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Navy, LTTE, SLMM request impartial inquiry into Kayts incident

by Ranga Jayasuriya

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Chief Gen. Trond Furuhovde on Saturday demanded an independent commission to probe into the alleged attack on two LTTE political cadres in Kayts.

The demand was made at a meeting with the Director General of the Peace Secretariat Bernard Goonatilleke and Economic Affairs Minister Milinda Moragoda.

Gen. Furuhovde flew to Jaffna on Saturday soon after his discussions with the LTTE Political Wing leader Thamilchelvam where the agenda was overshadowed by the alleged Thursday night attack.

The LTTE on Thursday night complained that two cadres had been attacked by eight men - three in forces uniforms and five masked civilians.

The initial investigations into the incident by the SLMM officials drew a blank. "But subsequently we knew that it was a fact and several eye witnesses confirmed it," SLMM spokesman Tuitor Torkelsson said.

The SLMM Spokesman however said the accounts of the incident given by each concerned party were contradictory. "Therefore the parties agreed with the SLMM to request the Government for an independent commission to inquire into the matter in addition to their own separate investigations," he said. The Army, Navy, Police and the LTTE will conduct separate investigations.

"One thing is clear. If the members of the Sri Lanka Navy and Army have truly participated in an assault, they did so as separate individuals and were disobeying orders from their superiors," he said.

The SLMM will establish a "Point of Contact" in Kayts with an SLMM monitor present on a regular basis. The Army Commander has also agreed to provide the LTTE political workers in Kayts with sufficient possibilities of communication.

Meanwhile Chief of Staff of Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama who carried out the initial investigations and fact finding mission about the attack said yesterday that "no conclusion was reached on the involvement of the SLN in the incident."

Rear Admiral Wijewickrama who met Jaffna Security Forces Commander, Northern Naval Area commander, LTTE representatives and SLMM Chief said all parties had suggested precautionary measures. The Navy will conduct a separate inquiry and recommended actions be taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.

Meanwhile, The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress Leader and Ports Development, Shipping and Eastern Development and Muslim Religious Affairs Minister, Rauff Hakeem held extensive talks with defence authorities yesterday to discuss the issue of tension that has built up in the Trincomalee district following the demolition of the LTTE office in Mutur, a communique issued by the ministry said.

The LTTE office in Mutur was attacked allegedly by a gang on Friday night.

"Minister Hakeem condemned the sinister elements which attempt to disturb the prevailing cordial atmosphere between the Muslims and Tamils in the East which came about consequent to the discussions between the LTTE and the SLMC leadership," the communique added.

"The SLMC requests all peace loving Muslim to exercise restraint and not to fall prey to these extremist groups whose agendas go against the principles of peaceful cohabitation," the communique stated.

The SLMM spokesman said the Army and the Police are guarding the office to avoid any future attack adding that the situation in the city has calmed down.

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