Thursday Nov 20, 2008
Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said the ICRC truncated their presence at the Omanthai entry/exit point from Tuesday which is the only passage civilian have access to cross from both cleared and the uncleared areas.

He reiterated that the Security Forces assured the safety of civilians passing over the crossing point and the ICRC officials. We have given our guarantee and safe passage for the civilians passing by the Omanthai entry/exit point and assured safety of the ICRC officials carrying out their daily task, Brigadier Nanayakkara told the Daily News.

The Omanthai entry/exit point is opened but the ICRC officials have not reported since Tuesday, he added.

A spokesperson for the ICRC Sarasi Wijeratne said that the ICRC officials were not present to carry out their duties at the Omanthai entry/exit point from Tuesday following a lack of assurance from the Government and the LTTE for civilians passing cleared and uncleared areas and the official functioning at the crossing point. A security assurance is a must to provide safe passage to the civilians crossing the Omanthai entry/exit point, as well as to for the ICRC officials to continue their duty at the crossing point, she added.

The ICRC is in close contact with the military and the LTTE on the daily basis for the security arrangements. We are negotiating with both parties to assure the safety and security for the civilians and the ICRC officials at the Omanthai entry/exit point, Wijeratne told the Daily News. However, Brigadier Nanayakkara said that the Security Forces are not engaged talks with the ICRC since the Government already had assured the security and safety of the civilians and the ICRC officials at the Omanthai crossing point.

Wijeratne pointed out that the ICRC officials will resume their duties at the Omanthai crossing point as soon as both parties give an assurance on security and safety.

Source: DAILY NEWS
Author: Rafik JALALDEEN