Diversion

ARMY spokesman Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne says that following military successes in the Jaffna peninsula, the LTTE have intensified operations in the east, particularly Trincomalee District, to divert attention. Twenty four people died in a suicide bomb attack during an election meeting at Muthur in Trincomalee on 2 October. The dead included People’s Alliance election candidate Lateef Fidullah. The police blame the LTTE for the attack. Mr Fidullah who earlier served in the police Counter Subversive Unit (CSU) and promoted to Inspector following successful operations against the Tigers had been accused of grave violations of human rights against civilians.

A Tiger landmine killed two soldiers and a civilian in Thoppur, 13 miles south of Trincomalee town on 10 September. The LTTE ambushed an Army patrol at China Bay, south-west of the town, on the same day, killing three soldiers and wounding seven. An Army truck was attacked near Wilgampura junction, eight miles north-west of Trincomalee town on 19 September, killing 22 soldiers. On 22 September, the Navy fired on boats at sea off Trincomalee killing four Tamils and two Sinhalese fishermen. Seventeen other fishermen were wounded. The Navy claim that naval vessels were fired on by Sea Tigers.

Despite the Tiger attacks, the ship Lanka Muditha brought 1,190 passengers to Trincomalee from Jaffna on 14 September. The ships Hendela and City of Trinco carried 1,600 passengers the following week. As the fighting in Jaffna continues, more civilians want to leave the peninsula. Reports say over 10,000 are currently registered with the government secretariat to leave Jaffna. The ship service to Trincomalee is the only mode available to the people for travel outside Jaffna.

Next article.
Back to Sri Lanka Monitor Index page
Back to The Refugee Council Welcome page