SLN harrassment may lead to confrontation at sea- Thamilselvan

[TamilNet, Saturday, 14 June 2003, 03:48 GMT]
Thamilselvan, leader of the political wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) told head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) General Tryggve Tellefsen who led a delegation of SLMM members to Kilinochchi Friday that increasing intereference with LTTE vessels in LTTE areas, investigation of these vessels, and continued harrasment of sea-tigers will inevitably lead to confrontation if these SLN activities are not checked, local papers reported.

(Photo: LTTE Peace Secretariat)

Accompanying General Tellefsen to the meeting held at Kilinochchi Political Secretariat with the leaders of the LTTE which lasted two hours from 11.30 am Friday were spokesperson Ms. Agnes Bragadottir, Mr.Mikael Heinrichs, Personal A ssistant Mr. Erik Vollen and SLMM Kilinochchi Liason officer Mr. Nils, reports said.

The situation related to increasing number of arrests by the Sri Lanka security forces and arrests by the Liberation Tigers in response, needs to be urgently reviewed by SLMM and appropriate remedial actions taken, Thamilselvan told the delegation.

(Photo: LTTE Peace Secretariat)

Thamilselvan added that, "the killlings taking place in areas controlled by the Sri Lanka Armed forces reflect the weakness of the authorities responsible for maintaining law and order in these areas. LTTE should not be blamed for ex-militants and civilians being killed in these areas," according to local reports.

Suggestions related to increasing the number of members in the SLMM, the procedures and implementation issues related to SLMM were sought and the LTTE leaders provided their inputs, said Thamilselvan.

Matters related to procedures to be adopted in preventing incidents in the sea also were discussed according to reports.