The Secretariat for Coordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) and the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) held the regular weekly meeting today in which, for the first time, an official of the Muslim Peace Secretariat participated at the invitation of SCOPP.
The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission said it had initiated an inquiry into allegations that the LTTE has demanded that every family living in areas controlled by it contribute at least one member to its activities. SCOPP also inquired about the widely reported threat of the LTTE to attack economic targets. SLMM agreed that this should be investigated.
SLMM and SCOPP agreed that child recruitment was a serious issue and SLMM said they would continue to monitor the situation very closely. SLMM said they had received two complaints of alleged LTTE child recruitment in Mannar.
Muslim Peace Secretariat Director M.H.M. Salman raised concerns about the situation of the Muslim population and requested SLMM and the Government of Sri Lanka to work together on humanitarian and resettlement issues relating the community in the East. He wanted the SLMM to clarify the status of the Muslim community vis-à-vis the Ceasefire Agreement.
SLMM and GOSL agreed it was a valid concern and both took the complaints of the Muslim communities very seriously. They agreed that all civilians, including members of the Muslim communities, should be afforded protection under the CFA.
With regard to the bus explosion in Vavuniya on July 24, in which 11 soldiers died, SLMM said it has begun an investigation of the incident. SLMM reiterated that CFA violations have increased and that it does not have the resources to issue reports relating to these violations.
SLMM said it will hold regular meetings with local monitors in the six districts on a regular basis, and agreed to keep SCOPP informed of these meetings.
A Muslim Peace Secretariat representative will also attend these meetings.
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Violations Committed
by the GOSL - 351
