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The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM ) has noted that recent statements made by the parties to the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) – the government and the LTTE - undermine the good intentions or violate the spirit of the agreement.
The SLMM concerns follow the comments made over the weekend by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa who had said the government would make a military push for the Wanni despite President Mahinda Rajapaksa seemingly saying on numerous occasions the doors for peace negotiations with the LTTE were still open.
“The SLMM observes and monitors these statements and will comment on them in its regular report to the Parties,” the SLMM told the Daily Mirror.
UNP frontliner Lakshman Kiriella also yesterday raised questions as to whether the statement made by the Defence Secretary was a sinister move to substantiate future attempts by the state to purchase more “old aircraft like the MiG-27 fighter jets”.
“It is surprising (the comments by the Defence Secretary) because we got to know that the President had sent a secret message to the LTTE with the intension of resuming peace talks. As usual it seems the government does not know what it is doing. Maybe they are just trying to get more 25 year old planes or flying coffins,” the UNP MP told the Daily Mirror in response to what was said by the Defence Secretary.
With the government moving ahead with the establishment of civil administration in the east Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa on Sunday said the entire Wanni region also would be cleared in the very near future.
He assured that the state would not keep room for the LTTE to regain control of the east by encouraging an unstable political situation in the South.
Mr. Kirielle said the comments by the Defence Secretary raised more confusion as it came at a time when the President was pursuing political consensus for a final negotiated settlement through the All Party Representative Committee (APRC).
Government Defence spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambukwelle however said at no point was the government saying the doors for peace were closed but it was only keen on ensuring the LTTE had no choice but to enter negotiations from a position of weakness.
“The best way to get the LTTE to come for talks is for us to be in a position of strength. After the military liberated the east the LTTE has no choice but to come for talks or we will have to take appropriate measures even in the north for the sake of national security,” Minister Rambukwelle told the Daily Mirror.
Commenting on SLMM’s notion that the CFA was being violated frequently, Minister Rambukwelle said the government would not allow the ceasefire monitors to dictate terms to the state when it came to national security.
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