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Another pothole on long road to peace
Both the government and the LTTE yesterday gave their own interpretation of what led to the LTTE to abandon the sea journey which was facilitated by the government. The LTTE had requested sea movement for its eastern leaders to meet in Kilinochchi for consultations prior to the Geneva talks.
Following are the texts of the Government statement and the LTTE letter to the SLMM Chief.

Government statement:
“The LTTE has unilaterally decided to abort the sea movement for 32 of its leaders to meet for consultation prior to the forthcoming Geneva talks, despite all efforts of the GOSL to facilitate this sea movement.

“The GOSL in response to a request by the LTTE to transport 32 of its leaders from the East to meet the leadership in Kilinochchi, proposed a sea movement and offered the use of a Sri Lanka Navy Ferry for this purpose. The LTTE were not agreeable to this offer.

“The GOSL thereafter offered the use of a civilian ferry operated by the Sri Lanka Central Transport Board (SLCTB) in Trincomalee escorted by SLN craft. Following detailed consultations between SLMM Head Maj. Gen. Ulf Henricsson and the LTTE in Kilinochchi on April 12, 2006, agreement was reached to proceed with the sea movement along the lines of the second GOSL offer. It is recalled that the GOSL made a sincere effort to accommodate the LTTE despite a string of provocative attacks carried out against the Security Forces.

“On April 13, 2006 the SCOPP Secretary General together with the Navy Commander formulated a detailed itinerary for the sea movement which was communicated to the SLMM the same day. The civilian ferry was to transport 32 LTTE leaders from the North for disembarkation at Illankanthai and Vakarai, and return to Mullaitivu with another 32 LTTE leaders from the East. The conditions for movement were clearly stipulated -- that the civilian ferry will be escorted by SLN craft to ensure its safe passage. This was in keeping with the SLMM determination of February 7, 2006, which states that the LTTE has no legitimate right to be at sea without prior authorization approved by the GOSL.

“Further to this, due to the fragile security situation in the East SG/SCOPP discouraged the use of surface transportation for LTTE leaders between Kokkadichcholai and Vakarai in the Batticaloa area. However, disregarding this recommendation the LTTE insisted on effecting a surface movement in the Batticaloa area using SLMM vehicles. The Security Forces in Batticaloa were thrust upon the burden of an added risk factor in this extremely volatile security environment. However, to facilitate the sea movement and in the interest of the Geneva talks the GOSL accepted the surface movement as well.

“On April 14, 2006, the SLMM submitted a document titled SLMM Instruction for Sea Movement 15-16 April. This detailed the procedure for the proposed movement which was agreed by both the GOSL and the LTTE. The SLMM instructions explicitly state that two SLMM monitors will be on board SLN ships following the sea movement.

“It is therefore, clearly established that in terms of the agreed arrangements that the SLN will escort the civilian ferry. “The GOSL regrets the decision of the LTTE to abort the sea movement after partially boarding 30 LTTE leaders to the civilian ferry off the coast of Mullaitivu. The LTTE has cited the presence of SLN craft as the reason for the cancellation when in fact the SLN escort was specifically indicated in the agreed procedures submitted by the SLMM. The LTTE is demonstrating a lack of serious commitment by finding excuses at every turn to delay the talks. This is another case in point in a series of events that have been used to further delay participation at the talks.

“In addition the LTTE has intensified unprovoked attacks on the Security Forces in the last few weeks claiming lives of over 30 Security Forces and Police personnel. This afternoon a claymore mine fixed to a tractor parked outside the Vavuniya airport exploded killing five soldiers and injuring eight.
The GOSL has demonstrated extreme restraint in the face of such callous provocations in the interest of giving the peace process every chance of success.”

LTTE statement:
"We write to bring to your immediate attention the events that have taken place today, April 15, 2006 at the Mullaitivu shores, as our commanders were readying for their sea journey. These events were in total contradiction to the agreement between SLMM and us as set out in our letter to you dated April 13, 2006.

"We have repeatedly brought to your attention and to the attention of the Norwegian Ambassador and the Norwegian Special Envoy, the importance of a meeting of the central committee of our leadership. In order to hold such a meeting its members need to travel from the east to Kilinochchi.
"You are also well aware that the GOSL dragged its feet for one month without giving a favourable reply for the transport of our commanders. You are also aware that this attitude of the GOSL created a difficult situation for our leadership.

"It is in this state of affairs that you came forward, to make immediate arrangements on your own, to transport our commanders without the involvement of the Sri Lankan Navy. You also agreed that our commanders will travel from shore in our own vessel up to the ferry arranged by the SLMM and then the commanders will travel in the vessel arranged by SLMM without any presence or interference of the Sri Lankan Navy.

“You also gave us your word that at the destination end a similar procedure will be followed.

"Our commanders came to the Mullaitivu shore ready to take up the journey trusting your promises. When we arrived we were informed of two new rules. These are:

1. We cannot go up to the SLMM arranged ferry using our own vessel but a civilian boat must be arranged to go up to the SLMM arrangement ferry; 2. The SLMM arranged ferry must be treated as an LTTE vessel and therefore the Sri Lankan Navy must escort it.

"We also noticed four Sri Lankan Navy vessels parked close to the ferry arranged by SLMM. LTTE members who had boarded the SLMM arranged ferry prior to the boarding of our commanders also noticed that the captain of the SLMM arranged ferry was taking instructions from the Sri Lankan Navy about every move that the ferry was making.

Sri Lankan Navy contacted the captain of the ferry arranged by SLMM more than 20 times during this time when the ferry was waiting for the commanders to come on board. As there was a slight delay in the arrival of our commanders the Sri Lankan Navy again hurried the ferry captain to move without the commanders.

"These excessive interference by the Sri Lankan Navy in the sea transport of our commanders, in total contradiction to the prior agreement with you, have made us lose faith in the promises made by SLMM. It has also brought to the open the anti-peace-talks stance of the GOSL and the Sri Lankan military.
"These have angered and disappointed our leadership and at the same time made it impossible for our leadership to meet and discuss issues prior to the Geneva talks.

"The incidents at the Mullaitivu sea has clearly demonstrated the duplicitous position of the GoSL of showing on one hand that they are ready to come to the peace talks and on the other hand acting against the CFA agreement and taking all possible action to stop the LTTE from attending the Geneva talks.
"We strongly suspect that the latest act of GOSL is aimed at worsening the situation by rejecting the goodwill measures already in existence since the signing of the CFA and acting against the CFA.

"We wish to emphasize that today’s incident has put into question our decision and subsequent efforts to go to Geneva and that the actions of the GOSL and Sri Lankan military is the reason for this unfortunate situation."

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