LTTE condemns GoSL for endangering the lives of foreign diplomats

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 27 February 2007, 05:31 GMT]
Military Spokesman of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Irasiah Ilanthirayan, expressing deep regret for the injuries caused to the foreign diplomats who landed in the military airfield of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) in Batticaloa and the Weber Stadium where 23-3 Brigade Commander's military headquarters is located, condemned the Government of Sri Lanka for having endangered the lives of foreign diplomats bringing them into the artillery launchpads inside the military zone without following diplomatic procedures.

"We immediately stopped firing as soon as we were notified of the presence of foreign diplomats under artillery fire, by Mr. Marian Din, the UN official for coordinating security arrangments here in Kilinochchi," Mr. Ilanthirayan said.

"We are shocked by the grave negligance of the security arrangments for the diplomats by the Sri Lankan government that has transported the delegation into the artillery launchpads amid the prevailing atmosphere of provocative artillery attacks," LTTE's military spokesman further said.

There is a procedure in practice, of informing the LTTE in advance, when foregin diplomats and NGO officials are scheduled to visit war zone. Liberation Tigers Liaison Officer for UN and NGO affairs gets informed with details of the officials and their belongings. The Sri Lankan military establishment has ignored the practice in Batticaloa, he charged.

"This is a simple procedure that has been intentionally ignored in Batticaloa by the Sri Lankan military."

"We condemn the GoSL in strongest possible terms for seeking to sabotage LTTE's relationship with the foreign missions and the International Community."

"This is also a criminal act of failing to follow the procedures in place by the Sri Lankan military which is engaged in a self-proclaimed war in the entire Batticaloa district," LTTE spokesman said.

The LTTE was responding to hostile artillery and mortar attacks Tuesday morning, he said.

The aircraft carrying foreign diplomats had landed in the military airfield of the Sri Lankan Air Force (SLAF) and two helicopters had landed inside the main military camp in Batticaloa city.