LTTE kills nine sailors

Nine sailors were killed and eight injured in an LTTE claymore mine blast in Chettikulam on the Mannar-Medawachchiya road at 4.15 p.m. yesterday.

According to the Navy Media Unit, the incident occurred at the 18th mile post in Chettikulam.

The sailors were travelling in three buses from the Pandukabhaya Navy Camp at Punewa towards the Gajaba and Thamenna Navy camps in Mannar when they were ambushed.

The bus carrying 19 sailors ripped apart when the claymore mine exploded. Nine of the 19 sailors were killed and eight others were injured. Two sailors escaped unhurt.

The injured sailors were rushed to the Anuradhapura General Hospital, sources said.

This was the second attack on the Navy in a week following the attack on a Naval Dvora patrol craft in Trincomalee on Saturday where 13 sailors were killed.

Earlier, 13 sailors were killed in a claymore mine blast at Nadukkuda, Mannar on December 23. The sailors killed in the attack were returning to their homes for the Christmas holidays, Navy sources said.

With yesterday's attack, the number of Armed Forces personnel killed during the past one month has gone upto 76 despite the Ceasefire Agreement signed in 2002. Along with the deaths of Armed Forces personnel, 125 people have been killed in a wave of violence which has escalated in the latter part of last year, sources said.

Meanwhile, it was reported that two members of the Denmark Demining Movement 'Dennis' on their way to Jaffna were abducted by the LTTE on Wednesday. The two were identified as Thambiah Thomas and Nagamurthy Kandipan.

Govt condemns attack

The Government yesterday strongly condemning the LTTE attack said this was another in a series of hostile acts mounted on the Security Forces by the LTTE in the North and East over the last few weeks in blatant violation of the ceasefire agreement.

A release said this attack had come at a time when President Mahinda Rajapakse was making a sincere effort to consult with political parties and the facilitator to move the peace process forward.

The Government also expressed its condolences to families of the Navy personnel killed in the attack.

SLMM questions whether there is still a Ceasefire in Sri Lanka

SLMM strongly condemns the latest attack on Sri Lanka Navy soldiers in Cheddikulam on the 12th of January. Our sympathy goes to the families that have been affected by this brutal murder.

This attack is yet another serious blow to the Ceasefire Agreement and SLMM believes that if such attacks or retaliation of such attacks continue the Ceasefire Agreement will be over. Over 100 people were killed last month half of which were civilians. Killings and serious attacks continue and the situation is getting worse. It is our assessment that if the Parties don’t react immediately they risk going back to war.

Various actors in the international community have blamed the LTTE for attacking Government troops but the LTTE has continuously denied any involvement. The LTTE claims that “the People” are behind the attacks on the military. SLMM finds this explanation unacceptable. It is safe to say that LTTE involvement cannot be ruled out and we find the LTTE’s indifference to these attacks worrying.

It is however clear that people are suffering and unfortunately there have been several reports of civilian harassment by the Security Forces in relation to increased security measures. The harassment often takes a form of harsh treatment of the Tamil population in relation to the attacks. We would like to urge the Government of Sri Lanka and the Security Forces to prevent such actions from taking place.

It is important to emphasise that the current situation also stems from the fact that alternative armed elements have been able to operate freely in the East in Government controlled areas. These forces have destabilised the ceasefire and are one of the major reasons for increased tension between the Parties. We therefore urge the Government of Sri Lanka to face up to its responsibility to disarm these other armed groups so that the rule of law can be reinstated in the affected areas.

Increasing amount of civilians is being caught in the middle leading to major disturbances in the local communities. The conflict between the two sides is hurting civilians and preventing any restoration to normalcy.

We urge both Parties to consider carefully how they can mend the situation instead of merely blaming each other and pointing fingers. The Parties need to come up with firm confidence building measures with the truthful aim of reaching a peaceful solution. Actions speak louder than words and we feel that we need to see more commitment from the two Parties if war is not to break out in Sri Lanka.