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LTTE calls for opening Omanthai check point for seven days of the week

At present Omanthai check point is opened only three days in a week.

The one and only land route for civilians in Vanni is through the Omanthai check point and that is opened only three days in a week. Civilians of Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu and Vavuniya districts use the A-9 high way through Omanthai check point. Food and other items are also brought through this check point. Civilians face many difficulties as opening the check point is limited to only three days.

The meeting on opening Omanthai check point was held at 5.30pm on 23rd August at Tank View Hotel in Kilinochchi. Mr. S. Thangan, Deputy Head of the LTTE Political Wing and Mr. Pavarasan, Director of the NGO Co-coordinating Office of the LTTE met with the ICRC Country Director Mr Toon Vandenhove and ICRC Kilinochchi head Ms Kadja Lorenz.

At the end of the meeting Mr. Thangan handed over a letter requesting the opening of the Omanthai check point for seven days of the week. The excerpts of the letter are as follows:

"....This check point was opened seven days a week after the CFA was signed. However, it was closed briefly due to some unfortunate incidents and after negotiations with your organization it was opened for three days of the week. As soon as your organization made the decision to man this check point for only three days of the week, we urged you to reconsider the decision and open the check point for seven days of the week.

We wish to bring to your notice again that we have restructured our presence at the checkpoint and have also given detailed instructions and training to the personnel manning this checkpoint. The professionalism within our new structure at the check point to operate efficiently and safely for the sake of everyone passing through as well as those manning the check point has been demonstrated by its smooth operation since it was reopened.

In view of the repeated request from many community leaders, humanitarian workers, UN agencies and the Government Agent for opening this check point for seven days of the week, we request you to negotiate with the Sri Lankan military and man the check point for seven days of the week.

The available time for passing through the check point is inadequate to complete the passage of trucks carrying essential items. As a result only one third of the food items cleared by the Sri Lankan Defense Ministry is reaching Vanni. Given that this is a humanitarian access issue we urge to consider this request favourably...."

24 August 2007

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