No(r)way I Said That: The Solheim interview

Norwegian Minister of International Development Erik Solheim’s interview to Tehelka, published in the April 1, 2006 issue, has kicked up a storm. Several reports distorted the interview by misquoting Solheim with the alleged motive of undermining Norway’s role in the peace process in Sri Lanka.

The maximum damage was done by a pro-Sinhala website, www.tamilweek.com, that reproduced parts of some questions posed by Tehelka as answers given by Solheim. In Sri Lanka, Sinhala chauvinists, including the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and Jathika Hela Urumaya, have been accusing Solheim of being pro-LTTE. The two parties want a solution to the ethnic problem within a unitary state structure.

In view of the developments following the Tehelka interview with Solheim, and the consequent embarrassment to Norway, we are reproducing portions of the original interview, published in Tehelka, and the distorted interview, as carried by the pro-Sinhala website.

From the Tehelka Interview:

Do you believe a negotiated solution is possible, given the history of aborted agreements and failure of peace initiatives in the last five decades between the Sinhalese and the Tamils?

I sincerely believe in a negotiated political solution. The Norwegian government is committed to actively promoting peace and reconciliation internationally. We will continue to give priority to facilitating the peace process in Sri Lanka as long as the parties request our efforts and we see that we can play a constructive role. I hope that the parties gain mutual confidence to take the peace process forward.

There is clear pressure on President Mahinda Rajapakse from his allies, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and Jathika Hela Urumaya, not to concede even the most basic demands of Tamils. Both parties favour a solution within a unitary state structure, a departure from former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe. With Rajapakse dependent on them for survival, how meaningful can talks be?

I cannot in my position as third party facilitator involve myself in political issues regarding internal dynamics on either side.

The distorted version:

Do you believe a negotiated solution is possible, given the history of aborted agreements and failure of peace initiatives in the last five decades between the Sinhalese and the Tamils?

I sincerely believe in a negotiated political solution. The Norwegian government is committed to actively promoting peace and reconciliation internationally. We will continue to give priority to facilitating the peace process in Sri Lanka as long as the parties request our efforts and we see that we can play a constructive role. I hope that the parties gain mutual confidence to take the peace process forward. There is clear pressure on President Mahinda Rajapakse from his allies, the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna and Jathika Hela Urumaya, not to concede even the most basic demands of Tamils. Both parties favour a solution within a unitary state structure, a departure from former Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe.

With Rajapakse dependent on them for survival, how meaningful can talks be?

I cannot in my position as third party facilitator involve myself in political issues regarding internal dynamics on either side.

From the Tehelka Interview:

The Sri Lankan government’s proxy war against the LTTE through the Karuna group is said to be the main cause for the escalation in violence. Has the government given any assurance of disarming Karuna?

Both the government and the LTTE have reassured that they will do their utmost to stop violence.

The Lankan military has been harassing civilians, triggering an exodus of Tamil refugees to India. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission too has attested this.

The parties are committed to end the campaign of violence.

The distorted version:

The Sri Lankan government’s proxy war against the LTTE through the Karuna group is said to be the main cause for the escalation in violence. Has the government given any assurance of disarming Karuna?

Both the government and the LTTE have reassured that they will do their utmost to stop violence. The Lankan military has been harassing civilians, triggering an exodus of Tamil refugees to India. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission too has attested this. The parties are committed to end the campaign of violence.

Meanwhile, the LTTE has reportedly said it would participate in the second round of talks with the Sri Lankan government in Geneva scheduled for April 19-21 provided the Lankan government guaranteed ‘the safety’ and ‘safe passage’ of its negotiating team through the Colombo airport.