'LTTE a threat to India's sovereignty'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, MAY 15. The continuing militant pursuits of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of the objective of a separate homeland, Eelam in Sri Lanka for all Tamils, its anti- India posture and violent activities threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India, according to the notification extending the ban on LTTE.

The LTTE continues to be an extremely potent terrorist force in Sri Lanka and is presently one of the deadliest terrorist organisations the world over which has strong connections in Tamil Nadu, according to the Centre's notification.

The notification, issued here on Sunday, extended the ban on the LTTE for two more years under the provisions of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. It was first declared unlawful association on May 14, 1992 following former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's assassination. The ban was extended in 1994, 1996 and 1998.

The Tribunals set up in those years confirmed the ban imposed by the Centre on the LTTE. To adjudicate the notification of May 14, 2000, a Tribunal consisting of a High Court Judge would be set up shortly in pursuance of the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, it was officially stated here today.

The notification said the Central Government was of the opinion that LTTE has continued its violent and disruptive activities prejudicial to the integrity and sovereignty of India and also continued to adopt a strong anti-India posture, posing a grave threat to the security of the Indian nationals. ``It is necessary to declare the LTTE as an Unlawful Association,'' it said.

The notification said most of the criminal cases involving the LTTE and pro-LTTE groups like Tamil National Retrieval Troops (TNRT) and Tamilar Pasarai, have ended in conviction and the Tamil Eelam concept still remained a goal among the pro-LTTE groups in Tamil Nadu and the forces were still at work to further its cause, thereby contributing to the highly vulnerable milieu in which LTTE's free functioning in India as a law association, if allowed, was likely to be highly detrimental to the sovereignty and integrity of India.

It said the demand of for Tamil Eelam has found a strong echo in Tamil Nadu due to the linguistic, cultural, ethnic and historical affinity between the Sri Lankan Tamils and the Indian Tamils in Sri Lanka and the separatist Tamil chauvinist forces in Tamil Nadu, the pro-LTTE groups would always try to stimulate the secessionist sentiments to enhance the support base of the LTTE in Tamil Nadu which would have an adverse influence over the territorial integrity of India.

It emphasised the need to control all separatist activities by all possible lawful measures.

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