LTTE terrorism transgressing national sovereignty – Foreign Minister
[Friday, March 09, 2007 - 06.30 GMT]   

The activities of the LTTE are no longer confined to Sri Lanka. As the International Institute for strategic Studies (IISS) publication “Military Balance 2007” has pointed out, there are now emerging commercial links
between the LTTE and the al-Qaeda movement, stated Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama in his keynote address on the topic “Sri Lanka’s Foreign & Security Policy: the challenge of terrorism” at the IISS in London yesterday (March 8, 2007).

Minister Bogollagama referred to the emerging links between the LTTE and the Mujahiddins in Afghanistan and visits by the LTTE delegations to Kabul,shortly before 9/11. The Minister went on to point out that the LTTE’s fleet of merchant vessels has established a presence in the arms black market, providing mercenary services to several other terrorist groups around the
world. Its presence is now well established in the narcotics trade internationally, as well. He pointed out that the LTTE is engaged in money laundering activities and credit card fraud on a large scale and added that
there is a clear relationship between collection of funds in foreign countries and the promotion by the LTTE of the outflow of asylum seekers into western countries. He indicated that the LTTE has graduated from the
stage when it relied mainly on fundraising from the Tamil Diaspora even through extortion, and added that many of its front organisations were registered as companies and charities mainly in western countries. He appealed to the developed countries not to view the LTTE as freedom fighters when they are contributing to instability in other countries and are interlinked to terrorism at the international level.

The Minister pointed out to the distinguished gathering of diplomats, terrorism experts, academics and international media personnel present that since the problem of terrorism was global, any measures to effectively counter it required inter-state bilateral cooperation. He referred to the various UN Conventions which impose obligations on States to eliminate the
activities of terrorist groups who operate in one country but whose activities are directed towards the carrying out of terrorist activity in other states.

The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister concluded that the LTTE’s intransigence and unwillingness to enter into negotiations on core political issues was mainly
due to the continued flow of funds to its war chest from overseas. He emphasised that the Government of Sri Lanka is firmly committed to a negotiated political settlement of the conflict and is in the process of
drafting extensive proposals on devolution which will ultimately involve constitutional amendments. He said the LTTE should renounce violence, create a pluralistic environment in the north and east and enter the democratic mainstream in order to legitimately represent the interests of the Tamil people. The Foreign Minister concluded that the international community for its part could assist by using its leverage with the LTTE which has an extensive network in those countries.

The lecture by the Minister was presided over by Dr Patrick Cronin, Director of IISS.

Foreign Minister Bogollagama also met with Shadow Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, MP last morning, and discussed the Government’s peace initiatives including the work of the All Party Representative Committee as well as the LTTE fundraising activities and a range of other bilateral issues. They agreed to continue the dialogue, which was observed as useful, states a communiqué issued by
the Sri Lanka High of the Foreign Minister’s Address at IISS:


 

PRINT THIS STORY

Contact Information: Send mail to gosl@presidentsl.org with questions or comments about this web site. 
Last Updated Date: March 09, 2007 - 06.30 GMT