The re-emergence of the dreaded “white vans”, the hallmark of death squads linked to security forces and pro-government Tamil groups, is causing grave concern in the district. Batticaloa MP Joseph Pararajasingham says in a letter to President Chandrika that some 15 Tamils arrested by the Army or Home Guards at Weligahakandiya in Polonnaruwa District have disappeared. Ponnampalam Thavarasa, 40, and Arumugam Mylvaganam, 35, were taken into custody at Weligahakandiya on 5 February. The Army is denying their arrests. The whereabouts of three villagers from Urugamam detained by the Army in the same area on 14 June are still unknown.
Search operations were intensified in February following suspicion that suicide bombers who launched attacks in Colombo and Kandy arrived from Batticaloa. All heavy vehicles are currently held for 24 hours at Mannampitiya, 30 miles west of Valaichenai. Seven Tamil youths were taken into police custody in Batticaloa market on 9 February. Security forces searched villages around Valaichenai on 16 February. Over 50 people were taken to the Valaichenai Army camp and after interrogation five were detained.
The Tigers fired a number of shells into Batticaloa town on 4 February disrupting independence celebrations and wounding 14 security personnel. Four civilians were injured at Karayakkantivu when the Army retaliated. Five other people were shot and injured at Valaichenai on the same day after a policeman was wounded by a shell.
LTTE’s Pistol Group shot dead alleged police informant R Jeevaratnam at Arayampathy on 18 February. The following day, V Mathuraiveeran, accused of links with the Army was killed in Sithandy. Reports say LTTE’s women cadre publicly executed Thamotharam Baheerathan, 24, on 21 February at Eechamtivu.
In Amparai District, two youths were shot dead on 16 February in Maruthamunai. Police say they opened fire on a checkpoint. The LTTE shelled Sugathagama in Central Camp on 20 February killing seven Home Guards and a civilian. Some houses were damaged.
In Trincomalee District, student A Sivapragasam was killed when LTTE attacked Tamil Group EPDP’s office in the town on 21 February. A policeman and five Home Guards were killed on 24 February at Kaluvanwila in Padaviya, north-west of Trincomalee. Forty one policemen and Home Guards involved in the killing of eight Tamil civilians in Thambalakamam on 1 February were identified and detained.