SLMM rejects Army denials
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) last week urged the military to be truthful on the issue of armed groups operating in the east with outgoing SLMM head Hagrup Haukland insisting “there is no doubt that such groups do exist.”
Mr. Haukland’s hard-hitting statement follows comments reportedly made by top Sri Lanka Army (SLA) brass in the local media after the Geneva talks. The military officials reportedly said there was no evidence to prove that such armed groups operated in the east.
“There is no doubt that such groups do exist. The army should be truthful about this issue,” Mr. Haukland said.
In Geneva, the government gave a commitment to the LTTE that it would ensure no group other than the government security forces would be allowed to carry arms after the LTTE claimed that there were at least five armed groups in operation in the North and East.
Mr. Haukland in an interview with the Daily Mirror referred to the comments made by renegade LTTE commander Karuna Amman who insisted his group would not disarm despite the agreement reached between the government and the LTTE in Geneva.
The SLMM head said he believed Karuna’s comments further substantiated claims that armed Karuna cadres were operating in the east despite the military saying otherwise.
Mr. Haukland said the SLMM was monitoring the activities of the armed groups and would present a report at the next round of talks in Geneva from April 19-22.
Meanwhile the LTTE has alleged that a paramilitary cadre under rebel custody had revealed there were plans to disrupt the Geneva talks by launching an attack against the LTTE in Batticaloa.
The LTTE quoted the Karuna loyalist as saying he was given instructions to launch a claymore mine attack against LTTE Commander Jayarthanan and Tiger Intelligence Official Uma Ramanan on the day talks between the government and the LTTE were set to begin in Geneva. (Daily Mirror)
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) last week urged the military to be truthful on the issue of armed groups operating in the east with outgoing SLMM head Hagrup Haukland insisting “there is no doubt that such groups do exist.”
Mr. Haukland’s hard-hitting statement follows comments reportedly made by top Sri Lanka Army (SLA) brass in the local media after the Geneva talks. The military officials reportedly said there was no evidence to prove that such armed groups operated in the east.
“There is no doubt that such groups do exist. The army should be truthful about this issue,” Mr. Haukland said.
In Geneva, the government gave a commitment to the LTTE that it would ensure no group other than the government security forces would be allowed to carry arms after the LTTE claimed that there were at least five armed groups in operation in the North and East.
Mr. Haukland in an interview with the Daily Mirror referred to the comments made by renegade LTTE commander Karuna Amman who insisted his group would not disarm despite the agreement reached between the government and the LTTE in Geneva.
The SLMM head said he believed Karuna’s comments further substantiated claims that armed Karuna cadres were operating in the east despite the military saying otherwise.
Mr. Haukland said the SLMM was monitoring the activities of the armed groups and would present a report at the next round of talks in Geneva from April 19-22.
Meanwhile the LTTE has alleged that a paramilitary cadre under rebel custody had revealed there were plans to disrupt the Geneva talks by launching an attack against the LTTE in Batticaloa.
The LTTE quoted the Karuna loyalist as saying he was given instructions to launch a claymore mine attack against LTTE Commander Jayarthanan and Tiger Intelligence Official Uma Ramanan on the day talks between the government and the LTTE were set to begin in Geneva. (Daily Mirror)
