Sri Lanka takes up issue with France:
Call to cancel pro-Tiger stamps
*FM says French govt should have acted
promptly
* Minister Peiris underscores terrorist
modus operandi
The French government should ensure that publications like the four
stamps issued by La Poste of France, depicting images related to the
LTTE, including its insignia, should not happen and their publication be
cancelled, said External Affairs Minister Prof G L Peiris yesterday.
External Affairs Minister called in the French ambassador in Sri
Lanka, Christine Robichon, yesterday to register Sri Lanka’s acute
concern on the issue of four stamps by ‘La Poste’ of France depicting
images related to the LTTE including its insignia, while being a
proscribed group in France.
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Prof G L
Peiris |
He emphasized that this action by a front organization of the LTTE
would portray the French attitude to global terrorism in an erroneous
manner as France has unambiguously postulated its opposition. Therefore,
he expressed confidence that action would be taken by the government of
France not to give credence to such moves by a terrorist front. Minister
Peiris underscored that the history and modus operandi of the terrorist
group and its leadership are well known and has been working for the
dismemberment of a friendly country.
Professor Peiris pointed out the regrettable phenomenon of diaspora
groups engaging with host governments at different levels, especially in
the West, culminating in misplaced attitudes being demonstrated by those
countries towards Sri Lanka. He stated that the Sri Lankan public must
have the conviction that Western governments are seeking to achieve
their wellbeing. However, he said, that these countryies bona-fides come
into question amongst the people of Sri Lanka when situations of this
nature arise, as they give rise to suspicion. The Minister however,
stated that the Government of Sri Lanka has to take on board public
opinion in Sri Lanka, especially since the terrorist group rump is
seeking to achieve their objectives through different means. Minister
Peiris protested in the strongest possible terms, and urged the French
ambassador for her government to take immediate action for the
non-circulation of the stamps.
Ambassador Robichon brought to the attention of the Minister a press
statement released by the French Embassy in Colombo stating that these
stamps are neither a part of the official philatelic programme of France
nor on sale in the French Post Office. It has been explained that
individuals had used the online service offered by ‘La Poste’ through
which customers could order limited quantities of personalized stamps
under their responsibility and specific conditions.
She referred to the fact that ‘La Poste’ had failed to detect the
violations of the conditions and had printed the stamps by mistake.
Further elaborating, the ambassador stated that having been informed by
the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs that the LTTE is a terrorist
group listed by the EU in 2006, ‘La Poste’ had assured that no such
stamps will be printed further.
On inquiry by the Minister on the quantum of stamps already printed,
the French ambassador confirmed the publication of 360 stamps. While
noting that le ‘Groupe La Poste’ is an independent, public, industrial
and commercial institution, Minister Peiris observed that it is an
obligation on the part of the government of France to ensure that moves
of this nature do not take place. Referring to a news item appearing on
the website of the terrorist group, where it calls for these stamps to
be used by its people when sending letters and parcels, as a duty to use
them to preserve their pride and historical excellence, Prof. Peiris
pointed out that this is a devious manner of fund raising by this
proscribed organization. The minister underlined the importance of
ensuring the halt to fund-raising activities abroad by the remnants of
the terrorist group in order that there would not be an indulgence for
acts of terrorism in the future.
While noting the assurance by ‘La Poste’ on the non-publication of
the stamps in question in the future following the recognition of the
listing of the LTTE as a terrorist organization, the minister strongly
reiterated the need to prevent the use of the stamps originally printed
and that the government of France should investigate the persons or
organization that ordered the printing of the stamps, especially
considering the monetary dimension since there has been a public call
for the use of these stamps.
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