Tragedy
FOURTEEN people including eight children drowned when a boat carrying
110 Tamil refugees to India capsized a short distance from Mannar Island on
14 October. The dead were displaced from Jaffna last December and fled
Kilinochchi following military operation Sath Jaya two months ago. The
tragedy illustrates the plight of civilians and the risks people take to escape the
ethnic war.
Indian Authorities confirm that 4,000 refugees have reached the southern
Indian state of Tamil Nadu since 8 August. Newspaper reports say 300 are
among those returned under the Indo-Sri Lanka repatriation programme from
the UNHCR camp in Pesalai. Over 56,000 refugees are in
government-controlled camps in south India with another 100,000 living
outside, many of whom depend on remittances from relatives in the West.
Refugees are also leaving for India from Valapadu in Kilinochchi District and
Sri Lanka and India have intensified naval patrols in the Palk Strait to prevent a
new refugee exodus. Already 20 boats from Mannar have been intercepted at
sea and returned to the island. Distraught refugees accused of leaving Sri
Lanka illegally told the Mannar Magistrate that they had sold all their
belongings to pay Rs 8,000 ($160) each for the boat ride.
Reports say the root cause for the refugee outflow is concern over security.
Refugees interviewed say they feared Army shelling and that they were unable
to make a living in Mannar. Some observers believe intensified LTTE
operations in Mannar are aimed at forcing refugees out to flee to attract
international attention.
The Tigers blew up the Mannar Island telecommunication tower on 2 October
and shot dead two policemen on guard. Two soldiers were also killed on the
same day. Electricity generators have also been damaged. Following these
attacks security on the island has been intensified.
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