The LTTE is either a banned organisation or under the watch list in 32 countries including India, the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union. The latest ban was reimposed after it had been lifted in September 2002, a precondition of the Tigers for its participation in the peace talks. The LTTE was first proscribed in 1978 by President J.R. Jayawardene, who passed the ‘Proscription of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and Other Similar Organisations Ordinance’, banning all Tamil militant groups.

Sources
Sri Lankan government proscribes LTTE, The Hindu, 8 January 2009; Sri Lanka re-imposes ban on Tamil Tigers, National Post, 7 January 2009; Jain Commission Report, published in India Today, August 1997.

Quotations

“By banning the LTTE worldwide, the LTTE would not only be isolated but could be prevented in carrying out all its terror activities. The world should join together to eradicate terrorism from the world,” Foreign Affairs Minister Rohitha Bogollagama.

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http://pact.lk/22-november-2007/[/intlink]

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.

Sources
House of Commons Hansard Debates, Part 9, Daily Hansard, 2 May 2007; House of Commons Hansard Debates, part 14, Daily Hansard, 2 May 2007.

Extracts from Parliamentary debate, Daily Hansard, 2 May 2007
The Minister for the Middle East (Dr. Kim Howells):

“I am pleased to have this opportunity today to debate the current situation in Sri Lanka, and I am grateful to the right hon. and hon. Members present for their interest in this important issue. There has been mounting concern about the continuing violence and tragic displacement of people from their homes on that beautiful island. I want the House to know that this debate is the result of _expressions of concern from right hon. and hon. Members. It is not, as some propagandists and partisan elements have claimed, a debate generated by any faction of Sri Lankan politics or by any lobbying organisations claiming to represent any part of the large Sri Lankan diaspora residing in Britain, pro or anti-LTTE.

“Sadly, those commitments remain unfulfilled. We have over the past year seen worsening violence. Extra-judicial killings, disappearances, intimidation and violence by paramilitary groups are all too common. The violence has fuelled an atmosphere of extreme mistrust and polarisation, which has fuelled further antagonism and violence. Innocent civilians have borne the brunt. There are now more than 100,000 displaced persons in the eastern district of Batticaloa and hundreds more arrive every day. There have been more than 700 cases of missing persons in the Jaffna peninsular, and nearly 500 are still unresolved. There have been more than 50 abductions in Colombo in the past year, and nine media workers have lost their lives in recent months. In the past few weeks, bus bombings have killed dozens of people simply going about their daily business. These are despicable terrorist acts that are totally without justification.

“The responsibility of the LTTE for violent acts over the years is well documented. It is a proscribed organisation under the Terrorism Act 2000. The EU listed the LTTE as a terrorist organisation in May 2006. We have repeatedly urged the LTTE to move away from the path of violence. In the absence of a full renunciation of terrorism in deed and word, there can be no question of reconsidering its proscribed status. LTTE involvement in killings, torture, detention of civilians and denial of freedom of speech is a reality. The LTTE does not tolerate any _expression of opposition and its continuing recruitment of child soldiers is a matter of great concern. …

“The ability of the LTTE to raise funds overseas helps to sustain its ability to carry out violent acts and reduces the incentive to move way from the path of violence. …

“LTTE fundraising activity in the United Kingdom encourages war, not peace. It will not be tolerated, and I have recently met our security authorities to discuss how we can counter the bullying, threats and acts of fraud that are used regularly to extract money from the Tamil population and others in the country. …

“The LTTE is not the only source of violence in Sri Lanka, however. Civilians in Government-controlled areas regularly fall victim to brutal attacks by paramilitary groups, often acting with apparent immunity. Reports of the Government’s links with the faction led by Karuna, a former LTTE commander, concern us a great deal. We believe Karuna and his faction to be responsible for extra-judicial killings, abductions, intimidation of displaced persons and child recruitment. Karuna’s record is appalling, and we will be watching very closely whether he acts on his commitment to the United Nations to address the child recruitment issue. We will want to see clear evidence that he has delivered against his welcome promises. Karuna needs to go further and cease all acts of violence and intimidation against civilians. …

“There must be no question of the Government of Sri Lanka allowing Karuna to perpetrate those crimes. If they are serious in their desire to find paths to an inclusive, peaceful Sri Lanka that embraces all its peoples and cultures, they must disassociate themselves completely from all acts of abuse, terrorism, intimidation or torture, no matter who commits them or what agency encourages them.

Mr. Geoffrey Clifton-Brown (Cotswold) (Con):

“Is the Minister aware of the comment made by the FBI assistant director in charge, who said: “Karuna hasn’t merely supported the LTTE cause, he has orchestrated support in the US”? Before the Minister concludes his speech, will he answer two questions? First, what international co-ordination is there on intelligence to stop fundraising for the LTTE? Secondly, is there similar co-ordination to ensure that people such as Karuna, who have committed acts of terrorism, are brought to justice?”

Dr. Howells:

“The hon. Gentleman is right: the list of crimes by this faction is long. We have been exchanging intelligence with a number of agencies in other countries. He will know that I cannot go into detail about that matter, although I can say that lately intelligence has indicated that there may be widespread fraud scams in the country. We are not certain about that, but they may be one of the sources of funding, at least part of which finds its way back to the LTTE and acts of terrorism.”

Peter Luff (Mid-Worcestershire) (Con):

“I intervened on the hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey (Simon Hughes) to inquire about the LTTE’s commitment to democracy. Perhaps I did not explain myself clearly. I have severe reservations about whether the LTTE is seriously committed to a democratic process. Its leader is on the record as wanting to establish a one-party independent Tamil state without democratic elections. I see in the LTTE an organisation that is led by a very dangerous individual whose techniques and ruthlessness have caused great concern. Although I share the views expressed by all hon. and right hon. Members in saying that dialogue is important, I question whether the LTTE is an organisation that is capable of holding such dialogue. I hope that I am wrong; I would like to be so. In an intervention on my hon. Friend the Member for Cotswold, I pointed out that our deputy high commissioner in Sri Lanka will tomorrow be engaging in dialogue with the political wing of the LTTE. I hope that that dialogue is profitable and constructive, but I worry about what we are dealing with in the LTTE. It is a sophisticated and well equipped organisation, uniquely so for a terrorist organisation—and I regard it as a terrorist organisation that can fight on land, on sea and in the air, although it is wrong to describe it as having an air force; I think that there is one light aircraft — I am told that there are five aircraft, but they have significantly enhanced its fighting capabilities.”

Mr. Clifton-Brown:

“We all recognise that India’s involvement in this problem is very sensitive, as well as what happened in the past when it became involved militarily. Nevertheless, as the hon. Member for Ilford, South (Mike Gapes) pointed out, there is a big Tamil population in Tamil Nadu, and there is a suspicion that a lot of support of one kind or another, particularly financial, comes from that state. if we are to try to defeat this terrorist problem, it is important that the international community should include the Indian Government in discussions and intelligence-sharing.”

Peter Luff:

“I am sure that my hon. Friend is right. I sincerely hope that that process is already happening. Fundraising is an important issue for the LTTE. Two Tamil fundraisers were recently prosecuted in Australia, which is causing great controversy in the Tamil community there. The purposes of their fundraising activity must be properly established by due judicial process in Australia. It is unhelpful to see people who are, I am sure, perfectly honourable Tamil nationalists attacking the Australian Government for daring to challenge those people’s fundraising activities. When I think of the recent protests in Paris and Zurich by Tamil communities in France and Switzerland, I worry about the presumption that anyone who dares to attack the LTTE is in some sense attacking the Tamil people. I do not see that connection. Similarly, those who dared to attack Sinn Fein were not attacking the Catholic cause in Northern Ireland. …

“The fact is that violence is always wrong morally, and also politically, because it never produces the outcome that one seeks. When we attack the LTTE for its violence, we are doing so for sound reasons. It is in the Tamil people’s own interests that the LTTE abandon its violence. I entirely agree with the hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey that the blame is far from being on one side. I have here the Human Rights Watch report on human rights in Sri Lanka, which graphically details the shortcomings of the LTTE and of the Sri Lankan Government.”

Keith Vaz (Leicester, East) (Lab):

“But if an organisation remains proscribed and isolated, how can it participate in a dialogue that could bring peace to Sri Lanka?”

Peter Luff:

“That is a conundrum. I have to say that I support the Government in allowing the organisation to remain proscribed. It is difficult to see how an organisation that takes part in such abhorrently violent activities—for example, it uses child soldiers as part of its campaign of violence—can be anything other than proscribed. The LTTE has an opportunity to demonstrate a much greater understanding of the challenges that that poses to Governments such as ours. I would welcome it were the Government able to lift that restriction, but I do not see how they can in the current environment. …

“I do not want Sri Lanka to become a political issue in the United Kingdom through the presence of a significant diaspora. That diaspora is here because of the violence. Its members have been driven away from their island and are effectively refugees from that dreadful violence. It is a wonderful community, which does a huge amount for us. Estimates of its size vary between 150,000 and 200,000. Reference has been made to the work its members offer on petrol station forecourts, but they do much more than that. A phenomenally high proportion of the Tamil community—some 2,500—work as doctors in the national health service. They do a great deal for us and we should be grateful to them. …

“I note that the Archbishop of Canterbury is visiting Sri Lanka next week. The Christian community in that country suffers considerable persecution at the hands of the Government. …

“The current edition of the Foreign Office human rights report mentions Sri Lanka’s anti-conversion laws and moves: “to consolidate the position of Buddhism by constitutional amendment and legislation that would control ‘unethical conversion’, in part through criminal sanctions. The bill, which appears to undermine the guarantees of religious freedom enshrined in the Sri Lankan constitution and to be inconsistent with Sri Lanka’s international human rights obligations, is still being debated.”

“Things may have moved on since the report was written. It continues by saying that: “there have been consistent and credible reports of harassment, intimidation, destruction of property and occasional violence against Christians over the last three years… Sri Lankan authorities’ lack of capacity to protect Christians and members of other faiths, and their failure to prosecute those responsible for inciting and committing violent acts” are highlighted. That is an especially worrying example of human rights abuses in Sri Lanka that are firmly at the door of the Sri Lankan Government. For even-handedness, we must understand that there are problems on both sides. We must be careful about imposing—or being seen to or wishing to impose—specific solutions to any internal conflict in a sovereign state from these Benches in the United Kingdom. However, we need to convey a clear message that terror begets only terror, and violence begets violence. That is an iron rule of politics and history. In a world hungry for peace, as we all are now, it is my view that if the LTTE could bring itself to renounce its terrorist activities and take the first brave steps to peace, it would find that respectability would follow remarkably quickly on the heels of such a brave and right decision.

Keith Vaz:

“I want to pay a special tribute to the Minister for the Middle East. This date was originally chosen for a discussion between him and more than 60 MPs who had shown an interest in Sri Lankan issues, particularly in what is happening to the Tamil community. I think that he was surprised at the level of interest and he decided, of his own volition, to put to the Leader of the House the view that there should be a debate today. That has proved to be a much better way of dealing with these matters—having an open debate involving as many MPs as possible on the Floor of the House. I also pay tribute to my right hon. Friend the Member for Torfaen (Mr. Murphy). In all my discussions with members of the British Tamil community, I have found that they are full of praise for the work that he has done. As we heard today, he has not taken sides on the issues, but has focused the British Government on a particular problem. I am grateful—and I think that we are all grateful—for the fact that he has brought to bear his vast experience of Northern Ireland, which must have been just as complicated as the situation in Sri Lanka. Apart from his day job, which he mentioned, he has allowed himself to go over to Sri Lanka in order to be the eyes and ears of our Prime Minister and to report back on these issues. I hope that we can formalise his role. [Mr Murphy] may not want that, but I think that it would be a good idea if the Government looked to formalise his role so that it was no longer just on an ad hoc basis. He could be given formal envoy status, which would allow him to play the role that we all would like to see this Parliament get involved with.

“On Monday, we established the House’s first ever all-party Tamil group. I was privileged to be elected chair of the group; the hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey (Simon Hughes) was elected vice-chair; the hon. Member for Croydon, Central (Mr. Pelling) was elected secretary; the hon. Member for Richmond Park (Susan Kramer) was elected treasurer, as was the hon. Member for Moray (Angus Robertson), in his absence in Scotland. That shows that it really is an all-party group, because all parties are represented in this cause.

“The group was determined not to be just like any other all-party group. We were determined to take the issue forward, and on that basis we agreed three things. First, at the end of September a delegation of all party members should visit Sri Lanka, particularly areas under the control of the Tamil Tigers, to engage in a dialogue in a positive and constructive way. We also agreed to invite the chief negotiator for the Tamil Tigers to visit the United Kingdom and to come to Parliament so that we could hear his views on what is happening.

“The third thing that we agreed was to hold a summit meeting here in July at which all the various parties could participate as a means of exploring how to take the issue forward. Although we have not had a debate of this kind in the House before, listening to the experience of so many right hon. Members and hon. Members reminds me that we have had many such discussions outside Parliament. It really is time to make progress, rather than simply discussing these issues from time to time as we do now.

“My hon. Friend the Member for Tooting (Mr. Khan) pointed out that we are also concerned with the Tamil community here, and that that is what drives us. Many of us are interested in foreign affairs, but what drives us as constituency MPs is our constituents coming to see us in our surgeries, at public meetings and at various projects in our constituencies to point out the contribution that the British Tamil community has made. When my hon. Friend mentioned the Tooting Tamils, I thought that that made them sound so British that they could be a local football club. They are as British as you and I, Madam Deputy Speaker, and they make a full contribution to this country. They contribute to the economy and to the national health service, as the hon. Member for Mid-Worcestershire pointed out. Almost 2,500 Tamils work in the NHS, not just as GPs and other doctors; one of the leading pre-natal surgeons is based in a hospital in the constituency of my hon. Friend the Member for Tooting.

“The British Tamils have become first-class contributors, and they therefore deserve to have us debate these issues in the House. For the reasons mentioned earlier by the hon. Member for North Southwark and Bermondsey, they are constantly aware of what is happening to their friends and relatives in Sri Lanka. That is why they deserve to hear these issues discussed, and to have them taken forward, rather than just discussed in the usual parliamentary way.
“I was present at a very useful meeting that the British Tamil Forum had with our Home Secretary, who reminded us of the phrase—I cannot remember who said it originally, but I am sure that someone here will know—“One man’s terrorist is another man’s freedom fighter”. I am sure that it was not the Home Secretary’s phrase; he was merely reminding us of it. This was in the context of a discussion on how to lift the ban. I firmly believe that the ban on the Tamil Tigers—certainly as regards the way in which they operate in this country—should be lifted as soon as possible.

“The proscription by the Government of various organisations in 2001 happened because of certain events that were occurring worldwide at the time, and we reacted by imposing that ban on a number of organisations, including a Sikh organisation that operated from my constituency. I know that Governments sometimes have to react in a knee-jerk manner, but six years have now passed and it is time to reconsider the ban and to look at ways in which we can help to ensure that the dialogue proceeds.”

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Source
Colombo lifts ban on Tamil Tigers, BBC, 26 August 2002..

Quotations

“We have noted that the Government of Sri Lanka has lifted its ban on the LTTE. This is entirely a matter for the Government of Sri Lanka and does not directly affect the proscription of the LTTE in the UK. Before the proscription of the LTTE in the UK could be reconsidered by the British Government, the LTTE would have to demonstrate a complete and convincing renunciation of terrorism. We hope that the LTTE will indeed conclude that violence no longer has a part to play in resolving Sri Lanka’s problems and that they will renounce terrorism once and for all.” British Foreign Office, Press statement, Government of Sri Lanka’s decision to lift ban on the LTTE, 4 September 2002.

“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. [But the] US listing of the LTTE as a foreign terrorist organisation will remain in effect until the group renounces terrorism in word and deed.” US Embassy in Sri Lanka.

“The international opprobrium against terror acts has worked in Sri Lanka’s favour. We have to take advantage of the mood after September 11. … A re-imposition [of the ban] will be necessary 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.” Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister.

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10 April 2006
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Source
Tamil Tigers’ foreign setback, BBC, 14 April 2006.

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8 October 1997
14 May 1992

Quotation

“Both the bombing of the temple and the subsequent banning of the LTTE will constitute further barriers in the path of a renewal of the peace process. These are barriers that will have to be overcome at some stage to enable a political resolution of the conflict.“ Banning of the LTTE, Press release, National Peace Council, 27 January 1998.

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10 April 2006
4 September 2002
28 February 2001
8 October 1997
14 May 1992

Source
Human Rights Watch World Report: Sri Lanka, 1998; Tamil Tigers’ foreign setback, BBC, 14 April 2006.

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10 April 2006
4 September 2002
28 February 2001
26 January 1998
14 May 1992

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April 1971
April 1971
15 February 1977
1982
August 1987

Source
Sri Lanka seeks military support from India, Times of India, 10 August 2006.

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10 April 2006
4 September 2002
28 February 2001
26 January 1998
8 October 1997
31 May 1991

Quotation

“The UNP (United National Party) in 1983 committed the signal (and completely unwarranted) error of proscribing the JVP on spurious charges. This unjust proscription of the JVP was perhaps the single biggest mistake committed by the J R Jayewardene regime, not excluding July 1983—since contrary to the current dominant myths, the UNP did not perpetrate the July 1983 riots; it just mishandled them. There was no evidence to connect the JVP, as a party, with the anti-Tamil riots of July 1983; nor was it secretly preparing to launch an armed struggle to overthrow the state or the UNP. On the contrary, the JVP was comfortably settling into the political mainstream and beginning to enjoy the fruits of high profile electoral politics. They did not willingly or voluntarily leave the mainstream; they were forced out of it by the Jayewardene regime”. Tisaranee Gunasekara (1999): Insurrectionary Violence in Sri Lanka: The Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna Insurgencies of 1971 and 1987-1989, Ethnic Studies Report, ICES, Vol. XVII, No. 1, January 1999.

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14 May 1965
April 1971
April 1971
1982
August 1987

Related events
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April 1971
April 1971
August 1987