Sweden quits SLMM

Manjula Fernando

COLOMBO: The swedish Foreign Minister announced yesterday that they have also decided to pull out from the SLMM since the LTTE had not shown any signs of changing their demand to oust EU monitors by September 1.

The Foreign Minister Jan Eliasson has said that he regretted the decision which comes days after similar moves by other EU nations Finland and Denmark. This would mean appointment of a new head of mission as well. The current Head of mission Ulf Henrickson is from Sweden. Commenting on the latest development SLMM spokesman Thorfinnur Omarsson said they hope the LTTE would change their mind about the whole issue.

"This would have a bad effect on the monitoring mission and we hope it will be solved before September 1," said Omarsson who was yet to officially receive the news of the swedish decision.

Around 15 swedish monitors are in the SLMM and the pull out by the three EU nations will result in diminution of the size of the SLMM to just 20 members from the current 57.

Omarsson said the two parties and the facilitator have to decide on an alternative method to increase the size of the SLMM if the LTTE sticks to its demand.