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“CFA is at grave risk; SL government and military should act sincerely to salvage it”

“The cease fire agreement (CFA) is at grave risk and the Sri Lankan Government has the responsibility to salvage it from jeopardy by sincere attempts to implement clause 1.8 that prohibits the activities of armed groups in the Tamil homeland” said Mr.S.P.Tamilselvan, Head of the Political Wing, responding to the concern expressed by the Norwegian Deputy Ambassador and the Head of the SLMM in a meeting today 20 July 2005 at the Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi.

At the outset, the Deputy Ambassador said that the co-chairs and the wider international community is concerned about the deteriorating situation of violence in the Tamil territories.

“We respect the international community’s concern over the security situation and we do appreciate the interest shown by them in taking forward the peace process and giving effect to the post-tsunami management structure, but wish to make it clear that safeguarding the integrity of the CFA is in the hands of the government and its military” said Mr.Tamilselvan with a note of regret. “Armed violence against unarmed LTTE political activists and civilians is taking place in military occupied areas with the covert assistance of the military and therefore the government has the responsibility to ensure implementation of clause 1.8 of the CFA that prohibits the activities of armed groups” continued Mr.Tamilselvan.

“We are not asking for the moon; we only request that the government sincerely implement clause 1.8 to put an end to the accelerating violence perpetrated by these groups, which alone can ensure a violence-free environment” noted Mr.Tamilselvan. Referring to the travel arrangement for LTTE members, Mr.Tamilselvan insisted that free movement of unarmed members is an essential requirement for them to attend to periodical workshops and seminars with the leadership and the government should act without delay to implement the proposals submitted on 30 June 2005 in the wake of the land mine attack on the LTTE convoy in the military controlled area in Welikanda recently.

20 July 2005

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