Front Page

Front Page

'Handle with care': PM on Westborg
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe has urged President Chandrika Kumaratunga not to precipitate any action to expel the Norwegian ambassador in Colombo, saying that he is to go on transfer anyway, and that his services are required for the peace process with the LTTE.

In a letter to the President explaining the controversial import of radio equipment for the LTTE last month where the Norwegian embassy in Colombo has been accused of siding with the rebels, Premier Wickremesinghe has said that the Norwegians were only asked to act as consignees for the equipment which had his government's approval.

In what is clearly an attempt to thwart any possibility of President Kumaratunga using her constitutional powers as head-of-state to expel a foreign diplomat who contravenes the Vienna Convention, Mr. Wickremesinghe has urged that "due care" should be exercised "at this critical stage in the peace process " to ensure that Norwegian government facilitation and the momentum of the process are not diminished.

This comes in the wake of President Kumaratunga's recent letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Bondevik complaining about the conduct of his country's envoy, Jon Westborg, in importing radio transmission equipment for the LTTE, and hinting that she had the powers to expel him for conduct unbecoming of a diplomat.

Premier Wickremesinghe said that Mr. Westborg had served for six years in Colombo and "had unrivalled experience of the ground realities" and that his successor's credentials have already been handed over to the Foreign Ministry.

Ambassador Westborg left for Oslo soon after the controversy of his embassy importing the radio equipment was splashed in local newspapers and opposition parties began asking he be declared persona non grata. He refused to speak to the media before his departure. He is likely to go on transfer by the middle of this year, but diplomatic sources in Colombo said that recent developments may accelerate the process depending on local opposition to his presence.

A Reuter report from Oslo on Friday quoted a Norwegian Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying that their embassy in Colombo had acted in the "full understanding" with the government of Sri Lanka in providing the rebels with a radio station to help the peace process.

In his letter to President Kumaratunga, Mr. Wickremesinghe has also contradicted his own government's spokesman who last week confirmed that a sophisticated piece of equipment not-related to the radio station was imported in the same consignment.

He says that VSAT satellite equipment, which the government spokesman confirmed had come with the approval of the authorities, had in fact, not come.This piece of equipment known as Very Small Aperture Terminal or VSAT can send worded messages by radio and can be used for military purposes, complains President Kumaratunga to the Norwegian Prime Minister.

Premier Wickremesinghe said this had not been included in the consignment of radio transmission equipment that was given to the LTTE raising further questions as to why the government spokesman then earlier confirmed, after seemingly checking with the authorities.

Premier Wickremesinghe, however, concedes that an outstanding issue remains in that the LTTE has not paid government customs duties and VAT charges, and states that the Minister of Finance will work out what rates the LTTE will have to pay.

The letter says the LTTE has been operating the radio station as a clandestine service, and that by its asking for Colombo's approval for a powerful frequency indicated its willing ness to accept Sri Lanka's sovereignty and was a healthy sign for the peace process. (See text of Premier's letter on Page 15.)The LTTE, meanwhile, has announced that it will make its first broadcast with the new equipment on January 16, to co-incide with the day its one-time northern military commander, Kittu, was killed when a ship carrying arms was sunk by the Indian Navy. Test transmissions are already in progress.

On Frdiay, the Prime Minister held discussions with the President ahead of the fourth session of the peace talks starting in Thailand tomorrow. The Sunday Times learns the discussions centred on the controversy over the import of radio equipment for the LTTE, the high security zones and issues to be taken up at the peace talks.

The Premier's response to the President's request for an explanation on the Tiger radio equipment was received a few hours before the two leaders met. The response was not discussed, but a spokesman for the President said it was unlikely that the President would release a statement on it.

Referring to the discussion on the HSZ, the spokesman said the President was satisfied that the Prime Minister was unaware of the detailed security report of the Army that was delivered via the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission to the LTTE. This report has now raised questions of a breach of national security as well as become an issue in peace talks with the LTTE.

The two leaders also agreed to regularise their contacts by agreeing to meet once a week on a Thursday or once a fortnight if Parliament is in session. Meanwhile the Prime Minister will address the nation at 7.30 p.m. today.

Back to Front Page