LTTE demonstration countered within an hour

A demonstration held by the LTTE denouncing the ongoing efforts of the government to liberate the country from terrorism and calling for the international community to intervene and prevent the army from entering the no fire zone and destroying the LTTE leadership was held in Milan, the commercial capital of Italy.

A vigilance squad organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy in Italy immediately contacted the Ambassador Hemantha Warnakulasuriya. Under his directions the Sri Lankan Diaspora made a counter demonstration outnumbering the LTTE demonstration. Some members of the Vigilance squad photographing illegal display of symbols photographs and insignia of the banned LTTE were prevented by the local Police. The Ambassador immediately intervened and the members of the squad were permitted to photograph the demonstration of the LTTE sympathizers, A spokesman for the Sri Lankan embassy in Italy said the these photographs of the demonstration will be invaluable proof that these demonstrations are part of a grand design to perpetuate the cause of the LTTE and would be submitted to the appropriate authorities for action.

When a similar illegal demonstration took place Milan last year the photographs taken by the police and the local media was used to identify and arrest the suspects. For the first time in Europe more than 28 LTTE sympathizers and fund raisers were arrested and produced in Court and the suspects would face trail in the coming months The Second phase of arrest of suspects is to be carried as soon as the Sri Lankan government submits to them necessary documents Italian the secret police has requested.