The killing has stopped in the past year - SLMM

[February 21, 2003 - 10.15 GMT]

Chief of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Trond Furuhovde reviewing the first year of operation of the Ceasefire Agreement in an exclusive interview with the PRIU said that what is most important is that the killing has stopped.

“I think it has been a good year. It has been very stressing and it has been very hard work over this first year. And to be honest with you I feel quite exhausted. What we have gained is  - what I think is important – killing has stopped and I think that is perhaps the most important part of it. We do not lose lives as we did earlier. People have been at war for 20 years, but now they are actually talking about the future and they are discussing how to live together. And that is, I think, a very positive sign. Thirdly I would say that these facts have created interest and has created confidence in the international society which is one of the major steps forward for the country.”

“But at the same time” says Furuhovde, “it is also difficult to see ahead of us. There will be a challenge I think to keep on talking. And I think the parties need to be encouraged, supported internally first of all by the people, that the people will be encouraged to take part in this progress. But I also think that there are threats around the corner. I have several times pointed at the threat from the criminal activities. I think that a country like Sri Lanka would hopefully have a bright future with possibilities, with natural resources, with clever people and at the same time we are in a very weak position. We are about to end the war and we are now trying to build the future, and in this situation I find that international criminal networks easily can get a foothold. Therefore I say that its important to have a modern police established as quickly as possible because the police force which we now has to live in the shadow of the armed forces during the war and the armed forces have taken care of law and order. And now to bring… to enter into a peaceful period the police has to be in place, well trained to take over law and order and to protect the values, first of all the population.”

“But there is also political instability which I think can disrupt and disturb the development. I think it is important for the political society to be aware of the framework of the democratic system, to support it and understand also how fragile the situation is.” 

“But of course also extremists. We find extremists on both sides. Within the LTTE we have seen the extremists who very much like to undermine what is going on as it is also of course on the governmental side. You would always find extremists who’ll rock the boat and fight to undermine what’s going on.”

The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission established consequent to the signing of the Ceasefire Agreement is a unique mechanism, which helps hold the Ceasefire together. Furuhovde who heads a team of forty-seven monitors backed by sophisticated communications and transport facilities says that the SLMM responds within minutes of a developing situation.

We also asked him what in his opinion each side should do to ensure the Ceasefire holds. “Well, it is very difficult to present a formula here. But first of all I think it’s important to strengthen self-confidence. Because I think self-confidence is the key to find practical solutions in which they can live together and find solutions for the future. Self-confidence first of all among the leadership and also in the people. This is something that has to grow in the people. I don’t think that people today will just forgive and forget. I think that is impossible. I think that is it naïve to believe that. So therefore I underline that I am talking about the self-confidence. To be sure that the self-confidence is very important to control the uncertainty, to control the fear for turning back to war, turning back to the bad times. So when I try to work on these it is with a very clear vision that the self-confidence has to come back and we have to strengthen the self-confidence.”

The SLMM Chief went on to explain how this could be achieved. “Well, I think that can be done in many many ways but you have to dare. And I think there is no other medicine than to take risks. When you take risks, and you do it openly, you will find that you will test the other side. And when it holds, you will build self-confidence and you will find out that the method you are doing is working together with the other part. So, that is the way to do it. I’ve been also in other situations where I think that taking risks is actually the test of self-confidence and how to live and work with your enemies, or your former enemies (now we call them partners).”

Questioned about the delays in the implementation of certain issues in the Ceasefire Agreement Furuhovde said, “I would say, that to some extent they still are working with the problems raised within the first 160 days. That was the time frame.”

“Let me take one example, as I recall it… the opening of the A 9 contained also political questions concerning the traffic – who can traffic this road? And there was a dispute and I say that my ruling at that time was that, well, I lay down only technical demands. It should be technically possible to drive along the road and no regulations concerning who is going to transport the passengers and goods. That would then lead, to a later decision between the partners because its political. In that case I said, “I will give you another thirty days”. Thirty days have gone and they have still not solved their problem because it’s so closely linked to the economic development. So in this case I said, okay, I will then postpone with an open end, realising the fact that they have to solve their financial problems first and they also have to do a lot with the role. They have too many accidents and there is also then a question then about the insurance for the best companies so on and so forth.”

“Its quite complicated and we don’t want to go into that. But we will say that according to the ceasefire these issues should have been fixed a long time ago. The Government comes up with some suggestions and the LTTE also and I say, “No, wait! You will not have the possibility to solve all this because that takes long discussions and it is a part of, actually, the peace talks”, and they adhere to that. So they accepted my rulings.”

Furuhovde also expressed optimism about the success of Sri Lanka’s Peace Process. “I’m a pragmatic person but I’m an optimist and I am an optimistic realist. That means I am looking for the possibilities. But at the same time I am aware of the difficulties, I am aware that we are moving in mine field, but I also see the changes in this country - positive and constructive changes.”

“So I would say that I am optimistic and I am certainly aware of all the difficulties that you have ahead but I am convinced that you will find a solution, which will benefit these people who deserve peace and prosperous development. But certainly we will have difficulties and we have to strengthen our will and we have to strengthen our ability to find a solution. And I am quite sure that, that you will find a good solution for the future for the next generation.”

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Last Updated Date: February 21, 2003  - 10.15 GMT.