Jaffna Officials warned against LTTE contact

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Jaffna Government Agent (GA) Mr. S. Shanmuganathan, speaking at the opening ceremony of the Planning Secretariat in the Jaffna Kachcheri this morning around 10 a.m., said that the Jaffna Town SLA Commander has admonished him about government officials in Jaffna who meet the Liberation Tigers and take instructions from them.
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Refugees denied dry rations

[TamilNet, Friday, 03 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
More than 1000 civilians who were forcibly evicted by the Sri Lankan Army from the villages of Iththikkulam, Sinnakkulam and Maravattaikkulam south of Trincomalee last month are yet to be issued dry rations by the government authorities, said sources in Muthur.
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SLA warns against LTTE contact

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan security forces headquarters at Palaly in Jaffna issued a press note last night warning government officials and businessmen in the peninsula who provide assistance to the Liberation Tigers and take instructions from them.
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Search operation in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Thursday, 02 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army cordoned off and searched a large area in Jaffna comprising Manippai, Aanaikkoddai, Koolavady and Navaaly from the early hours of the morning today. The operation was on until 2 p.m. this afternoon.
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12 killed in Vadamaradchi

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Twelve bodies, suspected to be those of civilians killed in fighting in the Vadamaradchi East area in the Jaffna peninsula, were lying on the Vallipuram - Manalkaadu Road this morning, said sources in Jaffna. The bodies were decomposing and there was a strong stench said sources who visited the are.
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Six soldiers wounded in Jaffna

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 01 April 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Two SLA soldiers were wounded in a claymore mine attack by the Liberation Tigers on the Periyavilaan-Pandaththarippu road in Jaffna this morning around 7.30 a.m. However, according to unconfirmed reports from residents in the area, two soldiers were killed in the attack.
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Army withdraws from Vadamaradchi

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 31 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Army withdrew from several areas in Vadamaradchi east around 10.30 a.m. this morning according to latest reports from Jaffna. SLA troops which advanced towards Naagarkovil are still in the area said sources.
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Cuts in Chloroquine supply fuel Malaria epidemic

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Every day, at least five thousand civilians in the Vanni seek treatment for Malaria say medical sources in the north.
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Protest over transit delays

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A group of civilians staged a protest fast in front of the Vavuniya Kachcheri this morning from 8 a.m. demanding that the authorities should take steps to immediately send them back to Jaffna.
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Details emerge of SLAF bombing

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Further details emerged from the Vanni today about the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) bombing of Vattakkachchi and Kandawalai, villages east of Paranthan in Kilinochchi. Eight civilians were killed and many were wounded when SLAF Kfir jets bombed Vattakkachchi and Periyakulam yesterday.
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Arduous journey for Vadamaradchi travelers

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
More than 150 civilians from Vadamaradchi east were detained from 10 a.m. in the morning yesterday at the Vallipuram check point by the Sri Lankan army. The civilians were permitted to leave last night around 9 p.m.
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Air strike wounds 2 civilians

[TamilNet, Friday, 27 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Kfir jets of the SLAF struck again today in the Vanni, wounding two civilians. The jets hit the village of Naayaaru in the Manalaaru area this morning around 7.30 a.m.
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Civilians warned not to return

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army's 22 Brigade commander who is also the Co-ordinating Officer for the Trincomalee district said that anyone attempting to cross the Uppaaru lagoon will be shot at sight. He was responding to a query by TULF MP for Trincomalee Mr. R. Sampanthan about the forcible evacuation of Tamil and Muslim civilians from Uppaaru and other villages in Muthur at the District Co-ordinating Committee meeting held at the Trincomalee Kachcheri this week.
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SLAF jets kill 8 civilians

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Eight civilians, including a school girl, were killed and many were wounded when Sri Lankan Air Force Kfir jets bombed Vattakkachchi and Periyakulam east of Paranthan, this morning around 8.30 a.m, said latest reports from the Vanni. A fifty year old woman identified as Sellammah was blown to smithereens as a 250 Kilogram high explosive bomb exploded on her house, said local residents. Residents said that only a few pieces of the saree she was wearing were found on a nearby tree.
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Detentions at Valaichenai sports meet

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Several male spectators at the school sports meet of VivekananthaViththiyalayam at Kalmadu, near Valaichenai, 32 km north of Batticaloa, were detained by the Sri LankaArmy after a cordon andsearch operation at the school around 10.30 a.m. yesterday, said sourcesin Valaichenai.
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Reports in Sinhala hamper Jaffna judiciary

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The judges in the Jaffna courts are finding it difficult to carry out their duties as reports are being filed in the Sinhala language which they cannot comprehend, said M. Thirunaavukkarasu, the Mallakam judge, during a discussion yesterday with a delegation from the United States embassy in Colombo.
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SLA spearheads Sinhala Colonisation

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 25 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan army is continuing to forcibly remove Tamil civilians from their villages in the Muthur area, south of Trincomalee despite protests by Tamil Parliamentarians, said ex-militant Tamil groups in the eastern port town today.
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Six troopers killed in kodikamam

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers announced in the Vanni yesterday that one of their commando units had attacked a mini SLA camp in Kattaiaaru near Kodikamam in Jaffna killing six troopers,including a female soldier, and capturing weapons yesterday around 2.30 p.m.
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Unexploded bombs cause panic

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Eight 250 kilogram bombs dropped on the village of Vaakarai by the Sri Lankan Air Force Kfir jets on Thursday and Friday did not explode and are stuck in the ground, causing great panic among the people living in the area said sources in Valaichenai, twenty five miles to the south of Vaakarai.
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Police torture suspected in detainee's death

[TamilNet, Thursday, 19 March 1998, 23:59 GMT]
A person who was arrested by the Sri Lankan Police yesterday in Batticaloa was found dead in his cell. Sources in the eastern town said there is reason to suspect Police torture was the reason for the death.
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