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INTELSAT AFTER A DISCUSSION WITH SRI LANKA AMBASSADOR PROMISES TO TURN OFF LTTE SPONSERED TELEVISION AND RADIOBy Walter JayawardhanaThe Washington based Intelsat cooperation gave a firm assurance to Sri Lankas ambassador in Washington DC, Bernard Goonetileke, that it would take all possible steps to stop Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam(LTTE) from broadcasting its propaganda over their satellite . During the last few days it became a great controversy that a Washington based communication company was beaming LTTE propaganda , while the State Department considers the group a foreign terrorist group. The New York based www.tothecenter.com website published a lengthy article pointing out the fact. In a statement the Intelsat Corporation said, "Intelsat does not tolerate terrorists or others operating illegally on it satellites. Since we first learned of the LTTE's signal piracy, we have been actively pursuing a number of technical alternatives to halt the transmissions. We are clear in our resolve to ending this terrorist organizations unauthorized use of our satellite." In a telephone interview Intelsats General Counseller Phillip
Spector told this correspondent that his corporation would do Every
possible thing to turnoff the LTTE (sponsored national Television
of Tamil Eelam and Voice of the Tigers radio program) as soon as possible
from their satellite. Asked , whether Al Queda, a terrorist organization could use the same satellite for the purpose of an attack against the United States Phillip Spector said, it was only a hypothetical situation. But when pressed for an answer Spector said it was technically possible. Although our investigations direct us to a client of Intelsat , who has helped the LTTE to obtain the satellite space Phillip Spector denied that any one of their clients has re-sold their space to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. Phillip Spector said , No customer is authorized to sell their frequency, to anybody else and maintained it was an empty space the LTTE was using. Spector denied earlier published newspaper reports that Inelsat has done business with Hezbollah, another terrorist group, and insisted , Not in my time. While refusing to give a date for turning off the LTTE the Intelsat lawyer said if you understand the satellite technology it is quite a complex task and it will be done as soon as possible. The following is the press release issued by the Intelsat: Intelsat officials, including its technical experts, met with Sri Lanka 's Ambassador to the United States , Bernard Goonetilleke, on 10 April to discuss the steps Intelsat is taking to address the unauthorized use of one of its satellites by the LTTE. During the meeting, Intelsat's General Counsel, Phillip Spector, said: "Intelsat does not tolerate terrorists or others operating illegally on it satellites. Since we first learned of the LTTE's signal piracy, we have been actively pursuing a number of technical alternatives to halt the transmissions. We are clear in our resolve to ending this terrorist organizations unauthorized use of our satellite." The Sri Lanka Embassy and Intelsat agree that these illegal transmissions by the LTTE are a violation of Sri Lankan and US laws. Following the discussion, Ambassador Goonetilleke said: "I am satisfied that Intelsat is taking these unauthorized transmissions very seriously, and believe it would do all that it can to stop the terrorist transmissions. I am confident that Intelsat will continue to cooperate with Sri Lankan authorities in this matter." About Intelsat |
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