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Entrapping civilians to protect the military – GoSL style

Background:

Since 12 August movement into and out of the Jaffna peninsula has been blocked by the Sri Lankan military. If this is the situation in the Jaffna mainland, one can imagine the fate of the people living in the islets off the coast of the Jaffna peninsula.

The events in Allaipiddy, one of the islets, must be viewed against this extreme blockade of all the islets. Allaipiddy has seen two massacres, on 13 May and then again on 15 August. This was followed by the disappearance of the Allaipiddy Catholic priest Fr Jim Brown on 23 August. Fr Jim Brown disappeared because he demonstrated courage in the face of threats by the Sri Lankan military. Rumours were floating in Jaffna that the Jaffna Bishop is thinking of recalling all his priests back to his main centre for their own safety.

Most of the people in the islets off the Jaffna coast are Catholics. Catholicism was brought to these people by the first colonizers, the Portuguese almost 500 years ago. Throughout history, Catholic priests have been a tower of strength for these people in the face of Sri Lankan military excesses.

It is no wonder that people in the islets want to move out of the islets and into the main land given the above. What does the Sri Lankan military do? It stops them from moving out. Why? Because if all the people move out there will be no human shield to protect the military.

In a similar blockade, the villagers in the village of Manalkadu in the eastern coast of Jaffna are also entrapped and are not permitted to move out of the area by the military. People are frightened that the military is going to use them as human shield.

29 August 2006

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