Harassment to the business community

AN OPEN LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT MAHINDA RAJAPAKSE 

by V. Anandasangaree

President - Tamil United Liberation Front

(December 06, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) I am perturbed over the news item that 20 business persons from Jaffna had been summoned by the Army Intelligence to know about the contribution they made to the LTTE when they had certain areas under their control. I understand that this is going on for some time. Since no representatives of the people of Jaffna had not take this matter up with you I had to intervene.

Your Excellency, it is known all over the world that they did not spare any one either in Sri Lanka or in the Foreign countries and continued to recover monthly donations, from business men big or small locally and from abroad and from those who had agency rights for branded goods. Agents appointed in foreign countries did the collection for a consideration of 33% commission on the amounts collected. In the process even small tea kiosks, barber Saloons, laundries, very small grocery stores etc. were not spared. In addition to these, prosperous farmers, fish mudalalies, teachers and government Servants too had to make their regular contributions as determined by the LTTE cadre. They were also in a position to levy a tax on almost all diaspora Tamils, with the exception of those who had the courage to refuse, all over the world and had these amounts collected by agents nominated by them. How can the locals escape payment. Those who failed to make payment in the respective countries where they lived, the LTTE could trace them when such people visited Sri Lanka, on holiday. They “impounded” their Passports and returned same only on payment of the arrears.

At this rate there will be no end to the harassment the people will be subjected to. Hence please instruct those who are involved in this process to stop this practice since it will give room for malpractices. If this is to continue, all those who had lived or worked in the LTTE controlled areas will have to be inquired into. This will amount to putting into unnecessary harassment the people who had suffered enough in the past. Due to unnecessary harassment a lot from the business community had even lost their mental balance.