S. Lankan Tamil Rebels Accuse Govt. of Downgrading Norwegian Envoy's Role in Peace Process

Sri Lanka's separatist Tamil Tiger rebels accused on Sunday both Sri Lankan and Norwegian government of breaching protocol by downgrading and marginalizing special peace envoy Erik Solheim's role in peace process in the war-torn country without consulting them.

In a statement issued from Wanni, the rebel headquarters in the north of the country, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) expressed its displeasure over the "unilateral initiative" of the Sri Lankan government to effect a change in the role of Norwegian envoy Solheim.

"This initiative was undertaken to downgrade and marginalise Mr. Solheim from his active, impartial facilitatory role under the guise of upgrading the level of Norwegian involvement," the statement said.

"As a facilitator, the government of Norway is under obligation to consult both protagonists before making crucial decisions with regards to its level of involvement or engagement. Making a bilateral decision with the government of Sri Lanka, circumventing the other party in conflict entails a breach of protocol and neutrality," the statement said.

"It is sad to note that the Sri Lanka government has deliberately effected a crafty diplomatic ruse to down-grade and marginalise Mr. Solheim by a ploy of up-grading the facilitatory engagement," the LTTE said.

The LTTE rebels said that Solheim has made indefatigable endeavors over the last two years, facing insurmountable difficulties to achieve considerable progress in the peace effort.

The Tamil rebel statement came after Sri Lanka President Chandrika Kumaratunga invited Norwegian Foreign Minister Thorbjoern Jagland to Colombo on Thursday for talks on status of the peace process in the country.

"It was decided that the government of Norway will henceforth participate at a high level to advance the peace process involving the LTTE," the government said in the brief statement after the meeting without mentioning the future role of Solheim.

The talks was held with the presence of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar but without that of Solhiem although he was accompanying Jaland on the 12-hour visit.

Local media reports said that Solheim was sidelined in the peace process in the country but he himself has said he would continue to be in a "facilitating team" while the Norwegian foreign minister and his deputy would be involved at a "high level. "

Solheim has been trying to broke peace in the war-torn country in the past two years but no breakthrough has been made so far.

Peace process in the country has been deadlocked over issue of lifting ban on the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels, a key demand by the rebels which they said must be met before they could enter peace talks. The government has rejected the demand as "unreasonable".

The LTTE rebels also demand a ceasefire from the government and removal of economic blockade imposed on areas controlled by them.

It is reported that progress has been made on the two issues through Solheim's busy shuttle diplomacy between the two sides.

The LTTE rebels have been fighting against government forces in the north and east of the country since 1983 for an independent Tamil homeland. The bloody war has killed more than 60,000 people.






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