12/12/06 - Alarming situation in Vakarai area

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, SLMM, is deeply concerned over the escalating violence in the area between Batticaloa and Trincomalee in the east part of Sri Lanka. The violence does not only put the Cease Fire Agreement, CFA, into great danger, but jeopardizes lives of thousands of innocent civilians, especially internally displaced people in the Vakarai area.

The LTTE has failed to protect civilians in Vakarai by restricting their movements.

It is the responsibility of the LTTE to do their utmost to facilitate for these innocent civilians to reach safe ground. The SLMM has contrary to acceptable practices on one occasion experienced that civilians were being hindered from exiting the area.

The SLMM has not been able to monitor the situation as monitors have been continuously refused access by the SLA into the areas of concern. SLMM has tried on countless occasions to patrol into Vakarai and most recently in the Kallar area for inspections. Restriction of SLMM access by GOSL forces to areas where violations may have taken place is in itself a violation of the CFA and more importantly prevents the SLMM from working according to its mandate given to them by the Parties.

The SLMM urges the Parties to do their utmost to respect the CFA and to refrain from any further violence in the area.