Tiger supporters facing stringent measures in France

PARIS: French Police were planning to collect information regarding those leaving from France to Switzerland to participate in the protest march organised by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam scheduled to be held yesterday.

One measure was to photocopy passports and travel documents of Tiger supporters travelling from France to Geneva.

The protest march was to be held yesterday, the opening day of the fifth session of the Human Rights Commission.

The Tigers were making arrangements to bring their supporters in hundreds from all European Union countries to Geneva to participate in the protest march. Pro-LTTE news portals reveal that in Denmark the LTTE was chartering a flight to take their supporters to Geneva.

Tigers tried to take their supporters packed inside a special train from Paris to Geneva.

LTTE organisers had to give up this as only a few supporters registered to go on the special train. The new plan is to travel in hired buses.

On April Fool's Day, 19 leading Tigers were arrested in Paris and 14 are still in custody. Inquiries are proceeding.

Police are monitoring activities of Tiger supporters closely.

Police are also preparing dossiers about LTTE supporters. The identity of these supporters is vital for any future operation against the Tigers.

This is the reason for photocopying passports and travel documents of all supporters of the LTTE leaving from France to Geneva.

A Parisian source told Asian Tribune, that photocopies of the passports and travel documents would provide vital clues for the Police to decide about people who might apply for visas, permanent residency and also for employment in Government institutions.

The backlash against Tigers has been severe in France. Fifty Tamils who worked in the French airports were discontinued from their positions once the French Police concluded that they were active LTTE supporters. Asian Tribune