LTTE rejects SLN condition for fishing in Muttur East Sea

[TamilNet, Thursday, 06 April 2006, 02:13 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Wednesday rejected Sri Lanka Navy's (SLN's) condition communicated throught the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) that fishermen in LTTE controlled Muttur east coastal villages should register their names and other details at the Muttur jetty located in the government controlled territory when they go to sea for fishing and on their return. Mr.S.Elilan, Trincomalee district political head of the LTTE said that it will be an undue burden on the fishermen to travel more than five km to report their departure and return after fishing in shores near their village, sources said

Mr.Ove Janssen, Trincomalee district head of the SLMM and his Sea Monitor conveyed the condition of the SLN to allow fishing in sea surrounding Muttur east coastal villages to Mr.Elilan at a discussion held in the LTTE political secretariat in Sampoor.

"SLN's condition is not acceptable. In addition to the unnecessary burden on the fishermen having to travel 5 km to register, their saftey is not guaranteed when they travel through army controlled territory," Mr.Elilan is reported to have told the SLMM monitors.

Mr.Elilan said the SLMM monitors have assured him that they will meet the SLN authorities for further action on this issue, sources said.