Sri Lanka: Monitors Confirm Paramilitaries Active

The international ceasefire monitors in Sri Lanka confirmed.

The head of the international ceasefire monitors in Sri Lanka, Mr. Steen Joergensen, confirmed the presence of paramilitaries in government-held areas.

Q. Is it a violation of the CFA to have Karuna forces in government- controlled areas?

A. Yes, it is a violation. According to the CFA, paramilitary groups should be disarmed.

Mr. Joergensen told the Presidential commission that he could confirm the presence of Karuna forces in the government held territories. The transcript of his interview, published by the Sunday Times follow:

Q. How many paramilitary groups are there in the area?

A. To my knowledge the only paramilitary group is The Karuna faction which is a breakaway group of the LTTE.

Q. Where does it operate? A. It operates near the Welikanda area

Q. Does this area come under the government controlled area? A. Yes. It comes under the government controlled area.

Q. Was this group formed after the signing of the CFA? A. It was formed after the signing of the CFA, when 'Col'. Karuna was expelled by the LTTE on 6.03.2004

Q. Does this group get any help from the Sri Lanka army? A. I do not know.

Q. Is it a violation of the CFA to have Karuna forces in government- controlled areas? A. Yes, it is a violation. According to the CFA, paramilitary groups should be disarmed.

Q. Is it the responsibility of the government to disarm them? A. Yes. It is the government's responsibility to disarm all auxiliary forces according to the CFA.

Q. Has there been a request by the LTTE to disarm them? A. Yes and I have informed the SLMM head in Colombo, Mr. Hauckland

Q. Has he responded to your request? A. I am not aware of what steps were taken by them.

Q. Can you roughly say when you informed the SLMM? A. I informed the Colombo Head Quarters on 21.03.2005

Q. Do you accept that there have been continuing attacks against the LTTE? A. Yes

The Sri Lanka Army's officer in Batticaloa, Brigadier Laksiri Amaratunge, why still denied the founded charge and continue with their manipulating and lie with dirty motive.

The Extracts from his interview to the Presidential Commission follow:

Q: Is the Army assisting or harbouring the Karuna faction? A: No we are not aiding or harbouring the Karuna fraction.

Q: Are you aware that the Karuna faction is operating in government controlled areas? A: Breakaway Karuna faction cadres are operating in LTTE controlled areas.

Q: Are there any Karuna faction camps located in government controlled Welikanda area? A: There are no such camps in the Welikanda area.

The world must open its eye and looked in to what really happenings, and tell the sinhala sri lanka to put end to their dirty works and stop cheating and manupulating.

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