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| Sunday, 16 March 2003 |
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Security |  |
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SLMM report ready before Hakone Talks by S. Selvakumar The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) will submit its report on the sinking of an LTTE vessel off the seas of Mullaitivu last week, before the commencement of the sixth round of peace talks in Hakone, Japan, on Tuesday. The sinking of the LTTE vessel by the Sri Lanka Navy has led to many misunderstandings between the government and the LTTE now engaged in peace talks. The Navy claimed that it had information that the LTTE vessel was smuggling arms to the LTTE while the latter insisted the ship was carrying civilian cargo. The SLMM sensing the severity of the incident came forward to investigate the matter and submit a report. SLMM sources said that two teams have been appointed to inquire into the matter. One team will visit the Navy vessel Sayura and interview her captain and other naval personnel who were on board at the time of the incident. Another team is already in Jaffna to meet with the LTTE and that team will later travel to Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu for further investigations. Sources said that the investigations are mainly aimed at recommending ways and means to prevent future incidents of this nature. The team has already viewed the video tape of the incident recorded by the Navy and is due to examine the damages caused to Sayura. Meanwhile, on the conflicting views expressed by various parties on the LTTE participation at the sixth round of talks, the TULF said yesterday that under no circumstances the LTTE will abandon the peace talks. "Similar reactions do occur in tense situations but both sides must find ways and means to avoid repetitions of this nature and should stick to the peace process to find a lasting solution to the twenty years old ethnic strife. |
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