Sidelining of Solheim may cause setback: Vaiko

By Our Staff Reporter

COIMBATORE, JUNE 12. The reported sidelining of the Norwegian special envoy, Mr. Erik Solheim, who has been mediating for a peaceful resolution of the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka may cause a setback to the peace process, the MDMK general secretary, Mr. Vaiko, said today.

Mr. Vaiko said Mr. Solheim had spent time with the warring sides, trying to understand their viewpoints. Sidelining him at this juncture may upset the peace initiatives. The LTTE had observed a three-month ceasefire to give peace a chance. But the Sri Lankan Government had initially pursued the military option with arms acquired from China, Israel and Pakistan. After realising that Jaffna could not be wrested militarily, the Government had opted for a dialogue to resolve the crisis, he claimed.

Mr. Vaiko said the Sri Lankan President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunge, had put pressure on all other nations to support it against the LTTE and the Tamils' cause. ``Only the Indian Government has not succumbed to this pressure. It has not interfered on this issue as the Congress Governments had.''

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