January 31, 2003	Friday	Ziqa’ad 27, 1423

BATTICALOA, Jan 30: The Muslim factor, provocative actions and child recruitment were chief matters discussed at a meeting between representatives of the Government of Sri Lanka, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (the Norwegian ceasefire monitors SLMM) on Thursday.

The meeting was held at the Divisional Secretary’s office in the Eastern Batticaloa district to discuss complaints recorded and violations of the Ceasefire Agreement.

The discussions were described by the SLMM spokesman as ‘frank’ and ‘cordial’ with the LTTE pledging the protection of Muslims in the North and East, especially the Jaffna peninsula where an increasing number of reports spoke of unrest among Muslims owing to pressure from the LTTE.

In order to tackle the issue of complaints about child recruitment, the LTTE had suggested that regular meetings to held in the future with parents of children who have joined the LTTE, LTTE district commanders and SLMM representatives.