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Borders and blockage GoSL style - never mind the civilians

Blockage layer one

If the Northeast was a separate state, it would have its own sea port and airport that will be the basis of connecting the Northeast to the rest of the world. Without this Northeast could be connected with the rest of the world only through Colombo and thus Colombo has the ability to cut off Northeast from the rest of the world. The different highways entering Northeast from the rest of the island are under the control of either the LTTE or the SLAFs. Either way these highways leading into LTTE areas can be blocked by the SLAFs. The SLAFs checkpoints (see map) achieve this purpose.

SLAFs also need to keep open the access to areas in the Northeast that is under its control. Thus the SLAFs Omanthai checkpoint controls access to Vanni the vast area under LTTE administration at the southern end and the checkpoint at Muhamalai controls access to Vanni from Jaffna which under the control of the SLAFs.

Batticaloa presents a different situation. While the vast inner areas of Batticaloa district are under LTTE administration, Batticaloa town along the beach is controlled by the SLAFs. The Batticaloa town is connected with the inner areas of Batticaloa by ferry services at several locations along the Batticaloa lake. There are SLAFs check points at the town side at each of these ferry ports. SLAFs uses the Habarana – Valaichenai road for access to Batticaloa. Thus while allowing goods to flow to Batticaloa town, it can control the flow of goods to LTTE areas of Batticaloa at SLAFs checkpoints along the lake at each ferry port.

The LTTE administered areas of Trincomalee are also blocked by similar check points at, Mahindapuram and Kaddaiparichchan.

Blockage layer two

During Eelam War II in the 90’s SLAFs used the checkpoint controls to block even medicines reaching the people in LTTE administered areas. People in these areas have traumatic stories of not even having Panadol to alleviate pain. The blockage of medicine in the 1990’s was highlighted by INGOs like MSF working in the areas at that time.

The CFA signed in 2002 listed the checkpoints that are to be maintained and also recommended the easing of the checking and free flow of civilian goods through these checkpoints.

Over the past few months, contravening the recommendations in the CFA, SLAFs has started to impose restrictions of cement, building material, and fuel to LTTE administered areas.

Cement and building materials

Although cement was allowed in for INGO projects and GoSL approved projects private citizens and local NGOs who contracted jobs from INGOs could not buy building materials. Many INGOs implementing tsunami rebuilding projects in Mullaitivu, Sampoor in Trincomalee, and Vakarai in Batticaloa and several other areas have abandoned their projects due to cement and building material restrictions. All private building of residential homes of offices has come to a stand still.

Fuel

When news sound bites hit the media that there is fuel shortage very few readers will comprehend the full implication of it in the LTTE administered areas. Majority of the LTTE areas are not connected to the national electricity grid. The limited electricity is provided by fuel powered local generators. When fuel is in shortage electricity supply is immediately affected.

The immediate and most serious casualty of fuel restriction is hospitals. Operating theatres, laboratory testing equipment, cooling fans, and many facilities in hospitals are immediately affected. Patients, especially the poor, struggle to take sick family members to hospital by three-wheelers because there is no fuel.

Farmers are the next most serious casualty, especially during times of sowing and harvesting. Schools and other educational institutes suffer. Work in all civilian offices come to a standstill with no electricity to fuel the computers and travel problems affecting everyone traveling to and from work.

Is it really necessary for the GoSL to enforce fuel restrictions?

Blockage layer three – border closures

At the next level of blockage, the SLAFs has closed all checkpoints leading into LTTE administered areas in the north, effectively closing the northern borders. Coming over and above the other two types of blockage this has put the civilians in the LTTE area in a state of siege affecting their life in all aspects. The worst is access to major hospitals.

Hospital access

All hospitals at district and regional levels in the LTTE area are poorly resourced in equipment, material and staff. This in itself is a deliberate policy of the GoSL. As a result all seriously ill patients are transported to District hospitals in Jaffna and Vavuniya. Doctors in Kilinochchi say that prior to the closure of borders their ambulance makes 7 or 8 trips daily to these hospitals each time carrying around 7 or 8. In other words around 50 patients are transferred to hospitals in Jaffna and Vavuniya from LTTE administered areas. Similar situation prevails in Trincomalee and Batticaloa.

Therefore the closure of northern borders in terms of health service for the people in LTTE administered areas is equivalent closing a major hospital of the people without making any alternative arrangement. Potential for health related tragedies are enormous.

Employees access

Many teachers in various fields have been making regular trips to LTTE administered areas from GoSL controlled areas of Vavuniya and Jaffna to conduct classes. Closure of border therefore badly affects education of children.

Blockage layer four - 24 hour curfew

Since 12 August, Jaffna was under 24 hour curfew for almost a week. Since then curfew is lifted for just 2 hours everyday. Yet, the time of lifting curfew is varied for different parts of Jaffna preventing people from traveling afar even within Jaffna. Many civilians in Jaffna said that although there was no fighting in their area they have been house bound by the curfew for no apparent reason.

Health disasters visiting seriously ill patients who are unable to visit hospitals is not hard to imagine with such long 24 hour curfews. Over and above that the split lifting of curfew at different times in different parts of Jaffna is designed to keep the people restraint with a small area. Why is this?

End result

This four layered health, education, and economic siege of LTTE areas by the GoSL is pushing the civilian life into a crisis situation. The siege has been increasing in severity over a period of time has reached intolerable levels.

Stories of large scale killing and disappearance in Jaffna which was under 24 hour curfew is starting to filter through. This is reported in a separate story. Also reported is the troubles faced by the ICRC that is trying to reach some of the badly affected people in Jaffna.

Displacement caused by shelling and bombing throughout Northeast worsens the travails of civilians already affected by the multi-layered blockage. Nearly 50,000 people displaced to Eechilampathu, Kathiraveli and Vaharai by the recent clashes following the Mavilaru crisis are even without food. People their say that there are no INGOs attempting to come to their area to relieve their plight. Their story is reported separately.

23 August 2006

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