News - SLMM chief asks whether LTTE wants to terminate CFA

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SLMM chief asks whether LTTE wants to terminate CFA

By Shimali Senanayake

As uncertainty looms over the future of the ceasefire monitors from EU countries, the SLMM head said there was no "rationale," behind the LTTE's demand for most of its members to quit by September 1.

"Do they want to terminate the ceasefire agreement?," 60-member mission Chief Ulf Henricsson, asked in an interview. "This may be the interpretation if the LTTE goes through with its demand."

In June, the LTTE issued a month’s ultimatum to Norwegian peace-brokers to remove some 37 monitors from Sweden, Denmark and Finland, saying their neutrality was prejudiced after the European Union named the LTTE as a terrorist organization. Amid strong international pressure the Tigers on June 22, extended the deadline to Sept. 1.

"We are not here as EU representatives, there is no rationale to their argument," Henricsson said, at his office in Colombo.

SLMM chief Ulf Henricsson Pic by Gemunu Wellage

Article 3.5 of the ceasefire agreement clearly states that the SLMM will consist of 'Nordic' monitors.

The government also signed a separate Status of Mission Agreement or SOMA, with Norway on March 18, 2002 spelling out the status of the monitors. Any change in the composition to bring in non-Nordic monitors calls for an amendment to both these agreements.

"You cannot take a bilateral agreement and change parts of it unilaterally," he said. "The CFA is a package, you either take it or leave it."

Henricsson said there were still ambiguous areas about the LTTE's demand and further clarification would be sought in the coming days.

"We don't have all the answers to plan for the future yet."

The LTTE has said it could not guarantee the security of the EU monitors after Sept. 1. This was discussed at length during a meeting in Oslo on June 25, convened particularly to talk about the future of the mission among Nordic representatives. The meeting concluded with consensus that the monitors will continue its operations, until further notice.

"If the LTTE will not guarantee our safety, it's up to our government's to decide what to do," he said. "Currently, we are not afraid that the LTTE will send snipers after us after Sept. 1."

Henricsson said there was still no "solution" to the present questions, although several options have been discussed and mooted including down-sizing the mission.

Norway says if the EU monitors were to leave it would take six months to restore the mission to its original strength .

"There is no queue of nations who want to join the mission," Henricsson pointed out.

If the LTTE's demand was to be acceded, Henricsson who is from Sweden, will also have to go.

Will a Norwegian replace monitor’s No. 2 slot?

SLMM chief of staff Tommy Lakenmyr’s term ends next month. Norwegian peace-brokers are now considering replacing the No: 2 position, now held by a Swede, with a Norwegian, officials involved in the process said. In the event the EU monitors quit and Henricsson leaves, the new chief of staff will thus be able to function as acting head of mission until a new SLMM chief is recruited.

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