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Standoff likely on sea passage

V.S. Sambandan

LTTE firm on use of Sea Tigers

COLOMBO: A standoff is likely between the LTTE and the Government centred on a rebel claim for passage off the eastern coast. The LTTE has disagreed with an offer to transport its eastern cadres in Navy vessels to the northern coast to enable them to participate at a meeting with the LTTE leadership ahead of the second round of talks in Geneva. The LTTE has demanded that their cadres travel on vessels belonging to the Sea Tigers.

In a letter to the head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, Ulf Henricsson, LTTE's political wing leader S.P. Tamilselvan described the Government's proposal as "impractical".

"Possessing a powerful naval force and having used own vessels for travel by sea, the LTTE commanders are prepared to travel only in their own vessels with SLMM officers on board, as was done in the past."

He said, "If our request does not receive urgent positive response, we will be forced to travel using our own resources," and "if the Sri Lanka Navy attempts to intercept our vessel, it will be a serious ceasefire violation. Should such a situation arise, the Sri Lanka Navy too will face similar interceptions in the future."

According to the ceasefire agreement, the Navy has the control over the sea. The LTTE had demanded a right of passage in eastern sea.

Blast kills seven

A suspected LTTE claymore explosion in Sri Lanka's northern Jaffna peninsula killed seven persons on Monday. The victims — five soldiers and two NGO workers — were travelling in two vehicles in opposite directions when the blast took place, said a military spokesman. The NGO workers were identified as those attached to the Jaffna based Human Development Centre. A soldier and a civilian were injured in the incident.

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