Jaffna tense as SLA cordon, searches continue

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 December 2005, 12:14 GMT]
Tension prevailed in Jaffna as Sri Lanka Army (SLA) soldiers cordoned off and searched several villages in Jaffna district including Kachchai area in Thenmaradchy, Ariyalai in Jaffna, Myilankadu in Valikamam North, Erlalai North and Mandan in Vadamaradchy area, Wednesday morning as the troops continued their security operations for a second day, sources in Jaffna said. Early reports said seven youths have been detained for futher questioning by the SLA in Mandan area. However, the SLA has not officially released any information on the detention.

Meanwhile, two families resettled in Ariyalai after living in Vanni have registered complaints with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) of SLA harassment.

Sriharan Rajagajan (24), a Tamil youth who was arrested by the SLA in Kondavil Tuesday and later released in bail by Jaffna magistrate, had asked for protection from the Jaffna office of the Sri Lanka Human Rights Commission. Mr Rajagajan noted in his complaint that SLA arrested him in revenge and that he has received death threats after he was released in bail.

Meanwhile, in a communique distributed to the Jaffna media and to the SLMM offices in Jaffna, an organzation called "Roaring Peoples Force" claimed responsibility for the recent attacks against SLA troops in Jaffna district. The organization has warned that the attacks will intensify if SLA continues to roundup and harass civilians.

Posters condemning the paramilitary Eelam Peoples Democratic Party (EPDP) leader Douglas Devananda and demanding Sri Lanka Army to leave Jaffna were pasted overnight on street walls in several parts of Jaffna.