COLOMBO, June 9: Norway and the European observers monitoring the ceasefire between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers (LTTE) are considering disengaging themselves from the process, sources said.
The Norwegian government, in letters written to President Mahinda Rajapakse and LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran on Friday, has urged them to clarify if they still abided by the ceasefire signed in Feb 2002.
The peace facilitators further stated that they were expecting a response to five specific questions..
“The Royal Norwegian government is profoundly concerned over the gravity of the situation on the ground, the objection by the LTTE to collaborate with the SLMM (Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission) with its present composition, the lack of dialogue between the parties, and the doubts voiced by many about the continued full commitment of the parties to the ceasefire agreement”, a Norwegian government press statement said.
The LTTE had refused to work with the truce monitors as some of them were from countries within the European Union, which slapped a ban on the Tamil Tigers last week.
Norway also sought security guarantees from both parties for the truce monitors.
The Lankan government on Friday accused the Norwegian officials of having a bias towards the LTTE.
