Supporting LTTE a Criminal Offence in U.K.
Posted on March 8th, 2015

Ira de Silva London, Canada

The Island newspaper has published an article on March 6,2014 which states that the British High commission in Colombo claims that the LTTE is a proscribed organization in the U.K. Showing support for the LTTE by fundraising, waving flags and other means is a criminal offence”.

Sri Lankans would like to ask the British High Commission to explain why there have been no arrests made, when there have been hundreds of instances that supporters of the LTTE in the U.K. have had fundraising activities supported by British parliamentarians.  Waving LTTE flags are the norm whenever there is a rally, protest march of any type and  demonstrations  by the supporters of the LTTE in the U.K. The police are seen at these events doing nothing – is it that they are just watching for lack of anything else to do or have they been told not to make arrests when British citizens are committing a criminal offence? Are the police just incompetent or corrupt? The LTTE has had it’s headquarters in London throughout the war and still has offices in the U.K. which are used to organize various activities to “show support for the LTTE” which the British High Commission states is a criminal offence. British law enforcement however has done nothing regarding these “criminal offences”. Could it be that it is because successive British Governments have used political pressure to stop enforcement of the law in the U.K?

Britain does not miss any opportunity to criticize Sri Lanka and its security forces, makes much noise about law and order, accountability, and transparency yet while claiming that support for the LTTE is a criminal offence has yet to apply it’s own laws in the U.K.  It is well known that the LTTE  has had it’s headquarters in London throughout the war and still has offices in the U.K. which are used to organize various activities to “show support for the LTTE” which the British High Commission states is a criminal offence. British law enforcement however has done nothing regarding these “criminal offences”. Could it be that it is because successive British Governments have used political pressure to stop enforcement of the law in the U.K?

It is essential that even now the GOSL ask Britain for accountability and action regarding the encouragement of LTTE supporters based in the U.K. when by their own admission is is against the law. Britain has not acted against the LTTE in the past and Sri Lanka has not pressed them to be accountable in this regard. Will Sri Lanka’s new government demand accountability from the British for their support of the LTTE as a vital part of it’s change in foreign policy? Sri  Lankans who have suffered because of British support for the LTTE expect no less. Based on this statement Sri Lankans look forward to the arrests of many supporters of the LTTE in the U.K., prosecution in British courts and if found guilty sentenced  for breaking the law. Until Britain acts to implement it’s own laws it has no right to criticize other countries particularly Sri Lanka which has been terrorised by the LTTE supported by British citizens.

Yours truly,

Ira de Silva

London, Canada

 

4 Responses to “Supporting LTTE a Criminal Offence in U.K.”

  1. RohanJay Says:

    Hey Ira De Silva in Canada. We all know about the LTTE in UK. How about you do something about the LTTE rump in Canada who are even more open about terrorism than even in the UK since you live there in Canada. I would like to know what have you done to mobilise against the terrorist LTTE rump in Canada. Also current govt in SL like the previous governments in SL won’t go against the wishes of Britain or America. We all know Sri Lankans except for a very few deep down worship the governments and institutions of Britain and America of these two countries. Writing an article here here aint gonna do much good I am afraid. Ira De Silva. You will have to get off your butt and actually do something what your grumbling about!

  2. Sunil Mahattaya Says:

    Hey Rohan Jay !
    You seem to be way behind the times in how you have pounced on Ms. de Silva who has raised a very valid point and exposed the shameful double standards of the Brits. I say~” way behind times” as you seem to be refering to a time when the LTTE were indeed rampant in Canada thanks to the ( whether inadvertent or not) indifference shown by the previous administrations as a result of which the terror supporters and the LTTE enclaves made merry until disbanded, outlawed and driven underground thanks mostly to a Mr. Stockwell Day who was part of the Harper regime and now retired.
    Their offices were raided , anyone openly supporting the Tamil Tigers, displaying posters and waving flags as well as all their propaganda were indicted, some arrested and today there is hardly a trace of their activities out in the open.I can vouch for Montreal where all their activities were once rampant and today non existent although pockets of LTTE activity are till said to exist in some other parts of Canada particularly in Toronto but always in a clandestine manner. The term Tamil Tiger is not one any Canadian would pay homage to or be afraid of ANY LONGER ( apprehensive on the part of some maybe) but to all intents and purposes they are an extinct species in Canada relatively speaking visibly.The LTTE in Canada may be attempting to surreptitiously re emerge again but they were sent scampering and hounded out of existence in case you weren’t aware of it so maybe you should tone down your rhetoric! and get your facts right.
    It may also interest you to know that after the Stephen harper Government took over the administration of Canada the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other law enforcement agencies waged an all out campaign to disband them and successfully so .
    And it would be nice to see someone who writes under a Sinhala pseudonym like yourself show more respect to Ms de Silva who is a respected and admired member of the Canadian Sinhalese community when you address her!

  3. Mr. Bernard Wijeyasingha Says:

    “The Island newspaper has published an article on March 6,2014 which states that the British High commission in Colombo claims that the LTTE is a proscribed organization in the U.K. Showing support for the LTTE by fundraising, waving flags and other means is a criminal offence”.”

    WAKE UP COLOMBO. TAMIL NADU OPENLY SUPPORTS THE LITE. THAT MEANS SO DOES NEW DELHI. IF THAT CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT COLOMBO MAKING IT A MAIN ISSUE WITH MODI WHEN HE COMES TO SRI LANKA THEN DO NOT COMPLAIN IF LITE IS GETTING SUPPORT FROM THE UK

    THIS ALONE SHOULD BE A BONE OF CONTENTION BETWEEN COLOMBO AND NEW DELHI. TILL INDIA STOPS THIS NONE OF INDIA SECURITY CONCERNS SHOULD BE AN ISSUE FOR SRI LANKA. START WITH INDIA WHO SUPPORTED THE TAMIL TIGERRS THEN MOVE ON THE GREAT BRITAIN.

  4. Sunil Mahattaya Says:

    The Tamil Nadu vis a vis Indian Central Government link and related ramifications a la the LTTE that wreaked havoc in Sri Lanka for three decades are indisputable facts unless anyone is blinkered enough to think otherwise.
    And the issue at hand as outlined by Ms de Silva is not British support of the LTTE far from it.Its the double standards involved where the LTTE while being proscribed are still granted carte blanche to carry on regardless in a manner of speaking whereas Canada has taken a very positive approach towards zero tolerance of the LTTE.There seems to be some confusion pointing to interpretative skills here or a bull in a china shop mentality which refutes proper construance of the presented issues!

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