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Seven month baby dies as GoSL closes border to LTTE areas

At midnight on 7 May for the second time in a fortnight GoSL closed borders to LTTE area without prior warning. The border checkpoints closed are, Muhamalai border checkpoint in north, Omanthai border checkpoint in south, Uyilankulam and Madhu border checkpoints in west and Vavunathivu border checkpoint in east.

Such closures have far reaching repercussions for civilian life as the death of baby Karunaharan demonstrates. Between 30 to 35 patients are taken across the borders in ambulances to larger hospitals in Jaffna and Vavuniya to receive treatment.

Many school teachers of schools in LTTE area travel from Jaffna on daily basis. The sudden closure prevents the teachers from coming to work forcing disruption to education.

Many civilians who crossed borders for their daily needs planning to travel back home will be stranded in the middle by such sudden closures of the borders.

The Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) postulates that the borders must be kept opened for civilian travelers. GoSL not only violates CFA but puts civilians at great perils and inconveniences by such sudden closure.

The latest closure of borders and the curfew in Jaffna have no justification at all except the two following reasons. Firstly, it can be interpreted as an effort to cover up the massacre of eight Hindu temple workers on the midnight of 6 May and to stop the discovery and retrieval of their bodies by the villagers.

Secondly, it is pure and simple revenge on the Tamil civilians who only are put in peril and inconvenienced by the sudden closure of borders to LTTE area.

08 May 2006

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