Principals' killings condemned

THE National Peace Council (NPC) said it is shocked and saddened by the continued killings in the North and East.

The NPC in a release said:" The latest ones have claimed the lives of two principals of schools, one of whom engaged in peace programmes organised by NPC in Jaffna. These killings of civilians in a time of ceasefire are abhorrent.

Principals of schools constitute a priceless asset to their communities who should be protected, not done away with in this brutal manner.

The impact of these acts on the psyche of thousands of schoolchildren belonging to Kopai Christian College and Jaffna Central College can only scar them for life.

There have also been several other killings of civilians in the recent past, including those belonging to Tamil political parties opposed to the LTTE and to a relief organisation affiliated to the LTTE. The NPC totally condemns these killings of civilians.

In addition the NPC condemns the ambush of a convoy of LTTE cadre in Batticaloa in which several were killed and injured. The NPC sees the continuing killings as tragic evidence of a reliance on a military mindset in which violence is the ultimate answer.

It was unfortunate that the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement did not include a specific human rights monitoring mechanism. In addition, efforts by the Human Rights Advisor to the Peace Process, Ian Martin to formulate a Human Rights Roadmap were not acted upon.

The continuing inability of the Government and LTTE to sit together at the negotiating table indicates a fatal lack of vision in problem solving through peaceful means.

There is an urgent need for political engagement, and for the development of an effective grievance mechanism in which both parties can feel confidence in.

We urge the international community to continue to demonstrate an active interest in the peace process. We call on the government and LTTE with the assistance of the international community to establish a Human Rights monitoring mechanism that will provide broad-based institutional support to the present inadequate monitoring provisions of the Ceasefire Agreement."