The good Canadian Coalition for Democracies has come out with another press release and as always I’m happy to share it with you here in full.
Tamil Tigers banned from EU, courted in Canada
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(416) 963-8998Toronto, Canada — Thursday, September 29, 2005 — On September 27, the European Union declared it’s “condemnation of the continuing use of violence and terrorism by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) [and the] continuing recruitment and retention of child soldier cadres by the LTTE.” The EU has banned members of that organization from visiting any European Union member state and the United Kingdom, the United States and India have designated the LTTE as a terrorist organization.
“While the world is waking up to the threat of terrorism, this government allows Canada to remain the largest source of foreign funding for LTTE terror,” said Alastair Gordon, President of the Canadian Coalition for Democracies. “The question is, why?”
In January, that question was put to Justice Minister Irwin Cotler, who said, “Toronto I think has the largest number of Tamils … outside of Sri Lanka, so we’ve got to be very careful just in terms of our own relationships.” Minister Cotler never explained the connection between the number of Tamil voters in Toronto and the murder of innocents in Sri Lanka.
In February, Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew contradicted his justice minister, saying, “Most of the people we’ve been consulting, including the United States State Department … are demanding that we do not do [designate the LTTE as a terrorist organization] at this time.”, a claim dismissed by the US State Department.
Prime Minister Paul Martin and several of his MPS have actually attended LTTE fundraising events, lending credibility to those responsible for unspeakable suffering in Sri Lanka.
Perhaps most damning are the written words of the late Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, Lakshman Kadirgamar, before he was assassinated in August, who said, “At one time it was reported that the LTTE raised approximately $200,000 a month from the Tamil community in Canada” and “the argument that banning the LTTE would hamper the peace process does not stand.”
“Will Prime Minister Paul Martin follow the lead of our European, British, Indian and American allies in recognizing the terrorist nature of the LTTE?” asked Gordon. “Or will we continue to hear conflicting excuses from Irwin Cotler and Pierre Pettigrew while terror rips apart the lives of Sri Lankans?”
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For additional information, please contact:
Alastair Gordon
President
Canadian Coalition for Democracies
PO Box 72602
345 Bloor Street East
Toronto, ON M4W 3J0 CanadaWeb: http://CanadianCoalition.com
Tel: 416-963-8998Mobile: 416-452-6957
Fax: 425-944-3546
Email: [email protected]Public Discussion on this Press Release http://canadiancoalition.com/forum/ccd-forum.shtml#currentMessages
CCD Mission Statement http://canadiancoalition.com/
CCD in the media http://canadiancoalition.com/media.shtmlCCD Public Message Forum – Speak your mind! http://canadiancoalition.com/forum/ccd-forum.shtml
They included this statement from the European Union:
European Union Statement
C/05/248Brussels, 27 September 2005
12669/05 (Presse 248)Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union condemning the actions of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)
The European Union hereby declares its condemnation of the continuing use of violence and terrorism by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The pursuit of political goals by such totally unacceptable methods only serves to damage the LTTE’s standing and credibility as a negotiating partner and gravely endangers the Peace Process so much desired by the people of Sri Lanka.
The European Union repeats its condemnation of the shocking murder of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and of so many others in Sri Lanka in recent weeks.
The European Union is actively considering the formal Listing of the LTTE as a terrorist organisation. In the meantime, the European Union has agreed that with immediate effect, delegations from the LTTE will no longer be received in any of the EU Member States until further notice.
The European Union has also agreed that each Member State will, where necessary, take additional national measures to check and curb illegal or undesirable activities (including issues of funding and propaganda) of the LTTE, its related organisations and known individual supporters.
The European Union furthermore repeats its serious concern at the continuing recruitment and retention of child soldier cadres by the LTTE and reminds them that there can be no excuse whatsoever for this abhorrent practice to continue.
The European Union takes this opportunity to underline the Statement of 19 September by the Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference calling on the LTTE not least to take immediate public steps to demonstrate their commitment to the peace process and their willingness to change.
The European Union calls upon all parties in Sri Lanka to show commitment and responsibility towards the peace process during the coming period of elections and to refrain from actions that could endanger a peaceful resolution and political settlement of the conflict.
PTBC was founded by Mr. Johannesen in 2000.
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