The SLMM yesterday again expressed concern over the continuing activities of armed groups operating in government-controlled areas saying it could seriously destabilise the peace between the government and the LTTE.
SLMM spokesperson Helen Olafsdottir told the Daily Mirror the fact that the cease fire monitors met a group of armed Karuna cadres in Vallachchenai last week once again proved without a doubt that the group was active in government-controlled areas. The ceasefire monitors met about 10 to 15 cadres armed with T-56 weapons after the breakaway LTTE group rounded up a village in Vallachchenai last week. Miss Olafsdottir said the armed group claimed they belonged to the Karuna faction led by the former Eastern LTTE commander Karuna Amman.
“This supports our earlier statement that armed groups are operating in government -controlled areas despite denials by the army,” she said.
The political arm of the Karuna faction known as the Tamil Makal Viduthalai Pulikal (TVMP) has set up a political office in the Batticaloa town, adjoining a school.
Although the presence of the TVMP political office is not a violation of the ceasefire agreement as the cadres were not armed. The Daily Mirror learns that the teachers of the adjoining school have written to the army commander of the area saying the office poses a threat to the school children.
Meanwhile LTTE Batticaloa political head Daya Mohan said the latest threat issued by the Karuna faction to the Eastern LTTE leaders was nothing new and cautioned the Wanni rebels were ready to face any threat.
In an interview with Reuters the Karuna faction has threatened to hunt down three eastern LTTE leaders including Daya Mohan. Mr. Mohan, while disregarding the threat, criticised the government and the army for continuously failing to accept the presence of Karuna cadres in government controlled areas despite evidence to the contrary.