UNHCR began talks with the Tigers following a Sri Lankan government request to provide escort to refugee vessels. “LTTE response was regretably negative” UNHCR says in an early August press statement. The LTTE says that UNHCR declined to guarantee the safety of refugees after it raised the issues of disappearances, arbitrary arrests and torture in Jaffna.
The Tigers allege that a number of Tamil refugees repatriated from India to Sri Lanka with UNHCR involvement have been killed in Army operations. UNHCR has pledged to continue discussions to stress its humanitarian concerns.
The LTTE, while targeting ships in the Mannar sea, has also launched attacks within the district. In clashes near Murunkan and Semmantivu on 7 August five soldiers were killed. Four Tigers and four soldiers died when the LTTE attacked military checkpoints at Uyilankulam on 16 August. Following the attack the the Army shelled LTTE-held areas killing two civilians and injuring 30 others.
The Army issues 300 passes a day for people from the Vanni entering Mannar. Brokers have emerged and permits are sold at Rs 500. Mannar GA SM Croos says that in late August the Army at Uyilankulam prevented refugees crossing into government-controlled territory, fearing unmanageable numbers. Following government reduction of dry rations by 55%, a large number of people are struggling without food in Mannar, reports say. There is a shortage of fuel and the price of kerosene has shot up from Rs 27 a litre to Rs 50.
The hospital in Army-controlled Murunkan, which serves over 20,000 people, including many refugees, has only one doctor who is present only two hours a day. People say deaths could be avoided if permanent doctors are appointed to the hospital. On Mannar Island, dry rations for June and July have not been issued forcing refugees to beg for food. Official apathy is said to be the reason for the delay.