Killings threaten ceasefire - SLMM
Hagrup Haukland, Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring
Mission, has issued the following statement regarding the killings in
the East:
The SLMM perceives the recent killings in the eastern
parts of the country as a direct threat to the ceasefire agreement and
the peace process, and we condemn these barbaric and cowardly acts in
the strongest possible terms.
The violence has raised serious fears and created
uncertainty, not only in the east, but also in the whole of Sri Lanka,
and is preventing Sri Lankans from living a peaceful life.
The SLMM monitors are currently making inquiries into
all the incidents. However, it is important to underline that the SLMM
is tasked to monitor and assist the parties in implementing the
ceasefire agreement. The SLMM is not here to conduct police
investigations. Such work falls outside of our mandate, which is spelled
out in the ceasefire agreement. We, thus, encourage and sincerely hope
that the Police will be able to shed light and bring the perpetrators to
justice.
We urge the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, not to
let these acts of violence damage the casefire agreement. We strongly
recommend that both sides unite in an effort to do all in their power to
prevent these senseless attacks. The SLMM will continue to do everything
possible to assist the two parties to stop these atrocious and violent
attacks,". |
