GTF to take action against Hague

31 March 2012 04:42 am - 43 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The Global Tamil Forum seen as a front organisation representing the defeated LTTE is taking legal action against William Hague over the Foreign Office's failure to confront a senior Sri Lankan diplomat accused of complicity in crimes against humanity during the final stages of the island's civil war.

The Global Tamil Forum has instructed the law firm Birnberg, Peirce and Partners to bring a judicial review against the foreign secretary for his refusal to declare Major General Prasanna Silva – now the military attache to the Sri Lankan High Commission in London – persona non grata.

The forum alleges that Silva, who has lived in the UK since 2010, was involved in systematic attacks on Tamil civilians between January and May 2009 when he was a senior commander in the Sri Lankan army.

In a letter confirming instruction, the law firm writes: "You have informed us that the Global Tamil Forum and other organisations have made representations to the FCO with credible evidence of the offences allegedly committed by Major General Prasanna Silva during the war in Sri Lanka. However, hitherto, the FCO has failed to declare Maj Gen Silva and his family personae non grata."

The letter notes that the FCO has it in its power to ask a foreign government to waive an individual's diplomatic immunity so that they can be arrested and questioned by police.

It adds that if there is "sufficient evidence to justify court proceedings" – and if the foreign government still refuses to lift immunity – the Foreign Office can ask for the withdrawal of the individual and their family or declare them "personae non grata". The letter also points out that the Metropolitan police arrests 20-30 diplomats a year.

The Foreign Office said it had not yet received any correspondence relating to legal action by the GTF, but added: "We have been approached by several NGOs regarding allegations that war crimes were committed by Major-General Silva. We take such allegations very seriously and advised the NGOs that if there was credible evidence, they should pass it to the Metropolitan police."

A Scotland Yard spokesman would not comment on suggestions that the force was investigating allegations that Maj Gen Silva had been involved in war crimes, saying only: "We can confirm that we have received information and we are unable to discuss [it] further."

The Sri Lanka High Commission said she was unaware of the GTF's legal action and declined to comment on allegations that Maj Gen Silva was involved in crimes against humanity.

The commission has previously described such allegations as "highly spurious and uncorroborated" and accused British media of seeking "entirely falsely, to implicate members of the Sri Lankan government and senior military figures" in such acts.

The Global Tamil Forum told the Guardian that the diaspora would take legal action against anyone suspected of involvement in war crimes.

"Every alleged war criminal of Sri Lanka must know that the Tamils will not rest until justice is served for the terrible crimes they are alleged to have committed," he said.

"This along with other legal proceedings must send a message to the regime that they are not welcome on the international scene. There remain other alleged war criminals in Australia and in New York where we will start proceedings soon.(The Guardian)

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Comments - 43

Ks singapore Sunday, 01 April 2012 12:45 AM

Please remember that ltte atrocities started only in 1975 after so many agreements have been broken by the govt.especially Banda selva agreement.although Banda agreed the reasonable use of of tamil and self administration the agreement was thrown out as demanded by Buddist monks.please ask yourselves is there any where in the world monks enter into politics.Sinhalese started the atrocities against Tamils in 1957 and few times after that.Both sides now really work through reconciliation if you want a united Sri Lanka.in Chinese they say you point one finger then three fingers are pointing at you.I really hope this forum brings the goodness of both sides and reconciliation takes place.there are very wealthy Tamils all over the world now.the richest man in Malaysia is a Tamil for example.please understand reality and there cannot be another genocide in Sri Lanka.now the situation is internationalized and the rest of the world never allw that.just learn from Sudan ,Kosovo etc.

Ponniah Saturday, 31 March 2012 10:23 AM

Hague, you people made brutal terrorists orgamization legal and act against legitimate government / country SL in Geneva and everywhere and now seems to be back fired on you.

garry Saturday, 31 March 2012 10:47 AM

people u say come and help in SL we cant even pass the airport then u have white van

anura Saturday, 31 March 2012 10:23 AM

if SL is clean they should go to ICC and answer alleged war crimes. if we are clear there is nothing to fear. one can alleged one for committing crime and it is up to the court to decide.

Real peace Saturday, 31 March 2012 12:30 PM

Is it wrong to seek justice for those innocent Tamils who were killed by the LTTE and the military? If any GTF member has any criminal record please bring it to the attention of the British police, please.

roma Saturday, 31 March 2012 01:56 PM

The Sri Lankan Army fought a grim battle with the separatist LTTE for over two and a half decades, during which time the "Tamil Tigers" as they are also known, pioneered the use of suicide bombings, killed thousands of civilians and committed a series of atrocities that made the prospect of future Sri Lankan peace seem impracticable. The human cost of the civil war has been estimated as having deprived the nation of up to 100,000 lives; the financial cost over US $200 Billion, a figure that amounts to roughly five times Sri Lanka's gross domestic product in 2009.

Saskia Saturday, 31 March 2012 02:38 PM

Tamil Eelam is not aspired by LTTE but by most. You should not say that all the organisations and people who support tamil eelam are LTTE.

raj Saturday, 31 March 2012 09:56 PM

it is the representatives of Sri Lanka hide behind immunity while asking other governments to take actions against front LTTE organizations by using the same law.

Jay Ranaweera Saturday, 31 March 2012 11:02 PM

Have you all forgotten the thousands and thousands KILLINGS of innocent INNOCENT SRINHALESE,MUSLIMS & TAMILS BRUTALY KILLED BY YOUR MASTERS LTTE???
First of all pl take legal action against those MURDERERS!!!

Dasun Saturday, 31 March 2012 09:51 AM

It's achieved in nanthikadal. Wake up

lankan Sunday, 01 April 2012 12:54 AM

Hello Hi, No one is talking against Sri Lankans, it is about the LTTE terrorists and GTF who funded them. They are guilty for mass crimes, killing innocent people. GOSL must list these people and take appropriate legal action against them. You dont have to worry HI, if you are not guilty.

Fair N Square Sunday, 01 April 2012 01:48 AM

Is it worth spending the monies collected from innocent tamils living in these western countries JUST so the dreams of just a handful of OPPORTUNIST bear fruit? I dont think so. IF the donors were asked if they approve of monies spent on law firms, I bet none would agrree. Moreover, why dont any NGO take these organizations to court for FUNDING a terrorist organization that was banned in these countries?

Nicky Karunarathna Sunday, 01 April 2012 04:23 AM

These scums of the earth have no values. They only know racism cum terrorism against anybody who is doing their just duties. They want everybody in the world to giving to them and entire world speak Tamil and be Tamil. These Tamil expansionism has no bounds. They are yet to learn a lesson form the world after learning a bitter lesson from SL .It is very soon they will call Obama, Obamanayagam as the guy is in their pocket already!

jude Sunday, 01 April 2012 04:55 AM

Org. like GTF got huge funds from Tamil Diaspora to take their cause to next level. Thus they make lots of politicians in USA, UK & Europe very rich and including some law firms.

cabs Sunday, 01 April 2012 05:45 AM

Why not SL govt take action against GTF..they are the one who supported ruthless racist babarian LTTE who killed over 75,000 Sri Lankans.

Samayan Sunday, 01 April 2012 05:47 AM

GOSL protected over 300,000 civilians and thousands of terrorists who surrendered and captured by army.they have been returned to the society with in 3 years.Nobody appreciate it .

Fusion Sunday, 01 April 2012 05:41 AM

Yes the, Sinhala Only Act of 1956 is was started this mess and the 1983 riots put the final nail in coffin and gave the LTTE its legitimacy. But LTTE became barbaric, and people in SL don't respond well to western hypocrites and Pro-LTTEers. Our real fellow Tamil citizens must have "EQUAL" share of this country no-doubt. FYI, some of our top business-people are Tamil. Regading Buddist monks, well I am Buddhist and understand there is big difference between Monks and fakes in robes!

Ramzeen Azeez Sunday, 01 April 2012 06:34 AM

What about Adele Balasingham (who lives in England) who helped LTTE women cardres to systematically kill their fellow Sri Lankans?

Batangala Saturday, 31 March 2012 08:00 AM

Keerthi, I agreed 100% with you. Those who allow serpents in their dresses should pay the consequences.

Kolomba Kaka Saturday, 31 March 2012 05:32 AM

We know GTF is a proxy for LTTE. So whatever they say have to be taken in that sense.

Fusion Saturday, 31 March 2012 05:55 AM

GTF? They can do what ever they want to in Europe but STAY OUT OF SRI LANKA. If I am to take what the GTF (or any other LTTE proxy) seriously, then I guess Mervin Silva is innocent.

keerthi Saturday, 31 March 2012 05:38 AM

Mr Hague do not forget that these Killers of GTF [LTTE] killed Indian Prime minister Rajiv Gandhi who helped them to form this bloody killing organization. This terrosit group [ GTE/LTTE]
has no ethics and it is the most ungrateful group in the world.

Nodrog58 Saturday, 31 March 2012 06:03 AM

And as usual the High Comm in the UK has 'no idea' of whats going on.

Nodrog58 Saturday, 31 March 2012 06:07 AM

How can an illegal group take legal action?

faqi Saturday, 31 March 2012 06:28 AM

Why doesn't the global tamil forum first go after the LTTE murderers who massacred tamil men, women & children?
GTO if you think you are going to get your eelam, its in your dreams.

Imran Hussein Saturday, 31 March 2012 06:56 AM

Are they going to send Hague also to Hague?

RAJU Saturday, 31 March 2012 06:43 AM

WHOEVER DID, WHEREVER DID, WHENEVER DID, CRIME IS CRIME , CRIMINAL IS CRIMINAL. VICTIMS NEED JUSTICE.

Vas Saturday, 31 March 2012 07:05 AM

The GTF is a body made up of T amil diaspora all over the world and they are right in asking the British gvt about war criminals appointed as diplomats. The gosling is very arrogant to have appointed an ex military guy in this position when it knows the feelings of Tamils generally. It proves the point that the gvt don't care about the Tamil opinion.

M.V.R.Perera Saturday, 31 March 2012 07:17 AM

When Tamil opinion is so communal how can any Sri Lankan Government take note of it

Royalist Saturday, 31 March 2012 05:20 AM

Ahaka yana nai angé dagana kanó, kanó says Hague

Aravindan Saturday, 31 March 2012 08:27 AM

It is mainly ex military people who are defence attaches in embassies. Don't display your ignorance. He is innocent until proven guilty. Every person in a military has a job to do to safeguard the country. Killing is involved but that does not mean it is war crimes or crimes against humanity just because LTTE activists say so.

Hi Saturday, 31 March 2012 08:14 AM

Any who speaks on behalf of Tamils get labels. Why?

dutugamunu Saturday, 31 March 2012 08:35 AM

bez they have money ..

Hi Saturday, 31 March 2012 08:23 AM

UK is democratic unlike Sri Lanka. Tamils are not labelled LTTE over there. Can Tamils complain in Sri Lanka?

Dammika Saturday, 31 March 2012 08:09 AM

Mr. Raju ... yes we agree with you. Keep in mind I am not against Tamil innocent people. However, this LTTE arm of diaspora left Sri Lanka due to various reasons and they were not so vocal as now at the time when LTTE killed even Tamilians. If they are so concern about these innocent Tamils who lives in Sri Lanka why don't you come down to uplift their lives.

Will they come down .... No they will not and will spend money to uplift these innocent tamil people lifes .... NO ... this diaspora big shots still collect money and regular people just contribute without thinking wisely.

However .... your dream will never be able to fulfill in the near foreseeable distance.

RF Saturday, 31 March 2012 08:45 AM

Its not against tamils its against LTTE... GTF is an LTTE affiliated organization supporting the tamil Eelam. Any action against dividing SL will be a dream only...

Haque Saturday, 31 March 2012 09:31 AM

What are you saying? Is it Tamil or Sinhala ? Is it about me?

Prince Charles Saturday, 31 March 2012 09:55 AM

I did not say that.

Dasun Saturday, 31 March 2012 09:58 AM

Hello, sir/madam, y u got angry for that ? Someone of ur in gtf?

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GTF to take action against Hague

Comments - 43

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