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<strong>Rutgers</strong> <strong>Model</strong> <strong>United</strong> <strong>Nations</strong> 6<br />
order for the Tamil’s to end their attacks. 20 In a press conference that night President<br />
Chandrika Kumaratunga stated, “We shall leave no room for the LTTE to again fasten<br />
their fascist grip on half a million Tamil people in Jaffna.” 21 In response to the<br />
government’s reaction, rebel leaders state “the government’s rejection of the offer could<br />
lead to disastrous consequences of heavy military casualties.” 22 This was another event<br />
in the war between the two groups that demonstrated how difficult it would be to achieve<br />
peace in the region. It also shows that outside intervention would be necessary for any<br />
progress to be made in the effort to end the war.<br />
22 February 2002: Cease-Fire Brokered by Norway<br />
A cease-fire was brokered by Jan Petersen, the foreign minister of Norway<br />
between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE. Foreign Minister Petersen stated,<br />
“The overall objective of the parties is to find a negotiated solution to the ethnic conflict<br />
in Sri Lanka, which has cost 60,000 lives and caused widespread human suffering. They<br />
commit themselves to restoring normalcy for all the inhabitants of Sri Lanka, whether<br />
they are Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims or others.” 23 The cease-fire included “total cessation<br />
of all offensive military operations, the separation of forces, and increased freedom of<br />
movement for unarmed troops on both sides.” It also allowed the “unimpeded flow of<br />
non military goods, opening roads and railway lines,” and created an international<br />
monitoring group led by Norway.” 24 The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission’s (SLMM)<br />
purpose was to oversee both groups commitment to the cease-fire. Throughout its<br />
existence, the SLMM made<br />
20 Celia Dugger, “Sri Lanka Rejects Offer of Cease-fire By Rebels,” The New York Times, May 9 2000,<br />
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.htmlres=9E04E7DE1038F93AA35756C0A9669C8B63<br />
21 Ibid.<br />
22 Ibid.<br />
23 “Norway Declares Truce Between Sri Lanka Government,” BBC Monitoring South Asia, February 22, 2002,<br />
Lexis Nexis, http://www.lexisnexis.com<br />
24 Ibid.
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