Designation to block channels used by terrorists
– US Ambassador    

[Friday, November 16, 2007 - 10.30 GMT]   

U.S. Ambassador Robert Blake at a press conference in Colombo today said the designations of terrorist organizations are an important tool to not only block illicit assets, but also shut down channels used by terrorists.  

He emphasized that freezing the assets of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) is an action against LTTE, and not against the Tamil People. 

Explaining the sequence of events that led to the designation he said in August 2006 and April 2007, the FBI arrested a total of 9 people who the U.S. Department of Justice subsequently charged with various crimes, including conspiracy to provide material support and resources to the LTTE. 

Three of those arrested have pleaded guilty to Conspiracy to Provide Material Support to a Foreign Terrorist Organization. Three more have pleaded guilty to bribery charges related to alien smuggling.  

Prosecution continues against the others, and the overall investigation is continuing. 

Those arrests made clear once again that the United States is committed to enforcing its laws against support for designated terrorist groups wherever they may operate. 

Those arrests also led to discovery of operational and financial links between the TRO and the LTTE. 

“Designations of terrorist organizations are an important tool to not only block illicit assets, but also shut down channels used by terrorists and other dangerous groups to raise, move and store money” he further said.

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Last Updated Date: November 16, 2007 - 10.30 GMT