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Air raids violation of ceasefire: SLMM
Monitors dispute Govt’s claim
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) confirmed yesterday that the Air Force had conducted air raids on Tiger guerrilla targets in Sampur (Trincomalee) last Tuesday and Wednesday but blamed the Government for violating the Ceasefire Agreement through that action.

Its determination was contained in an official statement that also accused the Government Security Forces in the North and East of involvement in extrajudicial killings of civilians. It said “this conviction is based on our observation and inquiries on the ground.”

However, the SLMM has remained silent on who caused last Tuesday’s bombing at Army Headquarters, the precursor to the air raid. In a statement issued immediately after that incident, the SLMM whilst strongly condemning the incident said “for the time being” they would “refrain from drawing any immediate conclusions about the possible perpetrators.”

Helen Olafsdottir, spokesperson for the SLMM rejected Government claims that Air Force bombings at Sampur came after guerrillas had attacked Navy vessels. “We had monitors in that area and nobody heard any sound. We believe it is retaliation to the suicide bombing. This goes beyond defensive measures,” Ms Olafsdottir said.

Asked how many SLMM monitors were in the Trincomalee district, she said there were 13 of them. However, she was unable to say how many of them were near the Sampur area at that time. Nor could she give details of casualty figures in Sampur.

Ms. Olafsdottir also contradicted claims by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera that European Union officials had backed the Government’s retaliatory strike. “This is not correct. In fact the whole international community is trying to prevent military action,” she argued. Asked whether the Government did not have the right to resort to defensive action she said “they claim they were attacked. We say we do not believe it.”

All parties unite behind President
All major political parties resolved on Friday to “act with unity and single minded purpose” against efforts to intimidate and provoke democratic society.
They said they would not allow political differences to obstruct human freedom and declared their unstinted support to President Mahinda Rajapaksa to overcome terrorism and usher peace.

This is the significant highlight of a joint statement issued after the All-Party Conference on Friday. Among the signatories are the UPFA, the SLFP, the UNP, the JVP, the JHU, the MEP, the CWC, the UPF, the CP, the LSSP and the SLMC.

The joint statement said they unreservedly rejected the acts of terrorism, the cruel murders and other forms of violence.

The parties said:
“We, the leaders and representatives of the democratic political parties elected to the Parliament of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka through the free vote of the people, representing the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim and all other communities of our land, make this united appeal before all Sri Lankans who value peace and look forward to achieving it with dignity; and before all people, governments and organizations of the world that value and lay stress on human freedom and democracy.

“It is our firm belief that differences that arise among different communities of our country and the various streams of political opinion should be resolved through the democratic process of discussion directed towards peace .It is also our conviction that solutions to the differences should be sought through non-violence and the consensus of our people.

“In that context, all people of Sri Lanka, and particularly the members of the Armed Forces and all the Police, deserve our undiminished praise for maintaining their commitment to peace, non –violence and discussion in the face of extremely ruthless provocations, including the most outrageous suicide bomb attack on the Commander of the Army, employing a pregnant-mother.

“We unreservedly reject the acts of terrorism, the cruel murders and the other forms of violence which have been used as means to instil fear in people, and thereby achieve political goals and objectives. At this decisive moment, we declare with all responsibility that we shall act with unity and single-minded purpose against such efforts to intimidate and provoke our democratic society .
“We shall also not allow our political differences to obstruct the protection of human freedom that is most cherished. “Further, we declare our unstinted support to His Excellency President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his resolve to overcome terrorism and usher peace through negotiations.

“We have also observed with deep regret, the several attempts by certain sections of the foreign media to blatantly distort the truth in relation to the incidents that have taken place in our country and thereby damage the image of our people. We vehemently deplore and condemn these practices and urge such sections of the media to act with responsibility and integrity.

“Our appeal to all our beloved people who favour peace is to respect law and order, maintain peace within the country and to act with restraint. At the same time, our appeal to the international community is to assist us in the united action we take to protect the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and democracy in our land.

“We also take this opportunity to reiterate our commitment to engage Sinhalese, Tamil, Muslim, Burgher, Malay and all communities in the governance of our country.”
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