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Solheim fails to get Kinniya camp shifted

Norwegian special envoy Erik Solheim has left after failing to gain an assurance from the LTTE to withdraw the military camp in a government-controlled area in Kinniya.

The special envoy who met Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Deputy Head Hagrup Hauckland hours before he left for Norway on Friday said the LTTE had not given any assurance to withdraw the camp and he would be referring the matter to the Norwegian government.

The SLMM reportedly told Mr. Solheim of dissatisfaction over the LTTE's refusal to dismantle the camp.

The meeting which lasted more than an hour dealt with the problems faced by the SLMM in implementing the ceasefire agreement.

Mr. Hauckland said Special Envoy Solheim had accepted the SLMM ruling as a correct move.

"We were informed of the LTTE decision but we informed Mr. Solheim that we cannot accept it as we have already given the LTTE a ruling and the LTTE has to abide by it. Mr. Solheim agreed that the camp was in government-controlled area.

"The issue has to be solved as it is creating a lot of tension in the area, We will stand by our decision," Mr. Hauckland said.

A Norwegian embassy spokesman said Mr. Solheim on return would be taking up the matter with the Norwegian government.

"We consider this a serious issue which needs to be resolved as it could have an adverse effect on the peace process," he said.

Meanwhile on Friday, the SLMM had to appeal to EPDP leader Douglas Devananda to remove the slain EPDP member's body which was left outside the SLMM office in protest against his killing allegedly by the LTTE.

Later Mr. Devananda ordered the body be removed from the SLMM office following assurance from the SLMM that it would look into the incident.

EPDP member Arasaratnam Ratheeskaran was shot dead on Thursday in the heart of the Batticaloa town. Following the killing angry mourners took the coffin from Adikar Road in a procession and placed it at the SLMM's Lake Road office. The police was called in to guard the coffin until it was removed.

An SLMM spokesman in Batticaloa said they were closely monitoring the situation. If the family members request for protection they will escort tomorrow's funeral procession. A similar incident happened last month when a PLOTE cadre was killed by suspected LTTE members.

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