SLA permits Danish to de-mine again

[TamilNet, Friday, 21 November 2003, 18:32 GMT]
The Sri Lanka army permitted the Danish De-mining Group (DDG) to resume work in Katkovalam, a coastal village near Pt. Pedro town in Jaffna from Friday, residents said. Earlier this month the SLA stopped the Danish from removing land mines in abandoned SLA positions and their environs in Katkovalam when the group began earmarking places to be de-mined in the village.

The DDG stopped work following the SLA’s action. On Thursday the organisation tried to resume work after negotiations with the SLA. Troops in the area stopped the DDG’s work again on Thursday, according to residents.

However, following discussions with the SLA headquarters in Jaffna, the DDG was allowed to begin de-mining from Friday.

DDG officials in Katkovalam declined to comment on the developments.

Six people in Katkovalam have lost their limbs since last year when the SLA moved out of its positions in the midst of the village.