Following EU pull out

Asians might be included in SLMM

by Ranga Jayasuriya

Certain countries including several Asian nations had offered to contribute members to the SLMM (Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission) and the SLMM's expansion was under consideration, the government defence spokesman told the Sunday Observer.

The government is expected to hold discussions with the Norwegian peace facilitators on the future of the ceasefire monitoring mission as the pull out of EU nationals will halve the SLMM's strength from next month.

?Certain countries, which have close relations with us have offered their contribution to the SLMM. The government would consider their offers and forward them to the Norwegian facilitators for bilateral discussions,? Defence Affairs spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the Sunday Observer.

The pull out by Denmark, Sweden and Finland due to the LTTE ultimatum on September 1 will affect 37 members out of the 57 member ceasefire monitoring mission.

Norway which has already committed 16 members has offered ten additional members, bringing the total number of truce monitors in the revamped SLMM to 30.

Meanwhile, Iceland yesterday said that it would increase the number of its monitors in the SLMM. The government welcomed Iceland's decision.

SLMM spokesman Thorfinnur Omarsson said the SLMM would work in all parts of the North East despite the reduced strength, but added that their operations would be of limited scope.

Minister Rambukwella said the government was considering the expansion of the membership of the SLMM. "The government does not consider this as the end of the road," the Minister said emphatically, referring to the pull out of the EU member nations.

He said the government was not averse to the inclusion of new members to the SLMM and would discuss it with the Norwegian peace facilitators and the LTTE.

Meanwhile, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry is expected to announce the new Head of the Mission of the SLMM, who will hold the top job in the SLMM from next month. The new SLMM Chief would be a Norwegian, a Norwegian embassy spokesman said.

However, Norway, earlier, gave up its leadership in the SLMM following complaints that the Norwegians? dual role as the leader in the SLMM and as the peace facilitator was causing a conflict of interests.

Following these complaints, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry appointed Ulf Henricsson, a retired Swedish General in place of Hagrup Haukland, the former Norwegian head of the SLMM.