SLMM urged to resume Naval monitoring
Following discussions with the Government local monitors at the Peace
Secretariat yesterday, SCOPP has written to the SLMM urging that it
resumes the Naval monitoring it stopped ‘temporarily’ in May 2006,
states a SCOPP press release.
The release adds: “In informing SCOPP of that decision, the then SLMM
Head of Mission had written that ‘Following the LTTE attack on a vessel
carrying an SLMM Monitor on May 11.
The SLMM temporarily suspended all Naval monitoring activities due to
grave security concerns. The suspension of activities is also based on
the statements by the LTTE instructing SLMM to limit its activities and
refrain from sailing with SLN vessels or face the risk to put their
monitors in danger.
Gen Henricsson’s letter of May 17 had however went on to say ‘Our
intention is to recommence naval monitoring onboard SLN vessels as soon
as the Parties have agreed to our requirements.
SCOPP just a couple of months ago pointed out that it had responded
positively to some conditions specified by the SLMM at that time.
The SLMM had been unable to trace a response by Gen. Henricsson to
the SCOPP letter of May 2006. It is possible that, in the embarrassment
caused by the LTTE soon afterwards refusing to attend talks to which it
had been transported, the matter lapsed.
However, a few weeks back SCOPP had asked SLMM to pursue the matter
and it had agreed to do so.
In the interim, the ICRC had responded positively to appeals at the
CCHA meeting which Sir John Holmes attended, and was able to obtain the
required guarantee from the LTTE to enable the opening of the road
northward from Omanthai on more days in the week, which has helped with
supplies to the Vanni.
Given current constraints on and the expenses of travel from Jaffna,
there have been repeated requests from Civil Society, as discussed at
the meeting held at SCOPP, including from the Bishops of Jaffna and
Mannar, to open up a transport service by sea between Jaffna and Mannar.
SCOPP therefore has once again urged the SLMM to follow the helpful
example of the ICRC and endeavour to persuade the LTTE to facilitate
travel by sea on at least this route, by allowing SLMM monitors to
accompany vessels as they did previously.” |