Camp refugees say relief dole paid to them based on prices several years ago is hardly sufficient as the cost of living rises rapidly and employment to supplement income is not easy to find. Water supply to camps is limited and refugees must buy or travel to other areas to obtain water. Many camp buildings are dilapidated and no repairs have been undertaken for several years.
Sanitary conditions remain basic and due to downgrading of earlier medical facilities in camps, refugees must spend money and travel to hospitals for treatment. Refugees also complain that money provided for funerals is totally inadequate and are forced to beg from residents in the vicinity. Refugees say they also suffer from police harassment as they come under suspicion for any crime committed in the area.
New refugees arriving in Tamil Nadu are thoroughly checked and those suspected of LTTE links are dispatched to special detention camps. In April two Tiger suspects who arrived with refugees were arrested.
Speaking on 24 April in Tamil Nadu’s Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi vowed to root out LTTE activities in the state. According to Indian coastguard chief Dinesh, security in coastal areas has been strengthened and aerial surveillance intensified to prevent smuggling to Sri Lanka.
The Indian government is facing a dilemma over nine LTTE members who were released by the Supreme Court on 27 March. The nine Tigers who travelled in the Honduras registered LTTE ship MV Ahat were taken into custody near Madras in January 1993. LTTE’s International Representative Kittu committed suicide by blowing up the ship after it was intercepted by the Indian Navy. The Supreme Court ruled that there is no evidence that the ship posed a threat to Indian security.
The nine Tigers were arrested again after the release and are currently held under passport laws. A debate whether to deport them to Sri Lanka or to Honduras is in progress.