Sri Lanka Peace Chief praises
Nordic ceasefire monitors for good job under difficult conditions
SCOPP HOSTS FAREWELL FOR OUTGOING SLMM
Secretariat for Coordinating
the Peace Process (SCOPP)
16th January 2008
Professor Rajiva Wijesinha, Secretary General of the Secretariat for
Coordinating the Peace Process, today praised the Sri Lanka Monitor
Mission (SLMM) for doing a good job on the whole in monitoring adherence
to the Ceasefire Agreement under difficult conditions.
He made the remarks at a farewell luncheon for members of the SLMM
hosted by the Peace Secretariat.
"There were many ups and downs in the monitoring of the Ceasefire
Agreement but despite these the SLMM in general carried out its task
well," the Secretary General said in his luncheon remarks. "The
members of the SLMM team did an exemplary job often risking their lives
because of their exposure to hostile actions of the LTTE," he said.
Retired Maj. Gen. Lars Solvberg, Head of the SLMM in Sri Lanka, said
the group's experience in Sri Lanka had been enriching and said SLMM
members hoped to maintain ties to the Peace Secretariat and Sri Lanka.
Gen. Solvberg said upon his return to Norway he intended to prepare
a report on SLMM's work experience in Sri Lanka and on the lessons learned
relating to the monitoring process.
SLMM is shutting down its operation after nearly six years in Sri Lanka
following abrogation of the agreement by the Government of Sri Lanka.
The Secretary General expressed special appreciation for the service
of Per Sander Skarvik, head of SLMM's offices in the Eastern Region.
In 2003, Mr. Skarvik detected arms aboard an LTTE vessel which had been
intercepted by the Sri Lankan Navy. The peace monitor had to jump overboard
to save his life when the LTTE blew up the ship on detection of its
lethal cargo.
The Secretary General also expressed his gratitude for SLMM's efforts
to establish a close working relationship with local monitors in the
six districts and hoped that the close relationship will continue in
the future.
At a later farewell reception given by the Norwegian Ambassador Tore
Hattrem, the SCOPP Chief expressed his appreciation for the opportunity
to meet the local staff of the SLMM and reiterated his appreciation
of the work of the current Head of Mission. It is hoped that, if SCOPP
receives a report on the entire operation from the SLMM, it will be
able to build on the experience to to develop mechanisms for restoring
confidence between all communities in advancing the peace process. Following
an appreciation of the work of the SLMM by the Ambassador, the SCOPP
Chief reiterated Sri Lanka's gratitude to the monitors who hade been
under much pressure at times.
Particular mention was made of Mr. Bleymann, who had been fired on
by the LTTE while performing his duties as a naval monitor in 2006.
Despite the difficulties of the period, the SLMM under its current head
had done much to restore confidence and SCOPP appreciated its cooperation
over the preceding year.
|
