23rd June 1996

Jaffna: picking up the bits and pieces

By Anthony David in Jaffna

Devastated houses, shops and key buildings in Jaffna are more than enough evidence to get and idea of the destruction. But a chance to speak to the war-weary people who have borne the brunt of the conflict gave us an opportunity to understand their experiences and expectations.

During a visit to Jaffna last Tuesday, we saw life in Jaffna return to normal but civilians feel there is a long way to go before civil administration is fully restored.

Most of them hardly know little about the devolution package being debated in Colombo and feel that little or nothing would be offered to them after the military gains full control of the peninsula.

The people are no longer paying 'taxes' to the LTTE. They are happy about it. But many do not openly admit it as they know LTTE men have infiltrated the area and are around. With the LTTE having dominated the area since the mid-1980's it is not surprising that there was still some sympathy towards the rebels. As a senior military officer based in the North put it, "One in every three people here has been involved with the LTTE, but we are only monitoring the situation and will take action only if they resort to militant activities."

"It was only last week that a father of a hardcore LTTE member walked into my office with the photograph of his son and said 'shoot him wherever you see him'," said.

The incident illustrates the change of attitude towards the LTTE to an extent, but it was not the attitude of at least some of the civilians we spoke to in Jaffna town and in Point Pedro.

However people said they appreciated the conduct of the army and the manner in which operation 'Riviresa' phase I,II and III were conducted and the manner in which the army from the level of officer to soldier are treating them.

"Even if they (soldiers) make the slightest mistake they apologise to us and are very helpful," says T. Swarnalingam, a private tuition master, in Jaffna town.

Another retired government servant, M. Sambasivam, describing the change of attitude of soldiers, said he had been living in Jaffna during all operations conducted in the mid-1980's including the IPKF operation, but this was the first time that soldiers' behaviour was at its best.

But isolated incidents against civilians, could not be ruled out. Three women whom we met in the Palaly hospital in Point Pedro claimed they were raped by a group of soldiers on May 17. Although it could not be verified the isolated incident may stand in the way of winning the hearts and minds of the population trying to make a come back to normal life.

On the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the north, the government estimates that initially Rs. 13,000 million would be needed and foreign assistance has been sought. But the top priority of the civilians seems to be food and medicine. Many of them are not satisfied with the way the government is handling food distribution through the Co-operative Wholesale Establishment (CWE).

"The CWE is rationing goods, but blackmarketeers are buying them using their influence and spending their money. They sell the stocks outside at very high prices. particularly when it comes to areas, out of Jaffna, where the army is not present, prices are exorbitant," a farmer R. Kuwaneshwaran said. The rice prices vary from Rs. 35 to 100 per kilogram with red rice in high demand.

When the issue was raised at a press conference presided over by the Northern Province Rehabilitation Authority Chairman, Somapala Gunadeera his quick response was, "We would like to meet these people who complain about difficultes in getting rice. "He was told by a journalist, "They are outside your doorstep - you can go and meet them".

Outside in the market a bicycle tyre, one of the essential items for civilians in Jaffna is sold at prices ranging from Rs 600 to 1000 although the normal price should be around..............

Behind the high prices is obviously the problem of getting stocks into Jaffna, as all supplies need to be transported by sea or airlifted, in the absence of a land route.

Apart from the supplies there are administrative problems which may go unnoticed. Delays in settling these problems could bring about a loss of confidence among the people. The Jaffna hospital which was taken over by government troops in April is minus a surgeon, obstetrician, paediatrician and a gynecologist, according to the Director of the hospital, Dr. (Miss) N. Kanagarathnam.

Before the army captured the town the ICRC surgeon was available. But since the hospital staff shifted to Point Pedro during 'Operation Riviresa' the hospital no longer has the support of the ICRC.

The hospital lacks some vital medicines, and oxygen cylinders, which had been promised a month ago by the health authorities. Despite odds the hospital authorities have within two months put into operation 17 wards with 380 beds compared to the 30 wards and 1015 beds available in 1987.

The Jaffna hospital earlier had the facility of transporting the more serious patients to Colombo by ICRC ships. But since the ICRC does not provide this facility now, they are unable to transfer these patients, according to Dr. Kanagarathnam.

But in case of emergencies, the hospital has been given permission to make use of the Palaly military hospital. In Puloly, and Point Pedro the patients are more fortunate as the MSF and ICRC are assisting them to carry out surgery despite only seven local doctors of the original 35 doctors reporting to work.

Of the peninsula's 470 schools, 266 are functioning, according to Jaffna's Government Agent Chelliah Pathmanathan.

Almost all schools have an attendance of 40 percent while 60 percent of the teachers are turning up. The numbers seem same compared to the period when the LTTE were in control of the area. But the remarkable difference is that they have uninterrupted school hours, and study without fear.

One of the main obstacles in all these schools is the lack of science equipment. The equipment has either been damaged or plundered by the LTTE. According to T. Arulanantham, Princial of Jaffna Hindu College, one of the leading educational institutes in the north, the school needs about Rs. 10 million to bring things back to normal. But so far the Education Minister has promised only Rs. 35,000.

"There aren't sufficient desks, chairs and even the locks of the doors have been removed," he said. The nearby Jaffna Hindu Ladies College is in a similar state with hardly any books in the library and little equipment in the science laboratories.

Of the 73 teachers, 39 have reported to work and of the 2,056 students registered, 925 are attending classes, at this school. As the Jaffna peninsula limps back to normal, the administration needs to be steamlined to consolidate the victories of 'Operation Riviresa'.

With clear indication of LTTE sympathisers still remaining with the Jaffna peninsula, the government's administrative machinery should keep ticking efficiently just as the military were successful in the 'Operation Riviresa'. The victory gained by the Army should not be lost by a few bureaucrats.

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