| Govt acted with extreme flexibility in face of attacks - SCOPP
Colombo: The Government had displayed extreme flexibility to facilitate the sea movement of 32 LTTE leaders in the face of provocations by the LTTE, in order to encourage the LTTE to attend the peace talks in Geneva, the Government Peace Secretariat (SCOPP) stated yesterday. "It is hoped that the LTTE will respond positively by attending the talks as scheduled," the Secretariat said. In a news release, the SCOPP said a detailed debriefing of the incidents surrounding the sea movement of LTTE cadres in preparation for the forthcoming talks in Geneva was held yesterday. At this debriefing the Sri Lanka Navy established the following sequence of events relating to the sea movement. a) The civilian ferry that was made available by the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) to facilitate the sea movement was boarded at Trincomalee at 6 p.m on Friday 14 April by Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Naval Monitors and a thorough inspection was conducted. The SLMM monitors remained on board the ferry. The ferry with the SLMM Naval Monitors arrived at a location 5 nautical miles off the coast of Mullaitivu at 4 a.m on Saturday 15 April 2006. b) Consistent with the agreed procedures in the written arrangement submitted by SLMM on 14 April to SCOPP titled, SLMM Instructions for Sea Movement 15 -16 April. It is specifically stated in Section (i), Subsection 3, that two SLMM Naval Monitors will be on board Sri Lanka Navy craft following the sea movement. In pursuant to this provision SLMM Naval Monitors were stationed on board Sri Lanka Navy craft. It is therefore, clearly established in accordance with the agreed procedures that Sri Lanka Navy craft will escort the civilian ferry. c) By 6.am the civilian ferry approached the coast of Mullaitivu but had to remain at a point approximately 3 nautical miles off the coast as the ferry was not equipped with a radar system. The Master of the ferry was uneasy about moving it closer to shore as he had limited knowledge of the sea-bed conditions in the area. d) The LTTE agreed to conduct the transfer at 3 nautical miles and some members of the LTTE boarded the ferry at this point using small boats/dinghies. Although the number agreed for the movement was 32, it is understood that a number closer to 40 had boarded the ferry. The boarding should have been completed by 7:00a.m. in accordance with the agreed procedures relating to the sea movement. Though inconsistent with the procedures the boarding continued till about 9:30 a.m. e) The civilian ferry not being equipped with a radar system was unable to navigate in these unchartered waters which are known to contain several ship wrecks. The naval vessels provided navigational instructions on the international maritime frequency (channel 16) in order to assist the civilian ferry to a point closer to the Mullaitivu shore. These instructions were given in the presence of the SLMM Naval Monitors on board the Sri Lanka Navy craft. At no point was it suggested by the SLMM Naval Monitors that such navigational instructions were a problem. f) At one point the LTTE dispatched several armed boats out to sea, breaching conditions of the ceasefire agreement as well as the agreed procedures for the sea movement. It is understood that following a protest by the SLMM Monitors the LTTE armed boats were recalled. It is noted that the determination of the SLMM on 7 February 2006, states that the "LTTE has no legitimate right to be at seas without prior authorization approved by the GOSL." g) All communication between the Sri Lanka Navy craft and the civilian ferry concerned navigational instructions and were done in the presence of the SLMM Naval Monitors on board the Sri Lanka Navy craft. The Sri Lanka Navy confirmed that at no stage did any naval craft ask the civilian ferry to depart Mullaitivu. The communication between the Sri Lanka Navy craft and the civilian ferry occurred in the presence of the SLMM Naval Monitors at all times. h) The arrangement relating to the sea movement developed with the good offices of the SLMM clearly stipulated that the civilian ferry will be escorted by the Sri Lanka Navy. The Sri Lanka Navy craft at all times maintained a distance of 3 nautical miles from the civilian ferry and during embarkation process at Mullaitivu maintained a distance of 5 nautical miles from the shore. When on one occasion a Sri Lanka Navy craft which had drifted away from the ferry was returning to position still approximately 3 nautical miles from the ferry, it ceased this movement at the request of the SLMM Monitors. i) After the LTTE cadres disembarked and when the SLMM members onboard confirmed that the mission had been cancelled, the Sri Lanka Navy was informed by the SLMM to leave the location. The Government has reiterated its commitment for the continuation of the peace process despite repeated provocative attacks on the Security Forces by the LTTE. "The Government has demonstrated extreme restraint in the face of such callous provocations in the interest of giving the peace process every chance of success," a Government statement issued on Saturday said. Sources close to the Government peace delegation dismissed allegations by LTTE political wing chief S.P. Thamilselvan that the Government was not keen on truce or peace talks. They said it was the LTTE which had put truce talks in jeopardy by unilaterally cancelling its sea transport arrangement for Eastern leaders despite assurances for their safety by the Government. The talks were scheduled to be held on April 24 and 25 in Geneva. DAILYNEWS, 17.4.2006 |