SLMM to continue presence in all areas

Rashomi Silva

COLOMBO: Truce monitors yesterday said the they will remain in their present stations in all conflict affected districts including Kilinochchi, denying reports on alleged threats from the LTTE.

Reports claim the LTTE has refused to provide security to remaining monitors, who come from Norway and Iceland, the two non-EU nations in the monitoring team.

Norwegian Embassy spokesman Tom Knappskog said the LTTE has not communicated 'anything to that effect' and Monitoring Mission spokesman Omarsson Thorfinnur confirmed it saying the mission have not encountered threats or communications of threats from the LTTE.

With the scheduled departure of Swedish Chief of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) Ulf Henricsson on September 1, Acting Mission head Maj. Gen. Lars Johan Solvberg, will oversee the duties of the SLMM Chief Monitor till a permanent appointment is made. The new chief is expected to assume duties from Friday.

Solvberg left for Norway yesterday after a short visit to Colombo and Killinochchi where he met Peace Secretariat officials and the LTTE political leadership.

Early this month, three EU nations Finland, Denmark and Sweden decided to recall its monitors on a demand made by the LTTE. This followed the recent EU ban on the LTTE and reduced the 57-strong mission strength by over two-third.

As a short term measure the mission was returned to half its original strength by inducting more monitors from Norway and Iceland.

With the new enlistments to the Swedish led monitoring Mission will be transformed to a Norway led Mission with 20 Norwegians and ten Icelandic observers.