Reports from Jaffna say as clashes continue, arrest and detention of at least ten youths a day are taking place mainly in Jaffna town, Kokuvil, Manipai and Chavakachcheri areas. Relatives say the Army denies arrests and no action is being taken despite President Chandrika Kumaratunge’s assurance that disappearances will be investigated. According to a report by the Government Agent (GA), only 31 out of the 676 people have been traced in Army custody.
In a habeas corpus application Selvaratnam Saraswathy says the whereabouts of her 22 year-old son Arunthavarajah arrested by the Army on 17 June at Kondavil is unknown. Manjula Thurairajah, 23, taken into Army custody from her home in Kondavil in late February has since disappeared. The Army shot dead traders Krishnan Perampalam and Nagamuthu Rajendran on 1 March at Sangarathai in Vaddukottai.
In a March 1997 report titled Conflict and Displacement in Sri Lanka, the US Committee for Refugees says the Sri Lankan military should put an end to disappearances and follow established procedures on arrest and detention. According to the US Committee, the LTTE has carried out a number of “lamp-post killings” to discourage people cooperating with the authorities. Other sources say the Tigers have “executed” over 15 people in the Point Pedro area in the last six months but fear of reprisal makes the killings difficult to verify.
In late March the Army launched search operations in several areas of Jaffna and arrested many youths. Some were detained. The military says the operations are to identify Tigers hidden among civilians. Reports say the Department of Persons has prepared over 140,000 special identity cards for Jaffna residents, to assist the Army.
According to the government the current population of Jaffna peninsula is 426,500. Another 10,400 arrived by ships from Trincomalee in February. The Army says a further 2,000 people crossed the Jaffna lagoon in boats from the mainland into the peninsula. Press reports say the GA has sought permission to settle 56,800 people in the western Valikamam north area which remains a security zone.
Sufficient food is currently available in Jaffna. However, observers say, after the destruction of most industries and few avenues of employment the purchasing power of the people remains low.