Proscribe LTTE: Lankans in London appeal to Blair
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British Prime Minister Tony Blair is being bombarded by Sri Lankans from all over the world with letters requesting him to close the LTTE operation in Britain. Today (14 February), a demonstration attended by over several hundred Sri Lankans took place outside Downing Street, official residence of Mr Tony Blair, between the hours of 10:30 to 12:00. The demonstration was well attended by members of the British press. In typical Sri Lankan rhythm, the boisterous crowd chanted anti LTTE slogans. On an unusually warm mid February day, the Sri Lankans were also joined by many passer-by. Leaflets highlighting the gross activities of the LTTE were handed to the British public, who in turn responded with anger to the fact that the terrorists were legally operating in the UK.
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Following a peaceful demonstration, the chief organiser of this exercise Mr. Gamini Keerthichandra President of the Sinhala Bala Mandalaya in the UK delivered an appeal to Mr. Blair to act swiftly as the attitude of the British is not helping in any manner to end terrorism in Sri Lanka. Mr. Keerthichandra said that he was most grateful to all Lankans who had participated in the demonstration and castigated those "so-called posh Sri Lankans" who fail to take part in such nationalistic actions. He said the letter is plain and simple based on an editorial in the Evening Standard newspaper of February 3, where the paper taking up Sri Lanka's case, said the Home Secretary could close the LTTE office in London. Two pettitions were handed at 10 Downing Street with over 800 signatures. |
Pictures courtesy of 'Sinhala Bala Mandalaya'
Rt. Hon Tony Blair
Prime Minister
House Of Parliament
London SW1.
Petition to Ban the LTTE
Dear Prime Minister,
We write this letter to express our outrage about the fact that the most ruthless terrorist organisation in the world is allowed to operate legally in the United Kingdom. As you know, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have its international headquarters in East Ham, London. It is from this location that they coordinate all the fund raising activities, international arms smuggling operations and issue statements to the international media trying to justify their terrorist acts. It is also a well know fact that these terrorists are engaged in various illegal activities, such as smuggling and selling of illegal drugs and smuggling of illegal immigrants to western countries. It is most likely that these activities are organised from their headquarters in East London.
On the 25th of January, this terrorist group exploded a massive truck bomb outside the holiest Buddhist temple in Sri Lanka. Eleven civilians, including two infants who were less than three years old, were killed as they were preparing for morning worship. Last October the same terrorist group exploded a powerful truck bomb in the Sri Lankan capital Colombo, killing fifteen civilians and injuring over one hundred, including some British citizens. At the beginning of February, the terrorist group and twenty-six of its members were found guilty of murdering Rajiv Gandhi, the former Indian Prime Minister. To add to their recent massacres, a LTTE suicide bomber blew herself up at a military checkpoint near the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) Headquarters in Colombo, killing nine people.
These were by no means the only terrorist acts the LTTE committed against innocent, unarmed civilians in Sri Lanka. A full list of their attacks on civilians, which was compiled by an international news group, is attached.
A number of countries around the world, including USA, Canada, India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka have already banned this organisation. The LTTE has been labelled as a terrorist organisation, which makes it illegal for them to raise funds in these countries. So far your government has refused to ban them, claiming that they have not broken any laws in the United Kingdom. This is totally unacceptable and as a responsible member of the international community, the government of the United Kingdom must play its’ part to combat international terrorism. Civilians in Sri Lanka are paying daily with their lives for the support you are giving these terrorists, by lawfully allowing them to raise funds to finance terrorist activities. A recent report in ‘The Evening Standard’ stated that the LTTE collect in excess of £25 million a year in the U.K alone, to buy arms, ammunition and explosives for their terrorist activities against the people of Sri Lanka and their foreign visitors, which includes British citizens.
We, the undersigned, urge you to ban this terrorist organisation forthwith in the United Kingdom, close down their offices and make it illegal for them to raise funds. By allowing these terrorists to operate legally, the United Kingdom is being labelled as a nation that assists international terrorism. We believe that the United Kingdom has a duty to assist Sri Lanka in protecting its democratic legacy left behind by the British, fifty years ago. This view is shared by the attached article published in the ‘Evening Standard’, dated 3 February 1998, which has been included for your perusal.
Massacred
By Tamil Terrorists
Thousands of Tamil Tiger Terrorists are living in the UK as bogus
refugees, abusing the British Welfare System. They collect in excess of £25 million
annually (Source: Evening Standard, 03 Feb 98) through their international headquarters in
London (211 Katherine Road, London E6). Why Are They Allowed To Operate Legally In the UK? |
Background: •Sri Lanka is a multi-ethnic country, comprising of Sinhala, Tamils
and Muslims. LTTE Terrorists are fighting for an independent, Tamil only country in the
North and Eastern parts of Sri Lanka. They are demanding 35% of the landmass and 65% of
the coastline, for 7% of the population. |
One of the many leaflets handed at the demonstration.
