Ten days earlier, the TULF-led Jaffna Municipal Council held its first meeting after the murder of Mayor Pon. Sivapalan in September. Mr Sivapalan was elected following the assassination of the Mayor Sarojini Yogeswaran in May. According to reports, Mr Mathimugarajah was expected to be nominated as the next Mayor of Jaffna.
The LTTE has already made it clear to the Jaffna population that support for government administration or programmes will not be tolerated. While TULF Vice President, V Anandasangari appealed to the LTTE in late December to allow moderate politicians to serve the people, the Tigers sent letters of threat to the Jaffna Grama Sevakas (Village Headmen). The letters warn the Grama Sevakas against providing information about LTTE cadre to the military and misuse of public funds.
Concern over violations by the Army continues. Soldiers fired inside a house during a search operation at Kilali on 7 December, killing three month-old A Amirthan and his brother Sujayanthan, 14. Three other members of the family were wounded. Three soldiers have been arrested in connection with the murders.
The Army arrested the Nallur Grama Sevaka and a surveyor on 14 December. Kokkavil and Kondavil areas, north of Jaffna town, were searched by the Army on 21 December to track down LTTE cadre who are becoming increasingly active within the peninsula.
Despite earlier assurances, no official permission has been granted to local NGOs to function within Jaffna. As a result, international and national funding agencies are reluctant to support NGO work. NGOs say lack of funds may force the closure of 350 nursery schools in Jaffna affecting 8,000 children in 1999.
In Vavuniya, government officers complain that the limited resources are under strain following the arrival of more refugees after Operation Rivi Bala in the Vanni. There is concern that refugees arriving from the Vanni are being ordered by the security forces to sign a statement under Emergency regulations, agreeing to be detained in refugee camps. Activists allege that this is a violation of human rights.
Amnesty International says that eight people, including 16 year-old P Yogeswaran, have disappeared after arrest by the Army or Tamil group PLOTE, between October and December in Vavuniya. PLOTE has denied any involvement in the disappearances. Most of the disappeared are refugees, including three men from Sithamparapuram refugee camp which was set up to accommodate refugees returned to the island from India.