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LTTE expresses regret over sea incident

by Ranil Wijayapala and Ranga Jayasuriya

The Government yesterday requested India to provide it with information on the trawler involved in Saturday's sea dispute in which two SLMM monitors were held on board against their will.

When contacted by the Daily News, Indian officials investigating the incident said that the suspected boat had not been seen for a long time.

"The trawler had not been registered since 1995," an Indian High Commission official involved in investigations told the Daily News, adding that the investigators are inquiring whether the trawler has been previously hijacked.

The trawler bearing Indian registration number- RMS 512- had come from a port in Rameshwaran Island.

"The Government asked the Indian Government through the Indian High Commission to provide information on the trawler which entered Sri Lanka's territorial waters on Saturday," Defence Secretary Austin Fernando said.

Fernando said the suspected trawler emerged from a flotilla of fishing boats and the Navy was surprised when the occupants in the trawler with Indian registration identified themselves as LTTE cadres.

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission said two trawlers, "at least one with Indian Registration", were involved in Saturday's incident. Two monitors who embarked one trawler on the request of the Navy were held on board for a few hours. The SLMM said they were "physically hindered from leaving." The Monitors were released only after the trawler came ashore.

The Government yesterday in a press release said it has taken "cognisance of this incident and has instructed the Navy to intensify surveillance and patrolling to prevent illegal incursions in to any part of the territorial waters of Sri Lanka".

The Government commended the monitors. "The latest incident has shown the true level of professionalism and courage displayed by the monitors. They deserve our praise and our admiration for the work that they are doing to encourage peace to return to our country".

Meanwhile, the LTTE expressed regret over Saturday's incident when LTTE SLMM Chief Gen Trond Furuhovde met LTTE Political Wing Leader S.P Thamilchelvam.

"Thamilchelvam regretted what happened to the monitors," SLMM Deputy Head Hagrup Haukland told the Daily News adding that the LTTE expressed full confidence in the SLMM.

"At the meeting the LTTE claimed full right to use the waters off Jaffna and the Wanni," he said. But this is a matter where the SLMM Chief has neither an obligation nor authority to intervene, Haukland said. He added that may be the Norwegians as the facilitating country would be able to solve this out.

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