ProTEG News Letter

ISSUE 151                                                                                    FEBRUARY 2005


OfERR’S RESPONSE TO TSUNAMI AFFECTED PEOPLE IN TAMIL NADU


It is 11.00pm, the moon is already out and shinning in the Pudukuppam village devastated by the Tsunami in the Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu, India. OfERR volunteers are still talking to some of the people there. All are in a pensive mood when one young man says " For us, the Tsunami struck only once and we have lost everything, but for you, your difficulties are so much. First you had the war, and had to leave home and run without anything. Now you are in the refugee camps with hardly anything to live on. Apart from this many of you have lost your family to the Tsunami in Ceylon. I feel that what has happened to us is not so big as what has happened to you all. Yet you all come to console us, great is your strength to give. We feel so much privileged to be talking to you all.

Sudden calamities like the Tsunami need emergency responses. In India OfERR joined the many organizations to provide immediate help to the survivors and to dispose the bodies of the dead. OfERR was able to do this with the help of hundreds of dedicated grass roots OfERR volunteers who fanned out to the difficult places in the Tsunami affected areas of Tamil Nadu.

Being an organization that could respond quickly to calamities, OfERR motivated refugees close to the affected areas to rush in and do what was possible to help victims. Within an hour many refugee volunteers were on the field. In Perumalpuram camp in Kanniyakumari District the refugees helped in evacuating the people from the coastal fishing village and accommodating them in the camp. The people from many refugee camps collected whatever relief items they could contribute to distribute them to the affected areas.

THE NEED FOR COUNSELLORS:

The process of rescue and relief went on for some days until the government on the 3rd January made a public appeal for counselors. It was then that OfERR realized that the proper moment had come for OfERR and the refugees to demonstrate their gratitude to the people of Tamil Nadu. These are the people who once welcomed us, gave us space and shared their resources with us. Today they are our own family and we wished to help our brothers and sisters. OfERR thus, engaged in the most important process of giving psychosocial help to the victims affected by Tsunami.


OfERR’S RESPONSE:

Rising to the occasion, OfERR immediately called on the Tamil Nadu Revenue Minister and produced their psychosocial help training records and offered to help. The Minister and all those with him were overwhelmed and requested us to proceed to the worst affected Nagapattinam, Cuddalore and Kanniyakumari districts and report to the respective District Collector after speaking to them over the phone. The Collectors then referred us to the concerned officers and our volunteers were immediately assigned the task of visiting many difficult areas where others were reluctant to go.

OfERR volunteers completed the process of visiting and making assessment in many badly affected remote fishing villages that had been devastated by the Tsunami. They spent hours speaking to the victims who were still in a state of shock and despair and submitted detailed reports to the Nagapattinam and Cuddalore Collectors. The reports proposed many ways in which OfERR and the refugees could render meaningful service. Over a period of time they planned to bring them back to the vibrant way of life they were living prior to the Tsunami.

The most important need of the day was psychosocial help as assessed by OfERR, the Government functionaries and other Social Organizations. Relief items were pouring in and in some areas these items piled up. The distribution process continued but remote and difficult areas need to be better served. But the victim – the human being was totally in a state of shock, disoriented and dejected. Most of them lived by the sea. They were either frightened of the sea or hated it for having swallowed up their loved ones. The children who watched the Tsunami strike did not want to go anywhere near the sea. Young men, who were breadwinners, just kept gaping at the sky or did nothing and were idle. Women sobbed when asked what happened and so on. Since most families had lost some one in the family they had no one to console them. Some were not even crying. It was feared that it could result in posttraumatic stress disorder. Thus OfERR got on to the second phase of its services by providing psychosocial help in the three districts of Tamil Nadu. They are in Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Kanniyakumari. (The detailed reports on the services carried on by us at Nagapattinam, Kanniyakumari and Cuddalore districts will be covered in our next issue.

Apart from this OfERR also sent some of its graduates from the camps to participate in a needs assessment study of the Tsunami affected persons conducted by the Tamil Nadu Schools of Social Work (TNSSW) in collaboration with Tata School of Social Sciences (TISS). Some of our graduates from the camp were part of this study. They were out in the field along side the social work students collecting data. 21 graduates from the camps were involved in this process.

INDIA, LARGEST RELIEF DONOR TO SRI LANKA

International support is pouring in to the tsunami-battered Ceylon, but as in other affected areas across the region, co-ordinating the relief efforts remains a daunting task. “India’s contribution of $22 million has by far been the largest so far in cash,” Sri Lanka’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, told the Hindu before his departure to Jakarta. On the quantum of the total external assistance so far, he said, “any figure will be misleading “ at this moment. In addition to the financial support, India has sent its naval ships and several relief shipments. Conservative estimates place the aid flow at Rs. 500 million. In addition to governmental contributions, massive material aid, and individual contributions and off – the shelf relief is in full swing by international NGO’s. Planeloads of assistance have also been flown in.

Along Ceylon’s devastated eastern coast, the Indian Navy’s “operation Rainbow East” is in full swing, bringing relief and providing a range of assistance work to the affected areas. “There has been overwhelming generosity and concern, not only by Governments, but by individuals as well,” Mr. Kadirmgamar said. Officials are yet to quantify the inflow. With roads, railways and bridges damaged, the Foreign Minister said, “ there is a lot of infrastructure work “ to be done. The Government has fixed January 15 as the date for this massive effort to begin. The statistics of devastation also continue to pour in with every passing day.

A total of 30, 196 persons were killed and 3,846 are missing, according to statistics by the Social Welfare Ministry. Rehabilitation of the displaced people (8,34,849) and rebuilding the more than one lakh shattered houses are yet to begin. A total of 88,022 houses were destroyed and 25,731 houses partially damaged, the Ministry said. The financial impact of the losses has not been estimated. The President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, who initially placed the losses at “less than Rs. 100 million” has placed three Task Forces to oversee disaster management, rebuilding and logistics.

INDIAN HIGH COMMISIONER VISITS AFFECTED AREAS

The Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Nirupama Rao, visited the tsunami-affected eastern districts of Batticaloa and Trincomalee to assess the relief requirements and meet Indian personnel. A total of six medical teams are deployed across the southern and eastern coasts. The Sri Lankan forces are providing security for the Indian relief workers. A northern segment of the eastern coast is under the control of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). In the eastern Batticaloa district, Indian doctors treated over 1,300 patients. Several naval helicopters have been deployed to ferry the relief teams. The Indian Air Force’s Dornier and IL–76 aircraft have also landed planeloads of supplies.

NO PROBLEMS ABOUT U.S TROOPS IN SRI LANKA FOR RELIEF WORK, SAYS INDIA

India has no problems about American troops performing relief operations in the tsunami-affected Sri Lanka, the Foreign Secretary, Shyam Saran, has said. In response to a specific question on how India viewed the presence of U.S. troops in Sri Lanka, Mr. Saran said the tsunami was a major disaster and India was already helping the people in the island nation. “If the U.S. believes they can contribute, they can contribute, they are most welcome,” Mr. Saran told press persons. According to him, there was no “misunderstanding’’ between India and the U.S. on the presence of American troops in Sri Lanka. The disaster was of such a magnitude that any assistance provided was welcome. India and the U.S. should not get in each other’s way, he said. There was “good and close cooperation” between the two countries. Asked if India was providing relief material to the LTTE - controlled areas in Sri Lanka, Mr. Saran said that New Delhi was funneling all supplies through the Sri Lankan Government, which, in turn, was providing relief to those living in the Tiger – held areas. India had been very successful in dealing with the crisis unleashed by the December 26 tsunami.

Reports that Indian efforts were wanting were “completely misplaced. In fact, the opposite is true,” he said. On India’s decision not to accept direct aid from foreign governments, Mr. Saran said this was not a dogmatic position. As and when India felt that it could benefit from the assistance of friendly countries, this position could be reviewed. Also, India felt that since it could deal with the crisis on its own, international aid could go to other countries such as Sri Lanka, Indonesia and the Maldives.

SRI LANKAN RADIO RETRACTS REPORTS ON PRABHAKARAN

The Sri Lankan Broadcasting Corporation (SLBC) has retracted its report that elusive Tamil Tiger head Velupillai Prabhakaran and his intelligence chief Potu Amman are among the dead or missing in the tsunami disaster. The state broadcaster had run reports on its English and Tamil language services that the two men had not been seen since the tsunami struck the island on December 26, killing more than 30,000 people. The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) slammed the broadcaster for carrying the reports, saying, “now was not the time for gossip mongering and malicious propaganda.” “The LTTE and the Tamil people wish to strongly protest against this mischievous act of the SLBC, stooping down to such low level of broadcasting news that is fabricated by interested parties,” a LTTE statement said. The SLBC offered no reason for its retraction of the report.

ANNAN WILL VISIT LANKA AGAIN TO CELEBRATE

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, who could not visit the tsunami-hit areas in the LTTE held Vanni region, expressed his desire to come back and visit every part of Sri Lanka to celebrate peace. I am hoping to be able to come back and visit all parts of the country to celebrate peace,” Annan told reporters in Colombo while answering question after the LTTE expressed disappointment for not visiting areas under its control in the North.

Asked whether his decision not to visit the LTTE - held areas could hinder the work of several U.N. agencies there, he replied in the negative. “I hope not. We all should not forgot that I am here only for less that 48 hours and done quite a lot during that period not only in meeting the people, but also to sense what is happening and what is required. I think the U.N. has had very good relations with the people, the NGOs and the government. I intend to keep it that way including with the LTTE,” Annan said. Claiming that “the U.N. is not a one man show”, he said that the world body has lots of people working very actively in assisting a spectrum of people in the country. The U.N. Secretary General visited the Southern Galle and Hambantota and Eastern Trincomalee districts but his itinerary prepared by the Sri Lankan Government did not have room for him to visit the rebel-held areas. Commenting on his visit, he said the natural disaster has transcended all the division that had remained in the country for so long. He said he was impressed to see the people belonging to various communities living together at the makeshift camps.

‘ENSURE AGAINST CHANNELLING AID THROUGH LTTE’

The Janata Party President, Dr, Subraminian Swamy, has urged the centre to ensure that the aid agencies in Ceylon do not channel the aid given in the wake of the tsunami disaster through the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam or its outfit, the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO). In a statement Dr. Swamy said the United Nations had to be warned of this possibility considering what happened in the oil-for food project in Iraq during the Saddam Hussain regime. According to Dr. Swamy’s information, 80 per cent of the LTTE’s ‘Sea Tiger” naval flotilla, which had been harboured in Mullaitheevu area, had been destroyed in the tsunami.

CHANDRIKA’S GESTURE

The Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, has said she will adopt a Tamil girl victim of the tsunami disaster, the state – run Daily News reported. The details of the Tamil girl child to be adopted by the President, who is a mother of two children, were not given. After visiting the tsunami hit eastern coastline, Ms. Kumaratunga had said one of her most touching moments was meeting an orphaned Tamil girl. “She has lost her entire family, I felt I should bring up that child myself,” the President had said.

INDIAN ENVOY HANDS OVER RELIEF IN JAFFNA

As part of India’s assistance to tsunami-hit Sri Lanka, the Indian High Commissioner, Nirupama Rao, visited the northern Jaffna peninsula and handed over relief supplies. Mr. Rao, who surveyed the affected areas, including Kankesanthurai and Point Pedro harbours, discussed possible steps in rehabilitation and reconstruction during a briefing by the civil and military authorities there. The High Commissioner handed over 12 tonnes of relief supplies, donated by the Confederation of Indian Industry.

PRABHAKARAN ‘PLAYING POLITICS’ IN PROVISION OF RELIEF: KARUNA

The former military commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), V. Muralitharan (‘Col.’ Karuna) has charged the LTTE leader, V. Prabhakaran, with “playing politics” in the provision of relief aid to the tsunami victims and “continued child conscription.” In his condolence message to the tsunami victims, ‘Col. Karuna - who rebelled against the LTTE last March and subsequently left for an undisclosed destination called for unity “to build our homeland, unmindful of caste, creed, ethnicity or religious differences”. Col. Karuna was the LTTE’s Special Commander for the eastern Batticaloa and Amparai districts – two of the 13 Sri Lankan districts that bore the brunt of the December 26 Indian Ocean tsunami.

Expressing regret that he was unable to be with the people “due to the traitorous plots” of the LTTE leadership, ‘Col.’ Karuna said his supporters were “doing their best” to assist the affected. “Unfortunately, at this hour of biggest calamity of such stupendous nature, I am unable to be with you, due to the Vanni group,” he said, referring to the LTTE, led by Prabhakaran. Describing Prabhakaran, as one who “had never in his life participated in the service of the people,” he said: “In the guise of protecting orphaned children, he is bent on conscripting our children to his armed forces and this must be halted at any cost.’’

‘Col.’ Karuna’s charge of the LTTE’s continued child conscription is close on the heels of a similar statement by the UNICEF, which said there were reported cases of child conscriptions after the tsunami. The LTTE objected to the UNICEF’s remarks and said the group was not consulted by the global organization before making the charges.


On allegations by “many volunteers from international agencies” that they “are being prevented by the terrorists” to work in rebel-held areas, ‘Col.’ Karuna said the “Vanni gangs are demanding the relief materials be handed over to them for distribution.” The tactics was “to deprive hundreds of victims of tsunami who are struggling to get one square meal a day,” he said. Prabhakaran is “playing politics with the foods and medicine needed desperately by our people. While killing our people who are sons of our soil, Prabhakaran’s group is appealing for fund and relief materials from foreign countries in the very name of our people,” ‘Col.’ Karuna said. He also urged expatriate Tamils to channel their donations “only through internationally recognized charity agencies” and said the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization “has been a front organization to collect funds to the killing machines of the Vanni group.

“LTTE RECRUITING TSUNAMI – AFFECTED CHILDREN”

The Liberation Tigers of Tamils Eelam (LTTE) in Sri Lanka are recruiting children affected by the tsunami for use as soldiers, Human Rights Watch said. It said the Tamil tigers, who were already recruiting large numbers of child soldiers, now may seek to replace forces lost in the tsunami with child recruits. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reported three cases of Children recruited from camps for tsunami survivors in Batticaloa and Ampara. Human Rights Watch has received additional information on LTTE recruitment of children in Trincomalee and Jaffna. “The Tamil Tigers are preying on that most vulnerable by taking advantage of children who have been orphaned or displaced by the tsunami,” said Jo Becker, children’s rights advocacy director of Human Rights Watch. “Every effort must be made to stop this unconscionable recruiting from families who have already suffered so much.

At a relief camp in Trincomalee, a 16-year old boy, who had been recruited prior to the tsunami and later escaped, told credible sources that he witnessed the LTTE recruit three girls from the camp. In Jaffna, independent human rights monitor documented LTTE recruitment of two 13-year-old boys on January 3. Human Rights Watch has found that the LTTE often used threats, intimidation and even abduction to bring children into its ranks.

‘OPPORTUNITY TO REVIVE SRI LANKAN PEACE PROCESS’

The Sri Lankan peace process has a “remarkable opportunity” to be revived, said the General Secretary for Coordinating the Peace Process, Dr. Jayantha Dhanapala, in Colombo. At an official press conference organized by the Board of Investment to outline the national recovery plan, Dr. Dhanapala – a former U.N. diplomat, who is the highest Government official in the peace process, said the revival of the peace process “remains a priority” and the December 26 Tsunami had led to the belief that “we have to unite and act together.” To a question he said the peace process “has a greater opportunity to be revived.” Referring to the various instances of ground-level coordination and the contact established between the Government and LTTE peace secretariats, Dr. Dhanapala said: “There is a great base on which we can work together.’’

Asked to comment on the contradictory positions expressed by the LTTE that relief assistance was not reaching the affected in rebel-held areas, he admitted that “accessibility” was “retarded in the first few days,” pointing out that even advanced nations, such as the U.S. in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attack on the World Trade Centre, had similar problems, Dr. Dhanapala said “this has now been rectified.”

Pointing out that the cease-fire agreement was very much intact, he said, “the prospect of a return to war is more distant.” “ We must not run before we can walk,” he said. Asked to comment on the LTTE’s position that Mr. Annan’s inability to visit the affected areas in rebel-held areas was a “setback” to the peace process, Dr. Dhanapala said: “we have noted that statement. We hope the LTTE will not act precipitously. We continue to be in touch with each other.” The Foreign Secretary, H.M.G.S. Palihakkara, said Mr. Annan’s schedule during his visit to the Tsunami-affected was arranged by the Foreign Ministry and the U.N. and had included one place in the North-East (Trincomalee) and one place in the south (Hambantota).

The LTTE tonight released photographs of Prabhakaran addressing a disaster management meeting where he drew a parallel to the decades long separatist conflict and the tsunami. “If the subtle destruction of our homeland before December 26 could be defined as tsunami One, for the Tamil people the tragedy that struck on December 26 is just another Tsunami, the second tsunami,” the LTTE peace secretariat quoted Prabhakaran as saying.

U.S. MARINES WILL NOT STAY “LONGER THAN NEEDED”

The U.S. Marines who are deployed in Sri Lanka for humanitarian relief operations will not stay longer than required, said the visiting Deputy Secretary of Defence, Paul Wolfowitz, in Colombo. “We don’t want to stay here longer than we are needed, most certainly not longer than we are wanted,” he told a press conference at the conclusion of his visit. Mr. Wolfowitz visited the tsunami – affected Galle district and met President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, whom he described was “very much on top of the situation.’ He said he was “Impressed’’ by the “resilience” of the people of Sri Lanka in the reconstruction of the tsunami lashed coastline. Around 700 U.S. Marines and two positioning ships were in Sri Lanka to carry out humanitarian assistance, he said.

OfERR (CEYLON) SECRETARY PASSES AWAY

OfERR (CEYLON) lost one of its stalwarts of many years when Mr. Eelathunathan passed away on Wednesday January 12th after a brief illness. He was among those who helped establish OfERR and ProTEG in India. Later when OfERR (CEYLON) was registered in 2004 in Colombo he was elected as its first secretary. He put his heart and soul to get OfERR (CEYLON) started and moving. With OfERR India secretary Miss. Sooriyakumary he helped open field offices in Vavuniya and Trincomalee. Mr. R. Sampanthan, Mr. K. Thurairatnasingham, Mr. Mavai Senathirajah and Mr. N.N. Raviraj, Jaffna District Tamil national Alliance (TNA) paid homage to the departed veteran Tamil activist. The funeral was held on Sunday 16th January evening amid large crowd at the Trincomalee Hindu cemetery. Mr. Eelathunathan was an active member of the IIankai Thamilarasu Katchchi (ITAK) and a founder member of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF). Mr. R. Sampanthan, Secretary General of the TULF and the parliamentary group leader of the TNA with TNA MP Mr. K. Turairatnasingham paid homage on Saturday by placing a wreath. Leading members of the TULF in Trincomalee district also participated in that event.

The hearse carrying the casket covered with the TULF flag was taken in a procession from Mr. Eelathunathan’s residence, which is located in Abeyapura, Trincomalee through inner harbour Road, Thirugnasampanthar Road, Huskision road and Main Street to the Hindu Cemetery, where the rites were performed. Among the chief mourners was Miss. S. Sooriyakumary who read out the condolence message of OfERR leader S.C. Chandrahasan.

OfERR (CEYLON) COORDINATES TSUNAMI RELIEF

During the 1st week of January, OfERR staff in Ceylon worked on

 Persuading the students to get ready to go to school.

 Persuading families whose houses were partially damaged to get back to their houses so that the number of people occupying school building that were housing Tsunami victims will be reduced.

 Collecting statistics on affected school going children.

 Meeting the Village officers (who are the persons responsible for the village administration) Head masters, Principals and Teachers at their residences to gather information on the schools and needs of the affected children.

Having gathered the information relating to the school needs of the affected children, orders were placed to purchase notebooks and other school requirements. OfERR (CEYLON) was ready for notebook distribution to about 7000 affected school children in Town and Gravet and Utchaveli divisions of Trincomalee district.

Before starting distribution, OfERR had a meeting with the Zonal Education office and apprised them on the work being carried out. They invited OfERR to participate in the Education Task Committee meeting. Accordingly on the 16th of January OfERR (CEYLON) participated in the Education Task Committee meeting at which representatives of the Education Zonal office, UNICEF, Navy and the Army were also present. The Agenda of the meeting was:

 To explore and to find ways to reopen the schools that are being occupied by the affected people. At the time of the meeting, people affected by the Tsunami were occupying five schools.

 Repairs to school buildings, furniture and fittings.

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 Distribution of notebooks and other school kits.

OfERR has taken on the responsibility of finding ways to help restart three schools. At this juncture Mrs. Gabrial Representative in charge of Trincomalee UNICEF mentioned that GTZ has already given notebooks for 21 schools in Trincomalee region and hence not to go ahead with the distribution until this matter was finalized with them on the following day.

Thus OfERR volunteers have been engaged in meeting the Principals / Head masters, Teachers of the schools allotted to motivate all affected students to return to schools and continue their education without a break. At the same time OfERR volunteers met with the parents and children to motivate all affected students to return to school and continue their education without a break. OfERR volunteers also helped school authorities to clean up the class rooms and the school premises which accommodated Tsunami victims and then distribute free note books to the needy children to ensure that all the children return to their books.

Meanwhile, OfERR has been taking up the issue of building temporary sheds for those whose houses were completely destroyed. At the meeting with the Government Agent, Trincomalee on the 19th of January, it was decided that OfERR (CEYLON) will be taking the responsibility for putting up 1180 houses in Utchaveli Division, and 1320 houses in the Town and Gravet and Seruvilla Division. At this meeting, the Navy Officer (ADS) was also present. The government had decided that no permanent or semi permanent houses should be built within 200 meters from the sea. To those affected by this decision the government is expected to give alternate places for construction of houses.

The capacity of OfERR (CEYLON) to be able to deploy 50 field workers at short notice, the commitment of such workers, their sustained work among the victims, the speed at which OfERR was responding and performing, and the demonstration of skill and years of experience in rehabilitating victims of disaster, had greatly impressed not only the beneficiaries but also the Government Authorities. This may explain why the Government functionaries are entrusting more and more work and responsibilities to OfERR. OfERR is happy that its volunteers rose to the occasion, to help its fellow men and women cutting across race, religion and caste. OfERR (CEYLON) hopes to continue its humanitarian services with greater vigor in the days to come.

CHANDRIKA THANKS INDIA

The Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, today met a group of Indian Naval and Army personnel, engaged in relief operations along the tsunami-devastated coastline of the island-nation. During the nearly 30- minute meting at the President’s House, Ms. Kumaratunga conveyed her personal gratitude and that of the Sri Lankan Government and people to the Indian officers and men for their “unstinting” help rendered since the disaster. Ms. Kumaratunga, who noted that the Indian defence personnel were the “first to arrive in Sri Lanka for humanitarian work immediately after the tsunami,” praised their “immense” contribution to the relief work.

The Indian relief operations, which commenced on the evening of December 26, included a range of work, including supply of medical assistance, pitching tents and setting up relief camps, transporting personnel to the tsunami – hit areas. On the technical front, the Navy, cleared and opened the southern Galle port. The navy at the Colombo also conducted post-tsunami hydrographic surveys and Galle ports and the maps handed over to the Sri Lankan Government. Indian army engineers also built bridges to link the devastated districts to the capital Colombo and other areas. The relief operations had come in for wide praise and appreciation across Sri Lanka.

The Indian High Commission in Colombo said Ms. Kumaratunga “expressed the hope that further possibilities of cooperation between India and Sri Lanka in the fled of rehabilitation and reconstruction of the tsunami- affected areas would be worked out in the near future.” The Indian high Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Nirupama Rao, the Indian Defence Adviser for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Suraj Bery, were present at the meeting during which the members of the Indian Defence team briefed Ms. Kumaratunga on the work done and shared their experiences from the tsunami-affected areas.

LTTE COMPOUNDS PROBLEMS FOR PEOPLE OF MULLAITIVU

The scenes of tsunami devastation in Mullaithivu, on the northeast coast, are similar along the southern coast, home to dozens of fishing villages and most of Sri Lankan’s beach tourism. But the high cost of war, and the resulting neglect of infrastructure, compound problems in areas held by the Tamil Tigers.

In the now abandoned town of Mullaithivu, some of the few remaining buildings, including the post office, are pockmarked by bullets from old firefights. Rebel-held areas have little or no electricity, though large generators supply a few hours’ worth of power at night in Killinochchi, an inland town that serves as a political head quarters. Roads with potholes slow down traffic, and there is little sign of large-scale construction or development, even though the Government has some restrictions on trade with rebel-held territory since the cease-fire. The Government has tried to prevent the sale of batteries and remote control devices for televisions, fearing they could be used by the Tamil Tigers to make bombs.

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