UNP and EU ban on LTTE
Reference the statement by Mr. Ajith Perera, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs that “new evidence of the LTTE activities overseas was the basis for the EU’s ban” and that Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe had as the Opposition Leader written to the EU pointing out the emerging threat”, would the current government explain to the Sri Lankan people why after January 8, 2015 the government has by its statements and actions both overseas and in Sri Lanka bent over backwards to accommodate the pro-LTTE diaspora and the TNA who continue their goal of Eelam?
If the government according to Mr. Perera is aware of the evidence of LTTE activities overseas and their continued fundraising to fund their goal of Eelam, their continued use of LTTE money to fund political parties and candidates at elections to influence governments in the West to push the seemingly willing government in Sri Lanka to promote Eelam in the guise of reconciliation, rehabilitation, accommodation etc. when it is obvious that the LTTE diaspora and the TNA are unwilling to change their goal of a separate Tamil only state, is it because the current government also supports the vision of the LTTE supporters to divide the country?
When the Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka visited Washington and met with the U.S. State Department, in the joint statement issued after that meeting Mr. John Kerry said…..”to move Sri Lanka away from 30 YEARS OF WAR WITH THE TAMILS”. Why did Mr. Samaraweera representing Sri Lanka not correct this falsehood to point out that the WAR was NOT WITH THE TAMILS but with the TAMIL TERRORISTS or LTTE which is recognised by the U.S. as a terrorist organization? Mr. Samaraweera was silent. Is it because he agrees that it was a “war on the Tamils” (implying a war on the Tamil people) rather than a war on the Tamil terrorists or was it that he is willing to subject Sri Lanka to U.S. dictates which are based on the constant interaction of the U.S. Government with the pro-LTTE diaspora in the U.S. promoting Eelam as indicated by the view that it was a war with the Tamils and that peace and prosperity can only be achieved by giving those who advocate special powers to the north and east to create a separate unit. It was left to the expatriates to correct this false statement by the State Department.
Mr. Samaraweera then follows with the statement on March 19, 2015 that said Sri Lanka’s new government has announced plans to remove 16 groups and hundreds of Tamils from a list of foreign terrorists” as part of reconciliation with the largest ethnic minority. That has been the demand of the LTTE diaspora since this was enacted. If the government is aware of LTTE activities overseas, how does it support ignoring the LTTE activists overseas? Why is this government ignoring the fact that most of the LTTE supporters overseas claimed refugee status by lying about Sri Lanka, promoted the claim of human rights abuses and that a significant number of them were members/supporters of the LTTE? Is it that it is the current policy to remove these LTTE leaders from the list of foreign terrorists so that they can “legitimately” promote Eelam overseas and in Sri Lanka and possibly enable them to get dual citizenship?
This Government made a lot of noise that it got the resolution at the UNHCR postponed. The important fact is that it was merely a postponement and that the resolution will definitely be introduced in September. This was followed by inviting members of the UNHCR to visit Sri Lanka opening the possibility that there could be additions to the resolution which could be negative to Sri Lanka. When the Northern Province sent a submission to the UNHCR claiming that there was genocide of the Tamils, the current government was silent. Why did it not challenge this opinion in Sri Lanka and call on those who voted for this resolution to substantiate this false claim or withdraw it? Is it a part of reconciliation with the Tamils to accuse the rest of the people of Sri Lanka of genocide when Sri Lankans are well aware that ethnic cleansing and “genocide” was an important part of Prabhakaran’s policy. How does this government expect to promote reconciliation by demonising non-Tamil Sri Lankans and ignoring the plight of non-Tamil Sri Lankans who were displaced from their lands, driven from their homes, also suffer from unemployment/underemployment and were the victims of terrorism seem to be expected to continue to suffer in silence. Should all Sri Lankans not expect equal treatment from their government?
If evidence of LTTE activities overseas is known to foreign governments, is the basis for a ban on the LTTE in foreign countries and the Prime Minister is well aware of the threat, why is it the policy of this government to ignore this evidence? Is it that it is willing to endanger the security of the country for short term political gain? The Indo-Lanka Agreement of 1987 whereby Mr.Rajiv Ghandi claimed in Tamil Nadu that he had got for the Tamils in Sri Lanka all that they wanted and the Cease Fire Agreement(2002) between the LTTE and the Wickremesinghe government represent attempts to give the LTTE their Eelam. Is history repeating itself?
Ira de Silva
Canada
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