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Jaffna Security Forces Commander Major General Sarath Fonseka commended his men for exercising restraint during the recent incident in Point Pedro.

A group of civilians including schoolchildren tried to storm the Brigade headquarters breaking army barriers and security posts demanding passage through the high security zone.

Addressing principals, undergraduates, union and NGO representations at a conference held at the Subash Hotel in Jaffna Maj. Gen. Fonseka said the manner in which the army showed restraint during this incident should be highly appreciated.

No where in the world would an army have showed such laudable restraint as in Point Pedro. Had the army retaliated with full force it would have caused a disastrous impact on the peace process, he said.

Maj. Gen. Fonseka said the spirit of the MoU should be understood and one should not pick holes in the ceasefire agreement.

"If there is a violation of the MoU, it should be reported to the monitoring committee. We should avoid creating a hostile environment. It is detrimental to the peace process," he said.

The Commander said that there are people who do not want peace.

"Such people thrive on the peoples' miseries. The army wants peace," he said.

"Principals should see that their charges do not get involved in acts of violence. We are aware that Hartley College pupils alone were not responsible for the incident near the Point Pedro camp. They had been used as shields and exploited by war mongers. Parents and students should be educated to desist from violence," the Commander said.

Sripathy, Principal, Hartley College compared the army in Point Pedro to true disciples of Lord Buddha.

He said their behaviour when provoked had won acclamation.

Hartley College students had no hand in the incident next to the school, the principal said. He appealed to the principals to keep students under control and create a rapport with the army.

Prof. P. Balasundarampillai, Vice-Chancellor, Jaffna University said the commander had agreed to the immediate implementation of the following measures.

They are the Opening of Clock Tower road that branches to the Jaffna Public library and Muniappar temple; The army would desist from cutting down palmyra and coconut trees in the future. And the logs needed to build bunkers would be brought from the South; 5,000 palmyra seedlings and 4,000 coconut seedlings to be planted immediately; and the Jaffna Central College playground to be modernised and to be brought to international standard with army help.

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