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Official recognition for ‘Sea Tigers’ sought
The Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), retired Norwegian Major General Tryggve Teleffsen, has proposed that the Government "recognise the LTTE Sea Tigers as a de facto naval unit" and demarcate areas at sea for "live firing exercises" by them.

"For mutual trust and understanding and as a confidence-building measure," he has also proposed that the Sri Lanka Navy and the LTTE Sea Tigers "should permit observers from the other party onboard their vessels whilst conducting exercises and training."

These far reaching proposals, which impinge on the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka, besides conferring nationhood on the LTTE are among many proposals Maj. Gen. (retd) Teleffsen has made in an Initial Discussion Paper titled "Measures to be considered for preventing incidents between the SLN and LTTE at Sea'.

He has forwarded this discussion paper dated April 3 to the United National Front Government through the Secretariat Co-ordinating the Peace Process (SCOPP) which functions under the Prime Minister's Office. The same copy has also been sent to the LTTE Peace Secretariat.

This paper will come up for further discussion at Thursday's (April 24) meeting between Government and LTTE representatives at Omanthai. Defence Secretary Austin Fernando is to lead the Government team that will include senior security officials.

The meeting follows a decision at last month's Hakone (Japan) peace talks to take measures to "prevent future incidents at sea that could threaten the stability of the ceasefire."

Among the other proposals made by Maj. Gen. (retd.) Teleffsen are:

* To prevent misunderstanding and to exchange crucial information when needed, both parties' vessels, when at sea, are to monitor channel 16, (the international frequency for maritime communications). * Neither the SLN nor Sea Tigers will conduct offensive or aggressive operations and movements at sea. The minimum distance between the parties' vessels should be kept to one (1) NM (nautical mile). In emergencies or when situations require a shorter distance between vessels may be agreed on.

* When an incident at sea occurs, the parties' should refrain from escalating the situation by re-inforcing the maritime presence at the scene. Hence, the parties' ROE (Rules of Engagement) at sea should be revised to meet the new requirements.

* The parties should discuss the possibility of creating safe and legal maritime supply lines within TW (tererritorial waters) for transporting of personnel and non-military goods.

Although the official response of the UNF Government has not been made public, official sources say, the proposals will be rejected.

In a response to the Ministry of Defence, after he was called upon to make his comments, Navy Commander, Vice Admiral Daya Sandagiri, is learnt to have rejected the proposals and given his own reasons, according to Navy sources.

Despite a possible rejection by the Government, an important question that has arisen is whether Maj. Gen. (retd.) Tellefsen has exceeded his brief in making these proposals. Questions have also arisen whether such proposals received the endorsement of the Royal Norwegian Government.

See Situation Report by Iqbal Athas - Equal status for Sea Tigers

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