Monitoring ceasefire sans chief and monitors
By Shelani Perera
The Defence Ministry on Friday directed the Scandinavian monitors to co-ordinate the monitoring of the cease-fire with the Government's Peace Secretariat. Acting Chief of the Scandinavian monitors, Hagraup Hauckland told The Sunday Times that Defence Secretary, Cyril Herath on Friday conveyed the position when he called on him to seek clarification regarding the SLMM's role.

This was the first meeting between the Acting Chief and the newly appointed Defence Secretary. "At the meeting with the Defence Secretary we were told to be in contact with the Peace Secretariat. We clarified our position with the Defence Secretary as he is new. We were told that if we needed to know anything, cooperate and sort out anything with the Government, we should do it with the Peace Secretariat"' Mr. Hauckland said.

He said he explained to the Defence Secretary how the SLMM was carrying out its monitoring at present. "I sought clarification as to whom we should contact if we needed to sort out any problems. We feel that once an incident is reported, we need to have quick access to the relevant official. The monitors on the ground will deal with the situation, but the most important thing is to approach the leadership in the Wanni and in Colombo", he said.

Mr. Hauckland added that while monitoring is continuing, the LTTE continues to ignore the SLMM ruling of hoisting of LTTE flags in public places. "We have told the LTTE that hoisting their flag at public places is a violation of the ceasefire agreement, but we cannot remove them by force.

This is the biggest challenge we are faced with, when the LTTE does not comply. I have told them several times that if the parties cannot comply, to please sit down and change the rules. Because it is silly when we go and give a fair ruling as possible and then they refuse to abide by it", said Mr. Hauckland.

Meanwhile, the Monitoring Mission has appealed to the facilitator to appoint a Head of Mission, as it is affecting the monitoring work. "It is not a pleasant situation. We are hopeful we would get a chief. Right now, the chief is back in Norway and the facilitators are back in Norway.

I do not know how we are going to do this. The facilitator has to do something. As long as the Monitors are here it needs a head of Mission, a Deputy and monitors to function. If we are here to monitor the ceasefire we need a boss, the boss has to be here and not in Norway", added Mr. Hauckland.

Mr. Hauckland said he cannot appeal to the President, and instead he was appealing to the facilitator. He added that Norway is still the facilitator and that the SLMM continues to report to them.

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