The Defence Ministry’s Board of Investigation has conducted enquiries on four occasions at Palaly airbase since January but only 369 of the 680 people invited to give evidence have attended. According to Amnesty International 39 more people disappeared in Jaffna this year. The fate of ten people arrested in Valikamam and Vadamaratchy in August remains unknown.
Activists say human rights continue to be violated by both sides in Jaffna. Jaffna Army Commander PA Karunatilleke claims that relations between soldiers and the people has improved. The sixteen checkpoints between Point Pedro and Jaffna town have been reduced to two.
A soldier was arrested for attempted rape on six year-old Palanthi at Pathaimeni in Atchuveli on 2 September. Maj.Gen. Karunatilleke told visiting journalists in early September that those making charges must realise the situation of soldiers who are stationed in Jaffna for long periods and that Jaffna is a better than United States where 16 women are raped every minute.
The Defence Ministry says a man was shot dead by the LTTE in early September in Alvai North. The Tigers have targeted alleged Army collaborators. Government party SLFP’s Jaffna organiser Dharmalingam, 57, was shot dead at Columbuthurai on 3 October. Army officers believe that there are around 500 Tigers in the peninsula mainly in Vadamaratchy.
Four Sea Tiger boats were sunk on 5 September off Vetrilaikerni south-east of the peninsula. Two Tigers hidden in a house in Mallakam were shot dead on 17 September after they killed a soldier with a grenade. Two more LTTE died in clashes on Punkudutivu Island west of Jaffna peninsula.
According to Tamil party EPRLF over 30,000 families are prohibited from entry into their home areas of Kankesanthurai and Maviddapuram in Valikamam lying next to the Palaly airbase. Many houses in these areas have been demolished by the military.
Northern Region Transport Board’s K Sockalingam says only 36 buses are in service whereas over 100 buses are needed. The Jaffna NGO consortium says 2,000 shops, 500 school buildings, 200 temples and churches and 500 private sector buildings are damaged and has urged the government to seek international assistance. The Dutch ambassador concedes that major projects are impossible as full peace in Jaffna has not been achieved. Britain will assist micro-projects through NGOs and cooperative unions, British High Commissioner David Tatham says.