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by Sarath Malalasekera Ranil Wijayapala

Steps have now been mooted to reduce the military presence in the Jaffna peninsula after downsizing 152 military units scattered outside the High Security Zones to 88 units to facilitate civilians to return their lands, Defence Minister Tilak Marapana said yesterday.

Addressing the media at the Defence Ministry along with Lt. General Sathis Nambiar, former Chief of Staff of the Indian Army and Vice Admiral P.J. Jacob, former Vice Chief of Naval Staff India, the Minister said alternative locations are now being identified for this purpose.

He said the Government is focusing attention towards downsizing the Palaly High Security Zone, relocating the 51st Division Headquarters and 512 Brigade Headquarters and reducing the military presence outside the HSZs.

The Minister said there is nothing for the public to get confused over the High Security Zones since there was no request from the public or even from the LTTE for the removal of these HSZs.

"Palaly is the only HSZ in Jaffna and the only request is to downsize the area of the HSZ for civilians to resettle in their lands," the Minister said .

"We are not ready to endanger the national security by removing all those camps and have sought advice from Indian experts to do the relocations without affecting national security," the Minister said.

He said there was a reasonable request from the Tamil political parties, the civilian population and from the LTTE to release the Subash and Gnanam hotels located within the 51st Division 512 Brigade.

"The government is now making arrangements to relocate the 51 Brigade and 512 Brigade Headquarters. If there is opposition to these relocation plans they will be solved after discussions with the relevant parties," Minister Marapana said.

The Sri Lanka Army is working with the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission and the District Secretariat officials are finding new locations for the shifting of military units to reduce the military presence in the peninsula.

Commenting on the ongoing discussion on sea security, the Minister said the Government has not accepted any of the proposals by the SLMM to accept Sea Tigers as a de-facto Naval unit or to demarcate sea areas for the LTTE.

"The sole authority to safeguard the territorial waters of the country is vested with the Sri Lanka Navy", the Minister added. "We have to admit the fact that the LTTE have uniformed cadres, boats fitted with weapons whether we recognise them or not".

"We also have to accept the fact that they have their own operational areas in the land and also in the sea. We tried to eradicate them by means of war and now through negotiations with them", the Minister added.

For the continuation of the ceasefire between the two parties, the Navy has been instructed not to reach Mullaitivu seas and not to make any trouble with the LTTE, the Minister added.

Commenting on the killing of Army intelligent operatives the Minister said that all the people who had been killed during the last few months were not Army informants.

"I don't think all the people who had been killed are Army informants", the Minister said.

However, the Minister condemned the killing of people whoever they are and added that the government is commited to take action against the perpetrators of those crimes.

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