Since May 18, 2009 there has not been a single bullet fired in Sri Lanka on account of terrorism! WTRF: THEN HOW 1000s DISAPPEARED AFTER 18-5-09?

5/15/2010 8:45:07 AM

Lanka calls Europe not to support LTTE

The LTTE's initiative to forming a so called Provisional Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (PTGTE), was a ruse to perpetuate its terrorist struggle, Sri Lanka's Ambassador to Belgium, Luxembourg and the EU Ravinatha Aryasinha told diplomats. He also urged the European governments not to provide any political or symbolic support towards these moves.

Addressing the 2010 Diplomatic Security Conference on the Terrorism Situation and Trends in the EU at the Colonial Palace in Brussels on May 11 where the findings of Europol's EU Terrorism Situation and Trend Report (TESAT) 2010 was discussed.

Aryasinha observed that these bodies constituted through pseudo elections and comprising largely of known LTTE members/activists, was being used by many Tamils who have entered western countries illegally, and who would in the normal course of events be sent back home given the restoration of normality in Sri Lanka, to keep the pot boiling and to seek to remain relevant in countries where they have sought asylum.

The Conference, attended by politicians, diplomats, academics, and members of the law enforcement and criminal justice community, was co-hosted by the European Corporate Security Association (ECSA) and the Belgian Foreign Ministry.

Ambassador Aryasinha said: "Sri Lanka's story in fighting terrorism is instructive to this forum for two reasons. The phenomenal success of the ground battle with the LTTE is well known and that was won decisively exactly a year ago. But what we often pay little attention to, is the fact that the LTTE was not just a terrorist force, but also a very efficient network which spanned the globe and could fool a lot of people.

Their organization was diversified, the assets were scattered, and they operated through numerous front organizations and operatives. Therefore, while their leaders may be gone and their central command disrupted, we must not lose sight of the fact that they still have a lot of money, expertise and contacts, particularly in your part of the world.

Since May 18, 2009 there has not been a single bullet fired in Sri Lanka on account of terrorism. But when I look around in your part of the world, over the past few months, I see arrests and convictions of LTTE activists taking place at regular intervals. Mention has already been made in the Europol's TESAT 2010 Report of the conviction of a former LTTE leader in the UK, and the November 2009 action by a Paris court banning the CCTF and convicting of 21 LTTE activists for upto seven years - which Eurojust says was the most significant judicial action related to terrorist financing that has taken place in Europe. Additionally, it must be noted that in March 2010 Germany arrested seven and since then two others for pro-LTTE activity, while in April 2010 the Netherlands arrested seven for the same reason.

Additionally, we are aware that counter terrorism action has been taken against LTTE activists in Denmark, Italy and Norway. It is anyone's guess where the next arrests would be, but there sure will be, because those of you familiar with the terrain know that what we have seen so far is merely the tip of an iceberg concerning the LTTE and its operations in Europe.

Lest it is glossed over, a point I want to emphasise is that none of these persons arrested so far carried name boards saying LTTE, but each and every one of them belonged to prominent front organizations which were integrally linked to the LTTE - be they the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO/ORT), the Coordinating Committee of Tamils in France (CCTF/TCC), the Tamil Youth Organization (TYO), the Tamil Women's Organization (TWO), the Tamil Arts and Cultural Organization (TKCO), the United Tamil Organization in the UK and the British Tamil Association (BTA). The failure to have acted against these front organizations earlier, could prove to be a costly mistake."

Courtesy - Daily news