More than One – Third of Tamils in B’Caloa Dist are Displaced
March 16th, 2007
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
Batticaloa , the only Tamil majority district in the Eastern province is becoming a region of internally displaced persons. With the recent three – tiered military offensive by the army, special task force and air force, inflicting terrible destruction on civilian areas massive displacement is taking place. According to latest figures supplied by officials at Batticaloa district secretariat more than one – third of B’caloa’s Tamil population of 422, 674 are now displaced.
According to civil administration figures the number of IDP’s registered with the Govt was 156, 384 on Thursday March 15th. Of these 21,497 are from the Trincomalee district and 7,654 from the Koralaipattru north (Vaakarai) AGA division. The rest are from five AGA divisions dominated by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The AGA divisions concerned are Poratheevupattru (Vellaveli) Pattippalai (Kokkaticholai) Manmunai West (Vavunatheevu)Koralaipattru West (Kiran) and Eravoorpattru (Chenkalladdy). According to revised figures from the B’caloa secretariat 145, 619 people from 32, 565 families were living in these areas. Though the greater part of these five divisions were under LTTE control significant parts , particularly in the littoral, were under Govt control.
More than 127, 000 displaced people from these five divisions are registered with the Dist secretariat as IDP’s. Tens of thousands were displaced in the latest military offensive codenamed “Operation human shield”.Many of the earlier IDP’s of registered IDP’s are staying independently with friends and relatives. The rest both “old and new” IDP’s are housed at 89 camps called welfare centers. In addition to these registered 156, 384 IDP’s an estimated 15, 000 plus are yet to be registered. People in this category are living either with relatives and friends or living under trees.
Vaakarai or Koralaipattru North division had 14, 301 IDP’s at one stage. About 6500 have been re- settled in haphazard fashion. Most IDP’s were reluctant to go but were compelled to do so by the authorities. If the displaced from six AGA divisions including Koralaipattru North are taken together the number of registered displaced persons in Batticaloa exceeds 140, 000. If the estimated unregistered 15, 000 IDP”s are added on the number reaches more than 155,000. This amounts to more than one – thirds of the total Tamil population (422, 674)in B’caloa.
The district administrative machinery is struggling to cope with this rapid increase in IDP’s. One method resorted to is to forcibly re- settle some of the IDP”s from Trincomalee district in their original villages. Their “vacancies” will be filled by the new B’caloa refugees it is envisaged. But most IDP’s are reluctant to move out in an uncertain climate and tensions are rising. One notable incident illustrates the situation vividly.
Displaced persons staying at five refugee camps in Batticaloa district were forcibly removed to Trincomalee district in a sudden “operation” masterminded by an Assistant Superintendent of Police around noon on Thursday March 15th. Though exact figures are not known NGO sources said that nearly a thousand people were taken against their will in thirty buses to Trincomalee district.
The Batticaloa district Government Agent or divisional secretaries were not informed of this action by the authorities concerned. An NGO official said that civil administration officials in B’caloa were totally in the dark when informed of the incident.
A Sinhala speaking ASP had come down from Trincomalee to supervise the entire forced re- location. He was acting on authority provided by the Trincomalee Government Agent who is a retired major – general of the Sri Lankan army.
According to informed sources 30 buses were used in the operation. Five camps for Internally displaced persons (IDP’s) staying at refugee camps known as welfare centers were the targets. The five camps were located at Savukkadi,Aiyankerni, Palaacholai, Kirimutti and Kiran in the Eravoorpattru (Chenkalladdy) and Koralaipattru West )Kiran) AGA or Pradeshiya divisions.
Six buses were parked near each IDP camp at five places. Police officers brought from Trincomalee along with Security personnel deployed in B’caloa district swooped down on the five camps suddenly and began forcibly removing people to the buses. While hundreds of people fled the camps to avoid being taken to the buses many others particularly those senior in age were “caught”.
People were forced to bring their meagre belongings along and packed into buses. The belongings were put in one bus while the human cargo was packed into the other five buses parked at each of the five camps. Some people were cooking at the time but had to leave food and utensils behind. Others had to leave their drying clothes which they had washed earlier.
It is also alleged that family units were ruptured as some children were away in temporary “school” and other members were away at the time or had fled.
In an operation conducted with military precision and brute force the roughly 25 – 35 people were herded into each of the 25 buses with Policemen guarding them. Their belongings “travelled” separately in five buses. The name of the ASP from Trincomalee who “commanded” the operation is not known.
All peeople forcibly removed were originally from nine Grama Sevakha or Village Services divisions in Muthur and Eechilampatru in Trinco dist. . The nine GS divisions were Mallikaitheevu,Periyavely, Pattithidal, Kiliveddy, Bharathypuram, Menkaamam, Kanguveli, Iruthayapuram and Paalathadicenai.
The people are being taken to a transit camp in Kiliveddy first. They will be re- settled in their own villages in due course.
With displacement on a massive scale being underway in B’ caloa district due to military action the Govt is now planning to re- locate IDP’s from Trincomalee dist to their own places and fill the “vacancies” with new B’caloa IDP”s.
While the Tamil inhabitants of certain places considered militarily “strategic” like Sampoor, Koonitheevu, Senaiyoor, Ilakkanthai, Kattaiparichaan, Ilankaithuraimuhathuvaaram, Nallur, Pattalipuram etc in Trinco are not being allowed to return the Govt is applying force to re- settle others from places .
The people however are unwilling to be re- settled as the security situation is fragile and large – scale hostilities could break out at any time. This could result in further displacement tey fear.
Another problem is that all infra – structure in Muthur and Eechilampattru divisions are destroyed. Most dwellings too are destroyed. Besides their belongings left behind have been looted. Also the re- located people are being forced to live amidst poor surroundings in makeshift shelters akin to an IDP camp.Most people feel it would be better to remain in B’caloa and re- locate only after a permanent peace is assured.
This is the reason for their reluctance to move out. The UNHCR has emphasised that no one should be forces to return against their will. But the Rajapakse regime well – known for flouting civilised norms is bent on removing this segment of the IDP”s while creating more IDP”s through shelling and bombing.
One reason for the Government’s strong show of force in re-locating IDP”s is the incident on March 12th. On that day 2803 people from 771 families from Trincomalee district were officially scheduled to be removed from the IDP camps in B’caloa. But when 35 buses moved in most people ran away and escaped forcible removal. Only 781 people from 228 families were taken away.
Authorities were miffed over this incident and Thursday’s operation was a sequel to the earlier one. Most people taken ere those who avoided re- location on March 12th.
Meanwhile three Ministers from the North – East , Riyaz Badiuddeen, Basheer Segu Dawood and Ameer Ali were attending a meeting at the Sithandy camp to discuss matters of IDP re- settlement. They were inaccessible to the media and it is not known whether they were aware of this forcible removal incident or not.
The UNHCR in a press release issued in Geneva drew attention to the emerging crisis.”The government, through local officials, has made an urgent appeal for immediate food assistance for at least the next four weeks. With existing displacement sites already overcrowded and continued difficulties in allocating land, we are concerned about the welfare of the displaced in the district” the release said.”As fighting continues, more people may be forced to flee, and we have asked the government to step up efforts to meet the needs of the displaced.”it added.
The UNHCR also referred to the pressure exerted on IDP’s to return home against their will. “At the same time, UNHCR and other agencies are monitoring the return of civilians from six divisions in Batticaloa to the Trincomalee district. The returns began yesterday.” the statement said.
“More than 300 people have already been transported to a transit centre in Killaveddi. The Government of Sri Lanka has assured us that all return movements will be voluntary.
However, interagency monitoring reports from Batticaloa indicate that heavy pressure has been applied on internally displaced people, IDPs, including local authority statements that assistance will be stopped if they stay in Batticaloa.
This pressure, coupled with security concerns in the sites for internally displaced people, has forced many IDPs to return to Trincomalee even though they have expressed serious reservations about the security situation in their areas of origin.
UNHCR is continuing to advocate for voluntary return, without undue pressure or duress. We have offered to accompany the process. UNHCR insists on removing the obstacles for return and we want to help prepare for conducive conditions for any return. ” the statement further said.
Another disturbing development was the alleged abduction of youths from IDP camps by the Breakaway LTTE faction headed by Vinayagamoorthy Muraleetharan alias “Col” Karuna.The Amnesty International issued a statement on March 13th over this issue. Relevant excerpts are given below -
“Armed groups, some identified as part of a breakaway group of Tamil Tigers known as the Karuna faction, are infiltrating camps for newly displaced people and abducting residents, according to sources known to Amnesty International.
Tens of thousands of people have been fleeing their homes after intense fighting in the eastern region of Batticaloa over the weekend, pushing the number of displaced people to well over 120,000.
“We are hearing reports of armed men, wearing the uniforms of the Karuna faction, roaming the camps and even distributing relief goods,” said Purna Sen, Asia Pacific Direct at Amnesty International. “The Karuna faction appears to operate throughout Batticaloa town with the complicity of the Sri Lankan authorities.”
The military action of the Karuna faction in the east has increased violence and displacement. Analysts observe that the Sri Lankan Army tolerates its military camps as the Karuna faction has assisted in the Sri Lankan military campaign against the Tamil Tigers.
“The people who have been forced to flee the fighting are in an extremely vulnerable position: they have left behind their livelihoods and their homes, they may not know the area and they are likely to be very scared. The government has a responsibility to ensure that camps are safe and civilian in nature — it is unacceptable for men with guns to be wandering around as if they’re in control.”
There have also been reports of armed men abducting young people from internally displaced people (IDP) camps. In one previously unreported incident on 9 March, a 15-year-old boy was approached by a white van as he waited for a bus at a temple near an IDP camp. Armed men tried to pull him into the van, but his struggling and screams attracted a crowd and the abductors fled. A witness said members of the Sri Lankan army watched the incident but did not step in to help the boy.
Food shortages and overcrowding in the camps for displaced people are another concern and Amnesty International is calling on the government to ensure it provides food, water, housing and medical care to all those who have been displaced by the fighting.
“As the fighting continues, we fear even more people will be forced to seek protection in the camps — and basic necessities like food and water will be stretched even further,” said Purna Sen. “The government must act now to ensure supplies can meet the increasing demand.”
Amnesty International is also concerned at reports of people who have been displaced being forced to resettle in the north of the country. Over the weekend displaced people were asked to leave Batticaloa to go to the north-eastern town of Muthur. Around 40 buses transported them away; some of the people apparently did not wish to go.
In a welcome move, the Sri Lankan government invited the UN Secretary General’s Representative on internally displaced people to visit at the opening of the UN Human Rights Council earlier this week. Given the humanitarian crisis, Amnesty International urges the government to allow the visit to take place as soon as possible.”.
Meanwhile the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator called on both sides in strife-torn Sri Lanka to allow humanitarian assistance to get through to those civilians trapped on the frontlines, while also highlighting the plight of over 130,000 people in the east of the island forced to flee their homes because of the recent upsurge in fighting.
“I am extremely concerned that tens of thousands of civilians have had to flee their homes once again in eastern Sri Lanka due to the new escalation in violence. I appeal to both parties in the conflict to respect the lives of the civilians in accordance with international humanitarian law,” said Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes.
“My main worry at the moment is for the civilians who have been unable to leave the conflict zones. The UN agencies are unable to operate in frontline areas and therefore cannot help the civilians living there,” he said. “All parties to the Sri Lanka conflict must grant access to humanitarian agencies so that they can help those trapped in the crossfire.”
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