The government proscribes the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO). On 15 November, the United States proscribed the TRO freezing its bank accounts and other financial assets. The US alleged that the LTTE oversees the TRO’s activities and that it is involved in the purchase of “munitions, equipment, communications devices and other technology” for the Tamil Tigers.

Extract from Gazette Notification, dated 26 December 2007
Regulations made under The Public Security Ordinance (Chapter 40)

1. These regulations may be cited as the Emergency (Proscription of Tamil Rehabilitation Organization) Regulations, No. 9 of 2007.

2. For the purposes of ensuring public security, for the preservation of public order and for upholding the Rule of Law, the Organization styled as the “Tamil Rehabilitation Organization” is hereby proscribed.

3. From and after the date of the coming into operation of these regulations, any person who,

(a) wears any uniform, dress, symbol or other emblem, which signifies or indicates any association with, or membership of, or adherence to the “Tamil Rehabilitation Organization” (hereinafter referred to as the “proscribed organization”); or

(b) summons or attends any meeting of the proscribed organization or participates or engages in any activity of, or any activity connected with or related to the said proscribed organization; or

(c) supports the proscribed organization, by inviting or exhorting persons to be enrolled as members, or by contributing or collecting funds, or by furnishing information or securing any other assistance to the said proscribed organization; or

(d) harbours, conceals or in any other manner assists any member of the proscribed organization, with intention thereby to prevent, hinder or interfere with the apprehension, trial or punishment of such member; or

(e) makes, prints, distributes or publishes or is in any way connected with or concerned in the making, printing, distribution or publication of any written or printed matter, which is or which purports to be printed, by or on behalf of the proscribed organization or by any member thereof; or

(f) communicates or attempts to communicate to any other person in any manner whatsoever, any order,

decision, declaration or exhortation made or purported to have been made by the proscribed organization or by any member thereof, or any information relating thereto, for the purpose of advancing the objectives of the said proscribed organization, shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a period not exceeding fifteen years.

4. (1) Where the Minister is satisfied, after such inquiry as he thinks fit, that any person has custody of any money, securities or credits which are being used or which are intended to be used, for the purposes of the proscribed organization, the Minister may by order in writing declare that such moneys, securities and credits as are in the custody of such person, or any such moneys, securities and credits which may come into his custody after the making of such order and any other movable or immovable property belonging to the said proscribed organization, shall be forfeited to the State.

(2) The decision of the Minister under paragraph (1) shall be final and conclusive and shall not be called in question in any court by way of writ or otherwise.

Related events

Related news
“A Toronto-based non-profit organization has been outlawed by Cabinet under the Anti-Terrorism Act, in what may signal an aggressive new approach to combating terrorist financing in Canada. …The decision to add the World Tamil Movement to Canada’s list of outlawed terrorist groups marks the first time Ottawa has used the anti-terrorism law to shut down a Canadian community group for ties to terrorists. Source: Non-profit Tamil group added to terrorism list, National Post, 16 June, 2008.