The Sri Lankan government has renewed its ban on several Tamil diaspora organizations, citing terrorism-related activities. Key groups targeted include the LTTE and Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation. Despite a leadership change, policies against Tamil activism remain unchanged, hindering connections between diaspora groups and local Tamils. This ban follows a pattern of previous actions and continues to draw international criticism, amidst growing global advocacy for Tamil rights.
The Sri Lankan government has reaffirmed its ban on multiple Tamil diaspora organizations, citing their alleged support for terrorism-related activities. This decision follows the signing of an extraordinary gazette by Defence Secretary Sampath Thuyyakontha, continuing a prohibition that has been in place for over ten years. As a consequence, these groups’ financial assets remain frozen, and interaction with them by Sri Lankans is strictly forbidden, potentially leading to arrests for offenders.
Included in the blacklist are prominent Tamil organizations such as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO), Tamil Coordinating Committee (TCC), World Tamil Movement (WTM), Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE), World Tamil Relief Fund (WTRF), National Council of Canadian Tamils (NCCT), and Tamil Youth Organisation (TYO). Additionally, the ban extends to some Islamic groups, including National Thowheed Jama’ath (NTJ) and Sri Lanka Islamic Student Movement (SLISM).
Following the recent election of Anura Kumara Dissanayake, the government’s stance on Tamil political activism remains largely unchanged from that of the previous Rajapaksa administration. Historically, Sri Lankan governments have employed anti-terrorism legislation to hinder Tamil organizations which operate legally in Western countries. This ban restricts connections between diaspora groups and the Tamil population on the island, criminalizing any communication between them.
The recent renewal of the ban aligns with similar actions taken in prior years, such as upon India’s extension of its own LTTE ban. This reimposition has faced widespread condemnation as politically motivated, seen as an effort to legitimize military presence in Tamil areas. The continued ban occurs despite an upsurge in global Tamil political advocacy, including recent resolutions from U.S. Congress members advocating for self-determination for Eelam Tamils.
Sri Lankan officials countered global advocacy efforts by accusing Tamil activists of financial manipulation of U.S. lawmakers, reflecting a long-standing narrative to undermine Tamil political mobilization. Despite occasional removal of some organizations from the banned list, including the Global Tamil Forum (GTF) and British Tamils Forum (BTF), many crucial political entities remain banned.
In conclusion, the persistence of the ban on Tamil organizations under the newly elected government underscores an unwavering approach toward repressing Tamil activist groups. While there was hope for a change, the repetition of previous policies demonstrates that the Sri Lankan government continues to limit Tamil political expression, despite global calls for accountability and self-determination.
The Sri Lankan government’s continuation of the ban on Tamil diaspora organizations illustrates its consistent repressive stance towards Tamil political activism, despite a change in leadership. The ban not only affects the Tamil diaspora but also hinders any potential dialogue or connection with Tamil citizens on the island. This situation highlights the challenges faced by Tamil advocates in their pursuit of political recognition and rights in Sri Lanka.
Original Source: www.tamilguardian.com
