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ICRC South Asia head gives ‘A’ grade to ICRC-LTTE cooperation

Jaques de MAIO said that based on his twenty years of experience in conflict areas in many parts of the world, he would rate the LTTE as one of the best organization in terms the cooperation given to the ICRC. He said the LTTE as an organization gave priority for the work of the ICRC and never placed hurdles in the work of the ICRC. He added that the LTTE has demonstrated that it values the work of the ICRC.

The main agenda of the meeting, however, was to discuss the LTTE request to the ICRC to open the Uyilankulam border checkpoint in the Mannar district. The ICRC gave its formal response to that request at the meeting. The ICRC said that it is concerned about the security situation at Uyilankulam due to the potential of clashes intensifying at anytime.

Deputy Head of the LTTE Political Wing, S Thankan, explained the degree of urgency and importance of opening the border checkpoint. He pointed out, that many employees of the Mannar Government Agent’s office travel daily to work across this border checkpoint; that serious patients from LTTE parts of Mannar will be forced to take a much longer and arduous route to reach Vavuniya hospital by first coming to Kilinochchi; and the that transport of paddy harvested in the LTTE parts of Mannar must be transported through this checkpoint. Thankan then appealed to the ICRC again on behalf of the people of Mannar to keep the Uyilankulam border checkpoint opened.

The ICRC promised to keep the issue alive and consider the request.

The meeting was attended by the ICRC Head for South Asia Operations, Jacques de MAIO, ICRC Sri Lanka Head, Toon Vandenhove, and ICRC-Kilinochcho Head, Kadja Lorenz. From the LTTE side it was attended by Deputy Head of LTTE Political Wing, S Thankan, and Director of the NGO Co-coordinating Office of the LTTE, Pavarasan.

28 September 2007

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