US say LTTE deserving of terrorist label [May 17, 2006 - 9.50 GMT]

“We think the LTTE is very deserving of that label. We think it will help cut off financial supplies and weapons procurement and the like”, said the US State Department’s Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Camp.

In an exclusive interview with Rupavahini Camp said the US has encouraged the European Union (EU) to list the LTTE. He said he came to Sri Lanka due to the US’ growing concern about the developing situation in the country.

Donald Camp was in Sri Lanka on a two-day visit, commented on his rushed visit said the trend lines were discouraging in terms of the increasing provocations by the LTTE. The fact that killings were increasing, all of these suggest that Sri Lanka is not on the way back to a lasting Ceasefire. 

“The Co-chairs will be meeting in [a few] weeks, so I’m here to look at what we might do to encourage that progress back to the peace process,” he said.

He said Sri Lanka has the moral support, the diplomatic support of the United Sates when dealing with the LTTE and if the current aggression escalates into a full-scale conflict, but that the government too had responsibilities.

“One of those, which the government has certainly acknowledged, is to address the legitimate grievances of the Tamil people.  That includes, of course, dealing with the disturbing number of killings in recent months.  This is something the government has said it will investigate.  We think those investigations should be carried out promptly and thoroughly --we think it’s the responsibility of the government to uphold law and order, and that is a responsibility of any democratic government”, he said.

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Last Updated Date: May  17, 2006 -9.50 GMT