Sri Lanka News
,28th March 1997
One of India's most reputed Sri Lanka watchers, Prof. V. Suryanarayan of the University of Madras, who visited the Jaffna peninsula recently has noted that since his earlier visit to the area in mid-1996 when there were complaints about shortages, spiralling prices and black-marketering, the situation had now definitely improved.
In an article titled "Jaffna revisited" which appeared in the Hindu of March 23rd, Suryanarayan observes that "essentials such as boiled rice, vegetables, sugar and kerosene were freely available though at a price a little higher than in Colombo" and that " the Government was maintaining buffer stocks which meet the needs for two months".
He confirms that " the traditional agricultural products of the region - chillies onions, potatoes and tomatoes were being transported to Colombo". Suryanarayan who stayed over-night in Jaffna and visited government, NGO, religious and academic establishments including the Jaffna University notes that they "were able to move freely and listen to the views of ordinary people", adding that "despite the presence of the army, the people talked to us freely".
The article notes that "isolated incidents of rape and physical violence do take place and there have been a number of 'disappearances' also", while "the LTTE continues its usual tactics of provocation in order to create friction between the army and the people".
Suryanarayan who observes that "however these attempts have not succeeded so far and generally the people feel that the soldiers conduct themselves fairly well", also remarks that "the army has definetly become more professional".
Emphasising that"people are slowly returning to Jaffna and that if more ships and planes made available the return of the people will gather momentum" the Professor remarks that "unfortunately 300,000 persons are still trapped in the Vanni area".
He observes that "unhappy with the abysmal living conditions and dis-illusioned with the LTTE's strong arm tactics, a few days ago 215 people had fled the LTTE controlled areas and arrived at the Colombothurai Jetty in 19 boats".
The article further states that " the educational scene is gradually improving with 87% of the schools functioning and that the University is also functioning normally".
Recalling that during his previous visit the laboratories were devoid of equipment because they were all taken away by the LTTE, he notes that some equipment had arrived while some others are being sent.The Tamil newspaper 'Uthayan' has resumed publication and has a circulation of 13,000, while a few copies of newspapers published in Colombo are flown to Jaffna everyday.
Commenting on the prospects of a credible political alternative to the LTTE emerging in Tamil areas, Suryanarayan observes that despite still being "respected by the older generation", "the TULF is reluctant to go to the Jaffna peninsula". "Mr. Douglas Devananda and the EPDP have returned to Jaffna and are trying to consolidate their base"and is "evincing a keen interest in improving the living conditions of the people". He concludes that "the battle for the hearts and minds of the Tamils can be won only if the military pressure on the LTTE is backed by substantial political initiatives".
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