A laudable decision

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, one of the most ‘globalised’ terror networks in the world, depends mainly on funds raised abroad for its campaign of violence in Sri Lanka. The Human Rights Watch and other rights groups have documented how the Tigers extort the Tamil diaspora abroad to raise millions of dollars every year.

Apart from ‘taxing’ the Tamil expatriates, the Tigers raise funds from the other citizens of various countries through front organisations that seemingly have no connection to the LTTE.

This practice is widespread even in countries where the LTTE itself is banned as the fronts use names which have no direct connection to the LTTE. Moreover, they collect funds for so-called charitable causes, including tsunami rehabilitation.

Nevertheless, investigators in these countries have seen through the fa‡ade of these charitable organisations. Thus yesterday’s decision by the US to freeze the US funds of the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) should come as no surprise to keen LTTE watchers. TRO funds have already been frozen in Sri Lanka itself and in some of the 16 countries it operates in.

In the words of the US Treasury, the “TRO passed off its operations as charitable, when in fact it was raising money for a designated terrorist group responsible for heinous acts’’. The US Treasury’s action bars any US resident from doing business with the TRO, which has offices in Maryland.

This action will impact severely on the LTTE fund raising and arms procurement network, which has already suffered several major setbacks. In fact, the main purpose of fund raising is arms procurement and any impediment to raising funds directly affects the group’s weapons purchases.

The Navy’s recent successes whereby nearly 10 LTTE weapons ships were destroyed have also added to the LTTE’s woes in this regard.

The latest decision by the US demonstrates once again its commitment to eradicate terrorism in all its manifestations around the world. The US has always called a spade a spade when it comes to the barbaric activities of the LTTE even as many other countries did not even dare to name the LTTE when they condemned terrorist atrocities in Sri Lanka.

On the other hand, the US has consistently named and shamed the LTTE. It was one of the first non-Asian countries to ban the LTTE, in 1997. It recently arrested several LTTE operatives who were planning to buy weapons including anti-aircraft missiles and attempting to bribe State Department officials to get the ban on the group removed.

The US has continued with its anti-terrorism military training programmes for members of the Sri Lankan Security Forces and recently gifted an advanced radar system to the Navy which will augment its reconnaissance capabilities.

The Navy also received Inflatable Rigid Hull Boats which will help the Navy in the fight against the LTTE Sea Tigers.

As a Co-Chair, the US continues to support a just, negotiated political settlement to the conflict in Sri Lanka that meets the aspirations of all communities. This is exactly what President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who completes two years in office next week, has enunciated in his Mahinda Chinthana vision for a prosperous Sri Lanka.

President Rajapaksa and the Government have always maintained that they were committed to a negotiated settlement, pointing out that it was the LTTE which walked away from the peace talks. Military action has been cited as a means to bring the LTTE back to the negotiating table.

It is time the LTTE thought seriously of re-joining the peace process, as the Government has made it clear that the doors are still open for talks.

It has suffered a string of military defeats including losing the entire East and the recent death of its political wing chief S.P. Thamilselvan in an SLAF air strike is seen as a crippling blow.

Besides, the international environment is not favourable to the LTTE or for that matter, any other terrorist group.

The emerging laws on money laundering and terrorist financing will be a blow to all terror groups who use illegitimate channels to transfer money to their secret coffers.

Having perceived the global reach of terrorist organisations, more countries are working together, sharing intelligence and information to nip their heinous designs in the bud. The curtailment of fundraising activities is one of the most effective ways of crushing terrorism.

The US has thus set a fine example to the rest of the world. Paying lip service to the drive against terrorism is not enough. The world needs concrete action to battle terrorism on every possible front.