.
Over 600 people are said to have been rounded up in Kokuvil Ea
st on 19 August. LTTE claims that school girls were shot and wounded by the Army during the operation have not been substantiated. The LTTE alleges that several fishermen arrested at sea near Araly a month ago were tortured and killed. After relatives made enquiries at the Army camp, five mutilated bodies appeared on the shores of Araly on 29 August. Tigers also say Tamil students K Thavanesan, Thirunavukarasu and T Suthakaran arrested by the Army at Thanankilapu in Thenmaratchy have disappeared.
Allegations of ill-treatment of women and extra-judicial executions are also being made against the security forces. Reports say that three women were raped by soldiers at their home in Manthuvil on 1 August. The bodies of eight youths were found in Thenmaratchy in early August. Krishnapillai Thavarasa and Ponniah Srivalli were shot dead by the Army on 15 August at Ponnalai.
The Army crackdown has been intensified by a continuing string of Tiger attacks inside the peninsula, over 200 in July says Reuters. The military has full control only over areas west of KKS road and east of Puthur-Chavakachcheri inside 12ft-high earth fortifications.
LTTE and Army landmines continue to cause civilian casualties. At Erlalai in Valikamam three people travelling in a bullock cart were killed by a landmine on 2 August.
The relief distribution system remains fragile and sufficient food is not reaching many areas. Over 15,000 Jaffna people want to leave and are unable to travel to Colombo following the suspension of the ferry service to Trincomalee. Another 200 passengers to Jaffna are stranded in Trincomalee.
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