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THE Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, an unashamedly pro-LTTE body
created by the Norway-conspired Ceasefire Agreement has had in it too
many members from its very inception with a pathetic penchant for the
Tigers; almost like worshipping the very ground on which Velupillai
Prabhakaran trods as if a mythological god in Norse tradition had come
alive.
This problem continues despite constant concerns expressed about the
integrity of this mission.
A major problem that is confronting the Sri Lankans today amidst all
the chaos is the role of many foreign personnel and worse, some of them
appear to have a powerful clout on decision makers and if not, on the
media.
These elements are mercilessly exploiting the weakness of Sri Lankans
with their fondness for anything European or American as if the 'White
Man' is the very God himself on earth.
A person who is on constant move in Sri Lanka these days is Helen
Olafsdottir as if possessed of a feline demon and rushing to speak and
defend Prabhakaran's terror outfit whenever and wherever they need
support and protection.
Recently, she was in Geneva along with the two delegations from Sri
Lanka that were attempting to have some talks. These were effectively
sabotaged by the LTTE.
The LTTE under the pretext of attending the talks to seek certain
solutions betrayed their intentions by concentrating purely on the issue
about reopening the A9 highway.
The Tigers were canvassing international support and may be the
Norwegians also seized this as an excuse to be supportive to them.
If this was not their intention, despite the decisive swing and sway
they had with the LTTE, they were unable to impress on the Tigers to
make a positive move in Geneva towards a solution to the ethnic crisis.
Our contention with Helen Olafsdottir is that she is behaving in Sri
Lanka as only the voice of the LTTE and to give them legitimacy and
support.
She was quick on observations to protect the Tigers in the East when
the Special United Nations ambassador Allan Rock visited and talked to
some families or in Vavuniya where a dreadful encounter between the army
and students had taken place.
In the East the SLMM has another member, Arthur Tveiten entrusted
with work in the Batticaloa district who has obviously misled the UN
Special Adviser Allan Rock with certain material prejudicial to the
Armed Forces.
Even before Allan Rock visited the East, Arthur Tveitan has been
identified as acting against the interests of Sri Lanka with his
pro-LTTE sentiments.
Arthur Tveitan was known to ignore the complaints of the Security
Forces regarding ceasefire violations of the LTTE but was always quite
enthusiastic about the latter's gripes and grumbles and made mountains
out of them. Hasn't Colombo realized yet that Norway is committed to
promote the interests of the LTTE only?
Helen Olafsdottir 's statements are high-powered and anti-government
and since the LTTE is engaged in a number of violent attacks intentioned
to make capital of its forthcoming Heroes Day, whatever people like her
say will give a false picture of the government.
Such reports and impressions become the food on which the Tamil
Diaspora are nourished and encouraged to give support to the LTTE that
is involved in a genocide against their own community in Sri Lanka.
Recently, an intensely pro-LTTE journalist in a Sunday newspaper
interviewed Helen Olafsdottir. This very interview assailed her
integrity and that of the SLMM as an impartial body helping in Sri Lanka
under the provisions of the CFA.
It was certainly aimed to prop up the LTTE that is making much noise
about the A9 Highway and its closure, while making it impossible for the
Government to meet the essential needs of the people of the North.
All that the LTTE wants from the A9 Highway is the continuation of
its extortion and illegal tax practices from which it has been earning
anywhere between 200 and 300 million rupees.
Furthermore, the A9 is also the route used by the LTTE to transport
their weapons as well as being an aid in their narcotics trade.
As far as the LTTE is concerned, the A9 has nothing to do with the
humanitarian needs of the people of the north. They survived ten long
years when the LTTE had closed it.
Neither has Helen Olafsdottir nor those of her SLMM clan have any
interest in the needs of the people of Jaffna. They have to serve the
LTTE which today is the biggest threat the Tamils and Muslims face in
Sri Lanka.
The SLMM has had quite a few members whose honour and integrity have
been challenged but from the records of this lady and whatever she does
and chooses to say, Helen Olafsdittor gets the cake.
Unless she leaves the country of her own volition immediately, it is
incumbent on the Government of Sri Lanka to give her the marching orders
and put her on the next flight out of Colombo. And she must make sure,
if there is any decency left in her, to take Arthur Tveitan with her as
well back to Oslo.
JACINTA CRUZ
- via email
SINCE the establishment of the SLMM under CFA, thousands of letters
passed through the print media, hundreds of petitions have been
submitted to the former President CBK and the incumbent President by
many patriotic organisations (excepting National Peace Council and
Policy for Alternatives who are admirers of SLMM).
Hundreds of rallies and demonstration were held both in Sri Lanka and
overseas exposing SLMM's partiality and bias towards the LTTE.
It is pathetic that Sri Lankan Governments still could not get rid of
this cancerous element imported to this country by some visionless
politicians.
From its inception, their shameless behaviour and actions have been
proved beyond doubt that from the head to the lowest rank of SLMM have
been appeasing the LTTE (Voice of the Nordics) and have been attempting
denigrate the Sri Lanka Forces and the Governments at every opportunity.
The latest being the SLMM representative Arthur Tveiten who
accompanied the so called bankrupt Canadian politician Allan Rock in his
fact finding mission on child recruitment.
It is quite obvious that Tveiten who accompanied Allan Rock during
the latter's visit to the East, exposed and proved him as a LTTE
representative than a SLMM representative.
He has very cunningly manipulated evidence and distorted the ground
situation in the area, thus leading the UN Representative who is also a
LTTE sympathizer into concluding that the Forces had a hand in child
conscription.
Irrespective who comprises, SLMM got them planted here via CFA with
an hidden agenda i.e to divide the country into ethnic enclaves through
LTTE terrorists.
It is Sri Lanka's Karma that we are still tolerating these cancerous
elements without asking them to pack up and go.
MALIN ABEYTUNGE
- Australia - via email
It is heartwarming to hear that at last the politicians have had the
guts to ban polythene use from June, at least in paper - but whether the
law will actually take place overcoming oppositions and intimidation by
polythene makers and their middlemen, is another matter.
It is simple madness if we are to continue to produce polythene and
give it free to the people while they throw it all over the places
causing havoc all around - pollution, blocking of drains, danger to
cattle just to name a few.
On the other hand, if one insists on having the advantages of using
the sili sili bag - no doubt, there are many, then the shoppers should
sell them - not give them free.
Then the people will reuse them and will not easily throw them.
Making it expensive and more sturdy will facilitate the reuse.
Dr. MAREENA THAHA REFFAI
- Dehiwela
This is to commend the writer Dr. Reffai who wrote the letter 'Thank
you soldier.'(Reference DN Nov. 20)
Sri Lankans worldwide are indebted to these men and women who go to
war against the terrorists, who maintain law and order and protect
innocent civilians.
Thank you soldier.
DR K. ADIKARI
- via email
I have been living in Dubai for the last few years, and been very
worried about our country's development when I compare her with other
countries...specially Dubai a desert with no resources (DN Nov. 16).
However it is interesting to read about our President Mahinda
Rajapaksa... and his National Economic Policy article with his future
plans/projects/preliminary steps taken and reached within one year.
RUMY LATHEIF
- Dubai - via email |
