Published on - 11/24/2002
The Sunday Thinakural newspaper of Sunday, 24 November 2002 has misreported by distortion of the proceedings and the recommendations made by the Ampara District Committee for De-escalation and Normalization, held in the Divisional Secretariat in Akkraipattu on 23 November 2002. Even the heading itself on Page 10 of this newspaper shows the extent of mischievousness in reporting.
The following salient distortions are pinpointed as clarification of the recommendations made by the above committee.
1. The two parties agreed that the Police post located in the APC building in Maradamunai need not be re-located out of the present location. The Government Agent, Ampara was requested to find suitable building or land to settle this issue.
2. The information received at the discussion was that the Security Forces, Police or Special Task Force were not in occupation or using the Kalmunai Rest House building. Taking this position into consideration, it was decided too recommend the hand-over of the building to Kalmunai Municipality to commence business and to prevent unauthorized occupation. The government denies that the Police were asked to vacate this building.
3. LTTE requested the releasing of the school building adjoining Kanchnakuda STF camp. The STF was not in occupation of this building for some time. Therefore vacating this building does not arise. Hence, it was only adjusting the fence leaving the empty building outside the camp. For security reasons, it was decided that STF readjust its fence in such a way to exclude this building. Further, the Government Agent was advised to follow up to ensure that the building is used for its intended use.
4. Before this meeting, the STF has decided for strategic security reasons to re-locate the camp in Tirukkovil to a close by suitable location. Land has also been earmarked for this purpose. Therefore, re-location will not cause any security problem, but on the contrary, will strengthen the security of Tirukkovil and the Main Road.
5. Regarding the road humps, the correct decision was that a committee comprising the Army, Police and the STF are to inspect and take decisions by consensus on case by case basis and not to remove these humps immediately. Further, the Government Delegation insisted that the humps by the side of the Security Camps should remain.
The Government Delegation reiterates that there was no demand made by LTTE to withdraw or vacate any existing Security Force, Police or STF camp or Police Station from the area where they are currently located. The discussions revolved on how to assist the returnees by permitting the access to services. Unfortunately, this productive and constructive decision in Akkaraipattu meeting has been significantly disregarded by the Thinakural newspaper of 24 Sunday, November 20002 and hence this clarification.
We thank Virakersari newspaper of 24 November (Sunday) for reporting the proceedings, recommendations and decisions of the above meeting in the correct perspective.
