Paper lists public places occupied by military

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 11 June 2002, 12:36 GMT]
The Sri Lankan military is occupying at least 139 places of worship, 74 schools and 113 public buildings across the north and east of the island in violation of the permanent ceasefire between the government and the Liberation Tigers, the Tamil Guardian newspaper reported Tuesday. The London-based weekly published the details, categorised by type and district, of the public locations it said are presently under military occupation.

In its editorial, the Tamil Guardian said “the list is not exhaustive, but the intensity of the continuing state of militarisation of the Tamil areas can in any case be readily appreciated.”

“As those urging a negotiated settlement to Sri Lanka’s conflict are painfully aware … the peace process is undeniably at an impasse. The reasons are equally obvious: despite Sri Lanka’s insistence that the ceasefire is being implemented, little is actually being done,” it said.

According to the ceasefire agreement which came into effect on February 23 (referred to as ‘D-day’ in the document), “places of worship (temples, churches, mosques and other holy sites, etc.) currently held by either of the parties shall be vacated by D-day + 30 and made accessible to the public."

The agreement also states that “beginning on [D-day], school buildings occupied by either party shall be vacated and returned to their intended use. This activity shall be completed by D-day +160 at the latest.”