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| Sunday, 23 April 2006 |
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EU to ban LTTE? by Ranga Jayasuriya and Jayantha Sri Nissanka The European Union (EU) is contemplating a ban on the LTTE in view of the escalating violence in the North-East, a diplomat said. "A ban was on the cards for sometime and the EU is evaluating the events taking place" said the diplomat who requested anonymity. "The recent conduct of the LTTE is a minus point, if, they ever wish to remain legal (in the Europe)," he said. The EU slapped a travel ban on the LTTE last year after the assassination of the Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and said it was actually considering the formal listing of the LTTE as a terrorist organisation. The EU has also agreed that individual member nations should act to curb fund-raising and propaganda of the LTTE. Last month, the far-right Danish People's Party demanded the Danish government to ban the LTTE following revelations by the Danish National Television of alleged LTTE extortion in Denmark. Two immigrant Sri Lankan Tamil youth appeared on the DR Television on a prime-time program and said the LTTE operatives in Denmark were using threats and intimidation to force Tamils to contribute to LTTE fund-raising. A Municipal Council member of the Social Democratic Party, accused of his links to the LTTE was subsequently sacked. Diplomatic sources said the LTTE ban in Canada, which has the largest Tamil population outside South Asia, would have an impact when the EU decides on its stance on the LTTE. Canada's National Post last week reported, quoting intelligence reports, that the LTTE had used non profit cultural associations for its fund-raising activities. The Police last week raided the office of an LTTE front, World Tamil Movement. The search warrant for the raid stated the police were searching for terrorist funds that had been on the rise between the period of February 2003 - April 2006.
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