Mr. Miguel Bermeo

Permanent representative for UNDP

UN Compound,

No 202-204,

Baudhaloka mawatha,

Colombo 7.                                                                        

Subject: PNM condemns Koffi Annan's condolence message 

Dear Sir,

THE ATTEMPT OF THE UNITED NATIONS COLOMBO OFFICE TO GIVE DIPLOMATIC RECOGNITION TO INTERNATIONALLY PROSCRIBED LTTE

United Nations Organization has got its mandate from all sovereign states in the world. There is an inviolable and universal relationship between the organization and these states. The United Nations Charter has stipulated this relationship very clearly. All other international conventions have conformed and protected the same. The golden principle of this mutual relationship is to protect the sovereignty, peace and territorial integrity of member states by the United Nations Organization.

This principle is vividly reflected in the General Assembly Resolution 1514 CXV of 14 December 1960, which is named as Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and People. We wish to draw your kind attention to the article 6 of the Declaration. “Any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and the territorial integrity of a country is incompatible with the purpose and principle of the Character of the United Nations”

Further, the Article 7 emphasizes that “All states shall observe faithfully and strictly the provisions of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Charter of the United Nations and the present declaration on the basis of equality, non interference in the internal affairs of all states and respect for the sovereignty rights of all people and their territorial integrity.”

As you are aware USA, Australia, Canada, and India have proscribed the LTTE as a very dreadful terrorist organization. In this overall context we believe that you are aware of the fact that UNO has no mandate or moral right to maintain any express or implied diplomatic relationship with the LTTE.

We have great rspect and faith in the General Secretary Koffi Annan who has won the hearts of the entire world community. But, we deeply regret to come to a conclusion that wrong advice of UNO Colombo office have undermined the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. Although we need to further discuss this fundamental issue, for the time being we would like to raise the following points.

(1) Soon after the tsunami disaster when General Secretary Koffi Annan visited Sri Lanka, some officers in the Colombo office of UNO tried their level best to persuade him to visit areas like Mulativ and Kilinochi that are not cleared by the Sri Lanka army. But upon the objections of Government of Sri Lanka the organizers had to give up the attempts. This scenario prompted LTTE to declare in the “Tamil Net” that there would be a discussion between the LTTE leader and the General Secretary of the UNO.

Although the plans of the LTTE to commit General Secretary to have discussion with a terrorist leader became abortive, they managed to get times for discussion with their subsidiary organizations, the Tamil National Alliance and Tamil Rehabilitation Organization (TRO).

In response to these meetings we must very seriously point out that Tamil Rehabilitation Organization was proved to have imported, in the guise of tsunami aids, a cargo consignment of iron balls used for bomb making.

This is a typical example where General Secretary of the UNO was made to violate aforesaid conversions and diplomatic protocols.

(2) Secondly, when the LTTE leader of Eastern province by the name
"Kaushalyan” was assassinated alone with six other people by a breakaway fraction of the LTTE, General Secretary of UNO extended his condolences and sympathies in a very diplomatic tone. The LTTE hailed this in their website the “Tamil net”.

The Sri Lankan Government had also condemned this killing. We as human being do not hesitate to condemn any form of killing. The point is that the General Secretary goes very much beyond condemning a killing when he issue messages of condolence of diplomatic nature. This is a obvious violation of UNO conventions that uphold principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the member states. It is very clear that acts of certain officials in the UNO have shown the world their solidarity with the LTTE and have brought discredit to Mr. Kofee Annan and the UNO.

We need not to give you a description of the LTTE, but we would like to bring to your notice some of the very serious crimes committed by them,

(a). The LTTE is responsible for the brutal killing of prime minister of India, Hon. Rajiv Gandhi and also the president of Sri Lanka His Excellency R.premadasa together with a dozen of parliamaentarians.

(b). They have ruthlessly murdered thousands of innocent civilian’s, women, children and even religious leaders.

(c). The LTTE is world known for international crimes like cross boarder trading of dangerous drugs, arms and also for human smuggling.

(d). The largest suicide bomber squad is operated by the LTTE. There is enough evidence to prove that international terrorists like Osama Bin Laden have acquired these technologies from them.

(e). LTTE is well known for killing their own members and other Tamil political leaders in pursuing their ruthless military path.

(f). Present president of Sri Lanka narrowly escaped a attack by the LTTE suicide squad but had to scarifies an eye.

(g). A senior tamil minister in the present government Mr. Douglas Devananda managed to save his life from number of suicide attacks by LTTE, where many of his supporters were brutally killed in those attempts.

(h).The LTTE has been continuously attempting to assassinate the foreign minister of the present government.

(i).They have been recruiting child soldiers through out the war, violating the international norms and United Nations Convention on Child Rights. They never kept the promises they made to UNO representative for children’s rights Mr. Olara Otunu. It is now gone to a extent where they forcefully recruit child victims of tsunami who are living in camps.

(j). The LTTE has obviously committed mass murder of Sinhala and Muslim communities living in North and East province with a clear aim of ethnic- cleansing in those areas.

In this overall context, we would like to draw your kind attention to some of the very serious questions, we have in our minds.

(a). Have in any occasion officials of UNO extended their condolences or sympathies officially when leaders of other terrorist organizations were assassinated?.

(b). If so please let us know as to for whom and in which country and also whether it was done by present General Secretary or any of his predecessors.

(c). Also please let us know as to under which world convention that a member of a internationally identified terrorist organization could be given such a diplomatic recognition.

(d). Can any internationally accepted principles on state diplomatic relations justify the intervention of UNO against the wishes and policies of democratically elected sovereign and independent state?

(e). Is their any justification whatsoever for the Secretary General of UNO to act in such a manner with regard to a terrorist organization that is carring terrorist activities and separatist war against sovereign and democratic country.

We have raised all these questions not necessarily to obtain credible answer from you, but to show you that sovereign and patriotic people of this country will not allow Sri Lanka to be another Sudan. We shall not allow any individual or an organization to pursue such a covertly act.

Thanking you,
 

Patriotic National movement (PNM) - Sri Lanka

11.02.2005