Search the Internet          Tips

US ban on LTTE to continue

"The US understands and supports Sri Lanka's decision to lift the ban on the LTTE in the context of moving forward with negotiations to end the conflict," the US embassy said in a statement in Colombo.

But, it said, "the US listing of the LTTE as a foreign terrorist organisation will remain in effect until the group renounces terrorism in word and deed."

The US position is supported by Britain and India, who have also ruled out any review of their restrictions on the LTTE, but favour the Lankan government's move for talks with the rebels.

Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who has been raising global support for the peace initiative, said the "de-banning" of the LTTE would have no bearing on the restrictions present in other countries.

Sri Lanka wants transnational proscriptions of the LTTE to remain in place to ensure that the rebels do not get a chance to raise funds to revive their 19-year-long military campaign, which has stopped since February 2001 after a truce.

"The international opprobrium against terror acts has worked in Sri Lanka's favour," Wickremesinghe told reporters soon after announcing the lifting of the ban on the rebels. "We have to take advantage of the mood after September 11."

The government has made it clear that it retains the power to revive the ban if warranted, though the prime minister was optimistic that such a need would not arise.

"A re-imposition [of the ban] will be necessary," he said, "only if there is a total breakdown and I am optimistic that it will not happen. There may be stutters and breakdowns as talks of this nature often experience, but I don't see a total breakdown of the process."

The four-year ban was lifted to facilitate peace talks between the government and the Tamil Tigers starting at Sattahip in Thailand on September 16. The first round will focus on preliminary issues.

LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran, however, has in the past denied any link between his organisation's cooperation with peace efforts and the September 11 terror attacks on the United States, contending that his first unilateral ceasefire was announced in December 2000.

He also said his outfit would campaign for global legitimacy after Sri Lanka lifts its domestic ban, but the mood in the countries where it is restricted does not seem to be in his favour.

Besides India, the US, and Britain, the LTTE is also banned in Australia and Canada.

PTI

Tell us what you think of this report