LTTE position on SLMM unethical – Defence Spokesman [Friday, June 23, 2006 - 10.00 GMT]

The position of the LTTE on the future composition of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) as reportedly conveyed to Norway was unethical, said Minister Keheliya Rambukwella, Defence Spokesman, at a media briefing today (23).

Changing the composition of the SLMM, a matter agreed on after much discussion as part of a bi-lateral agreement, at the request of one party was both unethical and amounted to a departure from the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) Minister Rambukwella said.

He added that that the Government considered this demand regarding the SLMM’s composition as hindering the peace process.

Answering questions from the media the Defence Spokesman said there were two distinct aspects to the CFA that needed consideration. One was that Norway was the facilitator; the other was the setting up of the SLMM and its composition. Norway was also a member of the latter as a Nordic country, because the CFA stated that the monitors should be from the Nordic countries. These two aspects should not be confused.

Minister Rambukwella asked how any progress in the peace process could be made if at midstream one party to the MoU said it wanted the composition of the SLMM  changed because it was uncomfortable with some members. This would enable the Government to also ask for a change in the composition of the SLMM whenever it felt the need for such a change. The Minister explained that the altering of bi-lateral agreements by one party in such a manner was unethical, and was not a policy followed or endorsed by the Government.

He added that the LTTE’s new demand would cause further embarrassment to Norway, after the initial embarrassment caused by the LTTE not participating in the Norway arranged Oslo talks on the SLMM.  With the present demand of the LTTE, Norway will be further embarrassed by having to tell the members of the SLMM from Sweden, Denmark and Finland that while they were unacceptable, Norway remained acceptable to the LTTE both as facilitator and monitor.

There were disagreements that both sides had over the role and functioning of the SLMM. However, these were matters that could be, and should always be resolved through discussions, as the Government had done, the Minister said.

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Last Updated Date: June 23, 2006 -10.00 GMT