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SLMM blames government for breakdown of Geneva agreement: The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) has blamed the government’s unwillingness to implement its commitments in Geneva as the principal cause for the deteriorating security situation in the country.

In its report on the implementation of the agreements reached between the government and the LTTE at the Geneva talks in February, SLMM Chief Ulf Henricsson has said the initial positive forward looking atmosphere was however quickly changed into reality as the government remained unwilling to implement all its commitments and instead denied even the mere presence of armed groups in their areas.

“In addition, the GOSL showed little willingness to accept requests by the LTTE aimed at normalising the situation,” Henricsson has reported.

The SLMM, he has said, fears that the resumption of attacks against the GOSL security forces were the LTTE’s way of putting pressure on the government.

The report further states, the inability by the parties to grasp the opportunity after the Geneva talks unfortunately led to the deaths of 150 people and even more being injured or displaced in the violence that followed.

The SLMM has also charged that the government had failed to implement its commitment to take all necessary measures in accordance with the CFA to ensure that no armed group or person other than government security forces will carry arms or conduct armed operations in government-controlled areas.

The report further states the government was responsible for maintaining law and order in its territory and that includes preventing operations by criminals, paramilitaries and other unofficial armed groups.

Henricsson has also accused the LTTE of continuing to recruit and abduct children to strengthen their fighting capacity.

“The LTTE must follow the CFA and the international law and stop this practice,” he has added.

“Finally, it should be emphasised that there are two basic fundamentals which are necessary for lasting peace and stability: a confident legal system and full democratic control of the armed forces. These basic fundamentals must be strengthened in Sri Lanka if the peace process is to be successful,” the report stated. [Source: SundayLeader]

Statement by SLMM:

Violations of the Ceasefire Agreement
SLMM Colombo: 9 June 2006

SLMM receives Complaints of possible Violations of the Ceasefire Agreement from the Government of Sri Lanka, the LTTE Leadership and the armed forces of both Parties. However a vast number of complaints come from the General Public in North and East Sri Lanka.

The intention of SLMM is to reduce the tension between the Parties by rapidly inquiring into any alleged Ceasefire violation. SLMM then tries to solve problems and disputes that arise through the SLMM Local Monitoring Committees in the districts and/or through direct contact between SLMM HQ and the top leadership of the Parties.

SLMM informs the Parties on a regular basis about ruled violations. SLMM estimates that received complaints are only a part of the actual Ceasefire violations. It must be underlined that the recent escalation of violence has resulted in nearly 600 people dying this year alone. Over half of these are civilians. The SLMM was set up to monitor the Ceasefire and make inquiries into violations but the mission does not have a mandate or the resources to enforce security in the country or conduct police work. Most of the killings occurring this year have gone unpunished and the perpetrators remain at large. SLMM is therefore unable to rule most of these individual cases due to lack of evidence. The number of ruled violations in recent times does therefore not reflect the real level of committed violations.

The following report was originally intended to be submitted at the second round of Geneva talks. The Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam reached an agreement in their meeting in Geneva in February where they recommitted themselves to adhere to the CFA. The SLMM was to report on the Parties’ performance in the period between the two Geneva meetings.

Unfortunately the second round of Geneva did not take place as scheduled but SLMM has nevertheless kept an updated report which can be seen below. The reporting period is 24 February to 24 May 2006.

Geneva Report
[pdf format]