Food aid crisis looming
Tigers close in on the east
THE LTTE continued devastating raids in the east killing 14 soldiers and injuring 13 others in an ambush at Santhiveli, 15 miles north of Batticaloa on 11 May. The Defence Ministry says at least 50 Tigers were killed by the Army.
The LTTE has been launching attacks from strongholds north of the Welikande-Valaichenai road, a vital supply line the Army patrols to keep open. The Kinnayady Army camp near Valaichenai was attacked on 4 May and five soldiers were injured. Eleven soldiers died and 11 others wounded in a clash two days later at Mylanthanai, west of Valaichenai. Eighteen Tigers including areas leader Gunam were also killed.
Further south, the ArmyÆs attempt to control another supply line, the Chenkalady-Badulla road, is also proving difficult as the Tigers launch attacks in the area. A LTTE bomb killed four Airforce personnel visiting the leper colony of Mantivu, on a Buddhist holiday on 3 May.
Extra-judicial killings in Batticaloa continue. R Kumaraguru was shot dead at Vantharumoolai on 8 May. Police say he died in crossfire. The bullet-ridden body of hospital employee Somalingam Vani abducted in March was found in the same area on 10 May.
The Defence Ministry says a TELO member and two PLOTE cadre were shot dead by the LTTE on 29 May in Cheddipalayam. Another group EPRLF has now joined the Tamil groups fighting at the side of the Army. Batticaloa residents accuse the EPRLF of a new round of harassment and alleged rape in the Sithandy area.
The Army continues its policy of bringing maximum pressure on LTTE-controlled areas where, according to an ICRC survey 90% of the people are malnourished. After several weeks villages along the Chenkalady-Badulla road were allowed three ICRC-escorted lorry-loads of food on 23 May. Observers say the ICRC is reluctant to be involved because food distribution takes place near the Santhiveli Army camp which was attacked by the LTTE.
Tiger-controlled Vaharai area, 40 miles north of Batticaloa has received almost no food and comes under constant shelling by the Army. The military has also banned all transport to the region forcing people to walk 30km south to Valaichenai to buy essential food items.
Over 17,000 people live in the Vaharai area. Food stamps for over 358,000 people living in poverty in Batticaloa District have not been issued food stamps for the last two months to enable them to purchase food cheaply. Relief for 15,000 fishermen prevented from going to sea by security restrictions was suspended two months ago.
Further south in Amparai, an electricity transformer at Central Camp was damaged by the LTTE on 16 May. A Special Task Force (STF) member was killed by the Tigers at Thambodhi on 2 June.
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