News
|
||||
Tapes
reveal LTTE training by Norway Very clear footage was also shown of Norwegian armed personnel training LTTE cadres in the Rena Norwegian Army camp. Though the Norwegians had gone on record as saying that the training was for "peaceful purposes" the video footage showed LTTE personnel being trained in armed vehicle operations and underwater manoeuvres -- ''anything but training for peaceful purposes,'' averred Mr. Rovik in his paper. In one audio tape former Norwegian ambassador in Colombo Jon Westborg says, "we Norwegians will pay the difference'' in the deal discussing a secret plan to ship advanced communications equipment -- a type which even the Sri Lankan government did not possess. Westborg at one point in the clearly audible tape played on a sophisticated computer-aided sound mapping and audio replay device says, "the Norwegians will pay the difference (in the matter pertaining to sound equipment)'' but cautions the LTTE man to "make all correspondence to the ambassadors home at 55/1 Gregory's Road, Colombo and not the embassy,'' for reasons of secrecy. In another tapped tape dialogue, the former SLMM chief Tregve Telefesen is heard to plant the idea on a LTTE high-ranker that ''a third party' may have been responsible for the destruction of a Chinese boat, in an attack attributed to the LTTE boat. The presenter of the particular tape at the conference, Norwegian M. Rovik, a Norwegian lawyer and former Amnesty International Council Member (whose paper was read out by a Sansadaya official in his absence) said, "the tape makes it clear that the SLMM chief is coaching the LTTE to blame the attack on a third party - such a party was however non-existent.'' Asked about sources, conference organisers told the Sunday Times that the phone conversation between LTTE operatives and the top-ranking Norwegian officials, which disclose clear complicity between them, was tapped by the Indian Intelligence Agency RAW and released to "undisclosed Indian organisations from whom the material was obtained.'' The voice recordings sound clear and authentic - and conference organisers vouch for their authenticity. In other disclosures, certain panellists documented funds received by the National Peace Council (NPC) from NORAD, and on one occasion 24,000 Norwegian Kroners (NOK) was received by the NPC for ''exposure of Sri Lankan government officials''. 29,000 NOK, 300,000 NOK, 29,000 NOK and 28,000 NOK were some of the other amounts received on various occasions by the NPC for other activities, ostensibly related to conflict resolution. Dr. Susantha Goonetilleke in his presentation said weapons distined for the LTTE and confisicated in Thailand had distinct Norwegian origins such as Carl Gustavs and Glocks, which were all standard issue to the Norwegian Special Forces. The Berghoff Foundation has also, it was revealed, advocated that the Sri Lankan Armed Forces be restructured, and that this restructuring be of a nature of ''right sizing'' - meaning drastic reduction of combat personnel.'' This was actively perused with Defence Personnel on a favours granted basis. "If this happened in India, such NGO operatives would have been arrested,'' Dr. Susantha Goonetilleke said. Renegade TULF leader Anandasangaree's speech at the conference was read out since he was unable to be present for fear of being assassinated. The message to the conference stated, among other things, that the TNA came to power in the North and the East by fraudulent means and that ''all election monitors including the EU had said so very unequivocally.'' |
||||
Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
