LTTE REFUSES TO MOVE FROM THE ILLEGALLY BUILT MILITARY CAMP IN SRI LANKA GOVERNMENT CONTROLLED AREA DESPITE SLMM RULING
By Walter Jayawardhana reporting from Los Angeles
July 03.08.15 AM:Trincomalee LTTE authorities have indicated to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) that they would not move from the new military camp they had illegally built in the Sri Lanka government controlled area despite a ruling given by the Trincomalee office of the monitors against it.
The Deputy Head of the SLMM Hagrup Haukland said that they were anxiously waiting until the illegally built rebel military camp was removed since the land on which it was built was within the Government of Sri Lanka controlled area.
He said the military camp, newly built at MANIRASAKULAM (Wan Ella-Kinniya), in the Trincomalee District was a violation of the Ceasefire Agreement.
But the official news website of the LTTE, the Tamil Net , quoting the LTTE’s official stand on the issue “warned of grave consequences if the Sri Lanka Army advanced “ in to the area.
LTTE’s political area head, S.Thilak was quoted as having said that they had not received the SLMM report. SLMM monitors also reportedly rushed to the area.
Haukland said during the inquiry in to the complaint the LTTE produced a map on which the newly built camp was situated and that it tallied with the SLMM map. Accordingly, it was decided that the camp had been built on the Sri Lanka government controlled area.
He said in the spirit of the ceasefire agreement the LTTE would accept the verdict of the Trincomalee office of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM). Otherwise the matter would be taken up with the higher authorities of the LTTE in Kilinochchi, he further said.
Army authorities also have reported that from the same area of Manirasakulam their troops on duty had heard sounds of small arms and mortar firing , June 29, at 10.00 a.m. The army said, “These sounds of explosions were suspected to have originated from LTTE training activities.”
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission’s Trincomalee office in a letter date June 30 told the LTTE that the building of the military camp on Wan Ella in Kinniya was a violation of the ceasefire agreement between the Sri Lanka government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
The letter further said, “Where forward defense localities have been established, the GOSL’s armed forces and the LTTE’s fighting formations shall hold their ground positions, maintaining a zone of separation of a minimum of six hundred (600) meters. However, each Party reserves the right of movement within one hundred (100) meters of its own defense localities, keeping an absolute minimum distance of four hundred (400) meters between them. Where existing positions are closer than four hundred (400) meters, no such right of movement applies and the Parties agree to ensure the maximum possible distance between their personnel.
“ The Parties shall not move munitions, explosives or military equipment into the area controlled by the other Party.
“Based on information submitted to SLMM
- Map provided by LTTE showing LTTE controlled area,
- The Statement of LTTE commander of Wan Ella camp and,
- The Grid reference for the Camp (confirmed by GPS) taken by SLMM.
“After verification of the camp’s position by SLMM, it is concluded that;
“The Wan Ella camp is newly established and, that it is located in GOSL controlled area.
“Therefore, it is a violation of the ceasefire agreement.
“SLMM sees that it is important to point out that in order to maintain the atmosphere of good will between the involved parties, it is necessary to act within the spirit of the cease-fire agreement. In order to achieve that, it is expected that LTTE will remove this new camp, which is established in GOSL area.”
Meanwhile the Hindu news paper said, “ Military observers see this LTTE move as a prelude to the setting up of a possible transit point for the land movement of its cadres from the East to the North.”
Meanwhile finding an excuse for the defiance the Tamil Net also said, “Sri Lanka Navy had earlier violated the MOU by establishing a new SLN camp at Gopalapuram in the North of Trincomalee District and the SLMM should ensure that the SLN’s Gopalapuram camp is dismantled first before asking the other party to the MOU to follow suit.”
