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19-03-2006

Lord urges UK govt to crack down on LTTE

By Sujeeva Nivunhella in London

At a time Human Rights Watch reported in detail how the LTTE subjects Sri Lankan Tamils living in the United Kingdom, Canada and other Western countries to intimidation, extortion and even violence to ensure a steady flow of funds for their "operations" in Sri Lanka, Lord Naseby of the House of Lords said last week that the British government is not doing enough to ensure that the ban on the LTTE is properly implemented.

In an interview with the Sunday Island, Lord Naseby said that although the LTTE is proscribed in the UK, there are still illegal meetings taking place, illegal collection of funds, money laundering and there exists a highly dubious charity called "White Pigeon". "The British government needs to exert pressure to halt these illegal happenings," he said.

He further said that the LTTE holds its "Heroes’ Day" in London every year and the British Home Office and the Metropolitan Police should get together and put their foot down to stop these activities.

He said that although LTTE theoretician Anton Balasing-ham is a British citizen and lives in London, he has no special rights to promote the LTTE. "If he is breaking the law, he has to face the consequences of that. That is up to Balasingham to decide," he noted.

Lord Naseby said he visited Sri Lanka recently and met President Mahinda Rajapakse, whom he described as a practical leader and not a hard-liner. "I give him full credit for bringing all political parties together before the peace talks with Tamil Tigers. That’s a major achievement."

He expressed happiness that the peace talks recommenced after three years. "Both parties should uphold the cease-fire agreement and move forward towards achieving lasting peace."

He also said that he visited the south of Sri Lanka to see tsunami rehabilitation work. "I am pleased with how the aid has been distributed. Contrary to reports, there was no tsunami aid sitting in the Colombo port."

Excerpts from the interview:

Q: What do you think of the recently concluded peace talks in Geneva between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE?

A: I am very pleased that it has happened because it was three years without any contact between LTTE, Sri Lankan government and other parties in parliament. It’s a good start. I think the key dimension is to make sure the cease-fire conditions are met to move towards durable peace. It is the second stage now. We would really want to see some movement on.

Q: The LTTE wants the Sri Lankan government to disarm other paramilitary groups. The LTTE itself is a terrorist outfit and they are banned here in the UK. Can they possibly ask the Sri Lankan government to disarm other people while they are holding onto weapons?

A: I am not close enough to know whose responsibilities they are. Obviously, within the country as a whole, it is the government’s responsibility to make sure the law and order is maintained. You raised a very interesting point. The LTTE is proscribed in the UK. I am not satisfied that the British government is doing enough to ensure that the LTTE remains properly proscribed. I am very fearful that lots of money laundering is also going on. So, the UK government needs to put pressure on it. I have put some pressure. I will continue to put more pressure on them to ensure that the LTTE does not operate in the UK.

Q: How should the British government act on the LTTE?

A: What it requires is a combination of the Home Office and mainly the Metropolitan Police to be more active. They have not been active as they should have been. There were meetings on Heroes’ Day which is totally unacceptable. I am looking to both the Home Office and the Metropolitan Police to act more positively to stop these things.

Q: LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham is a British Citizen and lives in the UK. Is that why the British government does not act?

A: Well, he has certain rights as a British citizen. But he has no more rights than I have to promote the LTTE. It is a proscribed organisation.

Q: I know you visited Sri Lanka recently. How does the new government perform?

A: I was very privileged to have met President Rajapakse for the first time. He is an experienced parliamentarian. I give him full credit for bringing all political parties together so that Sri Lanka can speak in one voice at the peace talks with the Tigers. That’s a major achievement. Secondly, I was pleased to see how tsunami aid was being used. There have been so many stories about some problems. I went to the port. There was no tsunami aid sitting there. I went to the South to look at the housing programmes. There is a tremendous amount of activity there. I talked to some people who moved into new houses, ordinary fisher folks and others who were delighted with the houses they have got. More houses are coming up. It was a real hive of activity there. One thing that slightly worries me is that someone said they want to shift the Galle international cricket ground. I have to tell you that they cannot do that. There is going to be no money from MCC if they move that cricket ground.

Q: When President Mahinda Rajapakse was elected, he was called a hardliner. Do you agree?

A: No, I see him as a practical President. I don’t see him as a hardliner. I do see him as a man who wants to get peace working on the ground. The real challenge is how to get the LTTE to respond to that.

Source- Sunday Island