Forces targeted only LTTE positions, exodus exaggerated - SLMM Chief

COLOMBO: The Head of Mission of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Major General Ulf Henricsson confirmed that the Sri Lanka Air Force and Navy had definitely targeted military positions and offices of the LTTE, when he met Dr. Palitha Kohona, Secretary General of the Secretarial for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) at his office yesterday.

Major General Henricsson offered his observations following his trip to Trincomalee and Sampur on April 27.

He also added that the report relating to a mass exodus of people from the Sampur area were grossly exaggerated.

He had the opportunity to make first hand observations on the ground following the limited military operation launched by the security forces on April 25-26 against identified LTTE targets in the Sampur area, which had now come to an end.

He observed that some collateral damage to property had taken place as some of the LTTE offices were situated in populated areas. Such collateral damage was not significant.

In his estimation approximately 10-12 people may have died. He did not believe that 16 people had died as has been claimed in some reports.

On being asked about the reports relating to a mass exodus of people from the Sampur area, he stated that these were grossly exaggerated. It is normal for people to move away from military targets at times of conflict.

Since the bombing ceased, people were slowly returning to their homes and villages. Secretary General, SCOPP assured that the Government will take all measures to facilitate the return and rehabilitation of people who had left their homes.

He referred to the Essential Services Task Force headed by the Governor of the North and the East, established by the Government to facilitate the delivery of essential services to residents of this area.

These observations of the Head of Mission of SLMM clearly support the fact that the security forces had been careful about avoiding civilian casualties.

The government security forces had not launched attacks 'deliberately and entirely directed at civilian settlements' as claimed by the LTTE (LTTE press statement, 26 April 2006). There has also been no mass displacement of persons from these areas as claimed by the LTTE.

The LTTE claimed that as a result of the government's action more than 40,000 people have been displaced and are languishing as refugees.

The Government Agent of Trincomalee has since confirmed that the total population of Sampur is approximately 16,600 and that only a small fraction of the population left their homes during the military strikes.

This limited operation by the security forces which has now come to an end, was in response to a sustained campaign of LTTE terror attacks and specific attacks against the Sri Lanka Navy in the Trincomalee area. It was carried out as a deterrent to neutralise the threat posed by the LTTE to the harbour and key naval installations in Trincomalee.