SLMM urges LTTE to name 'people' behind attacks
 

BY CHAMIKARA Weerasinghe

IN response to numerous denials by the LTTE that it carried out any armed attacks on security personnel and civilians in the North-East, the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) had called the group to identify those whom they describe as "people" responsible for the attacks.

SLMM Spokesperson Helen Olafsdottir told the Daily News that the LTTE had told them that people in Jaffna were behind these attacks.

"Since they are so sure that people had carried out these killings, we asked them to identify them to the Mission," said Olafsdottir. She said the SLMM did not want to whitewash anyone.

"If the LTTE is so certain that people in the North and East were behind these attacks, they should be able to identify them," she asserted.

According to the Army, the LTTE has killed 52 security personnel from last December upto now. They are in the habit of denying any Ceasefire violations perpetrated by them.

Olafsdottir said the Mission had asked the LTTE whether they were responsible for these charges. They had denied responsibility, saying the people were behind these attacks.

"We asked them: 'If you are so certain it was people, why can you not identify them,'" she said.

"Similarly we have asked Security Forces to come out with concrete evidence to prove their allegations. The SLMM cannot act without firm evidence," she said.

Referring to the peace talks, she said if the LTTE and the Government were truly committed to have talks, the venue of the talks could not have been an issue as it appears to be the case now.

"If there's a will there's way," she added.

"I must say both the LTTE and the Government had the opportunity to have ground talks, but they have been missed out by both the parties," she said.