Questions groups allegiance to LTTE’s global
propaganda network:
Lankan Ambassador counters so-called peace groups
In response to wild accusations against the
Government by potentially terrorist front groups, the Sri Lankan
Ambassador to the United States, Jaliya Wickramasuriya, counters these
groups who remain silent about the terrorist actions of the Liberation
Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a designated terrorist group by the U.S.
Government.
“I find it a bit ironic that these so-called peace groups raise the
flag of the LTTE - a banned terrorist organization - even at their
rallies of peace,” said the Ambassador in reference to a rally today in
Washington.
Sri Lankans in USA protest against LTTE atrocities |
“They have no shortage of accusations against the government, but
never make a single allegation against the desperate actions of the
terrorists. It certainly calls into question the groups allegiance to
the LTTE and its global propaganda network.”
The FBI has referred to the LTTE as among the most dangerous and
deadly extremist organizations in the world. For perfecting the suicide
bomb and inventing the suicide belt, the FBI stated that the LTTE’s
“ruthless tactics have inspired terrorist networks worldwide, including
al Qaeda in Iraq.”
Propaganda
The LTTE has also perfected the soft weapon of propaganda through the
systematic dissemination of misinformation through its global terrorist
network and litany of front groups that are closely linked to
organizations already deemed as part of this network by the U.S.
Department of Treasury.
Just last week, the U.S. Department of Treasury, under Executive
Order 13224, designated another front group, the Tamil Foundation, as a
funding organization for the LTTE. A similar designation has been given
to the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), a group with a similar
purpose.
In addition to perfecting the suicide bomb - the latest suicide
attack took place last week within a government center where innocent
civilians had come to receive humanitarian assistance and medical
treatment in a reckless attempt to intimidate other civilians from
seeking safety and security - the LTTE terrorists are holding civilians
hostage, shooting at those who try to seek safety in the government safe
zones and recruiting child soldiers to continue their desperate tactics.
The United Nations and Human Rights Watch have issued statements that
explain that the LTTE are holding Tamil civilians hostage and not
allowing them to enter the Government safe zones.
Safe zone
In addition, the UN’s statement said that civilians that are trying
to leave for the safe zone are being shot and sometimes killed.
UNICEF’s chief in Sri Lanka has stated that UNICEF has received clear
indications that the LTTE has intensified forcible recruitment of
civilians and that children as young as 14 years old are now being
targeted.
Forcible recruitment
In his statement expressing grave concern for the safety of children
in conflict areas, Philippe Duamelle said, “We have clear indications
that the LTTE has intensified forcible recruitment of civilians and that
children as young as 14 years old are now being targeted. These children
are facing immediate danger and their lives are at great risk. Their
recruitment is intolerable.”
Further, the Human Rights Watch stated in a recent report that the
“LTTE has been responsible for deploying their forces within densely
populated areas and deliberately firing on civilians to prevent them
from fleeing to safety. There is also evidence that the LTTE has used
civilians as ‘human shields’.” |