On 28 May, Jaffna Commander Maj. Gen. Lohan Goonewardene asked government officers to return to work. The Army also requested copies of attendance registers from government departments. Thuyavan informed Jaffna Government Agent (GA) K Shanmuganathan in early June that the ban was lifted temporarily, claiming that it was imposed to demonstrate that the Army was not in real control of Jaffna.
The LTTE also ordered all local government bodies to cease functioning. Tiger gunmen shot and injured Tamil group PLOTE’s Valikamam councillor Baheerathan on 14 May. Tamil group EPDP’s Nallur councillor Thiyagarajah Rajkumar was killed on 31 May by suspected LTTE gunmen. Following the attacks, five other councillors resigned. PLOTE leader N Manickathasan warned that all 60 PLOTE councillors will resign if the government failed to provide them protection.
Search operations and arrests continue as the Army attempts to identify Tiger infiltrators. The people are concerned over arrests in the light of earlier disappearances. Seven youths, including R Jegatheeswaran, 17, of Varani were arrested in early May. Three more people were detained in Irupalai on 6 May. A day earlier student Lualo, 17, went missing in Jaffna town. Parents have complained to the Sri Lankan Human Rights Commission that five students from Neerveli are missing since 11 May. Eight men were taken into Army custody near Jaffna town on 15 and 16 May.
Over 500 Jaffna University students protested on 3 May against arrests and alleged Army ill treatment. Students of nine Jaffna town schools began boycotting classes on 11 May demanding the release of T Sivarupan of Kanagaratnam School. He was released the following day. The Army has accused the LTTE of entering schools and enlisting students. The military’s own recruitment drive launched in May predictably failed.
In May, the Army ordered people in Valikamam area to display photographs of all family members, outside their homes. This is expected to be extended to the entire peninsula. Each household is currently required to display a list of family members, certified by the Village Headman and an Army officer.
The LTTE shot dead an Army officer at Columbuthurai near Jaffna town on 25 May. Following the killing, soldiers ran amok attacking civilians in the area. Five people, including R Selvamarikkar, 45, were arrested.