President Gotabaya Rajapakse : Ban LTTE with Logo/flag/tree/flower & all LTTE insignia
If the Liberation of Tigers of Tamil Eelam is banned in Sri Lanka, UK, US, EU & 32 countries, everything associated with LTTE must be banned too. Countries should not encourage terrorism or terrorism promoters & protestors. This entails action by Sri Lanka against LTTE emblems, LTTE flags, LTTE t-shirts & other insignia. Sri Lanka needs to issue a gazette notification banning these insignia & thereafter request our envoys overseas to engage foreign governments to take action against pro-LTTE elements parading LTTE insignia on foreign soil. Let these Western countries look at rising terror activities in their countries and never forget that LTTE killed an Indian Prime Minister on Indian soil – the first such high profile international assassination of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991.
LTTE flag is the National flag of Tamil Eelam.
The tiger flag Pulikkodi” was conceived by Prabakaran for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 1976. While Prabakaran was in Madurai, Tamil Nadu he got an Indian artist to draw it.
Prabakaran wanted the head of a roaring tiger, paws outstretched, 2 rifles and 33 bullets in a circle ringing the tiger’s head.
What is noteworthy is that the flag was linked to the martial history of the Tamils of India.
The Tigeris the symbol of freedom fighters of the Tamil Tiger movement. 31 bullets are depicted with 2 crossed bayonets.
Ironically, the 33 bullets commencing in 1976 counting 33 years ends in 2008.
LTTE’s Tamil Eelam flag was adopted as the National Flag of Tamil Eelam on 21 November 1990. It was the first time the flag was hoisted as the National Flag of Tamil Eelam by Prabakaran during the LTTE Heroes Day
National Symbol is the LTTE leader though with his demise in May 2009, LTTE and Tamil Eelam has virtually no National Symbol.
In 2005, the LTTE released a guide providing instructions and explaining the correct usage of the Tamil Eelam Flag. The guide written in Tamilspecifies the regulations for flying alone or with national flags of other countries, and for general handling of the flag (good to get a copy of this and have it translated)
LTTE/Tamil Eelam National Anthem
Eruthu Paar, Kodi Eruthu Paar” (Look the Flag is Rising) is a Tamil song, written by Puthuvai Rathinathurai,
LTTE/Tamil Eelam Flower
“Karthigaipoo” or Gloriosa Lily (Botanical name – Liliaceae Glory lily or Gloriosa superba)
This too was adopted on 21 November 1990 as it contained colours of the Tamil Eelam national flag.
The symbol for Maaveerar Naal is the karthigaipoo (Gloriosa superba)
LTTE / Tamil Eelam Animal
Leopard
LTTE / Tamil Eelam Bird
Greater Coucal (Senpaham in Tamil)
LTTE/Tamil Eelam Tree
Lebbek (Vahai maram in Tamil)
LTTE had 3 main divisions (military wing, political wing & fundraising wing) linked to a central governing body overseas.
Military wing comprised:
- Sea Tigers founded in 1984
- Air Tigers (Sky Tigers/Tamil Eelam Air Force) – world’s first air force of a proscribed terrorist organization
- Black Tigers – suicide commando unit carrying out suicide missions (no flag)
The LTTE intelligence wing and LTTE political wing has no flag (LTTE agents in parliament does however)
- Charles Anthony Brigade (no flag) established on 10 April 1991
- Jeyanthan Brigade
- Sothiya Regiment/Brigade named after Maria Vasanthi Michael
- Kutti Sri Mortar Brigade
- Maalathi Regiment named after 2nd Lt. Maalathi
- Victor Anti-Tank & Armoured Unit
- Imran-Pandiyan Unit (named after 2 trusted bodyguards of Prabakaran)
- Kittu Artillery Unit names after Col. Kittu
- Ponnamman Mining Unit named after Yogaratnam Kugan
- Ratha Regiment named after Lt. Col. Ratha
- Civilian Support Unit
LTTE was banned in UK in 2001.
UK Terrorism Act of 2000 declares it a crime to wear or carry any item portraying REASONABLE SUSPICION of support to a proscribed organization.
LTTE Diaspora carrying LTTE flags constitute a clear violation.
Section 12 (1) A of the UK Terror Act disallows support for a proscribed organization not necessarily only by giving money or property.
Section (2) A considers as offence if anyone ARRANGES, MANAGES or ASSISTS in arranging or managing a meeting supporting a proscribed organization, helping activities of a proscribed organization, or attending a meeting that a proscribed person is addressing (where does that put the UK MPs attending pro-LTTE events)
Section (3) A considers it an office if anyone addresses a meeting with intent to encourage support for a proscribed organization
Section 13 (1) considers it an offence to WEAR an item of clothing, CARRY or DISPLAY an article that arouses REASONABLE SUSPICIOUN to show him/her a MEMBER or SUPPORTER of a proscribed organization.
2007 – UK police launched an investigation into MPs Keith Vaz & Virendra Sharma attending pro-LTTE rally & messages of ‘support’ was sent by London Mayor Ken Livingston & MP Simon Hughes (what happened to this)
2009 – Tamil demonstrators in London carried Tamil Eelam flags & were arrested by UK police. UK Metropolitan police had even confiscated LTTE flags. The police spokesman had made ‘repeated requests’ for flags bearing images representing the LTTE to be removed. 2 protestors were arrested under UK Terrorism Act 2000. What happened thereafter?
4 February 2018 – Tamil demonstrators in London carry same LTTE flags but are not arrested! WHY?
Has the Sri Lanka High Commission in UK compiled and presented a list of pro-LTTE organizations operating in the UK that have LTTE logo and LTTE insignia on their websites etc?
Has the Sri Lankan High Commission in UK requested UK Govt & UK Metropolitan Police/Scotland Yard to investigate if these pro-LTTE fronts have breached UK laws or swindled UK tax payers money?
Has the Sri Lankan High Commission in UK demanded a list of Sri Lankans seeking asylum/political asylum/refugee status in the UK and used this information to cross-check against the names of supposed ‘dead’ Tamil civilians?
If countries ban a terrorist organization and issue reports claiming that the terrorist network is alive and funding continues the onus is on these countries to assist to curtail funding and promotion of a banned terrorist movement.
While there are no LTTE demonstrating in Sri Lanka – LTTE Diaspora are creating a public nuisance in Scotland to oppose the visit of Sri Lanka President. This is an opportune time for Sri Lanka to take action to ban all LTTE emblems and for foreign countries to stop cuddling terrorists because to get their way they will do anything & they have killed a lot of people but trying to cover their bloody hands by bogus ‘genocide’ claims.
Shenali D Waduge
