| News |
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| Hopes
of peace amidst high security and air of uncertainty This is the
changing scenario in Jaffna peninsula 16 months into the peace process.
Security forces have tightened checks after increased activity by
the LTTE and the killing of top EPRLF member Thambiraja Subathiran
in Jaffna two weeks back. The LTTE which was friendly towards the media soon after the signing of the cease-fire agreement now maintains a strict vigil on those entering guerrilla held areas in the north. As we approach an LTTE checkpoint two cadres request a lift to Kilinochchi. The motive is obvious - they do not want us to deviate from the main road while on our way to Jaffna. Among the people, a sense of uncertainty has again crept into their lives with most of them being tight lipped about the prevalent situation. A retired teacher Nadaraja Gnanalingam summed up the situation when he said, "uncertainty is not unfamiliar for us in Jaffna." He lamented that since the signing of the cease-fire agreement, there have been no major projects, except for the private sector improving its business establishments and civilians being able to move more freely. Rival parties of the LTTE which had gradually begun interacting with the people have again been cornered into their offices, mainly after intelligence reports revealed that LTTE pistol gangs were in action again. The EPDP offices are being heavily guarded with additional army and police being called in, while other party offices also are being guarded. Residents complain that despite frequent visits by cabinet ministers, non cabinet ministers and deputy ministers, little has been done in way of development projects. Although government initiated projects are going at snail pace or no pace at all, private businesses have been flourishing with jewellery shops and electronic shops having good business due to free movement between north and south. The ceasefire agreement has also given people the opportunity to return to their homes in the cleared areas. At least one person from each of these families have returned to ensure there is no encroachment in to their lands. Land transactions are also on the increase with many who have migrated selling off their lands. Although individuals
are renovating their homes and getting on with their businesses,
with peace talks at a halt there is uncertainty regarding the bigger
picture. Despite there being an unofficial Tiger rule in the area, people are heavily dependent on the official court system, police and government administration. The number of people we saw turning up in courts was ample evidence of this. This was in contrast to a time when people took most of their complaints to LTTE offices in the area. Observers fear, that the changing scenario in the north which has prompted hightened security in the area may push the civilians away from the hopes of peace and add pressure on the government to keep the hopes alive. Tussle
for posts delays finalisation of SLFP-JVP alliance The SLFP had proposed a new post, of National Organiser which was offered to the JVP, but the JVP refused to accept such a post. At an earlier discussion the issue of the posts was discussed where the SLFP demanded the post of General Secretary while the JVP opted for the post of the President while creating a new post for President Chandrika Kumaratunga. However, at Fridays' meeting the JVP once again flatly refused to accept the new post. The SLFP delegation led by Nimal Siripala de Silva, Anura Bandaranaike, Sarath Amunugama, Mangala Samaraweera and Lakshman Kadirgamar. The JVP delegation was led by Tilvin Silva, Wimal Weerawansa and Anura Dissanayake. Two members of the delegation Nimal Siripala de Silva and Anura Bandaranaike got into a verbal exchange over the allocations of seats to the JVP should they come into power. Mr. de Silva said the JVP would be allocated 25 seats but Mr. Bandaranaike insisted that it should be increased to 30 seats. In response a visibly angry Mr. de Silva had posed the question to Mr. Bandaranaike, "Are you JVP or SLFP?" to which Mr. Bandaranaike replied, "I am SLFP, are you UNP or SLFP?" The SLFP delegation had met on Thursday to put the final touches to the pact. However, the SLFP never expected the JVP to disagree on the proposal. On Wednesday the JVP held a mass rally at Hyde Park to assure its supporters that both parties would be able to settle their differences amicably on policy matters and ensure that a final agreement is reached within two days. Meanwhile a joint statement issued by the Presidential Media Unit by SLFP General Secretary Maithripala Sirisena and JVP General Secretary Tilvin Silva confirmed that both parties had been able to arrive at a consensus on vital issues. Sea clash:
SLMM gives sequence of events The Navy had claimed that the vessels did not carry visible registration or flag and did not respond when challenged. After firing warning shots across the bowline of the larger vessel, SLN claims that the unknown ship tried to ram the Navy vessel. An explosion was heard from the larger vessel, which caught fire and later sank. SLN claims no survivors were seen leaving the ship and that the smaller vessel escaped, the report said. According to the LTTE, the vessel that was sunk, was an oil tanker "MT Shosin", and the LTTE claims the ship was sailing in international waters, 266 nautical miles off the east coast, flying two flags at mast, one LTTE flag and one "specific flag for international waters". LTTE claims the crew consisted of twelve Sea Tigers and that the vessel was solely owned by the LTTE, the report said. Neither Party informed SLMM about the incident in due time, and as a result of that, SLMM could not monitor the incident. Following are the Sequence of Events leading to the sinking of the ship and subsequent inquiries; June 10: According to SLN the naval vessel Sri Lanka Navy Ship "Nandimithra" left Colombo on June 10th for 7 days detachment to Eeastern Naval Command. June 12 : According to ENC they received on June 12 a message from SLN HQ that a possible "smuggling ship" was approaching Sri Lankan waters. June 13: On June 13th ENC sent four Fast Gun Boats (FGBs )to join SLNS "Nandimithra" to patrol and search the area NE of Mullaittivu. The Commander of ENC, Rear Admiral Karrannaoda stated, when interviewed, that ENC had not received any information that "the smuggling ship" could be an LTTE vessel. Just before midnight on June 13th an SLN vessel detected an echo on the radar screen and reported the following location: 10° 44.50' N - 83° 18.00' E (175 NM off the East coast). Two craft were then ordered to approach the target and identify it. June 14: Half an hour later, at 00:28 hrs, June 14th, according to SLN, an SLN vessel observed a tanker towing a small craft at a distance of 1.5 NM. Two minutes later the smaller craft was released from the tanker. Later in the morning SLN lost contact with the small craft. At 02:00 two SLN gunboats were ordered to challenge the tanker to identify herself. According to SLMM's interviews with Lt. Col Seliyan, Deputy Commander of LTTE Sea Tigers the Captain of "MT Shoshin" called the Sea Tiger Base both at midnight and at 03:00 in the morning to inform that everything was OK, but at 03:00 hrs. four vessels had been detected on radar. The Captain was advised by the Tiger Base not to worry about the vessels, since the LTTE vessel was in international waters: Lt. Col Seliyan said in his interview with SLMM Monitors that the incident took place 266 NM off Trincomalee in international waters. Lt. Col. Seliyan stated that the vessel ("MT Shoshin") in question was a tanker, carrying diesel, belonging to the LTTE (he denied that any other LTTE vessels were on the scene; the SLN claims that there were two vessels, the tanker and a small LTTE craft According to SLN, a radio contact was made to the tanker at 03:20 hrs. and identification details of the tanker were obtained. At 04:05 hrs. the SLN vessels received information from ENC that the details about the tanker were incorrect, and an order was given, to challenge the tanker. The tanker did not, according to SLN, respond to an order to stop. An SLN vessel followed the tanker on starboard, at a distance of approximately 900 meters. At 04:50 hrs. an SLN vessel fired 3 warning shots across the bowline of the tanker. According to SLN, the warning shots did not hit the tanker. SLN claims that small arm muzzle fire was seen from the bridge of the tanker and a Navy sailor got a head injury by a grazing shot. Between 05:30 and 05:40 hrs., according to SLN, Navy sailors heard and saw an explosion amidships and the tanker caught fire. Two or three explosions are said to have followed. SLN claims to have called the tanker and advised the crew to jump into the sea, but the crew did not respond. SLN claims no crewmembers were seen onboard the burning tanker nor seen jumping into the sea. At 05:45 ENC requested for an SLMM Naval Monitor to join an SLN sea patrol. LTTE claims that the captain of "MT Shoshin" made contact with the Sea Tiger Base at 06:00 June 14th, and stated that the four vessels were close and visible, claiming they were naval vessels of unknown nationality. At 06:08 The Naval Monitoring Team of SLMM in Trincomalee informed SLMM Headquarters, based on information from the ENC that an incident had taken place 100 NM off Mullaitivu. ENC had indicated, that if LTTE was involved, ENC would request SLMM's assistance. At 06:10, the Captain of "MT Shoshin" informed The Sea Tiger Base that the vessels were SLN, according to LTTE, and that SLN wanted to inspect "MT Shoshin". The SLN vessel had identified itself via radio. The LTTE Base granted permission for an inspection of "MT Shoshin". The Captain advised that after the permission to inspect "MT Shoshin" had been granted, the SLN ordered all crewmembers on "MT Shoshin" to jump into the sea and board the SLN vessel. Then the inspection of the LTTE vessel would take place. LTTE also claims that immediately after the Captain relayed the information that the crewmembers were leaving the ship, the Captain stated via radio that the vessel was under attack by the SLN vessel and that hostile fire impacted on the bridge. The Captain stated he was the only one remaining onboard, and that he would jump into the sea and swim towards the SLN ship as the rest of the crew had already done.The position of the vessel at the time of the incident was said to be 266 NM off Trincomalee. At 06:23 The
Defense Secretary, Mr. Austin Fernando called Major General Tryggve
Tellefsen The Head of SLMM and explained the ongoing situation.
The Head of Mission called CinC SLN and SLN HQ but got no further
information. LTTE was requested to provide SLMM with whatever information LTTE had. At 07:10 hrs. SLNS "Nandimithra" arrived at the scene. At that time only the bow of the tanker was visible, according to SLN. The two FGBs at the scene had been looking for survivors since the tanker caught fire. After the explosions the FGBs kept some distance from the tanker in order not to take any risk due to the possibility of further explosions. At 07:30 hrs. the Captain of "MT Shoshin" contacted the Sea Tiger Base and stated the ship was under fire from SLN and that he was leaving the ship. SLMM Naval Monitor in Trincomalee on board an SLN vessel left Trincomalee at 07:48 in the morning and the estimated time of arrival at the screening area, 110 NM off the East coast, was at 13:00. At 08:20 LTTE
informed SLMM HQ that at approx. 08:00 hrs SLN had attacked an LTTE
vessel 260 NM off Mullaitivu. 12 cadres had jumped into the sea
and had been arrested by SLN. LTTE requested SLMM monitors to be
present immediately. Late in the
afternoon of June 14th, at 17:02 LTTE informed SLMM Headquarters
of the location, where LTTE claims the incident took place, 266
NM off Mullaitivu. Another sea patrol from Trincomalee, to the areas where the incident allegedly occurred, according to different information from SLN and LTTE, was undertaken late in the evening of June 14th. June 15: but due to rough seas the SLN vessel returned back to harbour at 01:25 hrs on June 15th without completing the mission. Naval Monitoring Team, Trincomalee made an inspection by air, over the different locations given by SLN and LTTE, on Sunday, June 15th , but nothing was observed. June 16: From June 16th through June 19th sea patrols were made by Naval Monitoring Team Trincomalee, in the different areas, the Parties say the incident occurred, but nothing was observed. June 18: On June 18th SLMM headquarters inspected SLNS "Nandimithra" to inquire into the electronic log for June 14th. The captain stated that all recorded electronic logs are reset when the ship commences a new patrol, hence - nothing was observed. Tiger
politics dominate Pongu Thamil rally The stage was set for the celebration of yet another 'Ponguthamil' or a 'cultural reawakening' programme launched by the LTTE and its front groups. LTTE members as on previous occasions, were the behind- the- scene organisers, while Jaffna University students were in the forefront of the event held at the campus grounds in Thirunalveli. As part of the ceremony education directors in the region had been asked to send school children, while bus operators had been directed to only run buses to transport people for the event. Shortly after noon crowds started pouring in to witness the event which called for the withdrawal of the security forces from high security zones and the homes of civilians. "We want our land', 'allow us to live in our homes' and 'please go back, let us live on our own,' were some of the slogans that were chanted and on the placards carried by residents including school children. Crowds gathered from four directions while special arrangements were made to accommodate visitors. Security was at its peak with outsiders being questioned and their backgrounds being scrutinised while media personnel were issued passes to cover the event. From a top a 150 ft. high water tank the Voice of Tigers gave a live commentary while TV crews filmed the event. Tiger security personnel were seen videoing all those who attended the event including media personnel. There were more than 50 local and foreign media personnel. A couple of Buddhist monks and government representatives including the Prime minister's Additional media Secretary Saman Athaudahetti, Assistant Secretary S.Pathmanathan and Hindu Cultural Affairs Minister T.Maheswaran were also present. LTTE's Jaffna political leader S.Illamparithy in his speech gave statistics to prove that security forces were occupying a majority of the area, thus depriving the people of fishing, cultivation and returning to their homes. The organisers had set up a model of a house with an army camp in it and when a speaker shouted out ' do you want your houses back', there was an emphatic yes from the crowds . The next question was if you are ready to get your houses are you willing to act. The response was again a 'yes'. This was followed by calling on the crowd to bring down the constructed house. This, the organisers said was a symbolic gesture towards getting back their houses. |
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