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Solheim meets Thamilselvam

by Ranga Jayasuriya

Norwegian special peace envoy Erik Solheim yesterday met LTTE political chief Thamilselvam in Kilinochchi for talks in which the disputed LTTE Wan-Ela camp was expected to top the agenda.

Solheim is expected to hold further discussions with the Scandinavian Monitors whose ruling for the removal of the camp was ignored by the Tigers.

"Thamilselvam informed Solheim of the LTTE's stance that the camp has been set up in a LTTE controlled area and that it has been in existence for a long time," LTTE spokesman Daya Master told the Daily News.

"Thamilselvam said that it was unjust to demand the removal of the camp, "Daya Master said.

He said that no conclusion was reached on the camp issue. Norwegian embassy spokesman Thomas Stangeland said Solheim stressed the importance of adhering to the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission's rulings.

"He (Solheim) underlined the importance of both parties to comply with the SLMM rulings," he said. Stangeland said the talks were constructive and cordial. "There was a wide range of issues, the Paris meeting and what will happen after the LTTE completes its study on the Government proposals, the camp and the recent developments on the peace front".

Ten LTTE members and legal experts will fly to Paris probably on August 19 or 20. Solheim also brought up the spree of political killings of which the Amnesty International and the United States blamed on the Tigers. Earlier, writing to Ambassador Brattskar calling for Norwegian intervention, the SLMM's acting chief Haukland said the LTTE's reluctance to remove the camp is a threat to the ceasefire and challenge to the SLMM mandate.

Haukland said the Scandinavian truce monitors are expected to hold further discussions with Solheim in a bid to sort out the camp dispute.

Solheim's visit was widely regarded as an extended move by the Norwegians to resolve the dispute over the camp.

But Stangeland said the visit including yesterday's tour to Killinochchi was routine. Solheim was joined by the Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo Hans Brattskar and Stangeland at the meeting.

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