Jaffna under military control
Government launches new relief appeal
OVER 250,000 civilians were forced back into western Jaffna when the Sri Lankan Army swept through north-east Vadamaratchy and Point Pedro in mid-May in the third of a series of high profile military offensives on the former stronghold of the insurgent Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The government claims that the entire Jaffna peninsula is now under military control, but other reports say disputed territories remain and several areas are no-go zones. The Army encountered almost no resistance from the Tigers, losing only one soldier in the Point Pedro advance. The Tigers withdrew to minimise casualties against superior fire power.
The Army success in the north has hardened attitudes on both sides and with growing demands in southern Sri Lanka for the annihilation of the LTTE, the government is expected to press home its military advantage. The military has offered an amnesty to rebels who surrender and renounce violence. Analysts believe that the Army will launch further operations south from the peninsula to seize Kilinochchi to open a land route through Elephant Pass.
Opening a land route now seems vital if Jaffna is to be fed. JaffnaÆs senior civil administrator the Government Agent (GA) says only one-third of the food needs of the population are available and has called for relief assistance from international NGOs. The Tigers told a UN and NGO delegation to Kilinochchi in late May that they could guarantee safety of NGOs in areas under their control but could not assure security in Army-held areas. LTTE guerrilla operations in Jaffna peninsula will be intensified say observers.
The government plans massive reconstruction of the Jaffna peninsula. Housing minister and Sudu Nelum (White Lotus) movement leader Nimal Siripala de Silva announced in Parliament on 8 May that nearly 300,000 people had returned to their homes in Jaffna. The hospital is now functioning and according to Mr de Silva over 70 cooperative shops have been opened. Northern Province Resettlement & Rehabilitation Authority (NPRRA) Chairman Somapala Gunadheera says that officials from several ministries are currently in Jaffna assessing needs of major sectors including agriculture, health and transport.
The Sri Lankan government has sought budgetary support for 500,000 tonnes of food from the international community for drought and refugee relief. But the Defence Ministry has blocked an inter-agency NGO assessment mission. At a meeting with President Chandrika in early May, UN and donor representatives were informed of a crash programme in the north budgeted at Rs 3.7 billion ($70 million), but no detailed plans were provided.
Britain has agreed to provide technical assistance to restore the Jaffna electricity generator at Chunnakam. The German government has requested German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) for an assessment for reconstruction of Jaffna. The US government has declined Sri LankaÆs request for 50,000 tonnes of food suggesting multilateral aid through the the World Food Programme (WPF). DonorsÆ caution will be reinforced by continuing LTTE attacks in the Jaffna peninsula.
The governmentÆs strategy of "war and peace" may have run into new snags. Growing divisions within the ruling PeopleÆs Alliance (PA) could wreck plans to alienate the LTTE from the Tamil community through devolution of power. There is little enthusiasm among MPs for the Parliamentary Select Committee on Constitutional Reform. The proceedings of the committee were postponed in May for lack of the required quorum of four. PA member NSSP is becoming increasingly rebellious and continues to boycott voting in Parliament to extend Emergency rule. President Chandrika may yet be forced to sack the old leftists.
In such an event, the PA will depend on Tamil partiesÆ support in the legislature. The Tamil United Liberation Front also continues to vote against Emergency. Tamil parties like EPDP and TELO are bitter over a government decision to allow them only a brief visit to Jaffna without their weapons. Tamil groups suspect that the government is attempting to gain a political foothold in Jaffna through its Sudu Nelum movement which has opened an office in Jaffna. Others say neither the military nor the Jaffna population
.
The Sri Lankan economy is in deep trouble following a series of strikes. The daily eight-hour power cut necessitated by the unprecedented drought, is ruining industry. The strikes by plantation workers and doctors were ended by negotiations. But after a strike by 13,000 electricity workers disrupted water supply to Colombo city in May, the government used the Army to bring employees to work by force.
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