18.10.2005
Your Excellency,
I am writing this in reference to a news item regarding the L.T.T.E. ordering its front organisations in the countries of the European Union to organise a protest rally in Brussels on 24th October, to demand the immediate lifting of the “Travel Ban” imposed on them by the E.U. The L.T.T.E. that is holding Sri Lanka to ransom is now trying to extend its terror and intimidation to the E.U. Countries and very soon to the entire world. In response to the call of the L.T.T.E. a number of people are preparing to participate in the proposed rally from Europe, U.K. and Scandinavian countries. Most of the would be participants are either citizens or permanent residents of the countries where they reside and are enjoying all benefits including the education of their children. Most of them have sponsored and got down their parents and close relatives too. These are the people who finance the L.T.T.E. for all their activities including the training of children for war.
If you take into consideration the numerous violations of the Ceasefire Agreement by the L.T.T.E. and their denial of basic human rights to the Tamil People, forcibly kept by them under their subjugation, for many years, the sanctions imposed so far by the E.U. is very mild. It is the provisions in the C.F.A. that enabled them to enter into the areas under the control of the Government. Although their entry into these areas was limited to only 50 and 100 during the first two months, from the 3rd month they came into Government areas in very large numbers and today they are controlling almost all such areas- the North in particular. The people who had been enjoying all the rights in those areas have now been deprived of many of their basic rights. Hardly one day passes without at-least one person getting killed in these areas. Politically motivated killings, arbitrary arrests, harassments, abductions, detentions, torture, extortions, intimidation, disappearances and conscriptions are some of the many fundamental right violations of the L.T.T.E, still going on unabated.
Inspite of these nefarious activities they have not failed to get the best advantage out of the C.F.A. Hundreds of them who dared not to enter in to the Government controlled areas, before the C.F.A. was signed, could until the travel ban was imposed go abroad freely with Government security and helicopters provided, to go to the Airport. Large number of unchecked baggages were also transported at Government expense. They did not fail to exploit the Norwegean Facilitators who paid for their passages, provided hotel accommodation and arranged seminars and high level meetings with officials of various countries.
Since the C.F.A. was signed 3 years and 8 months back, a number of Diplomats and V.I.PP. who visited them had advised them very many times to stop killing people and recruitment of child soldiers. These are the two matters every body stressed on, although there are many matters for which the L.T.T.E. could have been found fault with. They did not heed any such advice and continued with the killings and conscriptions, even after the imposition of the “Travel Ban”, which could be construed as a challenge to the International Community, the E.U. in particular.
On Monday the 16th of August, 2004 the Local E.U. Troika comprised of H.E. Mrs.Susan.Th.Blankhart, H.E. Mr.Stephen Evans and H.E Mr.Wouter Wilton the Ambassador for Nertherlands, High Commissioner for U.K. and Charge‘ d’ Affaires of the E.U. respectively met Mr.Thamilchelvan and advised him to stop this.
On 12th August, 2004 a statement, issued by Mr.Adam Erell on behalf of the Deputy Secretary H.E. Mr.Armitage says that having reviewed the situation with the U.S. Ambassador in Sri Lanka H.E. Mr.Jeffrey Lunstead he had said that assassinations and suicides bombings are unacceptable, and that the recruitment of child soldiers must cease.
At a Press Conference in Colombo on 8th March 2005 E.U. Commissioner Ferrero Waldner had said, “I made clear my readiness to meet the L.T.T.E. Leaders, but for logistical reasons this has not been possible on this occasion. The messages I would have passed are the following. The L.T.T.E. must Renounce violence, Respect the Ceasefire Agreement, Resolve their commitment to principles stated in Oslo Declaration of December, 2002 to find a Federal Solution within a United Sri Lanka, Stop recruitment of children, and Give breathing space in the North and East to political parties and people who have a different opinion.
The above three references are sufficient to justify the E.U.’s decision to impose Travel Ban on the L.T.T.E. as a first steps before taking harsher steps.
I appeal to the International Community to go all out to prevent such a rally being held in Brussels which is in fact to demand from the E.U. the right for the L.T.T.E. to kill those who do not agree with them and to recruit children as child soldiers. The would be participants at this rally may be politely told, if they so desire, to return to the L.T.T.E. held areas with their wives and children. They may be also told that in a Democracy “Sole Representation” concept will never fit in and that it will better fit in only in a fascist state. The modern democracies can’t be polluted by fascist elements and the only option the E.U. has, is to proscribe the L.T.T.E. in the E.U. This is the most opportune time for the International Community to liberate the Tamils from the L.T.T.E.
It is very unfortunate that the TNA Members of Parliament who claim the L.T.T.E. as the “Sole Representatives” of the Tamils people, have not condemned neither the recruitment of children nor any killings including the latest killings of Principals of two leading colleges in Jaffna. Some TNA MPP are also planning to take part in the rally in Brussels.
Thanking You,
Yours Sincerely,
V.Anandasangaree,
President-T.U.L.F.
Your Excellency,
TRAVEL BAN AND THE PROTEST RALLY IN BRUSSELS
I am writing this in reference to a news item regarding the L.T.T.E. ordering its front organisations in the countries of the European Union to organise a protest rally in Brussels on 24th October, to demand the immediate lifting of the “Travel Ban” imposed on them by the E.U. The L.T.T.E. that is holding Sri Lanka to ransom is now trying to extend its terror and intimidation to the E.U. Countries and very soon to the entire world. In response to the call of the L.T.T.E. a number of people are preparing to participate in the proposed rally from Europe, U.K. and Scandinavian countries. Most of the would be participants are either citizens or permanent residents of the countries where they reside and are enjoying all benefits including the education of their children. Most of them have sponsored and got down their parents and close relatives too. These are the people who finance the L.T.T.E. for all their activities including the training of children for war.
If you take into consideration the numerous violations of the Ceasefire Agreement by the L.T.T.E. and their denial of basic human rights to the Tamil People, forcibly kept by them under their subjugation, for many years, the sanctions imposed so far by the E.U. is very mild. It is the provisions in the C.F.A. that enabled them to enter into the areas under the control of the Government. Although their entry into these areas was limited to only 50 and 100 during the first two months, from the 3rd month they came into Government areas in very large numbers and today they are controlling almost all such areas- the North in particular. The people who had been enjoying all the rights in those areas have now been deprived of many of their basic rights. Hardly one day passes without at-least one person getting killed in these areas. Politically motivated killings, arbitrary arrests, harassments, abductions, detentions, torture, extortions, intimidation, disappearances and conscriptions are some of the many fundamental right violations of the L.T.T.E, still going on unabated.
Inspite of these nefarious activities they have not failed to get the best advantage out of the C.F.A. Hundreds of them who dared not to enter in to the Government controlled areas, before the C.F.A. was signed, could until the travel ban was imposed go abroad freely with Government security and helicopters provided, to go to the Airport. Large number of unchecked baggages were also transported at Government expense. They did not fail to exploit the Norwegean Facilitators who paid for their passages, provided hotel accommodation and arranged seminars and high level meetings with officials of various countries.
Since the C.F.A. was signed 3 years and 8 months back, a number of Diplomats and V.I.PP. who visited them had advised them very many times to stop killing people and recruitment of child soldiers. These are the two matters every body stressed on, although there are many matters for which the L.T.T.E. could have been found fault with. They did not heed any such advice and continued with the killings and conscriptions, even after the imposition of the “Travel Ban”, which could be construed as a challenge to the International Community, the E.U. in particular.
On Monday the 16th of August, 2004 the Local E.U. Troika comprised of H.E. Mrs.Susan.Th.Blankhart, H.E. Mr.Stephen Evans and H.E Mr.Wouter Wilton the Ambassador for Nertherlands, High Commissioner for U.K. and Charge‘ d’ Affaires of the E.U. respectively met Mr.Thamilchelvan and advised him to stop this.
On 12th August, 2004 a statement, issued by Mr.Adam Erell on behalf of the Deputy Secretary H.E. Mr.Armitage says that having reviewed the situation with the U.S. Ambassador in Sri Lanka H.E. Mr.Jeffrey Lunstead he had said that assassinations and suicides bombings are unacceptable, and that the recruitment of child soldiers must cease.
At a Press Conference in Colombo on 8th March 2005 E.U. Commissioner Ferrero Waldner had said, “I made clear my readiness to meet the L.T.T.E. Leaders, but for logistical reasons this has not been possible on this occasion. The messages I would have passed are the following. The L.T.T.E. must Renounce violence, Respect the Ceasefire Agreement, Resolve their commitment to principles stated in Oslo Declaration of December, 2002 to find a Federal Solution within a United Sri Lanka, Stop recruitment of children, and Give breathing space in the North and East to political parties and people who have a different opinion.
The above three references are sufficient to justify the E.U.’s decision to impose Travel Ban on the L.T.T.E. as a first steps before taking harsher steps.
I appeal to the International Community to go all out to prevent such a rally being held in Brussels which is in fact to demand from the E.U. the right for the L.T.T.E. to kill those who do not agree with them and to recruit children as child soldiers. The would be participants at this rally may be politely told, if they so desire, to return to the L.T.T.E. held areas with their wives and children. They may be also told that in a Democracy “Sole Representation” concept will never fit in and that it will better fit in only in a fascist state. The modern democracies can’t be polluted by fascist elements and the only option the E.U. has, is to proscribe the L.T.T.E. in the E.U. This is the most opportune time for the International Community to liberate the Tamils from the L.T.T.E.
It is very unfortunate that the TNA Members of Parliament who claim the L.T.T.E. as the “Sole Representatives” of the Tamils people, have not condemned neither the recruitment of children nor any killings including the latest killings of Principals of two leading colleges in Jaffna. Some TNA MPP are also planning to take part in the rally in Brussels.
Thanking You,
Yours Sincerely,
V.Anandasangaree,
President-T.U.L.F.
