A report of rising military activity in Vanni, Vavuniya, Sri Lanka may be a pointer of things to come. It certainly has impacted life of communities already disturbed by decades of civil war.

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GENERAL:

Most people we met welcomed our visit and stressed the importance of a political solution to the ethnic conflict and the importance of change of attitude on the part of the majority Sinhalese community towards the problems faced on a day to day basis by Tamils.

INCREASING INSECURITY:

Militarization: In the awake of fierce fighting in the Vanni, Vavuniya has become a hub for the security forces. The Vanni Military Headquarters is based in Vavuniya hence there is a heavy presence of the army, air force and STF, and a steady movement of personnel, vehicles and equipment in the district. The heavy militarization is intended to consolidate control but it creates additional problems for civilians who face more restrictions in movement and feel vulnerable due to the location of military targets in close proximity to civilian areas.

On 8^th September LTTE fired artillery shells targeting Vanni military HQ (Joseph Camp) and simultaneously launched a Black Tiger commando raid and an aerial attack while the Security Forces fired back. The camp is located in a civilian area. In the wake of the attack side roads which lead to the A-9 road that runs along the perimeter of the camp have been dug up and blockaded. While there were few reported civilian casualties, the incident has intensified the insecurity of civilians who are getting caught in between the fighting. A section of the Vavuniya hospital has been converted into military infirmary which also raises questions of the militarization of civilian spaces. 

Multiple Armed Actors: In addition to the security forces, Vavuniya has become a centre for various armed groups. Multiple armed groups allied to the State were based in Vavuniya and over the recent months have re-established their presence and stepped up their activities. Unlike in other areas where one of the groups is the dominant force, Vavuniya has historically been carved up by multiple armed groups who divide the town and the outlying areas between them extorting tax, carrying out patrols, involving themselves in the administration of daily even and have also been accused of carrying out particular violations.  It was reported that EPDP, TELO, TMVP (Pillayan), TMVP (Karuna) all have centres and cadres operating in Vavuniya. The LTTE is also said to operate in the town and in the villages of Vavuniya. The presence of all these armed groups has made civilian life all the more difficult and insecure.

The activities of these armed groups threaten a collapse of law and order within government-controlled areas. Given the state backing of these armed groups civilians realize that there is little point in making complaints to state institutions such as the police. Villagers who had been searched and the family members of the disappeared or abducted told us that in some instances the cadres from these armed groups accompany the security forces in their search operations and on occasion even wear military uniform. This makes it hard to identify the perpetrators and the group they are attached to.

Sharp rise in rights violations: In the last couple of months reports of human rights violations including killings, disappearances, white-van abductions, extortions, kidnapping for ransom have increased in Vavuniya District. The majority of victims are Tamils. While particular acts get reported in the media, the overall human security situation in Vavuniya receives little attention. The lack of attention has contributed to consolidating the culture of silence and fear in the district. There is a widespread culture of impunity with multiple armed actors carrying out a series of violations that has made Vavuniya one of the most dangerous districts for civilians in Sri Lanka. During our two-day visit a hacked body turned up in a paddy field just outside Vavuniya Town.

For August alone it is claimed that 24 individuals were reported missing while 19 persons were reported to have been abducted.

Abductions are increasingly taking place in the day time. We were told of a recent incident where a Sinhala person was also abducted. Given the multiple armed actors and the different motives for abductions people are unsure why certain abduction has taken. In certain cases the person has disappeared so it is assumed that one of the armed groups may have eliminated that person, in other cases people suspect the army or even the CID of abducting and detaining the person. Abduction for ransom is also reportedly quite common. Reportedly victims’ families rarely report crimes to the police due to the fear of reprisal. Usually most people report to the Human Rights Commission and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Both the ICRC and the HRC have been able to trace some people as arrested and detained by police, but in many cases, they have not been able to trace missing people. No missing people allegedly taken in by the Army had been traced by the HRC. There are no available statistics on disappearances, abductions and killings, and the Human Rights Commission, which receives many complaints, do not make any public reports. We were told that usually, the Police sends a list of people arrested and detained to the HRC. However, we heard through reliable sources that 24 cases of disappearances and 19 cases of abductions have been reported in August alone. Except one Sinhalese, all others were reported to be Tamil. In a small number of cases, the HRC suspected the authenticity of complains about disappearances, due to reasons such as there was follow up, no response to follow up communications sent by the HRC and some of the letters have returned citing wrong address. We were also told that there is no institutionalized support system for families of the disappeared, particularly in view of security threats after complaining.

We also met with the families of individuals had been disappeared in 2006 and 2007 from the Kalamadu area who had not received any information on their whereabouts and feared the worst. In addition to the trauma suffered by the family, the loss has also had a serious impact on the survival of families, as a number of those who have been disappeared are the bread winners of families.

Search operations also increased the insecurity of local communities. In particular instances, the army unit is accompanied by a person wearing a mask who will nod indicating whether a person should be taken away. For individuals who were associated with the LTTE during the peace process or are escapees from the LTTE are particularly vulnerable. In villages surrounding Vavuniya Town the military has issued each family a photograph identification with all the personal details including telephone numbers being recorded. It some cases these individuals are also recorded on video. Sometimes during search operations particular individuals are photographed which increases their fears.  These individuals, afraid that they will be abducted, reportedly try to flee. Given the security situation in the country they have limited choices of seeking asylum or trying to get into the Wanni.         

Child recruitment in Vavuniya has reportedly intensified over the last three months. While most of the attention on this issue over the past year has been on the LTTE’s recruitment in the Wanni and the TMVP in the East, the incidents in Vavuniya have received little attention. Children (ie those under the age of 18) as young as 9 have been abducted and taken away by armed groups. Recruitment of youth is also a problem. In some cases Tamil youth have joined some of the armed groups. We were told of instances where some of these youth did not have proper identification joined these groups in order to improve their security.

We were also told of instances of torture. Some of the torture practices used include suspension from the ceiling, dunking in water and removing of finger nails. We were told by one organisation that over the last few months six to seven cases get reported each month. The cases of torture generally involved people between the age of 20-35 and not only included men but also a high number of women. These victims are not only fearful of reporting the cases to the police but are even wary of seeking medial treatment. Children who have moved from Vanni into Vavuniya are taken for inquiries frequently and in this process they undergo severe torture.

Extortion is another significant problem. Threats are reportedly made over the phone. It also appears that those carrying out the extortion have inside information. Individuals withdrawing large sums of money from a bank have been held at gun point. We were also told of incidents of robbery have also increased in Vavuniya.

Groups working with victims told us that in some cases the police would not entertain complaints against the security forces or armed groups operating with state backing. People also fear the repercussions of going to the police. Victims and family members supposedly make complaints at the Human Rights Commission and the ICRC and with particular actors whom they trust. NGOs who provide assistance to some of the victims or family members and even though they do not undertake activities such as accompanying the affected persons to the police station, stated that they too have received threats so are wary of taking up such cases.

It was very clear that people have little or no faith in the police or legal system and that they want an independent mechanism where they can not just report the crimes and follow-up cases, but also where they can find some protection. We were told that patrolling by INGOs (WHEN) resulted in a shift in the time when abductions were taking place which shows that international presence can be a deterrent.  

There is a high level of distrust and not just of the authorities and of armed groups. In a meeting with NGOs a representative responding to a question on threats to NGOs told us that “we don’t know whom we can trust.” Even within organizations people are wary of sharing information. At a community level the security situation and the presence of armed groups has deepened distrust as families fear that members from their own community may have complained about them to the security forces or an armed group. Even victims of violence are nervous of talking to each other.

We also spoke to some Sinahalese villages near Poontottum. They too live in insecurity. However, unlike the majority Tamil community, they fear attacks at the hands of the LTTE and their sense of security comes through the increased presence of armed forces.

Freedom of Movement

Movement in and out of the district has become increasingly difficult. The check points at Thekkawatha, Erattaipariyakulum and Medaawachchiya have affected the local trading immensely. Usually traveling from Vavuniya to Methawachia takes about 30 minutes and now it takes about 4hours. Loading and unloading of goods at Thekkawatha and Methawachia and non availability of direct transport from Vavuniya to south have crippled the economy apart from severely restricting the movement of Vavuniya people to other parts of the country.

Movement within the district is also difficult. Since every village is monitored carefully, anyone visiting from outside needs to be registered immediately and if not they will be taken under custody. Due to these restrictions Vavuniya people are wary of spending the night with family members and friends. Even a spelling mistake in their ID card or in any other identification document can become a cause for suspicion or even detention. Hence, there is a fear in moving around.

Livelihood have been affected by the restrictions. Most of them undertake paddy cultivation and their paddy lands are situated further inland in the jungle areas. Due to heavy military present and escalation of war they are unable to access their paddy land which they have cultivated taking loans. In many instances they have to surrender their ID card to the military when they go to the paddy field and this makes them more vulnerable. Some of the youngsters who went to work in the paddy field got arrested and some went missing. In the Sinhala Village of Nedikula we were told that the displaced persons from Poonthotan who work in the village as day labourers were not allowed in by the military in the days following the attack on the Vavuniya military headquarters. Due to there being multiple army points villagers face challenges in moving around and carrying out particular livelihoods such as firewood collecting. An army point near the village will grant them approval while another army patrol who comes across them in the brush will accuse them of not having asked them for permission.

Another issue raised by a collective group of NGO members was the ban on shelter materials which has hampered humanitarian activities in Vavuniya, even the repair of houses of old IDPs in existing camps. Particular materials such as aluminium tin sheeting are no longer allowed into Vavuniya. The NGOs and INGOs felt that they still have very cordial cooperation with civil administration of Vavuniya but when comes to security clearance and access to certain areas; they are faced with many difficulties. Also when new regiment is deployed, due to their non familiarity with the work undertaken by the NGOs/ INGOs projects get blocked. For example in Kalmadhu military has stopped an IDP housing project.

War Related Violence Against Women:

While human rights of all civilians are threatened due to the escalation of war militarization and collapse of law and order, security of women in Vavuniya has particularly become frightening. According to HRC there have been increasing reports of women being abducted and tortured. Young women who have come out from Vanni are either taken under custody or gone missing.

Beside, many women living in camps are single and were compelled to earn a living for their family specially when their men desert them or go missing or killed. Prolonged life in overly crowed IDP camp also makes these women more vulnerable of sexual abuse. The limited employment available to inmates of camps is taken up mostly by men and this dependence on men also makes women more vulnerable to sexual abuse. The limited employment available to inmates of camps is taken up mostly by men and this dependence on men also makes women more vulnerable to sexual abuse. Heavy militarization in and around the IDP camps and resettlement villages force them to submit to armed men’s sexual demand. Many women are forced do sexual favour in order to avoid any harm to their family members. Subsequently some of these women become sex workers. Men who abuse their women and perpetrators of rape and sexual assault use their connection to paramilitary groups and block family members seeking any remedial action. Many young girls also enter into early marriages due to the fear of recruitment.

One of the most lucrative businesses in Vavuniya now is brewing of illicit alcohol. Women blame alcoholism to increasing domestic violence and sexual harassment against women in IDPs camps however they are unable to make any complaints to the police. A woman activist who spoke openly against illicit alcohol brewing was shot dead by a para-military member. Community activists say due prolonged displacement and violent culture there have been a complete fall of social structure which gave some form of protection to women. Security of women, whose husband or relative have been abducted or taken under custody, has become extremely threaten. In the process of searching for missing ones these women undergo sexual assault and torture and even some have gone missing.

VANNI

Issues Faced by  INGOs and NGOs :

MOD issued an order on 8^th for UN and other INGOs to vacate the Vanni before 14^th of September. We were able to observe INGOs vacating the Vanni and coming into Vavuniya. Government officers we spoke to told us that the INGOs are being asked to operate from Vavuniya and the government will facilitate their movement via omanthai check point depending on the necessity. However given the regular aerial bombardment and continuous shelling in Vanni, there have been grave concerns over the delivery of the humanitarian assistance to about 150,000 IDPs trapped in Vanni. Due to LTTE restrictions, frequent aerial bombardments and non availability of safe transportation these IDPs are unable to move out of Killinochchi irrespective of the fact that the government has instructed GA and other civil admin officers to prepare for mass exodus of people into Vavuniya. Last few weeks there has been no movement of these IDps into government controlled areas.

Without the presence of UN and other INGOs the functions of the local NGOs in the Vanni will be very much restricted. Some limited local NGOs that are based in Vavuniya and undertook some humanitarian work in the Vanni have stopped their work due to security threats and government restriction on the issuance of pass. NGOs feared that Vanni IDPs will not have any forms of assistance in the forth coming days. They also fear that the civilians and even local staff of NGOs and their families will be more vulnerable to recruitment by the LTTE, indiscriminate artillery and shelling by Sri Lankan forces after the UN and INGOs have vacated the Vanni. 

When INGOs vacated the Vanni their local staff were given the choice of existing with INGOs to Vavuniya, however some of them have to stay beck due to their family members being not allowed to go. Some have to come to Vavuniya leaving their families in Killinochchi.

NGOs operating in Vavuniya also face number of problems. We heard unconfirmed reports of two aid workers being arrested being detained overnight. Other NGO workers told us that they need to get permission from the military to go to some villages.

Restrictions on communication

Communication is restricted as CDMA phones have been cut off and mobile phones operate only between 6pm – midnight in Vavuniya. This adds to the sense of isolation and marginalization of the people in Vavuniya

Situation of civilians in Vanni:

The Bishop of Mannar who had visited Vanni from 6^th – 8^th Sept. reported that the  number of displaced is nearly 150,000. We also heard from other aid workers that about 120,000 had crosses from the West of the A9 to the East.

It was said that LTTE is not allowing people to leave to government controlled areas. Since the LTTE has a strong presence on the A9 road, it is unlikely that any civilians will be able to get through to Omanthai. It was also mentioned that people, particularly youth, remain vulnerable to recruitment by the LTTE and they frequently conduct cordon and search operations to recruit new cadres. Humanitarian corridors announced by the government are likely to be seen as “military corridors” and so far, no people had responded to the governments calls to come to government controlled territory and we heard that this might not be likely.

Although there have been relatively small number of civilian casualties, there are fears that this may increase, particularly after the withdrawal of UN and International NGOs.

Six people, including a baby and a child had been killed on 30^th August due to indiscriminate shelling at PuthuMurippu, 8km from Killinochi. We heard that shells had fallen very close to the A9 road, including near a bus carrying civilians. Shells had also fallen near the Catholic Church in Killinochi on the main A9 road, and we also heard reports that vehicles and buildings of INGOs and UN agencies being damaged.

Prices of crucial commodities remain exorbitant in the Vanni, with cement being sold at around Rs. 25,000 and petrol at around Rs. 1,200. 

People still live under trees and roadside. According to one aid worker who had been in Vanni recently, the “sky is the roof” and the “sari is the wall” (Sari is a popular dress for women in the Vanni). The Bishop of Mannar had also emphasized that cadjan is in very short supply and the alternative of providing is tarpaulin sheets is also difficult, due to restrictions imposed on transporting these.

The Bishops report also highlighted the urgent need for children’s milk food, mosquito nets, medicines and sanitation facilities. The food people get comprises largely of rice, sugar and dhal and there are no supplementary items provided. The displaced people don’t have money to purchase as their main occupations (fishing and agriculture) had been disrupted and the little savings they have had been spent for tractors and other forms of transportation as they moved from place to place. Children are reported to be suffering from lung infections and there are indications that malaria, diarrehea and other infectious diseases would spread.

At present, the there are about 20 lorries per day carrying supplies to the Vanni. WFP had also been sending 6-10 lorries and they are now expected to send in supplies from Vavuniya through the Government Agent. Medicine supplies to Vanni has been sent once in three months and this will continue, the supply for the next quarter had been approved and is ready to go next week. So far, convoys had safe passage without being subjected to shelling or fire by either party.

If / when people come to Vavuniya from Vanni, it is clear they will not be allowed to stay where they wish, including with friends and relatives, as per the UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement. We were told by government officials we met that if people come, they would be kept for 2-3 weeks at the Omanthai Maha Vidyalaya for registration and screening, then transferred to several other schools around Vavuniya where they would be subjected to further screening. We presume that these would be a form of detainment as everyone would have to undergo this even if they may wish to go and stay elsewhere. Subsequently, there are plans to settle them in other locations such as Menik farm in Chettikulam, Karunatina Kullum and Karuwal Poliyamkullum.