Erik Solheim concerned for consequences

[TamilNet, Saturday, 03 November 2007, 07:01 GMT]
Erik Solheim, the Norwegian International Development Minister and facilitator for the peace process in Sri Lanka, who was apparently uneasy over the killing of Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE) Political Head S. P. Thamilchelvan, has said that he was deeply concerned about the consequences of the present escalation of war in Sri Lanka, the NTB news agency of Norway reported Friday. Characterizing the death a big loss, Mr. Erik Solheim further said that Mr. Thamilchelvan was an important contact point between the LTTE and Norway in the facilitation of the peace process.

Vidar Helgesen, former state secretary of Norway, who was earlier responsible for the Sri Lankan peace process, has told the NTB agency that Thamilchelvan who served the political division of the LTTE for more than 10 years played a key role in the peace negotiations.

Thamilchelvan who was the Chief Negotiator of the LTTE in the last rounds of talks held in Geneva in October 2006, had said in the process that the LTTE is more committed to democratic principles than the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and challenged the GoSL to repeal the sixth amendment to the SL constitution as a token of its commitment to democracy and pluralism.

The sixth amendment to the Sri Lankan constitution prohibits peaceful advocacy for a separate state through democratic means.



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