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| Sunday, 23 May 2004 |
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LTTE blames 'sinister element' by Rashomi Silva Amidst renewed efforts by the Japanese and US diplomats to restart peace talks, more killings and disturbing incidents were reported from the East. The LTTE facing the blame on a 'sinister element' trying to disrupt its working relations with the Army. Early this week a Corporal attached to the anti subversive unit of Batticaloa Police was shot dead by an unidentified gunman when he was coming out of a sub post office. He was admitted to the Intensive care Unit of the Batticaloa hospital but died immediately succumbing to fatal gun shot wounds. Police charged LTTE for the killing and said the investigations were going on. The LTTE Batticaloa office, however denied any involvement in the killing of the Police intelligence official and said it was an attempt by 'some sinister element' to disrupt the working relationship between the government forces and the LTTE. It announced they would honour the recent agreement with the Army on 'Preventing further killings and increasing investigating cooperation between the two parties'. A routine Navy patrol on Monday spotted a five fibreglass dingy boats off Sampoor bay with armed men on board and some men on the beaches of the restricted harbour area. The boat crew were said to be engaged in illegal fishing and had opposed to the pursuing of the trespassing boats. The Navy has informed the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) but was disappointed at their delayed arrival. According to the military sources, by the time the SLMM arrived in five boats and 30 odd men were present on the beach. The SLMM however ruled out the possibility of ceasefire violation and said by the time monitors arrived there were only two men on the beach and no boats could be traced by them. During the latter part of last week nine more killings were reported to take place in the Eastern Province, the place of killing was however still remains a disputed issue, with both the Army and the LTTE claiming that it took place outside the territory of their control. The victims were supposed to be members of the Karuna faction. Among other minor incidents reported during last week were spotting of few armed youths in government held areas in Akkaraipattu and Chenkaladi. The youths were arrested for questioning by Akkaraipattu and Ampara Police. The investigations are going on, Police sources said. In Mannar a youth named Sahaya Seelan, an employee of a video shop was assaulted and abducted by an armed gang. According to the eyewitness, an LTTE cadre named Maran was among the assaulters. The LTTE Wanni leadership in an apparent attempt to win back international favour they once lost declared their intention of instituting a Human Right Unit in the LTTE Peace Secretariat. The former rebel organisation came under heavy criticism from both local and foreign HR activists for its arrogant attitude towards HR issues. In a recent meeting with Ian Martin the HR advisor to the peace process LTTE political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvam said, the LTTE intends to institute a Human Right (HR) unit in the LTTE peace secretariat. "This would evolve as an integral part of the envisaged HR commission of the Interim self Governing Authority", (ISGA) the LTTE official web site 'LTTE peace secretariat.' quoted Thamilselvam as saying. According to the website, Thamilselvam had observed that most of the HR violations in North and East were due to the occupation of public and government buildings by the security forces and due to the presence of the High Security Zones (HSZ). "Implementing Ceasefire Agreement (CFA), translating all the promises made therein to actions would go a long way in restoring the deprive Human Rights of the Tamil people", Thamilselvam said. When contacted by 'the Sunday Observer' security forces refuted the complains and maintained that the CFA is honoured by the armed forces. According to the Military spokesperson Col. Sumedha Perera the troops have vacated 'almost all' public and government buildings in North-East, except those in the 'High Security Zones'(HSZ). The vacations were carried out according to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the government and the LTTE in 2002. "We have been experiencing a no war situation for past two years but yet there are national and security interests we have to consider", the spokesperson added. Meanwhile Former military spokesperson and the Commanding officer of the 52 division, Brig. Sanath Karunaratne was appointed as the director operation, to the Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOOP) the Army announced. SCOOP sources also said with the taking over of the new chief of the peace secretariat, Jayantha Dhanapala a former UN official a revamp is expected to take place shortly. Letters of 'Termination of Contract' will be sent to the entire SCOOPE staff and new appointment letters are likely to be sent for those who are selected to be retained, the sources disclosed. |
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