UK Lobby censure aerial attack
Statement issued by the Rt. Hon. the Lord Naseby of Sandy, Co-Chair
of the UK All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sri Lanka.
"The members of the UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Sri Lanka
unequivocally condemn the offensive aerial bomb attack carried out by
the LTTE on the Sri Lanka Air Force base in Katunayake on 26 March 2007
killing and injuring Air Force personnel and causing damage to military
infrastructure. This provocative action really undermines the peace
process.
"This attack demonstrates the offensive air capability of the LTTE
which undoubtedly poses a threat not only to the security of Sri Lanka,
but to the entire South Asia region. It also exemplifies the LTTE's
steady expansion of its military capabilities with the objective of
carrying out terrorist attacks. The fact that the LTTE has used ultra
light aircraft which are difficult to detect on radar for carrying out
bombings and possible suicide missions; is a development which the
international community must note with great alarm.
The acquisition of air capability by a terrorist movement poses a new
threat and runs counter to the current global efforts to defeat
terrorism. "Undoubtedly international terrorist groups constantly adopt
each others tactics and this incident sets a dangerous precedent, which
the All Party Parliamentary Group urges the British Government to take
cognisance of this factor.
"The UK All Party Parliamentary Group on Sri Lanka, through its
Co-chair Lord Naseby of Sandy requests the British Government to fully
implement the LTTE proscription, bearing in mind the close nexus between
its fund raising in this country and its acquisition of further military
strike capabilities. The recent detection of the ship loads of arms
consignments and the possession of aircraft with military hardware are a
clear result of the steady flow of funds to the LTTE's war chest.
The All Party Parliamentary Group is strongly convinced that the UK
Government firmly supports the efforts of the Government of Sri Lanka to
bring about a political settlement to the conflict through discussion.
The British Government therefore must bring concerted pressure upon the
LTTE to return to the negotiating table, by pro-actively curbing its
fund raising activities in the UK, which are undoubtedly a major
contributory factor to its present intransigence."
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