SLMM, LTTE meet focuses on strengthening CFA

[TamilNet, Sunday, 28 September 2003, 21:26 GMT]
Members of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) lead by Maj. General Tryggve Tellefsen met with Head of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Political Wing S.P.Thamilchelvan and LTTE regional political leaders at the LTTE political head quarters in Kilinochchi Sunday between 11am and 2pm to discuss issues related to strengthening the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) between the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL), sources in Vanni said.

"Reviewing the activities of the SLMM during the past 18 months and putting in place the necessary practical modalities relating to successfully upholding the ceasefire agreement," was the purpose in convening the meeting said Thamilchelvan, according to LTTE Peace Secretariat website.

SLMM delegation in addition to Major General (retd) Triggve Teleffsen included heads of district monitoring teams located in Jaffna, Vavuniya, Mannar, Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara, sources said.

The Local Monitoring Committees (LMCs) will be strengthened by appointing a special liason officer in each district to facilitate immediate access to SLMM when dealing with ceasefire violations, according to the LTTE website.

It was agreed at the discussion to hold such meetings once in two or three week's time, Vanni sources said.

SLMM head Major General Triggve Teleffsen later met with journalists. He said the talks were cordial and constructive. There was frank exchange of views over several crucial matters, media sources said.







"SLMM would not prevent the hoisting of LTTE flag in the Sri Lankan government-controlled areas in northeast province. However we would intervene to reduce tension whenever the LTTE's flag is hoisted," SLMM monitors said after the conference, Vanni sources said.

"We give due respect and recognition to the LTTE Tiger flag," SLMM head is reported to have told the journalists. "But we urge the LTTE to reach some consensus in advance with the Police," SLMM head added.