LTTE in terror list

By Nirupama Subramanian, The Hindu, 10 November 2001

COLOMBO, NOV. 9. Canada has included the LTTE in a fresh list of 83 terrorist groups and individuals whose property will be frozen and reported to the relevant authorities. The new list also includes the Abu Nidal Organisation, Aum Shinkriyo, Hamas, the Palestinian Liberation Front, PKK and the real IRA, among others.

A Canadian foreign ministry statement made available by the Canadian High Commission here said the decision was taken following a recommendation from Canadian security and intelligence agencies.

The Sri Lanka President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, has welcomed Canada's decision. “The move by the Canadian authorities is a major victory for the vast majority of Tamils, both in Sri Lanka and abroad, who have always been supportive of democracy and opposed to terrorism as well as other illegal acts of the LTTE,” she said in a statement.

Ms. Kumaratunga said the action was a victory for the Sinhalese majority who had refrained from retaliating against the Tamil citizens of the country despite repeated provocation by the LTTE.