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SLMM Head completes his four day familiarization visit to Kilinochchi

During the one hour meeting, the Sea Tiger commander explained, to the SLMM Head, the problems faced by the fishermen, the birth of the Sea Tigers in 1985 and its growth ever since. Col Soosai, explained how prior to the CFA the Sea Tigers posed a serious threat to the Sri Lankan Navy. He told the SLMM Head that 1500 Sea Tigers have died at sea and the Sea Tigers have sunk more than 40 SLN vessels at sea. Col Soosai told the SLMM Head, that given these facts, he is shocked and saddened that the SLMM had said that the Sea Tigers of the LTTE have no legal right of access to sea. Col Soosai also spoke about the stalling of construction work to build houses for the displaced due to the ban on cement and iron rods imposed by the GoSL.

Prior to this meeting on the same morning, the SLMM Head met the representatives of the Mullaitivu fishermen cooperatives in their office. The fishermen explained in detail the problems faced by them at sea at the hands of the SLN. They explained to the SLMM Head about, the SLN stopping the fishermen going further than 3 nautical miles into sea, harassment by the SLN, and the SLN deliberately damaging the nets of the fishermen.

On Tuesday afternoon, the SLMM Head, met the commander of the Northern front Lt Col Lawrence at 4.30 pm. Lt Col Lawrence brought to the attention of the SLMM Head, the recent frequent attacks carried out by the SLA on the Forward Defense Lines. He said that even on that same morning, the Nagarkovil FDL was attacked by the SLA and four LTTE members were killed. Following the meeting the SLMM Head observed the FDLs and the damages caused by the shelling of SLA over the last week.

During his four day stay in Kilinochchi, on Monday 30 May, the SLMM Head also met the Head of Police, Mr P Nadeson, at the Police Head Quarters and the Head of Justice Department, Mr Para at the Law College. The SLMM Head sought information on the work of these two institutions during these meetings.

The SLMM Head also visited two of the children’s homes functioning in Kilinochchi that cares for the children who have lost both parents due to the two decades of war. He visited Senchcholai children’s home run by the LTTE and Kurukulam children’s home run by TRO. He inquired about the facilities provided to the children for their education and about the sources of funding for running the children’s homes.

On his last day of the trip, Major General Henricsson met the Chairperson of NESOHR (North East Secretariat On Human Rights) and discussed the present situation. He then met representatives of TRO and discussed the ban on building material and its effect on the reconstruction work.

The final item in the itinerary of the SLMM Head was a meeting with the Political Head, Mr S P Tamilselvan.

01 June 2006

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