Jaffna's secret war
HUMAN RIGHTS violations against the civilian population are multiplying as
almost daily LTTE attacks on the Army continue in the Jaffna peninsula.
Human rights agency Amnesty International says six people, all from Kaithady, 5
miles east of Jaffna town, disappeared in early September. Krishanthy
Kumarasamy, 18, was arrested at an Army sentry point on 7 September while
returning after the GCE (Advanced Level) examination at Chundikuli Girls High
School. Her mother Rasammah, brother Pranaban and a friend K Sithamparam
who went in search of her on the same day were also taken into custody. The
Army has denied these arrests.
Amnesty says the military has also denied the arrests of municipal worker
Subramaniam and student Ganesh Sriram from their homes in Kaithady on 12
August. Tamil MP Joseph Pararajasingham has written to President Chandrika
alleging that extra-judicial killings, torture and disappearances are on the increase
and in the three weeks before 15 September alone over 200 youths were detained.
Of the 200 people arrested earlier, reports suggest ICRC has been able
to confirm 65 are in custody at the major military camps at Kankesanthurai, Palaly
and Karainagar. The rest are unaccounted for. The LTTE claims that as many as
750 men and women are held at Kankesanthurai alone. Amnesty International has
urged the Human Rights Task Force (HRTF), the body monitoring welfare of
detainees, to set up an office in Jaffna. Reports say HRTF is awaiting approval
from the military.
The LTTE claims that the Army shot dead 25 year-old teacher S Saravanapavan
at Sarasalai in southern Thenmaratchy on 17 September. The Tigers also say that
soldiers fired indiscriminately in Eluthumadduval killing six civilians and wounding
nine others.
Two Tigers were killed in an Army ambush at Uduvil on 5 September. Five days
later a landmine injured six soldiers at Imayanan in Vadamaratchy. Five soldiers
died in a clash at Muhamalai, east of Chavakachcheri on 13 September. In another
mine attack at Nunavil on 17 September two soldiers were killed. Two Tigers died
in a clash on 20 September at Thunnalai.
Reports from Jaffna say price of food is rising rapidly. Fish costs Rs 150 a kilo and
all vegetables cost over Rs 130. With all avenues of income destroyed many
people depend on money sent from abroad by relatives. But without facilities to
telephone abroad or travel south to cash money orders, people are unable to buy
at the current prices.
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