Troops were present in full force on the day of the protest near the university and fired over hundreds of students from other schools to prevent them entering the campus. Jaffna Bishop Thomas Savundaranayagam expressed dismay at the Army’s attempt to deny the democratic right of peaceful protest against war. People in the east also participated in demonstrations despite the military’s warning of severe consequences.
A day earlier, the Army launched Operation Kiniheera IX (Anvil) and advanced with artillery support and heavy aerial bombing, from Eluthumadduval further south to Poonar. A shell killed a temple priest I Sambasivasarma. The Army faced stiff Tiger resistance but captured 7 sq kms. Sixty two soldiers were killed and 281 wounded. Forty one Tiger bodies were handed over to the LTTE through the ICRC. The Army advanced further in the second phase of Kiniheera IX and took control of Muhamalai on 22 January.
As fighting continues, the needs of civilians receive less attention. Jaffna NGOs say that the aims of the Northern Resettlement and Rehabilitation Authority (NRRA) - relief and resettlement of the displaced, rebuilding of damaged property, maintenance of essential services, resumption of economic activity - have not been achieved in the last four years. NGOs are calling for the removal of unjust security restrictions and impact assessment of NRRA programmes.
Agencies also say that the displaced people in Jaffna are caught between the warring sides. The Army wants them to resettle in Chavakachcheri which is now in military hands. The LTTE is urging the people not to resettle until landmines in the area are removed. S Navaratnam, who went to Chavakachcheri to inspect his house in mid-January was seriously wounded by a landmine.
In Jaffna, some 280,000 people remain displaced, including 66,000 who fled the high security zone around Palaly and Kankesanthurai military bases in 1995. The Army has also asked people to resettle in Ariyalai and Navatkuli, east of Jaffna town. People have expressed reluctance to return because of landmines. Further, many houses have been damaged in the fighting.
S Dharmakulasingham says in a January letter to President Chandrika that soldiers killed his wife Vigneswary on 2 October at Mirusuvil. Navy personnel attacked fisherman Kanthasamy Kugarajah in early January while fishing off Velanai, seriously injuring him.