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| Thursday, 21 August 2003 |
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SLMM begins extensive discussions on East by Ranil Wijayapala Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Chief Tryggve Tellefsen has initiated discussions with the Government, LTTE and the Norwegian facilitators on the current situation in the East and political killings which have become alarming issues at present. SLMM Spokeswoman Agnes Bragadottir told the Daily News yesterday that the SLMM Chief had separate discussions the Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattskar, Defence Secretary Austin Fernando and the LTTE Political Wing Leader S.P. Thamilselvan on these matters. "The SLMM is deeply concerned about political killings, the current situation in the East and is keeping Norwegian Special Peace Envoy Eric Solheim informed as he has promised the SLMM to take action on these issues," Bragadottir added. The Nordic Truce Monitors came under heavy criticism from both international human rights groups and from the local political parties including Sri Lanka Muslim Congress and other Muslim factions recently for their inefficient role in investigating political killings allegedly committed by the LTTE. "We are aware of the criticism. The mandate vested with the SLMM has not given a capacity to probe these incidents. So we have to consider all these killings as mere criminal matters until parties decide on our mandate," she said. "If the parties want us to probe into those killings they have to reconsider the mandate of the SLMM", Bragadottir added. "The SLMM also believes that the role of the SLMM should be reconsidered following the LTTE's refusal to abide by the SLMM ruling on the Wan-Ela camp issue. But the SLMM on its own cannot decide its mandate," she added. General Tellefsen had taken up these issues with LTTE representatives led by its Political Wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan in Colombo prior to their departure to Paris last morning. Thamilselvan was accompanied by LTTE Peace Secretariat Chief Pulithevan and the LTTE Special Commander of the East 'colonel' Karuna at this discussion, Bragadottir added. The LTTE agreed to fix a meeting between General Tryggve Tellefssen and Political and Military wing leaders in Trincomalee Thilak and Pathuman next Monday in Sampur, she added. The situation in the East and political killings are tipped to be discussed at this meeting. Asked whether the Wan-Ela camp issue will also be taken up at this discussion she said the SLMM would not exclude any opportunity to implement the SLMM ruling although the matter has been referred to the Norwegian facilitators. The LTTE has informed the SLMM Chief that they were preparing a letter to the SLMM and were expecting to deliver it following their meeting in Paris. The Spokeswoman said the SLMM was happy that the Government has taken immediate steps to strengthen security in the East following recent incidents in the East. |
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