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British Prime Minister Tony Blair has declined to meet a group of Tamil political parties who were planning to lobby the British Government to prevent the LTTE from being banned in the UK. Three politicians representing the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), All Ceylon Tamil Congress (ACTC) and the Tamil Eelam Liberation Organization (TELO) had made a request to the British High Commissioner in Sri Lanka, Linda Duffield for a meeting with the British PM. However, the Tamil political parties were later informed that Mr. Tony Blair was unable to meet them due to the very busy schedule. Political Analysts were critical of the response made by the local Tamil political parties about the possibility of the LTTE being banned in the UK. They charged the LTTE of instilling unnecessary fears in the minds of the Tamil people regarding a disruption of the peace process if the LTTE is proscribed in Britain. Meanwhile the LTTE has taken an active role in trying to influence Tamil Graduates in the north and east, as well as various other pro-LTTE groups to lobby against the proscription of the LTTE under the British Terrorism Act. This manipulating of the LTTE has also extended towards various sections of the press and electronic media, which has expressed fears and doubts about the peace process. However, the Sri Lankan Government continued to maintain its stance of 'unconditional talks' with the LTTE, to prevent the LTTE from withdrawing from peace talks after the discussions begin. President Kumaratunga during her Indian tour also emphasised the importance of peace talks and said that the Sri Lankan government was offering something more than a ceasefire.
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