BBC HARD talk Erik Solheim (1-2) 15 june 2009

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• published: 16 Jun 2009
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Updates: 29 Jan Solheim Interview- Drop Eelam! http://www.newsnow.lk/latest-news/solheim-rejects-separate-state Jan 12 (Island) Solheim wanted to coach MR on how to make peace http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page;=article-details&code;_title=15691 Jan 12 (Island) Wikileaks: Solheim, Burns misjudged MR et al. http://www.island.lk/index.php?page_cat=article-details&page;=article-details&code;_title=15690 )Jan 10 (DM) Wikileaks: LTTE left peace talks in a tactical move to get more concessions. http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/8908-ltte-wanted-to-get-more-concessions.html Jan 10 (DM) Wikileaks: JVP carrying out ugly anti-Norway campaign Jan 9 (DM) 'Chandrika demanded Norway to remove SLMM chief' http://www.dailymirror.lk/news/8897-slmm-tipped-off-ltte.html Mr. Erik Solheim is the special adviser to the Norwegian minister of foreign affairs in charge of the Norwegian efforts to facilitate the peace process in Sri Lanka. He has been working full time with Sri Lankan affairs since 2000, shuttling between the government and the LTTE. Mr. Solheim, as the facilitator between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, has had extensive discussions with government leaders including President Kumaratunge as well as the leaders of political parties and entities spanning the spectrum of political views in Sri Lanka. He has also visited the LTTE . BBC HARD talk with Mr Erik Solheim: Reports indicate that Erik Solheim had told the BBC that the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka have agreed for talks in the Norwegian capital. Sri Lankan Military spokesperson Keheliya Rambukwella however has reacted saying that although the Sri Lankan government was always ready for talks, it has not decided on having talks in the Norwegian capital, Oslo. Why has Norway not yet commented on the failure of the last scheduled talks when the LTTE team headed by Thamilselvan refused to meet the Government of Sri Lanka team? Instead they had talks with some representatives of the Tamil Diaspora who had flown to Oslo from Australia, United States and Germany. Why did Oslo tolerate such interference at the cost of the scheduled meeting? Did Thamilselvan develop cold feet when he had no one to help at such a meeting with the only English-speaking Tiger Anton Balasingam absent from Oslo? Erik Solheim never had the courage to give an explanation about the failure of the talks. Instead, it came to be known that Thamilselvan discussed military matters with retired Norwegian military personnel and packed his baggage home with catalogues on weapons and other related goods. What a charade and travesty of all decencies? Norway should understand that the Peace Deal they brokered and achieved in signing the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) was flouted by the LTTE from the moment it was signed. They continued their killing campaign on the unarmed Tamils and their Tamil political opponents. They forced the people even the old, infirm and children to go for military training and attempted to infiltrate peaceful grbutt root communities to seek cover for their violent activities. How did the Norwegian peace facilitators react to this development. The CFA only ensured that the LTTE was able to hold the Tamils at their mercy. It seems very difficult for Erik Solheim to understand that Sri Lanka is not a colony of Norway and there are no reasons whatsoever to hearken to Oslo at all. Norway is a country that nurtured the LTTE and it arms, harbours and protects this terror movement and should have no right to urge or advise the Sri Lankan government as to how it should deal with this terror outfit. Norwegian personnel who have served on the SLMM have not only proved themselves incapable of handling their responsibilities but have given totally false reports about certain events, no doubt meant to embarrbutt the government. They had lied at least on two instances recently without even checking on them thoroughly. The intention of Norway is very clear. People like Erik Solheim are determined to carve out Sri Lanka and hand over a territory to the LTTE so that Prabhakaran can realize his dream of setting up a Mafia state. In the mean time it is strongly urged that all Norwegian involvements in Sri Lanka comes to a halt; comes to a halt now. If the ethnic problem is to be sorted out amicably, Norway should be booted out immediately. ----- The Lanka Academic carried an online "Question and Answer" session with the special adviser to the Norwegian minister of foreign affairs in charge of the Norwegian efforts to facilitate the peace process in Sri Lanka, Mr. Erik Solheim from April 2, 2001 through April 30, 2001. Listed below are your questions and his answers. Please note that answers 1-34 were made available on April 6, 2001, 35-60 on April 25, 2001 and 61-90 on May 11, 2001. http://www.lacnet.org/the_academic/chat/QA_Erik.shtml