Of the total valid complaints that have been processed by SLMM, since the beginning of the Ceasefire Agreement, 270 have been made against LTTE and 110 against the Governmental side or a Grand total of 380. Thereof, already 56 have been ruled as violations of LTTE and 20 have been ruled as violations of the Governmental side. The most common violation is abduction/kidnapping by LTTE, or a total number of 21. Second most common violation is harassment by LTTE, or a total number of 11. Third most common violation is extortion by LTTE, or a total number of 7. After that comes the Governmental side, which has violated the Ceasefire Agreement with 6 cases of Harassment, 6 cases of Restriction of movement and with 5 cases of Restriction on fishery.

In addition to these ruled violations there have been made 44 complaints of LTTE’s Forced recruitment/Recruitment of Children, 44 complaints of Harassment by LTTE and 32 complaints of Abductions/Kidnapping by LTTE. 23 complaints have been made against the Governmental side for Harassment, 18 complaints have been made against the Governmental side for Occupation of civilian land and property and 16 complaints have been made against the LTTE in the cases of Missing persons. SLMM is still inquiring into the complaints above and a special report is also being made on Occupation of schoolbuildings and places of worship.

In Batticaloa district SLMM has received most complaints of possible violations, or a total of 182 complaints. Thereafter comes Trincomalee with 95 complaints and Ampara with 68 complaints made since the beginning of SLMM monitoring of the Ceasefire Agreement. The districts with the fewest complaints are Jaffna with 54 complaints, Vavuniya with only 34 complaints and Mannar with as few as 22 complaints since the beginning of the Ceasefire.

SLMM has sadly received reports of people being threatened with violence if they decide to use their right to complain about possible violations to SLMM. Major General Trond Furuhovde, Head of SLMM, concludes: ”I urge all the people in Sri Lanka to change their focus from critizising each other to that of keeping the peace and assisting the parties in implementing the Ceasefire Agreement. Responsible leaders of both parties should emphasize on living up to the expectations that the people have in their ability to create a lasting Peace in Sri Lanka.”

Released By
SLMM HQ
Colombo

Mr. Teitur Torkelsson. GSM: +94 (0) 77 712 080
Press & Information Officer (PIO) of SLMM
SLMM HQ, 399 Galle road. Colombo-3
Teitur.Torkelsson@mfa.no

Ref: SLMM HQ/8th July 2002/MED/6006