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In a significant move a member of Australia’s Federal Parliament has tabled a Citizens Petition seeking Australian support for a resolution of the Sri Lankan conflict that satisfies the aspirations of all communities without compromising the Unity and Territorial Integrity of Sri Lanka; and among other maters, ensure that Australian Aid to Sri Lanka is not siphoned off by ‘front-organisations’ of armed groups to fund campaigns of violence; and Impose further sanctions on the LTTE by listing it under the Australian Criminal Code Act of 1995, until it has given up terrorism in word and deed. The petition tabled by Don Randall, Member for Canning, Western Australia in the Federal Parliament on Monday, September 17, addressed to the Speaker and Members of the Australian House of Representatives, was facilitated by a number of committed Sri Lankan organisations and individuals across several states in Australia was signed by 1,448 Australian citizens. The petitioners point out that the “LTTE is not only the biggest impediment to peace in Sri Lanka, but is also a player in global terrorism. It continues to use its international network to raise material and financial support, often using deception on general public of Australia and coercion of the Sri Lankan community. The ongoing investigations into the Tamil Tiger network in Australia which recently led to raids in Melbourne and Sydney, and the charging of two persons for involvement in terrorism related activities is a case in point.” Through this petition its signatories have requested the Australian Federal Parliament to: · Support a resolution of the Sri Lankan conflict that satisfies the aspirations of all communities without compromising the Unity and Territorial Integrity of Sri Lanka. · Assist the people of Sri Lanka with both humanitarian and economic measures. · Ensure that Australian Aid to Sri Lanka is not siphoned off by ‘front-organisations’ of armed groups to fund campaigns of violence. · Support measures to share defence and intelligence capabilities that are of benefit to both Australia and Sri Lanka. · Impose further sanctions on the LTTE by listing it under the Australian Criminal Code Act of 1995, until it has given up terrorism in word and deed. Referring to the petition before its formal presenting in the Federal Parliament, Mr. Don Randall said: I would like to bring to the attention of the House today the fact that a petition will be tabled after question time relating to the close links between Australia and Sri Lanka and drawing attention to the impact of the conflict in Sri Lanka on Australian citizens and businesses there. It also seeks support for a resolution of the Sri Lankan conflict that satisfies the aspirations of all communities without compromising the unity and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. The petition calls for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, or LTTE, and its front organisations to be proscribed under the Criminal Code Act 1995. I draw the attention of the House to several related articles. One of these articles, which is from last Friday, said: Three men on terror charges have been accused of collecting $1.9 million in charitable donations from Australia’s expat Tamil community and using a chunk of the funds to buy electronic and marine equipment similar to that used in suicide bombings. This case is before the Magistrate’s Court, so I will not say any more, but we cannot have terror organisations operating in Australia, collecting money for and on behalf of a terrorist organisation in another country. We need to do something about the fact that there are front organisations operating here. This petition will go a long way towards addressing, in this country, the issue that a terrorist organisation like the LTTE should not have shadow groups here raising money for it and on its behalf for acts of terrorism back in its homeland. I support the petition, and I hope that other members of this House and the community will also support this good intention.
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