Govt. will assist parties to defend LTTE ban

Thursday, 23 October 2014 00:10 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Government yesterday said the recent statements by interested parties on the outcome of the case filed by the LTTE at the European Court seeking the lifting of sanctions were based on an inaccurate premise. Issuing a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said from the outset of the case being filed the Government of Sri Lanka took action most effectively and provided material of a substantive nature to the defendant and the interveners on a regular basis. The Government of Sri Lanka said it provided all relevant material to the European Commission in order to assist the Commission to resist the claim by the LTTE. However, the General Court of the European Union in its 16 October ruling said the contested measures are based not on acts examined and confirmed in decisions of competent authorities, as required by law but on factual imputations derived from the press and the internet. The Sri Lankan Government said it regards this as a matter of the highest priority and therefore, it has already commenced and will continue to assist the parties to the case in their future course of action, in the interest of protecting its citizens against intimidation through extortion by the remnants of the LTTE and the possible resurgence of terrorism in the country. Following is the full statement issued by the External Affairs Ministry: The Ministry of External Affairs is surprised at some of the recent statements on the outcome of the case filed by the LTTE in 2011 at the General Court of the European Union in which the Council of the European Union was the defendant supported by the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the European Commission as interveners. These statements by interested parties are based on an inaccurate premise. The Ministry of External Affairs wishes to state that from the outset of the case being filed, legal advice and expert opinion were sought from within the European Union system and specialist European lawyers. Accordingly, the Government of Sri Lanka took action in the most effective manner available, by providing material of a substantive nature to the defendant and the interveners on a regular basis. This was in accordance with Sri Lanka being a non-member state of the European Union and having therefore to meet special conditions, contrary to the national interest of Sri Lanka, in order to be allowed to intervene itself in cases before the General Court of the European Union. In these circumstances the Government of Sri Lanka provided all relevant material to the European Commission in order to assist the Commission to resist the claim by the LTTE. The defendant and interveners have recourse to an appellate procedure within the stipulated period from the notification of the judgment. With regard to future action, the named parties have the options of adoption of new restrictive regulations, appeal to the European Court of Justice and national measures by European Union member states. The Government of Sri Lanka has already commenced and will continue to assist the parties to the case in their future course of action, in the interest of protecting its citizens against intimidation through extortion by the remnants of the LTTE and the possible resurgence of terrorism in the country. The government regards this as a matter of the highest priority.

Tamils in London divided over ruling

By Neville de Silva in London Sections of the Tamil community here are hailing last week’s ruling of the European Union’s General Court lifting some of the restrictions imposed by the EU on the LTTE. Considering it a major victory even though the ruling is on procedural issues, Tamil activists including pro-LTTE elements, are planning a ‘show of strength’ when the annual ‘Heroes Day’ commemoration remembering those who died in the conflict, is held in London next month. “We are not supporters of the LTTE. But we need to show that we appreciate the ruling of the court which is a victory for the Tamil people,” one activist said handing me a leaflet announcing the 27 November Heroes Day event to be held at Excel in the London Docks. He said that the pamphlet announcing the event was printed before the Court ruling. “Now we have a good reason to ask the Tamil people to participate in large numbers as we have won a moral victory if nothing else,” the activist said. He said that following the ruling of the Court, which he admitted is open to appeal, they expect many British MPs from all the major political parties who have supported them to attend the event which is held to coincide with the birth anniversary of late LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. Ruling Conservative Party MPs and party officials who showed up in some strength at a side event organised by the British Tamil Conservatives during the annual Tory party conference in September, are also expected to participate especially since the Parliamentary election is due next May and already the minority vote is being assiduously lobbied. The boost the Court ruling has given LTTE supporters is being looked at with concern by some others in the Tamil diaspora who fear that they will once more be asked to contribute to fund raising activities. “When the LTTE was really active, they even came to our homes demanding contributions. Some of them had nothing to do with the LTTE but they were demanding money. I hope this will not start again and lead to pressure and physical violence,” said a long-time resident in the UK who did not wish to be named for obvious reasons. A large question marks hangs over the steps the British Government is going to take. It was one of the parties that intervened when the case was originally filed in Court. The Court has permitted the European Union Council and member states two months time to introduced other restrictive measures against the LTTE and its members. The question being asked here is whether the British Government will go ahead and do so or simply look the other way and not anger the Tamil community ahead of the May elections.