US officials claim that the two-year ban under the 1996 Anti-Terrorism and Effective Death Penalties Act is designed to support the Sri Lankan government’s "war for peace strategy". Others say the ban is designed to strengthen the super-power’s military presence in the region.
The Sri Lankan Tamil parties fear that the US will expand its military assistance to Sri Lanka thereby aggravating the conflict. PLOTE leader D Sitharthan has called on the Sri Lankan government not to impose a ban on the LTTE which would shut the door to future peace talks.
US neighbour Canada has already taken some measures against LTTE activists following allegations of crime and violence against opponents. Sri Lankan newspaper The Island columnist DBS Jeyaraj, a bitter critic of the Tigers, continues to receive death threats. LTTE activist M Suresh faces deportation after the Canadian courts declared him persona non-grata as belonging to a group engaged in terrorism.
Outlawing the LTTE in Europe in the near future is unlikely. British High Commissioner in Colombo David Tatham says no direct link between LTTE activities in Britain and terrorism in Sri Lanka have been established. Observers say if the European nations believe that a ban on LTTE would contribute to peace in the island enabling refugee returns, they may follow the US example. Norway’s new Prime Minister Magne Bondevik has declared that illegal activities will not be tolerated but Tamils will have the freedom in Norway to pursue their cause through legal means.
Over 1,000 Tamils arriving on 27 October in a Tamil Eelam-Scotland Friendship train” from London marched in Edinburgh, led by a Scottish bagpiper. Edinburgh was the venue of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, where President Chandrika presented a paper on “Intervention on terrorism”. The protesters held a vigil outside the meeting centre demanding that Sri Lanka should be brought to book by the international community for its war against the Tamils.