Read Full text of the Speech
(October 16, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Foreign Minister, Rohitha Bogollagama who is currently on an official visit to Australia, has called on the UN Working Group under the Security Council’s Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) to consider listing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as an international terrorist group. He made this call, while delivering an address to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), a prestigious, independent think tank in Canberra last Monday (13 October 2008).
Minister Bogollgama, speaking at the forum, stated, “I strongly believe that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which has earned international notoriety and opprobrium for its countless cold blooded and savage acts of terrorism, targeting not only high profile politicians and military personnel, but ordinary civilians, designed to cause maximum casualties and property destruction, is a prime candidate for consideration by the Working Group for listing, as an international terrorist group. The LTTE is pre-eminently qualified to meet the criteria for such listing. After all, the LTTE has been described as “probably the most sophisticated terrorist organization in the world”, by Dr. Magnus Ranstorp, Chief Scientist at the Centre Asymmetric Threat Studies of the Swedish National Defence College”.
The Foreign Minister during the course of his wide ranging lecture on the theme, “Global Action on Countering Terrorism”, urged the international community to pursue front organizations of the LTTE, posing off as charities and humanitarian relief groups, which continue to raise funds to fill the LTTE war chest. In this respect, he said that the United States has taken a bold lead in targeting the support network of the LTTE by designating the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), which had long claimed itself to be a charitable organization, as a front to facilitate fund raising and procurement of weapons for the LTTE.
The Minister stressed that the onus is now clearly upon the international community to support Sri Lanka, by taking tangible and meaningful steps to eradicate terrorism from the island, and help the government to restore democracy and rebuild the damaged infrastructure in the North and the East. He said, “We believe that the true friends of Sri Lanka in the international community, who have the well being of our people at heart must put their money where their mouth is, by taking decisive action to stop funds being raised under various ruses, which are being channeled to finance the LTTE’s operations”.
Elaborating on the present military operations in the North, Minister Bogollgama declared that the Government of Sri Lanka is deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation of civilians in the uncleared areas, as the military operations enter a decisive phase to free these areas from the terrorists. The Minister emphasized that, as a responsible government, President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s administration is acutely conscious and aware of its responsibilities towards all citizens of Sri Lanka. He said that, “this is why, even as there is intensification of the military strikes against the LTTE, there is remarkably minimal collateral civilian casualties. This has not occurred by chance or a fortuitous turn of circumstances, but rather in pursuance of the government directive to the military to adhere strictly to a policy of “zero civilian casualty”, in combating terrorism”.
Referring to the situation of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts, the Minister said, “it is important that we bear in mind that the situation of those displaced due to the on-going military operations in the Wanni, as previously in the case of the East, is merely a temporary dislocation”.
On the other hand, the Minister questioned the lukewarm attitude of the international community towards the plight of the Muslim community of the Northern Province, which has been expelled at gun point by the LTTE 18 years ago. He asked, “I wonder why the shrill voices of those who are screaming of a non-existent humanitarian catastrophe in the Wanni, are deafeningly silent on the plight of the over 100,000 Muslims who are now languishing in refugee camps, after being forcibly evicted by the LTTE from the North. 24th October marks the 18th anniversary of the ethnic cleansing of Muslims from the North by the LTTE. 75,000 Muslims were compelled to vacate their homes at gun point on this day in 1990 by the LTTE, and after they were driven out of their lands, which they had inhabited from time immemorial, the LTTE went about systematically looting and pillaging the properties and valuables of these hapless people”. Minister Bogollgama declared, “If any proof were needed of the racist nature of the LTTE, the ethnic cleansing of Muslims from the North, speaks for itself – res ipsa loquitur”.
In conclusion, the Foreign Minister urged UN member nations to ratify all major UN Conventions relating to terrorism. The Minister noted, “Nothing short of this commitment would suffice in the global struggle to eliminate the modern day scourge of terrorism, which has blighted the lives of millions of people around the world”. - Sri Lanka Guardian
(October 16, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Foreign Minister, Rohitha Bogollagama who is currently on an official visit to Australia, has called on the UN Working Group under the Security Council’s Counter Terrorism Committee (CTC) to consider listing the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) as an international terrorist group. He made this call, while delivering an address to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), a prestigious, independent think tank in Canberra last Monday (13 October 2008).
Minister Bogollgama, speaking at the forum, stated, “I strongly believe that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) which has earned international notoriety and opprobrium for its countless cold blooded and savage acts of terrorism, targeting not only high profile politicians and military personnel, but ordinary civilians, designed to cause maximum casualties and property destruction, is a prime candidate for consideration by the Working Group for listing, as an international terrorist group. The LTTE is pre-eminently qualified to meet the criteria for such listing. After all, the LTTE has been described as “probably the most sophisticated terrorist organization in the world”, by Dr. Magnus Ranstorp, Chief Scientist at the Centre Asymmetric Threat Studies of the Swedish National Defence College”.
The Foreign Minister during the course of his wide ranging lecture on the theme, “Global Action on Countering Terrorism”, urged the international community to pursue front organizations of the LTTE, posing off as charities and humanitarian relief groups, which continue to raise funds to fill the LTTE war chest. In this respect, he said that the United States has taken a bold lead in targeting the support network of the LTTE by designating the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), which had long claimed itself to be a charitable organization, as a front to facilitate fund raising and procurement of weapons for the LTTE.
The Minister stressed that the onus is now clearly upon the international community to support Sri Lanka, by taking tangible and meaningful steps to eradicate terrorism from the island, and help the government to restore democracy and rebuild the damaged infrastructure in the North and the East. He said, “We believe that the true friends of Sri Lanka in the international community, who have the well being of our people at heart must put their money where their mouth is, by taking decisive action to stop funds being raised under various ruses, which are being channeled to finance the LTTE’s operations”.
Elaborating on the present military operations in the North, Minister Bogollgama declared that the Government of Sri Lanka is deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation of civilians in the uncleared areas, as the military operations enter a decisive phase to free these areas from the terrorists. The Minister emphasized that, as a responsible government, President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s administration is acutely conscious and aware of its responsibilities towards all citizens of Sri Lanka. He said that, “this is why, even as there is intensification of the military strikes against the LTTE, there is remarkably minimal collateral civilian casualties. This has not occurred by chance or a fortuitous turn of circumstances, but rather in pursuance of the government directive to the military to adhere strictly to a policy of “zero civilian casualty”, in combating terrorism”.
Referring to the situation of the internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts, the Minister said, “it is important that we bear in mind that the situation of those displaced due to the on-going military operations in the Wanni, as previously in the case of the East, is merely a temporary dislocation”.
On the other hand, the Minister questioned the lukewarm attitude of the international community towards the plight of the Muslim community of the Northern Province, which has been expelled at gun point by the LTTE 18 years ago. He asked, “I wonder why the shrill voices of those who are screaming of a non-existent humanitarian catastrophe in the Wanni, are deafeningly silent on the plight of the over 100,000 Muslims who are now languishing in refugee camps, after being forcibly evicted by the LTTE from the North. 24th October marks the 18th anniversary of the ethnic cleansing of Muslims from the North by the LTTE. 75,000 Muslims were compelled to vacate their homes at gun point on this day in 1990 by the LTTE, and after they were driven out of their lands, which they had inhabited from time immemorial, the LTTE went about systematically looting and pillaging the properties and valuables of these hapless people”. Minister Bogollgama declared, “If any proof were needed of the racist nature of the LTTE, the ethnic cleansing of Muslims from the North, speaks for itself – res ipsa loquitur”.
In conclusion, the Foreign Minister urged UN member nations to ratify all major UN Conventions relating to terrorism. The Minister noted, “Nothing short of this commitment would suffice in the global struggle to eliminate the modern day scourge of terrorism, which has blighted the lives of millions of people around the world”. - Sri Lanka Guardian
 Foreign Minister, Rohitha Bogollagama who is currently on an offic...){kind=link}
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