Norwegian Embassy denies helping LTTE cadres leave SL
May 15, 2011 11:43 am
The Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka has replied to media allegations originating in Norway on Embassy officials helping members of the LTTE leave the country and seek asylum.
The Embassy cites the article titled “Norway helps refugees leave Sri Lanka” which appeared in the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten and claims that the Sri Lankan media had misinterpreted some facts in the article.
The Embassy stated that the term ‘refugees’ had been inaccurately translated as ‘members of the LTTE’ in the local media.
It further denied the reports that it had helped 12 LTTE cadres out of the country and stated that to the best of their knowledge no LTTE cadres had ever been assisted.
The Embassy statement reads:
Several news media in Sri Lanka have carried a story originating in the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten titled “Norway helps refugees leave Sri Lanka.” The Norwegian embassy notes that the translation and representation of the article in local media contain some inaccuracies, such as referring to the refugees as members of the LTTE.
The Norwegian embassy is not at liberty to discuss individual cases; nonetheless, the following observations should be made:
Applications for asylum in Norway are subject to strict rules. The cases are carefully examined to see if they qualify under the United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees.
It is not correct that the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo has secretly been helping 12 LTTE cadres out of the country, as reported by Sri Lankan media.
What is correct is that the Norwegian Embassy has assisted a limited number of people by processing their applications for asylum or other grounds for residency in Norway. This was done in accordance with international and Norwegian law, as well as with specific regulations from the Norwegian Ministry of Justice for such involvement of embassies on an exceptional basis. For this group of people, the embassy has not purchased tickets, nor has diplomatic staff escorted them to the airport. To the best of our knowledge, the embassy did not assist any LTTE-cadres.
