SPUR protests Berghof request for diplomatic status

COLOMBO: The Society for Peace, Unity and Human Rights for Sri Lanka Inc. (SPUR) in a letter to President Mahinda Rajapaksa states:

"We understand that the Berghof Foundation has requested for diplomatic status for three of their representatives in Sri Lanka.

We are well aware of the anti-national activities conducted by this INGO.

They have been consistently interfering in the national security affairs of Sri Lanka by,

* Promoting the unconditional dismantling or resizing of High Security Zones of the Sri Lankan security forces.

* Recommending the re-training of the Sri Lanka Armed Forces for a total remaking of their thinking.

* Recommending the managing and monitoring of the security sector through NGOs and "the international community".

* Recommending the demilitarization of the armed forces.

* Proposing to restructure the state based on the myth of traditional Tamil homelands and the right of Tamils to self-determination.

* Planning to influence decision-makers, administrators, politicians and civil servants for a total remaking of Sri Lanka. Furthermore they have used their ample funding to manipulate Sri Lankan journalists and politicians, in order to advance their treacherous agenda, which is detrimental to the independence, territorial integrity and sovereignty of our country.

The recent decision of the Federal Republic of Germany which is a principal funder of the Berghof foundation to freeze development aid to Sri Lanka should serve as a timely reminder of the agenda of this INGO to interfere in the affairs of the State.

As a responsible government which has demonstrated its courage and the vision to stand firm in the face of international and domestic pressure to succumb to the preposterous demands of the separatist terrorists, we request you to:

* Totally reject the request for diplomatic status to members of the Berghof foundation,

* To thoroughly investigate the activities of the Berghof foundation and other INGOs and to take action according to the law of the land if and when they have been found to be acting against the interests of Sri Lanka and her People."