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by Ranga Jayasuriya

Defence Secretary Austin Fernando said yesterday that the Ministry has been informed of an alleged attack on LTTE political cadres in Valani, Kayts.

Chief of Staff of the Navy Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama has been sent to Jaffna to "carry out preliminary inquiries and advise the naval personnel on the operational aspects of LTTE's political activities in the islands," a release issued by Fernando added.

"Anyone from the Navy found involved in the alleged incident or found guilty will be severely dealt with," he stated.

Contacted by the Daily News, Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) spokesman Tuitor Torkelsson said the Jaffna SLMM office which investigated the alleged assault after receiving a phone call in the wee hours of yesterday found the complaint was "false".

There was a complaint that two LTTE cadres walking in the night had been approached by armed men in a vehicle. The complaint said one had been attacked while the other ran away.

"We sent monitors to Kayts, but in the investigations we did not find any proof of an assault, at least a serious assault," he said.

Asked whether the LTTE had lodged a complaint against an attack, he said he was not informed of such a move till last evening.

Meanwhile, SLMM Chief Gen Trond Furuhovde flew to Kilinochchi yesterday to hold discussions with the LTTE political hierarchy.

"Gen Furuhovde will meet Thamilchelvam to discuss the LTTE demand for sea movement, possible opening of the A-5 highway and setting up of a joint committee to ascertain the position of disputed places of worship," Torkelsson said.

The SLMM Chief is expected to submit proposals which include a series of conditions and rules governing the sea movements of the LTTE. Among the conditions are that SLMM monitors should be deployed in LTTE vessels ferrying their cadres and civilians and the maximum number of vessels in each convoy.

The LTTE had long been demanding permission to ferry their cadres and civilians from one LTTE held area to another. The Security Forces have not yet consented to the demand.

The issue was among a series of topics raised during discussions between the Director General of the Peace Secretariat Bernard Goonatilleke and LTTE Political Wing Leader Thamilchelvam.

Gen Furuhovde is also due to draw the LTTE's attention to the modalities required for opening the A 5 Chenkalady- Kandy highway.

"Both the Government and the LTTE have shown an interest in opening this highway," the SLMM spokesman said.

Discussions will also focus on setting up a joint team - as agreed by both parties in Tuesday's discussions - comprising representatives of the Government, LTTE, SLMM and Hindu dignitaries to ascertain the position of disputed places of worship in Jaffna. The Army occupies certain places which the LTTE calls holy places, but the army refuses to accept their status.

Gen Furuhovde will return today.

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