TNA condemns Chelvanayakapuram killings

[TamilNet, Sunday, 10 July 2005, 17:14 GMT]
The Tamil National Alliance (TNA) Sunday condemned the Chelvanayakapuram killings and said that the motive of the attack is the disruption of the ceasefire agreement. "The government cannot be unmindful of its obligation to take the maximum possible measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur. It is necessary for the Government to take steps to erase the impression of collusion or complicity in such attacks," said in the press release signed by Mr.R.Sampanthan, TNA parliamentary group leader.

The full text of the press release follows: -

A grave incident has occurred in Trincomalee Sunday where four unarmed persons two LTTE cadres and two civilians have been gunned down and killed while they were inside a house within the Uppuveli Farm Complex, and yet another civilian grievously wounded in the course of the same attack.

Access to and exit from the scene of shooting is possible by passing through several checkpoints manned by the security forces, and other security personnel deployed on the public highway. Such security arrangements have been strengthened in Trincomalee in recent times.

The attack has occurred in government-controlled territory.

The motive of the attack is the disruption of the ceasefire agreement. The apparent collusion of at least sections of the security sources in such attacks gravely damages the sincerity of the Government's commitment to the ceasefire. The continuance of such attacks periodically, has the potential to cause irretrievable damage to the ceasefire agreement.

The government cannot be unmindful of its' obligation, to take up the maximum possible measures to ensure that such incidents do not recur. The government is obliged to do so under the ceasefire agreement. The government is also obliged to do so, in order to ensure that the peace process does not break down. It is necessary for the government to take steps to erase the impression of collusion or complicity in such attacks.

The Tamil National Alliance while condemning the attack calls up on the government to take immediate action to ensure that such attacks are brought to an end.