TIC has issued a number of news releases, memos, appreciation of human rights, social and cultural activists and published a number of documents on human rights and humanitarian issues to help create awareness on the situation in Sri Lanka, all of which are available for download here free.
Over 100 civilians are reported killed in Operation Yal Devi launched by the military in Jaffna on 28 September. Reports say the main objectives of the operation, involving around 9,000 troops, were capturing, Chavakachcheri town in the south of the Jaffna peninsula to prevent people crossing the Jaffna lagoon at Kilali and to launch an offensive on the Jaffna town further west. According to reports, plans for Operation Yal Devi began as soon as General Hamilton. Wanasinghe assumed duties as Secretary to the Ministry of Defence. General Wanasinghe now also heads the Joint Operations Committee 'formed after the disbanding of the Joint Operations Command by President D. B.Wijetunge.
The British Asylum and Immigration Act became effective from 26 July 1993 despite wide ranging opposition within and outside Parliament. New Immigration rules on Asylum and Asylum Appeals (Procedure) Rules also came into force in August. The Asylum Act provides for the fingerprinting of all asylum seekers including children. Those who do not cooperate in fingerprinting can be arrested without a warrant and detained until fingerprints are taken. Fingerprinting, according to the British government is necessary to prevent multiple applications. The fingerprints, according to the Act, will be destroyed within a month of granting permanent stay or after ten years. There is real concern that the records may be issued and that there is likelihood of records passing to the government of the country from where the asylum seeker fled.
World Bank's South Asia Director Paul Isenman had raised the issue of economic aid to Sri Lanka being spent on the purchase of military equipment, before the Paris Aid Consortium decided on 19 June to grant Rs.40.3 billion (US% 847 million) as aid for 1993. The question raised by Mr. Isenman apparently did not have any effect on the outcome of the meeting of the Consortium as the aid was increased by US$l5 million from the aid pledge for 1992.
Amnesty international says in a report released on 21 June that it is concerned over the arbitrary arrests of hundreds of Tamils in and around Colombo. According to the human rights agency based in London, it is common for Tamil people in Colombo to be stopped by police and detained for questioning if they are not carrying identity documents, if they are visitors or newly arrived in the city, or if they are only temporarily resident there. Amnesty has also referred to complaints about police officers requiring payments from relatives to secure release of the prisoners and arrests of people regardless of whether they could demonstrate long-standing residence and employment in Colombo and regardless of whether they were in possession of identity documents.
A landmine killed six senior Sri Lankan military commanders, including northern Army Commander General Denzil Kobbekadua at Araliturai on Kayts Island west of Jaffna peninsula on 8th August. Jaffna Army commander Brigadier Wijaya Wimalaratne and northern naval Commander Commodore Mohan Jayamaha were among the dead.
Member of Parliament Joseph Pararajasingham told a visiting three- member Swiss government delegation in late July that conditions in Sri Lanka were not conductive for the return of asylum seekers from other countries. According to the visit, the Swiss government intends to begin returning Tamil refugees in the next two months. There are over 25 000 Tamil refugees in Switzerland and they are to be repatriated in stages.
The Sri Lankan military assault on the Jaffna peninsula launched in May continued throughout June. Iyakkachchi and Paranthan areas north and south Elephant Pass came under intensive aerial bombardment and shelling from camps devastated other areas. The government appears to have decided to pursue a military solution.
Petrol arrives into the |Peninsula via Elephant Pass for the first time after lifting of the fuel embargo by the Government. Government Media reports that two fishing boats were hijacked off the cost of Kalpiyiya by unknown persons, after attacking the ten occupants. Militants suspected. Security forces in patrol boats and aircrafts are making a search.
A helicopter gunship circling over Sri pathirakali Amman Temple in Thavadi North opens fire at hundreds of devotees assembled there to participate in the annual "Sithithiraikanji Utsavam". Devotees stampede and run for shelter. Mrs S Navaratnam (45) of Thavaddy North is injured and admitted to Jaffna hospital. It is reported that part of the temple buildings were also damaged.
Colombo July 11, That Indo – Lankan relations are at a low ebb. Is well known but it is by no other means a simple relationship of hatred or fear as I learnt when I was detained earlier this week for four-and-a-half hours at the police station at Paddukai, a small town 20 miles from Colombo.
