LTTE denies fundamental rights of Tamils [Friday, March 09, 2007 - 7.05 GMT]   

By threatening to attack passenger ships sailing between Trincomalee and Jaffna, the LTTE is denying the Tamils their fundamental rights, especially their right to move freely, said Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda. He called upon the international community to condemn this heinous crime of the LTTE.
  
In spite of LTTE provocations the Government has ensured the freedom of movement of all citizens, including Tamils, the Minister added.
  
The LTTE has attacked passenger ships sailing between Trincomalee and Jaffna even before this warning. The Navy had foiled all of them and ensured the safety of the passengers. Here were six such attacks between March 30, 1996 and January 21, 2007 when the passenger ship MV City of Liverpool came under attack.
  
During the past six months the Navy provided escort to ships that ferried over 25,000 Tamil civilians between< Trincomalee and Jaffna.
  
Since the closure of A9 highway due to provocations and attacks by the LTTE the main means of transport of both passengers and cargo has been the sea route between Trincomalee and Jaffna.
  
With the closure of A9 the Government intensified the transport of essential goods including food and medicine to Jaffna by sea. Since August 2006 the government has sent five shiploads of essential food items amounting to 81, 345 tons. In order to prevent these essential items being   forcibly apprehended by the LTTE and in order to ensure fair prices these goods are distributed through a network of sales outlets manned by the Army and the Navy.
  

Meanwhile, another consignment of food items weighing 12,000 tons will be airlifted to Jaffna within the next few days with the assistance of the world Food and Agricultural Organization. In addition arrangements have been made to transport goods direct to Jaffna from India.
  
This shows that despite LTTE threats the government has ensured the freedom of life to the citizens in the north.



 

PRINT THIS STORY

Contact Information: Send mail to gosl@presidentsl.org with questions or comments about this web site. 
Last Updated Date: March 09, 2007 - 07.05 GMT