Norway reacted angrily last week to the Sri Lankan military’s provocative firing of heavy artillery the head of the international ceasefire monitors in Sri Lanka, but later toned down the criticism.
Last Wednesday Sri Lanka shells exploded 50m from the Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM)), Major General Lars Johan Sølvberg, when he was an official visit to the Pooneryn area of LTTE-controlled Vanni.
Maj. Gen. Sølvberg was on a visit to inspect the Pooneryn causeway to assess the viability of the Sri Lankan government’s offer to open an access route to the Jaffna peninsula instead of reopening the A9 highway.
The SLMM ruled the alternative route as impassable and has described the closure of the A( as a violation of the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement.
"The government is clearly violating the Ceasefire Agreement and they have trapped more than half a million civilians within the Jaffna Peninsula. The A9 should be opened immediately," acting spokesperson for the SLMM, Helen Olafsdottir, said.
But the Sri Lankan military is still refusing to open the A9 which was closed amid heavy fighting in Jaffna in August.
"The most serious [act] is that the army fired at this level towards an unprovoking target," Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim, told VG, the largest national paper in Norway.
The visit was taking place in clear line of sight to Sri Lankan forces, Erik Solheim told the paper adding that it was impossible for the military to have misunderstood the situation.
The Army was in advance informed of the meeting which was about inspecting the pathway that has been damaged, he said.
But later Mr. Solheim said in another interview: "probably those who fired did not know that they were shelling at the Norwegian observers."
"However, it is a very, very serious situation, where the Sri Lankan government soldiers have fired to kill unarmed people," the minister told NRK.
“There is no doubt that shells were aimed gradually to kill those who were there.”
Solheim, describing the experienced 54-years-old Norwegian Major General as a "quiet and calm" person said the Head of Mission feared for his life while he came under artillery fire.
SLA fired artillery shells exploded 200 meters behind in Pooneryn jetty area while a team of SLMM and LTTE officials was visiting the site. While they were returning, SLA artillery shells exploded 20 meters away.
The SLMM visit was to study the feasibility of the Sri Lankan government's suggestion that opening the Pooneryin-Sangupitty Road was an alternative to opening the A9 highway.
The SLMM has criticized the Sri Lankan government for closing the A9 highway at Muhamalai,
After two months of embargo, 600,000 people in the Jaffna peninsula are desperately short of food and other essential supplies.
The LTTE says the Sri Lankan government is preparing major invasions of its controlled areas and has warned of an all out war breaking out unless Colombo is restrained.
SLMM has said while the government continued to ignore the pleas of aid agencies to open the A9, the monitors would continue to mount pressure and hold discussions with the government till such time the road was opened.
Last Wednesday Sri Lanka shells exploded 50m from the Head of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM)), Major General Lars Johan Sølvberg, when he was an official visit to the Pooneryn area of LTTE-controlled Vanni.
Maj. Gen. Sølvberg was on a visit to inspect the Pooneryn causeway to assess the viability of the Sri Lankan government’s offer to open an access route to the Jaffna peninsula instead of reopening the A9 highway.
The SLMM ruled the alternative route as impassable and has described the closure of the A( as a violation of the 2002 Ceasefire Agreement.
"The government is clearly violating the Ceasefire Agreement and they have trapped more than half a million civilians within the Jaffna Peninsula. The A9 should be opened immediately," acting spokesperson for the SLMM, Helen Olafsdottir, said.
But the Sri Lankan military is still refusing to open the A9 which was closed amid heavy fighting in Jaffna in August.
"The most serious [act] is that the army fired at this level towards an unprovoking target," Norwegian International Development Minister Erik Solheim, told VG, the largest national paper in Norway.
The visit was taking place in clear line of sight to Sri Lankan forces, Erik Solheim told the paper adding that it was impossible for the military to have misunderstood the situation.
The Army was in advance informed of the meeting which was about inspecting the pathway that has been damaged, he said.
But later Mr. Solheim said in another interview: "probably those who fired did not know that they were shelling at the Norwegian observers."
"However, it is a very, very serious situation, where the Sri Lankan government soldiers have fired to kill unarmed people," the minister told NRK.
“There is no doubt that shells were aimed gradually to kill those who were there.”
Solheim, describing the experienced 54-years-old Norwegian Major General as a "quiet and calm" person said the Head of Mission feared for his life while he came under artillery fire.
SLA fired artillery shells exploded 200 meters behind in Pooneryn jetty area while a team of SLMM and LTTE officials was visiting the site. While they were returning, SLA artillery shells exploded 20 meters away.
The SLMM visit was to study the feasibility of the Sri Lankan government's suggestion that opening the Pooneryin-Sangupitty Road was an alternative to opening the A9 highway.
The SLMM has criticized the Sri Lankan government for closing the A9 highway at Muhamalai,
After two months of embargo, 600,000 people in the Jaffna peninsula are desperately short of food and other essential supplies.
The LTTE says the Sri Lankan government is preparing major invasions of its controlled areas and has warned of an all out war breaking out unless Colombo is restrained.
SLMM has said while the government continued to ignore the pleas of aid agencies to open the A9, the monitors would continue to mount pressure and hold discussions with the government till such time the road was opened.
