In early April the Army launched Operation Golden Bow in the jungle areas of Thiriyai and Kallarawa, 26 miles north of Trincomalee, killing over 20 Tigers and wounding 40. Another seven died and 10 were injured in an Army ambush at Morawewa on 30 April.
Security in Trincomalee was intensified in April following several LTTE attacks. Special Army identity cards have been issued to people in Trincomalee town to prevent LTTE infiltrators. Currently identity cards are being issued to others in rural areas.
Without the special identity cards, observers believe, the large number of people awaiting military clearance in Trincomalee may have difficulties. Apart from them, there remain only 250 refugees in camps from Vavuniya scheduled to leave for Jaffna, according to Regional Secretary Velum Mayilum.
In Batticaloa District, the Valaichchenai area is increasingly becoming a major battle ground as the Tigers attempt to divert military’s attention from the north. The LTTE ambushed and killed 12 soldiers at Kumburumoolai on 21 April. Since the incident three youths in the village have gone missing. An Army shell killed three refugees at Kalmadhu.
The LTTE shelled Army camps at Paithalai and Kiran on 12 April from Nasivantivu jungles. The Army retaliated and the Airforce attacked LTTE-controlled Vaharai area north of Batticaloa. A number of Army restrictions on Vaharai, particularly on food, fertiliser, fuel and transport continues.
The Tigers injured a military intelligence officer at Chenkalady on 12 April. Police returned fire injuring civilians Hanifa and Sundaradevi. After a policeman died in Valaichchenai town in a LTTE ambush on 16 April, three civilians were killed and seven others wounded in police shooting.
Amnesty International says firewood sellers K Sivakumar and K Ravichandran arrested in Chenkalady on 20 April have disappeared. The Army shot dead V Sutharsan and P Shankar on 26 April. Relatives deny they had LTTE links.
In Amparai District, Sundaram Shanthi, 28, was shot and injured in late April. Shanthi had been living in the Thirukovil refugee camp for the last six years. After a major search operation in Alayadivembu, all men in several villages in the area have been ordered by the Special Task Force to report at the Akkaraipatru military camp every week.