Stockholm, (Asiantribune.com):
The Swedish Chapter of the Campaign Against Separatist Terrorism in Sri Lanka (CASTIS), has urged the Swedish Prime Minister to ban the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization in Sweden. In a letter addressed to Fredrik Reinfeldt, Prime Minister of Sweden, CASTIS has pointed out that the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) is very active in fund raising and that they are collecting funds from each and every Tamil family in Sweden.The letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Sweden was handed over by the CASTIS representatives at the Prime Minister’s office on 24 August.
Protest in Stockholm
In that letter they have said, “These funds are directly remitted to LTTE accounts in Canada and England. The LTTE is using these funds to buy weapons and other activities in their terrorists organization. Therefore, we request from the Swedish Government to ban the LTTE’s TRO organization in Sweden.”On 24th August, a large number of Sri Lankans gathered at the centre of the Stockholm city to demonstrate against the LTTE. They protested to urge the International community to condemn the LTTE for its campaign of political assassination, violations of human rights, killing of innocent civilians and they urged to help to liberate the Tamils from the LTTE clutches. The demonstration was organized by CASTIS Sweden, to demand the ban of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation in Sweden which is funding the LTTE. The protesters also displayed photographs of the incidents of atrocities done by the LTTE and collected signatures for the petition which was later handed over to the office of the Prime Minister of Sweden.
The full text of the letter addressed to the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt is given below:
Protest in Stockholm
Mr. Fredrik Reinfeldt
Hon. Prime Minister of Sweden,
Prime Minister office,
Rosenbad,
Sweden
Hon. Prime Minister,
Request to Ban Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) in Sweden & Condemn the LTTE Terrorists movement in Sweden
We, Sri Lankans of all communities living in Sweden who have Joined hand and held a peaceful demonstration today (2008.08.24) opposite Cultural Center in Sergels Torg, Stockholm, totally condemn the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) for their brutal murders committed in against innocent civilians in Sri Lanka.The LTTE is today an international criminal network involved in the global Narcotics trade, Arms Smuggling, Human Trafficking, Money laundering, Credit Card Frauds and a wide range of other illegal activities and collect more then 300 million dollars for a year.The LTTE has never been elected by the people democratically to represent the Tamils in Sri Lanka. During the last two decades, the LTTE has been engaging in assassinating the Tamil Political leaders and innocent people as well. 31 countries including the USA (1997), India (1992) Canada (2006), England (2000), Malaysia and the EU (2006) have proscribed the LTTE as one of the most dangerous and deadly extremist outfits in the world. Activities of the LTTE in their countries, including, Sweden have been banned. List of recorded political killings by the LTTE are as follows:
• Two Heads of State, Former President of Sri Lanka R. Premadasa and Former Prime Minister of India Mr. Rajiv Ghandi.
• Five cabinet Ministers including Hon Mr. Laxman Kadirgamar Minister of Foreign Affairs
• Ten Tamil members of Parliament, including TULF leader A. Amirthalingham
• Three Tamil Mayors of the North and a large number of innocent Tamils, Sinhalese and Muslims, including religious dignitaries of all faiths (Buddhists, Hindus, Christians and Islamists)
• Former President Mrs. Chandrika Kumarathunga narrowly escaped from a suicide attack by the LTTE sacrificing an eye
• Army Commander Mr. Sarath Fonseka was targeted by a pregnant woman suicide bomber in Colombo. He was among the 22 seriously injured and 12 others died.
• The LTTE pioneered the use of suicide bombs which are copied by many other terrorist Organizations worldwide.
We understand that the Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) is a very active fund raising movement in Sweden and that they collect funds from each and every Tamil family in Sweden. These funds are directly remitted to LTTE accounts in Canada and England. The LTTE is using these funds to buy weapons and other activities for their Movement.
Therefore, we request the Swedish Government to Ban the LTTE supporting TRO Organization as an illegal Organization in Sweden. The LTTE has been recruiting children as Child Soldiers violating the International norms and the United Nations Convention on Child Rights. According to UNICEF’s latest report, the total number of child soldiers recruited by the LTTE since 2001 stands at 5794.
Sri Lanka is a multi-cultural and multi-religious country. It is home to all communities who wish to live in Peace and unity. We do not support separatism and terrorism.We, peace loving Sri Lankans living in Sweden, hereby signed the attached document for respecting democracy and totally condemn the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the LTTE, for their terrorist Activities against humanity.
Please STOP fund raising activities for LTTE and BAN Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO) in Sweden.Campaign Against Separatist Terrorism in Sri Lanka – (CASTIS in Sweden)
Copies to:
1. H.E. the President, European Union commission, 1040 Brussels, Belgium.
2. H.E. the President Mr. Mahinda Rajapaksa, President of Sri Lanka, President’s Secretariat, Colombo 1, Sri Lanka.
3. H.E. Mr. Ranjith Jayasooriya, Ambassador of Sri Lanka, Embassy of Sri Lanka, Stockholm, Sweden.