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News

When the Tigers stripped the scribes
By Anthony David in Kilinochchi

Journalists being held back till Tiger leaders leave the news conference (left) and (above) Tigers registering journalists before they were screened
Pix by Gemunu Wellage

After an overnight stay at venues provided by the LTTE in Kilinochchi for visiting local and foreign journalists, the stage was set for Wednesday's news conference. An air of uncertainty prevailed as journalists kept guessing about the time of the conference with LTTE cadres tight lipped about the venue and the time.

The visiting journalists were brought to the head office of what the LTTE calls the 'Thamil Eelam Economic Development Organisation' at Vaddakachchi, about 10 kilometres from the Kilinochchi town. Journalists were brought in there as early as 7 a.m. Speculation was rife that the LTTE would trigger off a surprise as they were known to do. The sound systems were in place and a table was arranged for a news conference where a senior LTTE member was scheduled to give a pre-briefing about the news conference to be given by the LTTE leader - the first in 15 years - later in the day.

Sudha, head of the Tamil Eelam Administrative Branch, assisted by Pulithevan the translator, explained procedures for the news conference. Journalists who had already made arrangements to provide live coverage of the event were disappointed when they were denied permission for live coverage. Some of the foreign journalists who were armed with satellite phones were told no phones would be allowed to the venue - because the LTTE feared the location of the news conference could be identified. These were some of the early setbacks the journalists faced.

Torture ride on A9

For civilians living in the LTTE-controlled areas, transport facilities are at their minimal. For those who want to travel out of the LTTE-controlled areas, it is still more difficult. The roads have not been maintained for more than 20 years. Shells, mortars and landmines have badly damaged the road, making it difficult for vehicles to travel.

The Road Development Authority has moved into repair the A9 road, the main route that links Jaffna with the rest of the country through the LTTE-controlled areas, but yet the process may take well over six months. Besides the bad state of the road, the lack of buses also add to the hardship of the people in the area.
Vans converted into buses carried more than 80 passengers at a time - three times their passenger capacity. Goods are loaded on the hood.

A large parcel or a bicycle the passengers carry on the hood costs them Rs. 100 in addition to the ticket. A ride for about 50 kilometres costs the passenger about Rs. 120. Journalists travelling back after the news conference addressed by LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran witnessed one of the packed buses heading for Mulliyaweli from Vavuniya. We also saw a bus that had a puncture around midnight.
The passengers said they had to travel another 25 kilometres and they expected to reach home around 2 a.m.

Among the stranded passengers were women and children and some of them were returning from Colombo. The buses are operated with the permission of the LTTE and the owner of the bus is required to pay a tax to the LTTE. The conductor is an LTTE member who is paid by the bus owner. Passengers have no authority to complain.

"We will take you back to the place from where you will be leaving within 15 minutes," Sudha said, but still declined to give details of the time or venue of the news conference. But, waiting journalists were told to immediately begin registering their names and then get themselves checked to leave for the news conference, triggering off speculation that the event could take place around noon.

Journalists representing various media groups were interviewed separately to decide as to how many of them could attend the conference. This was after Sudha warned that they would have to limit the number of journalists at the news conference. Some of media organisations were told that they had too many journalists. We were told only a reporter and a photographer will be allowed from one organisation. The registration process began followed by equipment-checking session. It was around 11.00 a.m.

Journalists were told to line up for the checking of their equipment. The process was slow with detailed checking of the equipment. Cameras were dismantled. Lenses were removed, flash guns were checked.
Some of the photographers were questioned as to why they needed two cameras or why were they carrying two flash guns. Some heavy photographic equipment was weighed to make sure they did not contain any unusual gadgets.

Tape recorders were carefully inspected and LTTE cadres carrying out the checks made sure they used the play and record buttons. Journalists were told to hand over the note books and pens to them on the promise that they would be returned before the news conference began. Pens fell into the hands of LTTE cadres who checked them carefully. Some journalists who had several pens were asked why they were carrying "two or three pens." While the checking was on, the journalists were videoed and photographed by the LTTE.

Cameras, video equipment, pens, note books recorders were all taken into the custody of the LTTE. Every item was put into in plastic bags with tags. The journalists were served with lunch and refreshments. The checking procedures went on for more than four hours. This is because the LTTE had to screen more than 200 journalists and every equipment they carried.

Then began the body checks in batches. The checks were detailed and in sharp contrast to the security checks carried by the VIP security in Colombo. More than 50 LTTE cadres had been assigned that job. They searched the hair for any equipment which could be used for communication and possibly for any electronic devices which could be used to detect the location.

Some of the journalists were provided cool drinks, despite their reluctance and were told that there was no hurry and they could take their own time to drink it. But it was part of an LTTE ploy to see whether any of them were nervous. Some of the journalists' nails, toes, ears, teeth and even the nerves were checked. Wrist watches were taken over and they turned the time to see they were working and ensure no communication equipment or other devices were planted in them.

Shoes, socks and belts were checked in detail. The LTTE cadres spent 10 to 15 minutes on one journalist. The journalists who were screened were then kept under close watch until they boarded the buses for travel. At least 10 cadres were watching you at any given time. One of the journalists who passed the body check was nearly rechecked when he spoke to his driver. He was spared only after one of the LTTE cadres confirmed that the journalist had not taken anything from the driver. Journalists were handed over their equipment, note books and pens as they boarded the bus.

All journalists were driven to the heavily guarded venue of the news conference - the Tamil Eelam political school. Heavily armed Tigers in camouflage uniforms stood guard while refreshments were being served. The LTTE chief arrived there at 5 p.m., according to the LTTE watch. The LTTE does not follow the 30 minutes change in the clock which President Kumaratunga introduced to save electricity. At the end of the news conference, journalists were held back by armed LTTE cadres for 15 minutes as they were making way for the LTTE leader to flee to safety.

The LTTE chief spokesman explained to the journalists they had to take strict security arrangements particularly after deep penetration groups had infiltrated into LTTE controlled areas and carried out attacks. Some of the journalists waited three days for the conference by camping in the Kilinochchi area where the conference was held while others travelled at least a day ahead for the event after passing through the routine checks, beginning from Omanthai.

The LTTE's Vavuniya office was accepting the names of the journalists where the procedures began. Journalists, keeping with traditions followed by the other visitors to the office, took off their shoes before entering the place. Journalists, both from the local and foreign media were expecting a rough journey for the meeting with Mr. Prabhakaran for twin reasons; one the meeting was the first to be held in 15 years and the other was it was being held against the backdrop of the current peace process.

But some of the security precautions were unusual and were a clear message that the LTTE would not take any chances even if they deal with journalists. Perhaps, the LTTE has learnt a lesson from the assassination of the Afghan Mujahideen leader Ahmed Shah Masood who was killed by two persons who posed as journalists.

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