GTF and LTTE fronts sinister move to shift CHOGM:
World will see first-hand progress in Sri Lanka - Prof. Rohan
Gunaratna
By Manjula Fernando
International terrorism expert Prof. Rohan Gunaratna in an exclusive
interview with the Sunday Observer sheds light on the do or die attempts
of key LTTE fronts and their affiliates to shift the Commonwealth Heads
of Government Meeting (CHOGM) venue from Sri Lanka and the reasons
behind the move.
Prof. Rohan Gunaratna |
"The defeated terrorists and their supporters are aware that if the
CHOGM is successfully held in Sri Lanka, the world will witness at first
hand the amazing progress Sri Lanka has achieved in the last three
years," he said adding that the London-based Global Tamil Forum (GTF) is
the umbrella organisation of the LTTE rump".
Prof. Gunaratna is the Head of the International Centre for Political
Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR) at Nanyang Technological
University in Singapore.
The excerpts of the interview:
Q: UK based Global Tamil Forum has said that it is planning to
influence the British Government in a bid to discourage the UK's
participation in the forthcoming CHOGM in Sri Lanka. It is a known fact
that GTF is one of the faces of LTTE's international wing. Your
comments?
A: The LTTE after its defeat, transformed from a terrorist
group to a propaganda organisation. The LTTE international Secretariat's
functions are now carried out by the GTF. Except procurement and
shipping weapons from North Korea, almost all the other activities from
propaganda to lobbying, recruitment to financing, are carried out by GTF
and its constituents from Canada to Australia. Located in London, GTF is
the umbrella organisation of the LTTE.
Traditionally, the LTTE had its International Headquarters in London
and those who staffed the HQ and conducted its activities now work in or
support GTF and its affiliates. The Sri Lankan and foreign governments
are aware of the origins and links of terrorism to GTF, but they have
not legally listed GTF as a terrorist front. The individuals associated
and entities affiliated with the GTF are under scrutiny by some
governments. Until the GTF is proscribed, it will conduct activities
inimical to the interests of Sri Lanka and will remain a threat to Sri
Lanka.
Q: The degree of support the GTF has mustered is evident by
the fact that for the past two years or so they have secured the House
of Commons to hold one of their important annual events, the GTF meeting
this year was concluded in February. Leading British Government members
take part in this event. Do you think that they will succeed in their
efforts in exerting pressure on the British Government to stay away from
the CHOGM?
A: The GTF's mode of operation is not different from the way
the LTTE operated overseas. The LTTE never operated as the LTTE as the
organisation is legally proscribed. Similar to the Like LTTE, the GTF
also operates through various front, cover and sympathetic organisations
that are very innocuous.
The GTF affiliated organisations take the face of human rights,
humanitarian, political, social, cultural, educational, media, community
and charity organisations. They approach governments, UN and other
international organisations, NGOs especially human rights NGOs, the
media, elite community in the host country, and Tamils living overseas.
The GTF and affiliates influence these six categories through
lobbying and campaigning. The GTF and affiliates are becoming good at
using Tamil votes and funds to convince British and Canadian
politicians. Some are desperate to win the minority ethnic votes. The
leaders and members of GTF and their affiliate organisations project
they can muster tens of thousands of votes but increasingly the Tamils
are distancing themselves from these LTTE tainted organisations.
Q: What is the history of GTF? Isn't the British Government
aware of its roots? The LTTE is a banned organisation in the UK, then
how come their front organisations are allowed to operate at their free
will?
A: The British Government is serious about fighting terrorist
groups and their supporters who pose a threat to British citizens and
interests. Like most governments, the UK acts against groups when they
directly threaten their interests. The British political parties
especially the ruling party is susceptible to electoral and constituency
pressure applied by GTF and other LTTE constituents.
The British and Canadian politicians are most susceptible as they
host the world's largest Tamil migrant and diaspora populations. In
turn, British and Canadian politicians put pressure on their government
officials. Although New Scotland Yard in the UK and the Royal Canadian
Mounted Police Force is aware of the LTTE links to the GTF and its
affiliates, banning the GTF is largely a political decision.
The Sri Lankan government has not been serious in countering the LTTE
overseas: it has always relied on their foreign counterparts to do it.
Its Foreign missions and staff are not oriented to this task and they
have no plan of action. The Sri Lankan government focus is domestic.
Q: In your opinion what are they trying to prove by asking the
world leaders to boycott the Commonwealth Summit scheduled in November?
A: CHOGM is one of the most prestigious events in the global
calendar. The focus of LTTE remnants overseas is to disrupt CHOGM from
being held in Sri Lanka. The defeated terrorists and their supporters
are fully aware that if the CHOGM is successfully held in Sri Lanka, the
world will witness at first hand the amazing progress Sri Lanka has
achieved in the last three years. In record time, Sri Lanka resettled
283,000 Tamils held hostage by the LTTE, rehabilitated and reintegrated
12,000 LTTE cadres, and invested in unprecedented development in the
war-affected North and East.
The LTTE and its premier umbrella organisation, the GTF have not
given up its political goal of separatism and seeks to discredit Sri
Lanka. By standards of other troubled zones like Iraq, Afghanistan,
Kashmir, Chechnya, Xinjiang. Sri Lanka's progress is immense since it
defeated one of the world's most ruthless and deceptive terrorists
groups.
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