Magistrate seeks SLMM clarification
By Chris Kamalendran
A Magistrate in Jaffna has directed the police to ascertain from the Norwegian-run Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) whether the possession of a weapon by rival Tamil group members was a violation of the current memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the government and the LTTE.

The clarification was sought by Jaffna Magistrate R.T. Vignaraja after a PLOTE Jaffna Municipal Council member was arrested with his official weapon close to the location where the LTTE had organized a cultural festival early this week.

The magistrate's directive to the police raised questions in legal circles whether the MoU was now part of the country's law.

The member identified as S. Jayachandran, 31, who was arrested by the LTTE near the Veerasingham hall in Jaffna was handed over to the police through the SLMM and later produced before the Magistrate.

The member was produced in courts, but Police had also informed the Magistrate that he had a valid permit issued by the military authorities for the possession of a 9mm pistol.

The Magistrate had informed the Police to seek clarification from the Norwegian monitoring mission whether it was a violation of the ceasefire agreement currently in operation. Pending the clarification, the Court remanded him until November 6.

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