SLMM need not re-group: It can pack up and go

Malin Abeyatunge Australia

The print media reported that the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) plans to curtail its monitoring activities for a "short period" as it re-groups and reconsiders its operations in the wake of continuing hostilities between the government troops and the LTTE.

Apart from the PA, UNP, SLMC and the TNA, the other main political parties, namely the JHU, the JVP and all other patriotic Sri Lankans want the SLMM to pack up and go as its presence in Sri Lanka in this conflict had done more harm than good.

It's a well known fact that from day one of the establishment of the SLMM under the CFA, it has been mollycoddling the LTTE terrorist outfit, ignoring and whitewashing the thousands of atrocities committed including murders, abductions, recruiting child soldiers etc. There are many instances where the SLMM had been very quick in making erroneous statements against the legitimate government.

It appears that the SLMM follows the LTTE strategy of looking for breathing space to regroup and consolidate. The million dollar question is whether it is regrouping to discuss how to intimidate the legitimate Sri Lankan government more aggressively or how to help the recalcitrant LTTE to achieve its goal of Eelam?

There is no secret that all those who served and are currently serving the SLMM made eulogies at Anton Blasingham's funeral services.

Balasingham had blood on his hands as much as LTTE leader Prabhakaran. Hence, can we expect impartiality from SLMM members?

Surely, our forces can handle the LTTE better without the SLMM's presence even though the Peace Secretariat thinks otherwise.