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A total number of 174 incidents have been ruled as Ceasefire violations by the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) since the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement, The SLMM said yesterday.

The LTTE was held responsible for 146 cases, while the Government was responsible for 28, it said.

A total of 740 valid complaints have been processed by Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission ( SLMM), with 576 against the LTTE and 164 against the Government.

A SLMM news release said that the most common violation on the LTTE side is Underage Recruitment (55 instances), followed by Abduction (43) and harassment (20).

The most common violation on the Government side is harassment (11 cases) followed by restriction of movement (6) and restriction of fishing (5).

In addition to these ruled violations, 125 complaints have been made against the LTTE for Underage Recruitment, 116 concerning Abduction/Missing people and 71 for harassment, the release added.

Against the Government side, there have been 39 complaints made for harassment, 31 for occupation of civilian land and property and 10 for Restriction of Movement.

The release said that the SLMM was still inquiring into these cases.

"It is clear that at this point in time the LTTE has to do better in adhering to the Ceasefire Agreement, considering the high number of complaints and violations concerning Abductions and Underage Recruitment. This practice is not only a Violation of the Ceasefire Agreement and International Law, but is also hindering The Restoration of Normalcy in Sri Lanka," the SLMM said.

At a meeting with Hagrup Haukland, Acting Head of SLMM in Kilinochchi on Wednesday, the LTTE Political Leadership rejected the violations and complaints as wrongful allegations.

Haukland stated after the meeting that it is clear that the LTTE is taking this issue very seriously. "SLMM is confident that the LTTE will find a solution to this matter because they are very much committed to the Ceasefire Agreement and the Peace Process. Today, the LTTE promised SLMM their full cooperation."

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