Norway helping LTTE, says Norwegians Against Terrorism founder

Rafik Jalaldeen

COLOMBO: Norway is one of the key facilitators funding the LTTE terrorists directly and indirectly through agencies, said Falk Rovik, Founder of the Norwegians Against Terrorism in Colombo yesterday.

Addressing a seminar yesterday under the theme "Norwegian Support for LTTE Terrorism" Rovik said Norway was one of the key funding sources of the LTTE.

He said the Norwegians had secret funds flowing to Sri Lanka directly and indirectly through various agencies. He emphasised that most funds were flowing to LTTE from abroad. All such funds were used for terrorist activities against civilians.

"A significant proportion of LTTE revenue comes from out of Sri Lanka. The Norwegians have funded the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) to the tune of two million Norwegian Kroner," Rovik pointed out.

A documentary was produced with the support of Norway to promote LTTE suicide cadres, he said. "A 15 minute documentary was produced about two Black Tiger girls.

Here, the Norwegians are trying to justify horrific crime committed by the LTTE," Rovik said. "My view is that this documentary promotes terrorism and Norwegians are responsible for that," Rovik remarked.

He recalled how the Norwegian funding has increased significantly after the Ceasefire Agreement was signed.

Rovik said Norwegian facilitators had extended military assistance to the LTTE. "The LTTE is a terrorist organisation. The LTTE is not only a Sri Lankan problem. It is a huge criminal operation. Their main target is the Tamil diaspora - Tamils all around the world are LTTE victims. The Tamils are extorted, abused and even tortured," Rovik stressed.

He also detailed the Tigers' credit card frauds. The LTTE is linked to other criminal groups around the world. "The Tiger cadres have links with other criminal groups in the UK, Lebanon, Kenya, Canada, Sweden, German and Pakistan among many others," Rovik noted.

Many of the LTTE cadres and supporters were arrested in the recent past in France, India, Indonesia and Thailand. "These raids were a significant approach that shows if you help a terrorist organisation you will be arrested," he added.