MR urges police not to allow LTTE flag hoisting

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa today urged the police not to allow anyone to riase the LTTE flag in the North this week to mark the LTTE heroes’ week.

Rajapaksa said that his Government never allowed people in the North and East to commemorate LTTE cadres or raise the LTTE flag.

However he claims there are reports some groups will raise the LTTE flag in the North this week to mark the birthday of slain LTTE leader Vellupillai Prabakaran and the LTTE heroes’ day.

“Some people in the South have forgotten the importance of this week. In the past?Prabakaran marked heroes’ week by attacking the south or some village. If the people are allowed to raise the LTTE flag it will be a case where we are falling on our knees before?the LTTE,” he said.

Rajapaksa says the LTTE heroes’ week is going to be commemorated at a time when the ban imposed on several former LTTE front groups has been lifted.

He said that if those groups have denounced terrorism it is not an issue and they can visit Sri Lanka. But he claims?the groups de-listed are still pushing for a separate State.

The government lifted the ban on several former LTTE front groups through a gazette notification published by the Government Printer last?Friday.

Signed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence as the Competent Authority, the gazette notification repeals the gazette issued by the former government listing at least 15 organizations over alleged links with the LTTE.

The amended list removes the ban on the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), the British Tamil Forum (BTF), Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) and the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), among others.

The new gazette notification has also lifted the ban on the head of the Global Tamil Forum, Father S.J. Emmanuel.

However, the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) and its leader, former LTTE negotiator V. Rudrakumaran, remain on the list as proscribed organizations and individuals. (Colombo Gazette)