Tamils to call on Britain to lift ban on LTTE

From The Sunday Times

From Neville de Silva in London

The pro-eelam Tamil lobby is to call on Britain to lift its ban on the LTTE when the diaspora prepares for a major show of strength in London next Thursday to commemorate “Heroes Day” to coincide with the birthday of the late Velupillai Prabhakaran.Tamil sources said they expect the call to be backed by some British Parliamentarians from all three major parties. They are expected to participate at the day-long commemoration to be held at Excel exhibition centre at the London docks, to pay homage to those who ‘martyred’ themselves for the cause of a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka.

The sources said that the Tamil community was emboldened by the recent verdict of a European court calling on the European Union to lift the restrictions imposed on the LTTE and so want to put on a massive display to show the British Government of overwhelming support for the call. Several British MPs including some from the ruling Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition are expected to speak or show their solidarity by being present at the meeting which some in the community believe will be the biggest show since the military defeat of the LTTE in May 2009.

The Tamil Coordinating Committee which is organising the event is expected as usual to provide free transport to prospective attendees from several points in Greater London as an incentive to swell the crowds. Previously funds were collected by selling LTTE memorabilia and other souvenirs while the Metropolitan Police looked on, though it violated provisions of the UK Terrorism Act 2000.

The various TV programmes shown in the UK alleging human rights violations seem to have influenced official action.
Some argue that since the British ban on the LTTE was imposed under domestic law and predates the European Union ban, the recent court decision should not affect the British proscription and if so, only where EU provisions are concerned.