SLMM's experiences will help future peace efforts - SLMM Chief

Chaminda Perera

Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Head Lars Johan Solvberg yesterday said the Mission is convinced that no military solution is viable to resolve the present conflict.

Speaking at a press conference at the Trans Asia Hotel Solvberg said Sri Lankans and facilitating actors of their choice are left to find a solution to the conflict and the SLMM has no mandate to advise parties involved in the CFA to find a solution.

Referring to the Government's request for a report on their experiences he said the SLMM's undertaking for the past six years would help the Government to work out future mechanism in the resolution of this conflict. He thanked the Government and the LTTE for inviting the SLMM to monitor the CFA implementation in their search of negotiated settlement to the conflict.

The SLMM will not blame any party for the collapse of the CFA. "We were here to inquire into ceasefire violations and it is not for us to make judgements," he said.

He said their presence at the local level has had an impact on the local situation.

He said the recent incidents in the country can be billed as Ceasefire violations. The magnitude of ceasefire violations made it impossible for the SLMM to conduct a review, he said.

"There was a specific time in 2007 in which ceasefire violations reached a level that made it impossible for the SLMM to take an accurate account of the situation," he said.

He said the SLMM has maintained a relationship with both parties with bias towards none.

The SLMM received a mandate to monitor the implementation of the Ceasefire agreement entered into by the Government and the LTTE. The SLMM conducted extensive patrolling in the North and East to inquire into ceasefire violations and ensure that the ceasefire was adhered to by relevant parties, he noted.