SLA troops 'provoking' LTTE, monitors told

[TamilNet, Monday, 12 August 2002, 04:51 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers Sunday protested to international ceasefire monitors and Sri Lanka Army (SLA) commanders that government troops are engaged in provocative acts such as advances from their lines and the establishment of new positions closer to LTTE lines in Jaffna. Senior military commanders from both sides met under the auspices of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), the Voice of Tigers (VoT) radio said.

The LTTE officers told the SLMM representatives and the SLA officers that Sri Lankan troops should cease activities such as troop advancement from their forward lines and the setting up of new defence lines within the no man zones at Kilali and Muhamalai- Nagarkovil areas in the Jaffna district.

"The LTTE considers these acts as an attempt to provoke its cadres," Tamil Tiger representatives said at this discussion, the Voice of Tigers (VOT) reported in its Sunday news bulletin.

The LTTE officials had further pointed out that the SLA troops should return to their old positions to avoid unwanted incidents in the new defence lines, the VoT reported further.

The discussions between the monitors and representatives of both sides took place Sunday morning in the no man's zone in Muhamalai area. The discussion commenced around 9 morning and concluded at about 1030 a.m.

The SLMM was represented by its Jaffna head and another monitor. On behalf of the LTTE, its Northern Flank commander, Colonel Theepan, its Nagarkovil commander Lt. Colonel Veeramani, Pallai commander Arivu, Lt Colonel Lawrence, and Mr. Pulittheevan, a member of the LTTE's Political Section, participated in the discussion.

The Sri Lanka Army was represented by its Jaffna SLA area commander Major General Sarath Fonseka, acting Commander Brigadier Ratnasabapathy, Commander of 55th Division Edirisinghe and Lt Colonel Silva.