Saturday, May 11, 2002
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By Nirupama Subramanian
The LTTE wants exclusive rights on the stretch of the A-9 highway that falls in its territory, a demand the Government has refused on the ground that this is an attempt by the Tigers to establish and legitimise a separate jurisdiction in the area under their control. As with all other aspects of the ethnic conflict, the victims are the civilians. Instead of the promised relief to travellers from northern Sri Lanka to the south and the other way after the opening of the road, the journey is a nightmare in the absence of through transport. Government-run Ceylon Tranpsort Board (CTB) buses cannot operate on the 70-km stretch of the A-9 between Omanthai and Muhamalai, which falls under the control of the LTTE. Passengers have no choice but to change as many as five buses to travel from Vavuniya to Jaffna. The first stop is at Thandikulam, the final army checkpoint on the Forward Defence Line (FDL), where passengers are registered and sent by a specially arranged bus flying an International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) flag across no man's land to the LTTE checkpoint at Omanthai. After being screened by the LTTE here, the passengers need to hire a vehicle to travel north up to Muhalamalai, the final LTTE checkpoint on the A-9. This could cost from Rs 150 to Rs 6,000, depending upon the type of the vehicle. Once again, they must disembark, change into a special bus that will take them across no man's land to the army FDL at Muhamalai. There, they need to hop off one more time and on to a CTB bus that can take them to Jaffna or other parts of the peninsula. Add luggage, babies, children and old people, and the whole trip is a daunting ordeal. The head of the Norwegian-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission was reported to be holding discussions today with the LTTE leadership to find a solution to the issue. When the dispute first arose, the monitors had ruled that the LTTE was violating the ceasefire by restricting free movement of passengers, and gave both sides a month to sort out the dispute. The deadline passed earlier this week. The Government has said that it is willing to consider an LTTE-run bus service on the stretch provided it is operated under motor vehicle rules prevalent in other parts of the country. ``We have indicated our flexibility on an arrangement for an LTTE-sponsored bus company, but they will have to comply with the gazetted rules of the country,'' said an official. At the moment, vehicles in LTTE territory carry "Tamileelam" license plates and are not registered with Sri Lanka's road traffic authorities. Officials said at the heart of the dispute was the LTTE's desire to assert the separateness of the territory under its control. For civilians, the sheer logistical difficulties of the journey are compounded by the LTTE "tax collectors'', who are reported to be charging a 25 per cent levy on goods people are taking into area under its control, especially on bicycles and essential commodities. Tamil sources said those travelling south are discovering that they have to give financial guarantees of their return and must obtain permits from the LTTE to leave. As a result many are now turning back to the air and sea routes, which are also procedurally daunting, but now seem more attractive given the complications of the land route.
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