Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Sri Lanka opposition slams gov't over EU decision to drop ban on Tamil Tigers

COLOMBO, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka's main Opposition party on Tuesday strongly criticized the government over the possible de- proscribing of the Tamil Tigers as a terror organization by the European Court of Justice.

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) slammed the government for politicizing the foreign service resulting in political appointees rather than career diplomats heading embassies in key European countries. "When we come to power we will work to reinstate the ban and we strongly urge the government to do everything it can to ensure the Tamil Tigers remain proscribed as a terror organization," UNP MP Eran Wickramaratne told reporters.

Sri Lanka is concerned over the decision of the European Court of Justice to annul proscribing the Tamil Tigers as a terrorist organization. The Liberation Tamil Tigers of Eelam (LTTE) waged a three decade war in Sri Lanka, fighting for a separate homeland. They were militarily defeated by the Sri Lankan government in 2009.

The European Union (EU) proscribed the LTTE as a terrorist organization in May 2006, and has remained on its list of terrorist entities ever since.

Apart from the EU, the LTTE is proscribed as a terrorist organization in the United States, India, Canada, Britain and Sri Lanka.

The government of Sri Lanka has fully supported the EU in its listing of the LTTE and has periodically provided information supportive of the regulation and also with a view to facilitate the commission's defense in the European Court of Justice.

Releasing a statement after the announcement of the European court, the Sri Lankan External Affairs Ministry insisted an in- depth study of the judgment must be made and cautioned against the release of substantial assets maintained by the LTTE that could now be used by proxy organizations supportive of the Tamil Tigers cause. "The Sri Lanka government remains committed to providing to the European Commission and EU Member States, any further assistance and information available, to maintain the LTTE as a brutal terrorist organization," the Ministry statement noted.

"Sri Lanka is further mindful the European court decision may have an impact including from a security perspective, on the large majority of Sri Lankans living in EU territory, as well as EU citizens of Sri Lankan origin, who are likely to come under pressure once again by pro LTTE activists," it warned. The Sri Lankan government has long been wary of organizations supportive of the LTTE based in Europe and banned 16 organizations in April this year resulting in condemnation from rights groups.