SQUEEZED OF FUNDS

 

 

Extremist organisations are known to camouflage or metamorphose themselves under pressure. LTTE was never one of them. Its propaganda machinery has been active since its inception and so has been its fund raising branch, with America and Europe being favourite hunting grounds. But the situation is set to change as western countries have included LTTE in their “War against Terror”. After having dealt with the likes of al- Qaeda, they plan to isolate the LTTE in the international community. The Sri Lankan government too has worked out a plan to monitor fund raising of the Tamil group in Europe.

Under this behind-the-curtain initiative, Sri Lankan officials are seeking “greater vigilance” from these countries to check LTTE activities and fund raising in the region. Europe, and Scandinavia in particular, has a sizable population of Tamils as well as non-Tamils who contribute generously to the LTTE and see the Lankan conflict as “the conflict of races”.

Before the LTTE was banned by the US and EU post-9/11, Scandinavian nations such as Norway used to play a pivotal role in brokering the peace deal between the warring parties. By starving the LTTE of funds from their most lucrative donor region, the Lankan government wants to stifle technological advancement of LTTE’s war machines. On the other hand, this move will also erode the support base of the LTTE among the non-Tamil populace of the western Europe and compel them to come to the negotiation table.

Rohitha Bogollagama, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister said, “The only way the LTTE can be influenced to come to the negotiating table is by branding it as a terrorist organisation in the international community.” EU member nations have apparently failed to control the LTTE and its activities in the region, as they are currently driven by Islamophobia. It’s high time they start focussing on other dreaded terrorist organisations as well.