Norway Interfering in the Internal Affairs of Sri Lanka By K.T.Rajasingham

Norway is interfering in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka. Jon Westborg, the Ambassador of Norway in Sri Lanka, it is alleged that, he is behaving like a "Viceroy". We are hearing these allegations repeatedly for the last six to eight months. But since of late, people in the highest echelons of Sri Lankan politics are making these allegations at regular intervals and it begins to resonate loudly throughout the length and breadth of the country. We can’t simply ignore these allegations. It cannot be simply bypassed by saying that these are unsubstantiated allegations made by Sinhalese chauvinists. But now, the ongoing peace process is all about living together with these so called Sinhala chauvinists in a united Sri Lanka.

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has made it clear that, “LTTE does not operate with the concept of a ‘Separate State’. “We operate with a concept of ‘Homeland and self determination’. ‘Homeland’ does not mean a separate state as such.” This statement of the LTTE reminds us of the future coexistence with the Sinhalese in a united Sri Lanka. Therefore, it has become incumbent on the part of every peace loving Sri Lankan, to examine these allegations carefully and seriously.

I was one of those first persons to welcome the Norwegian facilitation efforts. On 2 March 2000, I wrote Norwegian initiated Peace Negotiation is on Course. I initially welcome the Norwegians when Chandrika Kumaratunga, the President of Sri Lanka invited them as facilitators in the peace process.

Sri Lankan President in an interview recently has emphasized, “I invited Norwegian mediation, as there was no alternative. The northeast issue needed to be tackled by political means. I genuinely believed in the Norwegians."

She stressed emphasis on those words, “I genuinely believed in the Norwegians.” Now what happened? Gradually, the confidence placed on the Norwegians began to erode as they were alleged with lopsided identification with the Liberation Tigers.

Earlier there was an article in “The Island” which wrote, “According to reliable Indian newspaper reports, the Cease-fire Agreement had been drafted by Solheim, a close friend of the Balasinghams, who had marched on the streets of Norway and Europe for the LTTE, along with a Norwegian Foreign Ministry official and the Balasinghams.” These and other statements identifying Norwegians with close links with the LTTE poses the question on the credibility of the so called impartiality of the Norwegian facilitators.

Norway’s role as an impartial facilitator is brought under scrutiny and it was announced that Norway is no longer an impartial player in facilitating the peace process in Sri Lanka. It is alleged that Norway a country brought to facilitate peace in Sri Lanka, has began to interfere in the internal affairs of the Sri Lanka. The allegation was made by no less a person than Chandrika Kumaratunga, President of Sri Lanka and also substantiated by Lakshman Kadirgamar the former Foreign Minister and at present, the Advisor to the Sri Lankan President.

Whether there is any substance in the allegation made by the President of Sri lanka is not an important factor. The important thing is that the President of the country strongly believes that Norway is interfering in the internal affairs of the country and she has made this allegation publicly. Norway cannot say that we have not heard the criticism made by the Sri Lankan President, because it was made so loud and clear and it resonated in the national and international print and electronic media. Therefore, Norwegian Prime Minister must come forward to clear his country’s position.

President of Sri Lanka is not an ordinary person for the Royal Norway Government to ignore her allegations. The President is constitutionally the Head of the state, and not the Prime Minister. In the Sri Lankan Constitution, Prime Minister has no place, but he is only another minister appointed by the President.

Recently, Ranil Wickremesinghe told Parliament that Parliament is the supreme body of the country and all should safeguard the powers of Parliament.”

But in reality, Parliament is not so long remains supreme, as the President has the constitutional authority to dissolve the Parliament, one year after the elections without assigning reasons. As it is, anything might happen to the Parliament after 5 December 2002, on which date falls the first anniversary of the present parliament.

Therefore, the Norwegian Government should understand that the Head of State was elected on a different election platform and she would continue to remain in her position as President until the end of the year 2005 and she has the authority to dissolve the present Parliament anytime she desires, after 5 December 2005. Therefore, Norway should come to terms with the seriousness of the President’s allegations and Norway is duty bound make an explanation regarding those specific allegations made by the President of Sri Lanka.

Recently in an interview, Chandrika Kumaratunga was asked: “Why did you call off a scheduled meeting with deputy Norwegian Foreign Minister Vidar Helgessen? Was it a protest against the Norwegians? "

She told, "They (Norwegian Embassy) sought a last minute meeting as they had to change their plans to suit Anton Balasingham’s schedule. No it was not in protest. But I do not agree with the way the Norwegians handle the peace process. Obviously they have gone beyond their mandate. Not only them. Some other countries too were of the view that there is no harm in creating a separate state in the northeast if it brings peace. They justify their stance by giving all sorts of reasons. But when war breaks out again next time it will be between two countries. It would be frightening even to think about it.”

This reply of the President reflects how the Norwegian Embassy has offended her. An Embassy should be aware of the diplomatic protocols. They should have given the topmost priority to the Head of the State instead of an ex-sub editor of a Tamil newspaper turned Advisor of a Tamil militant organization, which now solicit and seeks to co-exist with a country to which Chandrika Kumaratunge would remain as the Head of State till the end of the year 2005.

Unfortunately, regarding the role of Norway in Sri Lanka, there is numerous rumours – confirmed and unconfirmed and are allowed to float. It was unfortunate that Norway has not come forward to clear these rumours, in some way or other and explain the real position of Norway

Questions are being asked of the role played by Norway in Anton Balasingham and Adele Balasingham’s escapade from Vanni to “a bustling and enterprising capital city of a South East Asian nation,” where when they arrived in one of the LTTE ships, were illegal entrants and also of their subsequent flight of London from that city? Who facilitated their flight to London when they were illegal entrants in the so called “bustling and enterprising capital city of a South East Asian nation.” What was the role Norway played in that episode? According to people involved in arranging the flight to London, they have told that Norwegian diplomats played an important role in making the flight arrangements of Balasinghams to London. Those people from that city expressed their wish to remain anonymous for fear of retribution by the LTTE.

Furthermore, according to Adele Balasingham, “Mr.Erik Solheim, Mr. Wegger Strommen – the former State Secretary in the Norwegian Foreign Ministry, Mr.Jon Westborg – Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo and Ms Kjersti Tromsdal - Executive Officer, met Anton Balasingham in London and offered free medical treatment in Norway. According to Adele Balasingham’s book “The Will to Freedom,” Balasingham was given free treatment in Oslo. Furthermore according to reliable sources all the expenses of Anton Balasinggham, medication as well as personal are taken care by Norway.. The suspicion goes on that it was more than the humanitarian consideration.

To make matters worse, with the view to soften the vigorous opposition forthcoming from the People Alliance Party, the Norwegian Government has invited the PA legislators and members for a study tour to Oslo. But Chandrika Kumaratunga, the leader of the PA has turned down the invitation as an expression of her displeasure over what she sees as the growing tendency by Norway to interfere in the internal affairs of Sri Lanka.

In the President’s opinion the Norwegian government appears to be stepping beyond its original role. Already, President Kumaratunga expressed her concern over what she sees as the Norwegian government's increasing interference in internal matters, when Norway's Ambassador John Westborg met her last week to brief her on the second session of the peace talks in Thailand.

We already had earlier one Viceroy - J.N.Dixit, the former Indian High Commissioner in Colombo, who negotiated with Prabhakaran face to face, , initially for an interim Provincial Council for the North and East, after the signing of the Indo- Sri Lanka Agreement in July 1987.

Dixit – Viceroy No:1 of Sri Lanka ,who studied Prabhakaran thoroughly said in a statement regarding the present Norwegian initiated peace talks : “Meanwhile, as always, Prabhakaran shies away from being a direct participant in the negotiations. He keeps the option of deniability open to the maximum extent possible.” A statement worth noting.
Recently we were told of the existence of Viceroy No: 2, by Mangala Samaraweera, Chief Opposition Whip. When Objecting to a comment attributed to Westborg that the recent Colombo High Court verdict, sentencing the LTTE leader, V. Prabhakaran, to a 200-year jail term, could have "torpedoed" the peace process, Mangala Samaraweera, said at a press conference that, the Ambassador should "stop behaving as if he is the Viceroy of Sri Lanka.

(Date : 2002-11-17)