GA to discuss resumption of demining in Jaffna district

GA to discuss resumption of demining in Jaffna district
[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 January 2009, 19:21 GMT]
Jaffna Government Agent (GA) is expected to hold a meeting next week with Jaffna District Demining Integration Committee (DDIC) attached to Jaffna Secretariat and the demining organizations, Halo Trust and Danish Demining Organization, to consider recommencing demining work in Jaffna District, Jaffna Secretariat sources said. The decision follows the permission issued by Defence Ministry to begin demining in eleven areas in the peninsula after a long delay due to the SLA refusal to continue demining, the sources added.

27 areas in the peninsula was selected for demining work in Jaffna district by Jaffna DDIC in 2008, and the list was submitted to the Defence Ministry with Jaffna GA’s approval.

This proposed demining was delayed as SLA in Jaffna had refused permission for demining work in the areas selected by DDIC.

Colombo Supreme Court had instructed related authorities to consider moving the security positions in the Front Defence Lines located at the edge of the SLA High Security Zones in Jaffna district.

The meeting called by the GA follows Supreme Court directive and the Defence Ministry permission to engage in demining in eleven areas.

Danish Demining Organization will recommence demining if it is approved in the meeting while Halo Trust which had almost terminated its services in Jaffna peninsula is yet to take a final decision, according to sources in Jaffna.